This is from STL. If it's true, it's despicable

President of the Republic Jose Ramos Horta, has already decided to return former Commander of the Laksaur militia Maternus Bere, to Indonesian authorities because he suffers from a complicated medical condition.

"I have made this decision so that there is no impact for the State of Timor-Leste, based on medical advice that Maternus Bere suffers from a condition that is a bit grave," PR Horta told journalists this at the Comoro International Airport, Dili, on Monday 19 October 2009, as he was about to travel to participate at President SBY's swearing in ceremony.

This is the first I've heard of a "grave" medical condition. I know they tried to get Bere out before by pretending he was ill, but when it was decided that he could be treated in Dili, the whole plan was scuppered. So what's wrong with Bere now?

He confessed that before the state decided to hand him over to Indonesian authorities, according to the opinion of two doctors, one from Indonesia and one from Timor-Leste, Maternus suffers from diabetes and other medical conditions.

I'm sure diabetes can be treated in Timor-Leste. And as for "other medical conditions", I hear there are doctors for those things too. Apparently it's a matter of life and death, but it's taken nearly two months to surface. What a crock.

Of course Lucia Lobato has something to say. She "appealed to judicial authorities and political leaders not to oppose or criticize the State's decision regarding the freeing of Maternus Bere, because when political leaders criticize one another without looking for solutions, Maternus Bere can end up dying in Timor-Leste".

Bere can't have had it that rough in the Indonesian embassy. When I spoke to officials there a few weeks ago, they told me Bere was perfectly healthy. There was no mention of diabetes then. Everyone is apparently worried that Bere is going to die in the Indonesian embassy.

I'm not in Dili at the moment, but for those who are, you can't let this happen.