Rebel member shot dead in East Timor attack<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): About 20 armed men, believed to be
\nFretilin separatists, attacked the 713th Territorial Battalion's
\nbarracks Wednesday in Purugua village, Bobonaro regency, some 80
\nkilometers west of here.<\/p>\n
One rebel died in the clash. He was identified as Mauleqi, 50.
\nHe was found with a Mauser gun, 43 bullets and Rp 46,000 (US$19)
\nin cash.<\/p>\n
East Timor's Wiradharma military commander Col. Salamat
\nSidabutar spoke to The Jakarta Post yesterday about the incident
\nafter a ceremony to mark the 21st anniversary of the territory's
\nintegration into Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"As ordered, there were not any battalion members outside the
\npost then,\" Sidabutar said. \"It was a surprise attack.\"<\/p>\n
On June 25, the military shot dead David Alex, a separatist
\nleader, in his cave hideout near Baucau. He was brought to the
\ncapital but died of blood loss in the Wira Husada Hospital on the
\nsame day.<\/p>\n
Five other separatist rebels in the hideout were captured
\nalive.<\/p>\n
The military identified Alex as the deputy commander of the
\nFretilin separatist movement's armed wing. He allegedly operated
\nin the rebels' Region II, which covers Viqueque, Lautem and
\nManatuto.<\/p>\n
His group is believed to be responsible for the recent attacks
\non military and civilian targets in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares led yesterday's ceremony
\nattended by local and military leaders.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Abilio said the integration in 1976 gave the
\nterritory's people a \"strategic foundation\" on which they could
\nprepare themselves for globalization.<\/p>\n
\"For us, integration into Indonesia should not be questioned.
\nInstead it should be maintained and marked with development to
\nimprove people's welfare,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The integration (anniversary) should remind us of East
\nTimorese's struggle and our heroes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The former Portuguese colony was integrated into Indonesia in
\n1976. This has never been recognized by the United Nations which
\nstill considers Lisbon the territory's administrator.<\/p>\n
Many foreign activists and organizations have repeatedly used
\nEast Timor's integration to criticize Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Remembering the past is not meant to fire up again the
\nfeelings of hatred, animosity and rage that were once exploited
\nby the Portuguese,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abilio said the proof of successful development in East Timor
\nincluded the establishment of 55 kindergartens and 709 primary
\nschools throughout the province's 442 villages.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was also attended by deputy governor Johannes
\nHaribowo, provincial legislative council chief Antonio Freitas
\nParada, Mgr. Antonio Jose da Costa of the Dili church and Salamat
\nSidabutar. (33\/swe)<\/p>",
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