Alkatiri To Walk Free: Timor Leste

You have to admire this forgive and forget attitude of the politicians in Timor Leste. One of them organises a bunch of thugs to go out and knock off his rivals and then when he is found out, he steps down and lo and behold, all is forgiven.

According to Jose Ramos Horta, deposed East Timorese Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri is probably guilty of crimes against the state but any sentence would be commuted by parliament. Very generous since Horta was in Alkatiri's sights or so it is reported from the capital Dili. But Ramos Horta said he had assumed effective control of the Government to provide a smooth transition to an interim administration to be named by President Xanana Gusmao within days.

It appears the former foreign minister has been in intense negotiations with the ruling Fretilin party to secure its backing for him as interim prime minister, a position he would hold until the country's elections scheduled for the middle of next year. Horta told The Australian yesterday that Dr Alkatiri's many positive contributions to the country would have to be taken into consideration.

Jose Ramos Horta rejected suggestions there had been a partisan Australian involvement in Dr Alkatiri's downfall but said Canberra's approach to the crisis could have been more discrete. He then went on to state that Australia are a big donor. Of course they are, they want more oil and gas!.

He said the key challenge for his interim government would be addressing the humanitarian situation, security, job creation and national dialogue after weeks of violence sparked by the sacking of almost 600 soldiers claiming ethnic-based discrimination in the military. Australia has announced a doubling of its food aid to East Timor to $8 million after the UN World Food Program warned that supplies to more than 140,000 refugees in the country were running out.

Mr Ramos Horta's likely appointment as interim prime minister this week will be the result of several days of negotiations with Fretilin. As the party of government it has the right to nominate its preferred candidate to Mr Gusmao. Mr Ramos Horta said he was considering a suggestion by Mr Gusmao that he stand for president next year. Mr Gusmao, also not a Fretilin member has indicated he is unwilling to stand again.