Attempted coup in Timor L'este.

Post by **weemadando** » 2008-02-10 11:55pm

There was a dawn attack on the PM's residence from the reports I've heard. They were beaten back by the security on site and now we're into the follow up phase.

PM injured and being medivac'd to Australia.

Rebel leader (Alfredo Reinado) reported as killed in the gun battle.

I can't see Reinado being mourned by anyone outside of his band of followers given his violent political flip-flopping (with each flip and flop leading to his rebels directing their violence at a new group), but I am very worried about the aftermath of this.

Ah well, at least it means that there's one less strong personality there to resist our claim to oodles of natural gas.

hongi · Post by **hongi** » 2008-02-11 12:54am

Wow, I seriously did not expect that. Australia's sending a hundred and fifty more troops to East Timor in reaction.

Post by **weemadando** » 2008-02-11 01:04am

And apparently Xanana Gusmao's motorcade was attacked at the same time as the attack on Ramos-Horta's residence.

And its not just troops. Also AFP.

And Kevin Rudd is going! That'll fix everything.

Also Indonesia is gearing up and reinforcing their embassy and the border. That can only end well.

Lusankya · Post by **Lusankya** » 2008-02-11 02:29am

It kinda makes me wonder when people will stop pretending that East Timor isn't Australian puppet nation and just send the Australian army over there to run things permanently.

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2008-02-11 07:21am

What's been the problem between the police and the army? I was watching BBC and they mentioned something about there being/having been a feud between the army and the police in the past, can anyone elaborate on that?

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2008-02-11 08:44am

Found the answer to my question in the country profile. Apperantly the military was against independance from Indonesia and supported the pro-Indonesia militias.

thejester · Post by **thejester** » 2008-02-11 03:51pm

There wasn't even supposed to be a military, IIRC. It was only at the last moment during rebuilding that it was decided to create an army. The first major round of protests that saw Australia re-intervened occurred because of alleged tribal bias within the army, and the police sided with the government over the rebel faction.

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2008-02-11 04:11pm

thejester wrote:There wasn't even supposed to be a military, IIRC. It was only at the last moment during rebuilding that it was decided to create an army. The first major round of protests that saw Australia re-intervened occurred because of alleged tribal bias within the army, and the police sided with the government over the rebel faction.

According to the BBC article titled "Who are East Timor's rebel soldiers?" a third of the army (600 striking soldiers complaining of discrimination by the leaders who were from the east of the country) was sacked in 2006 triggering violence. Is that the tribal bias you mentioned?

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2008-02-11 09:42pm

Bah. The notion of rebellion has so infected some of these soldiers for so long, they can't live without it. So who else to rebel against but their own people?

And Indonesia has better things to do than indulge in helping its neighbour with its own crisis. More likely they are more worried about refugees and are locking up the border tight.