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Reinado vows not to give in to SAS

Source
The Australian - February 28, 2007

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Mark Dodd – Renegade East Timor military leader Alfredo Reinado has threatened to defend himself "to the death" from a heavily armed post in the central town of Same, where he was yesterday surrounded by Australian SAS troops.

"I have committed no crimes against Australia or against the international community, I never threatened any international life – the real criminals are the leaders of our Government," said Major Reinado, who still holds his commission in the country's armed forces but also faces murder charges over the violence that swept East Timor last year.

He is accused of leading an attack on loyalist soldiers on May 23 that left five killed and 10 injured.

The Australian-trained former head of the military police this week fled his hideout in the eastern mountain region of Ermera for another location in the nearby district of Same, from where he spoke to The Australian by phone yesterday.

He denied claims he had stolen 25 assault rifles from East Timorese border guards, saying the firearms had been "loaned" to him by police colleagues at the weekend so he could protect himself after reports there were contracts out on his life.

An ADF spokesman said Australian troops were "working closely with the Government of East Timor after a request by the President to bring Reinado in". And a senior Dili-based diplomatic source told The Australian the "specialists are here", referring to the SAS.

But Major Reinado, who led a 57-man escape from Dili's Becora jail in August, denied he had fled to Same after learning there were moves to bring him in before the April 9 presidential poll. "Running away is not my style. I came here for a holiday, to relax and many of the police of East Timor have joined me because it's a fun gang," he said.

He denied he had threatened to kill Australian troops if they tried to arrest him but issued a veiled warning that he intended to defend himself against any attack. "I will only surrender to my own people, to my own justice system," he said. "I will not give up my weapons. I can die tomorrow, any time, but does that solve any problems?"

The involvement of the SAS follows a nationally televised address this week by President Xanana Gusmao in which he denounced Major Reinado. Following a meeting with UN chief Atul Khare and the Australian military commander in Dili, Brigadier Mal Reardon, Mr Gusmao then authorised military action be taken.

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