East Timor Security Tightens

Above: Civilian being checked

According to Reuters, East Timor police have detained more than 200 civilians in Dili, East Timor, for breaking the recently imposed emergency curfew law.

Public meetings and protests are also banned during this time. All citizens must stay home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“More than 200 people were detained by police for investigation purposes. These people did not follow the state regulation and were walking around the city at night,” said police operations commander Mateus Fernandes in a statement.

“I think the government has dramatized the situation. It’s so calm in Dili and the country, but they have not pulled back the state of emergency,” said Joao Pinto, a shopkeeper in the city.

Above: Market in Dili

Dili City has been generally peaceful since the attacks last week. That’s why people were unhappy with the recently imposed law because it affected even the small businesses. Shown in the photo above is one of the markets in Dili. “It’s very hard for us to do our business at night because our customers always come at night.”

Police have also been working with their country’s army and other international forces in capturing the rebels who are believed to be involved in the assassination attempt on President Jose Ramos-Horta (pictured below) last Monday.

Below: Jose Ramos Horta

The recovering nation was struck anew when Ramos-Horta was critically wounded by gunfire last week. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao was also involved in a separate attack. Thankfully the Prime Minister escaped unscathed.

According to his office, Ramos- Horta will undergo further operation tomorrow and is expected to make a full recovery. His doctors at the Royal Darwin Hospital in Australia have said they are “very happy with his progress,” presidential spokesman Luke Gosling said in a statement. Ramos-Horta was flown in last week with bullet wounds to his chest, back and liver after being shot by rebels at his home in Dili.

The prosecutor general has issued warrants of arrest for 17 people suspected to be involved in the recent assassination attempts. Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, a former East Timor army major, was killed in the attack on Ramos-Horta. Him and his troops refused to lay down their weapons in 2006 after being involved in gunfights against rival security forces. They retreated to a jungle hideout in the mountains outside Dili. Reinado had been on the run since escaping from prison two years ago.

A woman believed to be Reinado’s lawyer has also been arrested recently. 38 year old Angelita Pires is still being interrogated by authorities. East Timor’s Prosecutor General Longuinhos Monteiro said on Monday that they believe the group had plotted to kidnap the two leaders. Pires was one of nine people summoned by the police as witnesses. After a couple of hours of interrogation, however, she was arrested.

“The preliminary development of the case has indicated her involvement at least as (having) a very close link with Alfredo,” he said. “Especially on the night of the 10th they were together, especially in the early morning. We decided she is a defendant on this issue because we decided she is knowing something.”

Monteiro said the woman would likely be charged with conspiracy when she faces the Dili District Court.

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