One rebel killed, 14 captured in E. Timor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): One East Timor separatist rebel was shot dead
\nand another 14 captured in a gunfight near Baucau, about 130
\nkilometers east of Dili, on Wednesday, the military said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
East Timor military chief Col. Slamat Sidabutar said those
\narrested were part of a group of 20 rebels soldiers raided in the
\njungle following a tip from residents.<\/p>\n
\"Troops moved in following a tip. They (rebels) numbered about
\n20, and carried four long-barreled rifles of different types,\"
\nSidabutar told reporters.<\/p>\n
According to the colonel, one soldier was slightly injured in
\nthe clash.<\/p>\n
The raid on suspected members of the Fretilin separatist
\norganization occurred exactly a week after the military shot and
\nkilled David Alex, Fretilin's second in command.<\/p>\n
Alex was shot in the thigh and arm on the morning of June 25
\nand died of blood loss in a hospital in Dili the evening of the
\nsame day. Five of his men were also captured unharmed.<\/p>\n
Sidabutar said that in the raid Wednesday, the rebels fled to
\nthe jungle on learning that troops were after them.<\/p>\n
\"But we did not give up. We chased them into the jungle, shot
\none of them dead and captured another 15,\" he said as quoted by
\nAntara. \"The rest managed to flee toward Mount Matabean.\"<\/p>\n
The soldier wounded in the clash was identified as First
\nPrivate Rafel Dos Santos, who suffered a slight injury to his
\nright foot.<\/p>\n
The troops seized bags, food stuffs, Fretilin flags and cash
\nfrom the rebels.<\/p>\n
Those captured admitted they had been followers of David Alex.<\/p>\n
\"They told interrogators that the death of David Alex was a
\nmajor blow for their morale. They do not have someone in command
\nin the forest,\" Sidabutar said.<\/p>\n
The rebels keep moving and are losing popular support because
\npeople know they will not be able to fulfill their promises for
\nbetter living, he added.<\/p>\n
The military believes that rebels under Alex's command were
\nresponsible for the attacks on civilian and military targets in
\nEast Timor recently.<\/p>\n
\"The rebels are losing strength because they are poorly
\narmed,\" he said, adding that the capture of the 14 separatists
\nwas evidence that East Timorese were fed up with the brutal means
\nthe security disturbers use to achieve their goals. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/one-rebel-killed-14-captured-in-e-timor-1447893297",
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