International police and troops in East Timor were Thursday
searching for rebel leader Major Alfredo Reinado after a mass
jailbreak raised serious concerns about fragile security in the
fledgling nation.
Reinado, one of the figureheads of a revolt that plunged the
former Portuguese colony into chaos in May, was among more than 50
prisoners who walked out of the Becora jail near the capital Dili
on Wednesday.
The rebel leader said on a video tape obtained by Reuters
Television that he did not want to stage a new revolt.
"I have escaped from Dili not to revolt but because the judicial
system in Dili is not good enough. But I will account for my action
and answer any charges against me when the system has been
improved."
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will fly to Dili on
Sunday for meetings with Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda, as
well as East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and President
Xanana Gusmao.
"It's obviously a matter of deep regret that this has happened,"
Downer told reporters in Sydney.
"It is going to be an important visit and in the light of the
escape of these 56 prisoners, which is of very great concern to us,
an opportunity for us to reinforce our support to the East
Timorese," he said.
Brigadier Mick Slater, the head of Australian troops in East
Timor, said the prisoners walked out the jail's front gate during
visiting hours.
Joao Domingos, head of Becora jail's administration, said grass
cutters were used to intimidate guards during the breakout, in
which he said all of Alfredo's men being held had escaped.
He said he was not aware whether guards helped in the escape.
Another 148 prisoners remain in confinement.
"They threatened us with grass shears. They said 'open the doors
or you will die.' We opened the doors and 57 got away," Domingos
said.
The United Nations agreed last week on a new mission to East
Timor, comprising some 1,600 police, despite a dispute over whether
Australian-led international troops already there should remain
independent or be part of a UN force.
Downer said the implementation of the new UN mission would be
discussed at trilateral talks, to be held on Monday.
Slater said it was likely the escapees were now armed, although
Dili remained quiet and calm after his troops quickly sealed off
the city.
(China Daily September 1, 2006)
