One rebel killed, 14 captured in E. Timor

JAKARTA (JP): One East Timor separatist rebel was shot dead and another 14 captured in a gunfight near Baucau, about 130 kilometers east of Dili, on Wednesday, the military said yesterday.

East Timor military chief Col. Slamat Sidabutar said those arrested were part of a group of 20 rebels soldiers raided in the jungle following a tip from residents.

"Troops moved in following a tip. They (rebels) numbered about 20, and carried four long-barreled rifles of different types," Sidabutar told reporters.

According to the colonel, one soldier was slightly injured in the clash.

The raid on suspected members of the Fretilin separatist organization occurred exactly a week after the military shot and killed David Alex, Fretilin's second in command.

Alex was shot in the thigh and arm on the morning of June 25 and died of blood loss in a hospital in Dili the evening of the same day. Five of his men were also captured unharmed.

Sidabutar said that in the raid Wednesday, the rebels fled to the jungle on learning that troops were after them.

"But we did not give up. We chased them into the jungle, shot one of them dead and captured another 15," he said as quoted by Antara. "The rest managed to flee toward Mount Matabean."

The soldier wounded in the clash was identified as First Private Rafel Dos Santos, who suffered a slight injury to his right foot.

The troops seized bags, food stuffs, Fretilin flags and cash from the rebels.

Those captured admitted they had been followers of David Alex.

"They told interrogators that the death of David Alex was a major blow for their morale. They do not have someone in command in the forest," Sidabutar said.

The rebels keep moving and are losing popular support because people know they will not be able to fulfill their promises for better living, he added.

The military believes that rebels under Alex's command were responsible for the attacks on civilian and military targets in East Timor recently.

"The rebels are losing strength because they are poorly armed," he said, adding that the capture of the 14 separatists was evidence that East Timorese were fed up with the brutal means the security disturbers use to achieve their goals. (pan)