Alex already dead, says S. Sidabutar

JAKARTA (JP): East Timor's military chief, Col. S. Sidabutar, said yesterday anti-integrationist activists overseas had failed to disprove Indonesia's report that separatist leader David Alex was dead.

"It is useless to argue that David Alex is still alive. I was one of those who brought him from Baucau to Dili," Sidabutar was quoted as saying by Antara.

The military says Alex was shot in a morning raid on his cave hideout near Baucau on June 25. He died of blood loss in Dili's Wira Husada Hospital about 7 p.m. the same day and was buried Thursday.

Five other separatist rebels in the hideout were captured alive.

The military identified Alex as the deputy commander of the Fretilin separatist movement's armed wing. He allegedly operated in the rebels' Region II, which covers Viqueque, Lautem and Manatuto.

His group is believed responsible for the recent attacks on military and civilian targets in East Timor.

But activists from the East Timor International Support Center in Darwin, Australia, dismissed the military's report, saying they believe Alex is still alive.

They theorized Alex and three others were captured uninjured and taken to Baucau where they were probably still alive.

The support center's spokesman, Donny Inbaraj, said last week his group had spoken to witnesses who said Alex and three others -- Jose Antonio Belo, Manuel Loke Matan and one identified only as Gil -- were intercepted by a patrol on the morning of June 25 while searching for medicine for Alex in Kaibada near Baucau.

"News that Alex was still alive might have been disseminated by irresponsible people," Sidabutar said.

Alex's left hand and right thigh were injured, he said.

Sidabutar said he flew by helicopter to Baucau after hearing Alex had been caught.

"Anyone whose blood vessels were shot would very probably die of blood loss," he said.

He said the authorities had done everything possible to save Alex, including flying him to Dili even though it was dusk and not safe for a helicopter to fly.

Sidabutar said foreign groups wanting to investigate the incident were welcome to do so provided they followed procedures.

"They should follow Indonesian rules and if higher officials in Jakarta permit them, we will welcome them," he said. (pan)