Karon Snowdon for Radio Australia – The woman accused by the President of East Timor of fostering rebel resistance in the country says she fears for her life.

Angelita Pires was the girlfriend of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, who was killed by security forces during an attack on President Jose Ramos-Horta in February. Dr Ramos-Horta was critically wounded in the attack at his house in the capital Dili.

Ms Pires is under investigation for her alleged role in the protracted guerrilla operation by Reinado, who led a group of disaffected former soldiers who had been involved in mutiny and violence violence in 2006. Her family is asking Australia to provide safe haven.

The murky events surrounding the near-fatal shooting of the President and an attack on the Prime Minister the same day in February will remain cloudy until the results of the current investigation are known. That is expected to be finalised by late July, with any charges laid then.

It was not until April that the remaining rebels, led by Reinado's deputy Salsinha, surrendered and they claim not to know what Reinado's motive was for his early morning raid.

One of those under investigation for her possible role in the events leading up to that day is Ms Pires, who remains in Dili on bail with her passport confiscated.

She says comments by the President and the Prosecutor-General, Longuinos Monteiro, have turned public opinion against her and jeopardise her chances of a fair trial in the event she is charged.

She holds dual Australian-Timorese citizenship and her family live in Australia.

Text death threats

Her brother, Antonio Pires spoke to Radio Australia on her behalf, saying she is "fearful for her life". "She has had her life threatened by phone text," he said.

"Basically from memory it said 'we know you, we know you, we know where you are, you'd better look out, watch out' sort of thing. So I read that to mean it's a threat to her life. One of her last messages in the last couple of days to me was 'please help me, I fear they will kill me'." Mr Monteiro said it would be inappropriate for him to comment while his investigation is ongoing.

'Negative influence'

Dr Ramos-Horta has repeated his accusations made previously against Ms Pires this week. He told ABC Radio National's Philip Adams on Wednesday that while not a part of the February violence, she was a mastermind behind Reinado's refusal to surrender over many months.

"Because I dealt with the petitioner's case, Alfredo's case for a year and a half... everybody complained at the enormous negative influence this lady had on Reinado Alfredo," Dr Ramos-Horta said.

"Every time [Reinado] was ready to agree, and that goes back a year and a half, they were on the verge of signing an agreement, he suddenly changed his mind attacked a police post on the border region and took more weapons.

"I was told time and again this lady from Darwin, Timorese Australian, was involved and I know I dealt with the case I know for a fact."

Dr Ramos-Horta says he is confident his comments will not sway the independence of judges hearing any future case.

Ms Pires's brother says the damage has been done and he holds serious concerns for his sister's safety.

"We've pleaded for her safety that we, the family, would undertake to bring her back to Australia and hand her passport to Australian government authorities to hold and return her back to East Timor when the court is up and ready to hear the case," he said.

"But that has been completely declined by the Australian Government; they are not interested in assisting."

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said via a written statement it is providing Ms Pires with a high level of consular assistance.