Timor-Leste/Investigation delay risks more instability, says FRETILIN

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE (FRETILIN)

Media release / 13 April 2008 / Timor Online

Timor-Leste's de facto government is deliberately delaying the establishment of an independent international investigation into the February 11 incidents in which President Jose Ramos Horta was shot and seriously wounded, FRETILIN said today.
FRETILIN's General Secretary, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said an international commission of investigation as demanded by parliament on March 3 was needed to uncover the truth about the attacks.
Dr Alkatiri was commenting on local media reports (11 April, Timor Post) that the US government had, through its ambassador Hans Klemm, offered to provide the de facto government with "assistance to ensure an in depth investigation so the whole public can know the truth."
Dr Alkatiri said: "This expression of goodwill and support from one of our best friends should be taken up immediately as part of the process of restoring stability in this country through an absolutely independent and transparent investigative process by international legal and other experts."
President Ramos-Horta sustained multiple gunshot wounds in an assaulton his residence on February 11, which saw army mutineer AlfredoReinado killed.
Timor-Leste's parliament, by a vote of 33 to 17, called on the de facto government to negotiate with United Nations representatives to establish "an international investigation commission, that will search and evaluate new findings and identify those involved in the incident of 11 February 2008."
Dr Alkatiri said today: "The de facto government has done nothing to implement the resolution of parliament.
"Its inaction ignores the wishes of the people who want to know the truth behind the attack against Timor-Leste's state institutions.
"Any further delay in seeking the truth risks arousing further instability in our nation and erodes the goodwill of the international community towards Timor Leste."

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