East Timor Leader Meets His Would-Be Assassin
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
DILI, East Timor — The alleged triggerman in an assassination attempt on East Timor’s president, Jose Ramos-Horta, wept yesterday after surrendering with 11 other mutinous troops and handing over their automatic weapons.
A state of emergency is still in effect nearly three months after failed attempts on the lives of the tiny nation’s two leaders, with two suspects still at large. But yesterday’s emotional surrenders went a long way toward easing tensions after more than a year of violence.
Ramos-Horta, 58, who nearly died in the February 11 attacks, also cried when the alleged gunman, Marcelo Caetano, and 11 other rebels were brought before reporters at the Presidential Palace in Dili.
