Mari Alkitri: Someone Wants a Coup d'État
Wednesday, 10 May, 2006 | 17:54 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Dili: Timor Leste Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, has said that the rioting in Timor Leste during the last few weeks is a coup d'état attempt by several anti-government groups.
This was announced during a press conference in Dili yesterday (9/5).

“We managed to control the situation. However, if the situation changes, it is not impossible that we accept the help from our 'friends',” said Alkatiri.

Australia stated its readiness to help, although Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, said he was certain Timor Leste can solve its own problem.

“There has not been any help request from Dili,” he said as quoted in the official Australian Foreign Ministry, www.dfat.gov.au.

The Operation Commander of Timor Leste Police, Inspector Ismail Babo, said the polce have arrested one hundred suspected of being involved in the rioting in Ermera, Monday.

A police officer was stabbed to death during the rioting in Gleno, Ermera Regency capital and four other police officers were wounded.

Accompanied by Timor Leste Police Chief, Paulo Martins, Alkatiri paid a visit to the wounded police officers.
His visit was criticized by the dead police officer’s family and friends.

“They said Alkatiri is a dictator, and is responsible for his death,” said Belo, a local journalist who witnessed the visit.

Several police officers have been positioned at Liquica Disctrict-in the West of Dili since two days ago, in case of more rioting.

The Timor Leste government has met with representatives of 600 soldiers who were dismissed.

The government has asked them to reunite with their communities.

Based on Tempo's observations, the situation in Dili is recovering.

Some stores have begun to open, but government offices were still closed.

Foreign representative offices have been active, but local employees have not yet begun to work.
Current evacuation has decreased from about seventy to around thirty people a day, while more people are returning to Timor Leste.

The Commander of the Timor Leste Border Security Special Unit, Artillery Colonel Ediwan Prabowo, who was contacted by phone, explained the returns to Timor Leste cannot yet be seen of an indication of a recovered situation.

“They returned to Dili because they are called by the companies' owners to be back to work,” he said.

AFP, Jems De Fortuna, and Andree Priyanto