Given, as is now understood, that Reinado wanted to kidnap Gusmao and Ramos-Horta, not assassinate them as had been reported, how did Reinado come to die?
The two hits were clearly done not to kill, but to capture. The shooting at the diplomatic cars was aimed at the wheels, not the occupants.
Ramos-Horta had left his compound, but returned for his niece. Had Ramos-Horta been tipped off about the kidnap attempt? If Ramos-Horta had known, why would he have thought his niece was in trouble? Or, did he know, and go to retrieve his niece in the belief he would be safe?
What went wrong with the kidnap attempt? Was Reinado set up? If Reinado was set up, who did it, was it his own men?
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Meanwhile, Rudd sends Australian troops to Timor as he contemplates removing those protecting Aborigines. Clearly, Rudd has not said his last 'sorry' on indigenous affairs.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Was Alfredo Reinado Killed By Counter Insurgents?
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Rudd to visit Dili in show of support
By Sandra O'Malley
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd will travel to Dili to send a clear message to "rogue" elements within East Timor that the nation's political leaders have Australia's support.
Mr Rudd will make the day trip to Dili in the wake of rebel attacks on East Timor's president and prime minister this week.
Australia sent extra troops and police to East Timor following assassination attempts on President Jose Ramos-Horta, who is in a serious but stable condition in a Darwin hospital, and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who was unhurt.
Mr Rudd is visiting at the request of Mr Gusmao and intends to use the trip to reiterate Australia's support for the democratically-elected Timorese government, as well as gain a first-hand account of the security situation.
Australia's support is rock solid - Rudd
"(This trip) is designed to send a very clear cut message to all those in East Timor that we are there absolutely rock solid with the democratically-elected government," he told ABC.
"That's a signal which needs to be sent out to current rogue elements or prospective rogue elements.
"We are there to support the continuation of a robust and effective democracy."
The prime minister plans to use the trip to see whether Australian forces have all the resources they need to do their job, as well as gain a clearer understanding of how rebels were able to attack the two leaders.
Mr Rudd says a clearer understanding of what went on, which at moment still remains "murky", will help shape Australia's next move.
"The key question is to make an assessment of what's necessary now and to be completely open in our dialogue with the democratically-elected government in Dili about how things are going to unfold," he said.
Mr Rudd said it had been hard to ascertain the facts because Australian personnel had not been guarding the two leaders.
Asked if that should change, he said it was up to the Timorese.
"What I'll be saying to the leadership is that we're there to render necessary assistance," he said.
Around 200 troops, mainly from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, as well as 70 Australian Federal Police are now on the ground in East Timor, supported by the Australian navy frigate HMAS Perth, with a crew of around 150.
Australian Defence Force won't confirm SAS role
The Australian Defence Force would not confirm reports that elite special forces have deployed with the extra troops.
However, ADF spokesman Andrew Nikolic said Brigadier James Baker, in charge of Australian forces, had a range of responses available to him.
"(This) includes the use of an ADF special forces element," he said.
In total, Australia now has around 1000 troops and 100 police in East Timor supporting the country's military and the United Nations' International Stabilisation Force (ISF).
Mr Rudd will meet Brigadier Baker, members of the ISF and senior member of the AFP.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who met East Timor's Foreign Minister Zacharias da Costa in Darwin this week, said they had agreed there might be lessons to learn from events of the past week.
"(We) agreed that after the East Timorese government, after the Australian government, after the United Nations and the International Stabilisation Force had effected a full and proper evaluation, that we would take account of what if any lessons were to be learnt as a result of these terrible actions," he told parliament.
Neville Austin launches first stolen generations claim in Victoria
by Carly Crawford
A VICTORIAN man is set to sue the State Government in a stolen generation claim that threatens to open the legal floodgates.
Just a day after the Rudd Government's cashless apology, Neville Austin, a 44-year-old from the northern Melbourne suburb Reservoir, is launching the first stolen generation claim against the State of Victoria.
The suit could trigger mass action by Aborigines around Australia and comes amid fresh calls for a state-based compensation fund.
Mr Austin says he was removed from his mother as a five-month-old after he was admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital with a chest infection.
It is believed his solicitors have briefed seasoned barrister Jack Rush, QC, who last year helped extract a $4 billion payout from James Hardie Industries for sufferers of asbestos-related disease.
Litigation "under way"
Kristen Hilton, executive director of Public Interest Clearing House, which has been handling stolen generation claims, would not comment on Mr Austin's case but indicated litigation was under way.
"We see 'sorry', the gesture, as one part of the reparation process," she said.
"It acknowledges a wrong has been done and that wrong requires a remedy. We are investigating what remedy."
A writ has been drawn up but is yet to be filed with the courts.
It does not nominate a sum but stolen generation claimants in other jurisdictions have sought between $350,000 and $525,000.
"You're not different"
Mr Austin, who told his story during the 2000 National Sorry Day celebrations, claims he was removed from his parents in 1964.
He says he spent the next 18 years in foster homes or orphanages where he was ostracised because of his skin colour.
He said people would say to him: "You're not different - drink more milk, scrub harder in the bath".
"I didn't even know what an Aboriginal was until I was 17," he said at the time.
Mr Austin says he has letters from his mother begging for his return. She died nine years after his 1982 release from state care.
In a public letter, he wrote: "Being Aboriginal was the sole reason I was taken away from a mother and family who loved me. It was all done in the name of assimilation, with the ultimate goal of ridding this country of its indigenous people."
Mr Austin's case is similar to Victorian Bruce Trevorrow's. He won $775,000 when a South Australian court ruled his removal caused long-term depression. Mr Austin would not comment.
100 more interested in compensation
His cousin Lyn, who heads Stolen Generations Victoria, has said up to 100 Victorian Aborigines were interested in similar claims.
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency chief executive Muriel Bamblett said a state compensation fund would address concerns that urban Aborigines' plight was being overlooked.
"There is a real concern in Victoria we are not viewed as Aboriginal or part of the stolen generation process," she said. "A fund would generate a lot of goodwill."
Stolen Generations Alliance spokeswoman Karen Mundine said state-based compensation remained an option: "It's up to the states to decide."
Position remains
Aboriginal Affairs minister Richard Wynne said the Victorian Parliament had already apologised to the stolen generations.
"No compensation has flowed from this," spokesman Ben Ruse said.
"We support the national apology but our position on compensation has not changed."
WA will set up a fund for those abused in state care, including stolen generations members.
Queensland and NSW have rejected the idea; Tasmania has set aside $5 million for surviving stolen generations members and the children of those who have died.
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