Reinado's Group Denies Attacking Horta
Thursday, 14 February, 2008 | 16:15 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Yesterday (13/2) A subordinate of Major Alfredo Alves Reinado has denied reports about the attacks on Timor Leste's President Jose Ramos Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.

According to Sergeant First Class Eduarde Jorge, Reinado's subordinate, his commander came to Ramos Horta's residence in Metiaut area, the suburb of capital Dili, at Horta's invitation.

“He was called by President Horta at around 10pm,” said Jorge when contacted by Tempo via cellphone yesterday.

Then, said Jorge, Reinado went from his shelter in Same, Matufahi, along with four subordinates.

He was instead surprised as to how the shooting could happen and also denied that the group was the one that raided Xanana's group.

Sergeant First Class Brata, another of Reinado's subordinate, said that his group never intended to attack either Horta or Xanana.

“If we had wanted to, we would have done so during the presidential election. We want our country be safe and prosperous,” he said.

Not long after the bloody incident on Monday (12/2), Xanana disputed that Horta invited Reinado to come to his house.

During the incident, Xanana survived but Horta was shot in his stomach and chest.

Up until yesterday, the recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize was still being treated in the Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia.

The investigation into the case is still ongoing.

Attorney General Longuinhos Monteiro issued warrants for 18 suspects and it is possible that this number will increase.

However, he refused to describe the suspects' identity.

There is a possibility that government officials were also involved.

“We're investigating the two cars (used by the attackers). We suspect that there were government officials involved,” said Monteiro.

A Tempo source said that one car belonged to Finance Director Jose Duardo and the other to a child of a minister.

There has not been any confirmation from the respective parties.
Yesterday evening Reinado's body was buried at his family home in Marconi Complex, Alor, Dili.

FAISAL ASSEGAF | JOSE SARITO AMARAL | ALEXANDER ASSIS (DILI) | AFP