The Guardian 13 February, 2008
Attempted assassinations in Timor L’este
Events surrounding the armed attack Timor L’este’s two main leaders, Jose Ramos Horta and Xanana Gusmao, resulting in the serious wounding of Ramos Horta, are still unclear as The Guardian goes to press. It is known that Ramos Horta is in a serious but stable condition in a Darwin hospital and that Xanana Gusmao escaped without injury. It is also known that the Australian government has sent additional troops and police to Timor L’este to reinforce the 800 Australian personnel already stationed in the country along with a UN contingent.
However, the circumstances and the reasons surrounding the attack are still unclear. The Guardian will cover the recent events and their background in the next issue — including the background to the destabilisation of the elected government of Mari Alkatiri, the role played by Alfredo Reinado — who was killed in the attack — and his escape from jail, the role of the Australian government and the Australian media in destabilising and then removing the Alkatiri government, the role played by the Australian government in imposing an unfair deal regarding Timor L’este’s oil resources, the question of the country’s sovereignty and independence and other issues and events.
Some of these events have already been outlined in the CPA booklet A Very Australian Coup.