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| Down Under |
| Former Interior Minister Lobato Jailed |
| 2007-03-07 |
| Dili, 7 March (AKI) - East Timor's former interior minister and strongman Rogerio Lobato has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for his arming civilian hit squads during violent ethnic clashes last April and May that killed dozens and forced about 155,000 to flee their homes. Lobato was convicted of misappropriating firearms for unlawful use and four counts of manslaughter resulting from arming civilians to kill political rivals. The verdict was reached by a panel of three international jurists after a three-month trial. The judges said Lobato was responsible for much of last year's rioting and his conviction is reported to have eased political tensions in the tiny southeast Asian country where UN peacekeepers in the capital Dili have been struggling to control warrring political factions. Rebel leader Alfred Reinado, who is on the run from Australian peacekeeping troops, had threatened violence in the capital if Lobato was acquitted. No backlash reported from supporters of the ruling Fretilin party of which Lobato is deputy leader. East Timor's former prime minister Mari Alkatiri - who is still Fretilin's secretary general - was among those sitting in the front seat of the court during Lobato's conviction. Alkatiri stepped down as prime minister last June amid allegations he ordered a hit squad to kill political opponents. Lobato was sacked as interior minister last May. Last year's riots have left East Timor chronically unstable and divided. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 Beat me to it, darn you! |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2007-03-07 16:39 |
| #1 with apologies to Styx... domo arigato Mr. Lobato. thank you, I'll be here all week. try the veal. |
| Posted by: IG-88 2007-03-07 16:15 |