Two Fretilin rebels killed in armed clash with military

Two Fretilin rebels killed in armed clash with military

DILI, East Timor (JP): Two members of the armed separatist
group Fretilin were killed in a clash with the military in the
Bobonaro district on Wednesday, the local military chief said.

Col. Kiki Syahnakri said on Thursday that another rebel had
surrendered and three others got away after the early morning
clash in Maumela village.

He did not say whether there were any casualties among the
members of the Bobonaro military unit.

The military has donated some money to the relatives of the
two dead rebels to help pay for burial costs.

The gang of rebels had been disturbing and stealing from the
villagers, according to Ladean Simbolon, the spokesman for the
East Timor military command.

He identified the two dead rebels as 30-year-old Benyamin,
alias Auleri, and Yulio, aged 32. The rebel who surrendered was
identified as Apresio Miguel Soares, 20-years-old.

The military also managed to seize a G-3 long rifle that had
been used by the Portuguese colonial army, four grenades and
several rounds of bullets from the rebels.

The military operation came after villagers complained of
repeated disturbances by the rebels, Ladean said.

He explained that during the investigation, Apresio said that
Fretilin's strength was eroding and fast running out of
ammunition and morale.

Meanwhile, Col. Syahnakri made a special appeal to all East
Timorese, including the remaining Fretilin members hiding out in
the jungle, to help create an atmosphere conducive to a
reconciliation meeting among the conflicting East Timorese
factions in Austria next month.

He said the East Timorese people should give their leaders a
chance to help bring about reconciliation.

The meeting, planned for June 2-5 in Austria, will bring
together East Timorese leaders both for and against integration
with Indonesia. The meeting was organized by the United Nations
with the support of the Indonesian and Portuguese governments.
(yac/emb)