Print this page Thugs let loose as Dili burns By IAN McPHEDRAN 06jun06 AUSTRALIAN troops have detained more than 50 vandals, thugs and firebugs in strife-torn East Timor, but have let them all go home because of a complete law and order breakdown. Without police or functioning courts in Dili, the Diggers, who have locked up only those caught in the act, have no capacity to run a prison. In a positive sign, one suspected criminal faced court yesterday. A lack of policing and law and order is a huge problem in Dili, where ethnic gangs have run riot for the past 10 days. Yesterday morning, a large mob of young men, many with weapons tucked under their shirts, converged on the tough Comoro area close to the airport. Within an hour, it was ablaze and Australian troops were forced to use tear gas as rival gangs exchanged fire. Adding to the chaos today will be the expected arrival of hundreds of people, including former soldiers, returning to Dili to protest against Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri. The nation's political stalemate showed no signs of ending, with rebel soldiers refusing to disarm until Mr Alkatiri is out of office and facing a court. Meanwhile, new Defence Minister Jose Ramos Horta has been visiting soldiers in their barracks to the east and south of Dili. Yesterday he travelled to Gleno to meet the leaders of the so-called "partitioners" - the 600 soldiers sacked by the Government. East Timor's parliament met yesterday, but almost half its politicians were too afraid to attend. Just 50 of its 87 MPs were present. On Sunday, the central committee of the ruling Fretilin party reaffirmed its support for Mr Alkatiri. Australian military commander Brigadier Mick Slater said street fighting in Dili was not out of control. "I don't think there is an escalation," he said. Labour's foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd, who visited Dili yesterday for high-level talks, said the Diggers were frustrated because they had to allow suspected criminals to walk free. "A greater police presence is the only answer," he said. "The Australian army can't produce miracles." Meanwhile, Portugal has said it will retain the operational command of its 120-strong police contingent in East Timor, rejecting Australia's proposal of placing it under the command of its peacekeepers, media reports said.
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