Horta is a fraud, ex-girlfriend says

JAKARTA (JP): A former girlfriend of Ramos Horta yesterday accused the East Timorese separatist leader of defrauding millions of dollars donated to the people of East Timor.

"For over 20-years, Horta has stolen millions of dollars meant for aid within Timor," said Wendy Holland, who had a close personal relationship with Horta from 1973 until two years ago.

In a press conference facilitated by the Indonesian foreign ministry, she distributed evidence that Horta owned accounts throughout the world and claimed that he had misused them for his own needs.

"He is a traitor and continues to use the Timorese (cause) for his own goals," she charged.

Holland said at one point she and Horta planned to marry but they parted ways in 1993. She did not give the reason for this.

Horta, who always appears well-groomed in public, often wearing a bow tie and suit, is now based in Australia where he continues campaigning for a separate East Timor state. He is head of the Fretilin separatist movement abroad.

"He has no respect for the Timorese, only for the power and fame he acquires," the 44-year-old Holland said.

According to Holland, Horta was not in very good rapport with now-jailed Fretilin leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao who lead the guerrilla movement from within East Timor.

She maintained that Horta feared Xanana's intentions to leave East Timor and join his family in Australia.

"Horta was paranoid that if Xanana came out it would mean the end of his lifestyle," Holland said, adding that Horta sent letters and tapes trying to convince Xanana to stay.

She remarked that Horta was not distressed when informed that Xanana had been captured and claims that Horta is not concerned with the release of Xanana.

Of the events occurring just prior to East Timor's integration, Holland said that Horta had approached the Indonesian government asking to be given a scholarship and to eventually be instated as governor of East Timor.

She recounted that Jakarta originally agreed to the scholarship but withdrew its offer after Horta suggested guerrilla warfare.

"Horta was devastated, this final rejection was his undoing," she said while describing how he then began to look for support from alternative groups. (mds)