Indonesia Arrests Fourth E Timor Rebel - Police

4-24-08

JAKARTA (AFP)--Indonesia has arrested a fourth East Timor rebel believed linked to assassination attempts against the president and prime minister of the fledgling nation, Indonesian Police Chief General Susanto said Thursday.

"We have arrested four persons and they all entered the country without documents, or passports," he told reporters.

Earlier this week, Indonesian police said they had arrested three people, two in a border town in Indonesia's West Timor and another near Jakarta.

Sutanto said that all four were currently being held in Jakarta but gave no detail on the fourth person.

"They are East Timorese citizens, they are all members of the East Timorese military," he added.

Susanto said the arrests followed a request from the East Timor government.

Armed men attacked the residence of East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta on the outskirts of Dili on Feb. 11, severely wounding the head of state.

He was rushed to Darwin for medical treatment and has since returned home after more than two months in Darwin.

Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado and one of his men were killed in the attack, but a number of other militants remain at large.

The rebels also attempted to ambush Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao later the same day, but he escaped unhurt.

Tens of thousands of East Timorese fled into Indonesian-controlled West Timor during unrest surrounding a 1999 vote for independence. Many have since opted to remain in Indonesia.