ASIA: Mourners gather for Reinado's funeral

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2008
ASIA: Mourners gather for Reinado's funeral

DILI, Feb 14 AAP - Hundreds of supporters are expected to attend the funeral later
today of slain East Timor rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, remembered by his father today
as a defender of justice.

Dozens of mourners have already gathered at the compound of Victor Alves' Dili home,
many wailing and crying in an outpouring of emotion for his dead son.

Reinado's coffin rests alongside that of another rebel killed during Monday's failed
bid to assassinate East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta.

Pictures of the two dead men in their military uniforms sat on top of the caskets.

"You are dead," one women cried. "Now you can't talk again. My brother."

Mourners, many wearing torn white ribbons around their wrists, sang hymns and prayed
for Reinado's soul.

Alvez struggled to contain his grief as he spoke to reporters ahead of this afternoons burials.

"I feel so sad, we cannot accept this tragedy," he said.

"It's difficult for us to believe because Alfredo and (President Ramos-) Horta did
a great job. There was never any contradiction between them.

"We believe Horta is someone that will resolve these problems. I still don't believe
this has happened."

Reinado was among 600 mutinous soldiers dismissed by East Timor's government in 2006,
triggering violence in which 37 people were killed and more than 150,000 people forced
from their homes.

Ramos-Horta had taken a moderate approach to the fugitive leader, insisting on talks
to resolve their dispute and waiving an arrest warrant for Reinado on charges related
to 2006 violence.

Alvez said his son's actions would be judged by God, and again urged Reinado's supporters
to refrain from violence.

"So I again announce to all, Alfredo is dead, with what he did wrong and what he did
right ... so just God knows which one was wrong or right."

Alvez said hundreds of supporters and friends were expected to gather for the burials
"because for them, Alfredo is a man who defended justice".

"He fought for them, for what they wanted, so they have come here to show their feelings
as friends."

He said Reinado had answered his country's call to serve his country in army.

"They named him major," Alvez said.

"We agreed when the government took him alive to serve the country, but in the end,
they brought a dead body back to us.

"If he didn't go to serve his country, maybe he could still serve his family."

Security is tight in Dili today, with a Portuguese army tank stationed at the end of
the road leading to Reinado's family home.

Portuguese troops, armed with machine guns, were also patrolling the area alongside police.

The funerals are not expected for some hours yet, with workers still digging the graves.

Elsewhere in Dili, people were going about their normal activities at schools and local markets.

But some fear the situation could deteriorate later in the day, after the funerals
have been held.

Graffiti reading "Viva Alfredo" formerly visible across town has been painted over.

The slain rebel leader was a thorn in the side of East Timor authorities and security
forces, but enjoyed wide support in some sections of the community.

Reinado's wife was not expected to attend the funeral and is believed to still be in
Australia, where she lives with her three sons.

Reinado will be buried within the compound of his house, near his father's home.

AAP kn/vam/jt/sp/tnf

KEYWORD: TIMOR REINADO LEAD

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