Stephen Fitzpatrick, Jakarta – Two supporters of East Timorese President Jose Ramos Horta have been shot dead by off-duty police as trouble mounts ahead of parliamentary elections.
Mr Ramos Horta, who is in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on his first official visit abroad since being elected president a month ago, described the killings on Sunday as an "embarrassment" for the nation.
East Timor returns to the polls on June 30, with the ruling Fretilin party facing defeat in the 88-seat house after it lost to Mr Ramos Horta in last month's presidential election.
"Several members of the PNTL (National Police of East Timor) have engaged in crime – we see that indiscipline is still very strong in the PNTL," Mr Ramos Horta said. He described the shootings as "major crimes which should receive severe punishment – there is no impunity in this country".
Conflict between East Timor's police and military was part of the reason for deadly violence last year that left dozens dead and ended the prime ministership of Fretilin's Mari Alkatiri, who was replaced as head of government by Mr Ramos Horta.
Xanana Gusmao, the former president who now hopes to become prime minister as the head of his Congress for East Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party, accused the killers of wanting to disrupt the coming election.
Describing one of the dead men as "a friend and trusted member of our team", Mr Gusmao said the killings had come on "a sad day for our young democracy – I call on all people of our young nation to give up violence".
The independence hero's motorcade was attacked during a visit to the eastern town of Viqueque, where the two killings took place. According to Mr Ramos Horta, a group of five armed men opened fire on Alfonso "Kuda Lay" Guterres shortly after a CNRT rally in Viqueque on Sunday afternoon.
Another CNRT activist named Domingus was killed in a separate attack in the same district later on Sunday, as Mr Guterres's body was being returned to his village. A 16-year-old boy was injured in that shooting.
Security in the region has been stepped up since the shootings, although the acting head of the mission in East Timor, Eric Tan, said that neither attack suggested an attempt on Mr Gusmao's life.
The UN police in East Timor have begun an investigation into the killings. The Australian-led International Stabilisation Force yesterday deployed an extra platoon to the region, about 100km to the southeast of the capital, Dili.
A spokesman for the coalition of parties ranged against Fretilin in the elections condemned the attacks, saying: "We extend our solidarity to the victims' families and ask for a thorough investigation into this act of barbarism."
Fretilin issued its own press release condemning the deaths, but claimed the first victim had been armed, and demanded an inquiry into where his weapon had come from. "The investigation needs to involve the Office of the President, the Government of Timor Leste and the UN police force," Dr Alkatiri said.
Meanwhile, fugitive former military police commander Alfredo Reinado has once again taunted his Australian pursuers, denying claims he had sought asylum in Indonesia and saying he could be in Dili within four hours if the operation against him was halted.
"I want to convince you I am ready to turn myself in to Dili, whenever the time," Reinado said in an open letter. He said any dialogue with the authorities should follow a procedure "that will not hurt or take my life or those of my men".