ABC News

Ramos-Horta 'refused to meet' Pires's mother

The mother of the woman linked to an East Timorese rebel leader says the country's President refused to meet her in Darwin today.

Former Darwin resident Angelita Pires, who was born in East Timor but grew up in Darwin, was in a relationship with rebel leader Alfredo Reinado.

Reinado was killed in a gun battle sparked by his forces' raid on President Jose Ramos-Horta's home in February. The President was shot in the exchange.

Ms Pires is being investigated over her connections to the rebel leader.

Her mother Maria says lawyers in East Timor are too scared to take on the case, and she is calling on the Australian Government to pay for a Brazilian lawyer to represent her.

She says she tried to raise the issue with Dr Ramos-Horta after he spoke at a forum in Darwin this afternoon.

"He saw me ... [I] went to him and told him I want to see him and he just avoided me," she said.

"I want to say to him what is the vendetta that he has has against my daughter Angelita?"

On Friday Dr Ramos-Horta said he believed Ms Pires was "a mastermind" who manipulated Reinado and obstructed the President's efforts to make peace with the rebel.

Maria Pires says those comments are defamatory and nothing has been proved against her daughter.

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