UNREST IN DILI OVER THE WEEKEND FOLLOWING FDTL DISMISSALS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DILI 000144

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MARR ASEC TT
SUBJECT: UNREST IN DILI OVER THE WEEKEND FOLLOWING FDTL DISMISSALS,
BUT SOME CALM RESTORED EARLY IN WEEK

REF: A) 05 DILI 313, B) DILI 96, C) DILI 113, D) DILI 13

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1. Summary: Beginning late last week and escalating over the
weekend, there have been a number of incidents of unrest around
Dili involving intimidation and threats as well as attacks on
houses and other property. As of Monday night (March 27),
widespread police patrols have resulted in a significant
reduction in the number of occurrences. These incidents began
in the environment of escalated tensions following the dismissal
of 591 soldiers from the armed forces (FDTL) who were on strike
because of alleged discrimination by commanders from the eastern
districts ("Lorosa'e") against soldiers from the western
districts ("Loromonu"). See reftels B, C and D. The incidents
have typically been perpetrated by members of martial arts
groups with a history of violent conflict among themselves, as
well as some ad hoc groups, most of whom appear to be seizing on
the East-West issue as a pretext for their own more localized
agendas. Although a handful of the dismissed soldiers appear to
have joined in some of the attacks, there is no indication of
any organizational links between the group of dismissed soldiers
and these events. The spate of incidents combined with the high
profile of the FDTL developments, has created a climate of fear
among many Dili residents and rumors of increased violence have
proliferated. However, police responses, particularly in the
last day or so, appear to be bringing the situation under
control in the areas that have seen the most disturbances. End
summary.

Incidents of unrest in Dili
--------------


2. Following the public announcement by Brigadier General Taur
Matan Ruak, the Commander of the FDTL, that the 591 soldiers
that remained on strike would be dismissed (see reftel D) there
has been increased focus on the issues of discrimination raised
by the soldiers. Beginning late last week and escalating over
the weekend, incidents of intimidation and some violence,
primarily targeted at houses and other property, have occurred
in several areas of Dili. The incidents have typically not
involved firearms or other serious weapons, employing instead
primarily rocks to break windows and other property and some
machete-wielding threats. The perpetrators are primarily
members of martial arts groups, although some have also appeared
to be ad hoc groups of people identifying themselves as either
"Loromonu" or "Lorosa'e". In some cases the groups have focused
their attacks on anyone they identify as Lorosa'e. In other
cases, the incidents have involved fighting between specific
groups with some history of conflict. (Note: There are a dozen
or more martial arts groups in East Timor. These groups were
mostly established during Indonesian times and are focused
primarily on the training and practice of specific martial arts
forms. However, they also have a long history of engaging in
fights with each other, some of which have been quite violent in
the past. In 2004 President Xanana Gusmao organized a national
dialogue to put an end to a wave of violence between these
groups. This resulted in a joint declaration of non-violence
signed last June and until this last weekend, conflict among the
groups had been only sporadic. See reftel A. End note.)


3. Some examples of the types of incidents occurring are as
follows. In one of Dili's major markets, an unidentified group
staged attacks on Friday and Saturday nights (March 25 and 26)
during which they declared their intention to destroy the market
and proceeded to destroy the stalls of two Lorosae vendors and
throw stones at several "Lorosa'e" houses. In another
neighborhood across town, members of the SHT martial arts group
that had split into two rival Lorosa'e versus Loromonu groups
targeted each other's houses causing considerable damage to
several and the destruction of one house and several vehicles.
These incidences have taken place almost exclusively in Dili.
However there was one confirmed case of an international NGO
staff member from the eastern region being beaten in Maliana,
near the western border, and unconfirmed rumors of incidences of
Loromonu versus Lorosa'e tension occurring in Liquica and
Maubisse over the weekend.


4. All in all, incidents occurred several nights running in
about five main areas, and sporadically in several others.
Apparently as a result of widespread police patrols, especially
in and around those areas that have seen the most unrest, there
was a dramatic reduction in incidents on Monday and Tuesday
nights March 27 and 28. The Embassy understands that these
patrols will continue until the situation returns to normal.

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Dismissed soldiers remain in limbo
--------------


5. Although the perpetrators of these events have seized on the
dismissal of 591 striking FDTL members as justification for
instigating East versus West conflict, there has been no
indication of any organizational link between the group of
soldiers and the various incidents. According to Embassy
sources and news reports, a handful of the dismissed soldiers
have joined in some attacks, and at least two arrested as a
result. But these appear to be the exception to the rule.


6. Meanwhile, the group has found itself in some limbo as it
continues to wait for the President to respond to their request
for an audience in order to deliver their uniforms, and possibly
to make a last appeal for his intervention. The group's
spokesperson, Lieutenant Salsinha, reports some frustration with
the lack of response to date to their requests. He has also
stated that they are planning a demonstration, either in
connection with the uniform delivery, or, if they are unable to
see the President, to protest that as well. A planned
demonstration by the group on Monday was called off by Salsinha
allegedly because the President, Prime Minister, and Minister of
Defense were all out of town to attend the anniversary ceremony
for the national police in the town of Liquica. However, one
source reported that when the group gathered to prepare for the
demonstration, only 50 or 60 of the dismissed soldiers showed
up. It is possible that many have already returned to their
homes.

Many Dili residents frightened, taking refuge elsewhere
-------------- --------------


7. Although the incidences described above have so far involved
little in the way of direct attacks on people, the climate of
fear that they have produced among many of Dili's residents has
been palpable. As a result, many people have abandoned their
homes for the time to relocate to places where they feel safer,
often with relatives in other parts of the city. Several
Embassy staff members reported taking in family or neighbors who
felt unsafe in their own homes and several sources have noted
the phenomenon of Lorosae families not returning to their usual
homes. A number of the Embassy guards also expressed concern
about returning home at night when working the evening shift.
These fears seem to have been somewhat ameliorated by the
resumption of some measure of calm the last two nights.


8. However, it is clear that a number of Dili residents still do
not feel safe enough to return to their homes. In a dramatic
example of this is the approximately 200 people, including
entire families, have taken refuge in a Catholic Church
compound, run by the Salesian Order, in the Comoro area of Dili.
Embassy staff yesterday (March 28) visited the site and found
that all of the families are sleeping in the same hall on the
floor and several children have fallen ill (one was taken to the
hospital). They reported that some of their homes had been
attacked directly, while others were just afraid of staying in
their neighborhoods. Most of the families are Lorosae, but
several are Loromonu. One woman expressed her opinion that they
were in this situation because of their "leaders' words" and
expressed hope that the Government would quickly resolve the
situation so that they could return to their normal lives. The
Minister of Interior reportedly visited the compound on Monday
afternoon to try to convince them that it was now safe to
return, but so far all of the families appear to be remaining.

Police response: so far so good
--------------


9. The national police (PNTL) in Dili has in general responded
effectively and professionally to the situation. Over the
weekend they were reported to respond to calls quickly, have
been calm and professional on arrival, and remained to patrol
the area for several hours after. Beginning Monday afternoon,
they established patrols in all the main problem neighborhoods
and along main transportation routes. Monday and Tuesday nights
therefore saw a dramatic reduction in incidences, with only a
few reported in areas where the police did not have a presence.


10. Observers have noted that the PNTL response so far has been
orchestrated under the direction of Police Commissioner Paulo

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Martins as the Minister of Interior, who normally sets the tone
for police responses to security threats, was ill for several
days, only appearing in public again on Monday. Martins is
widely regarded as both ethical and competent, but his decision
making authority is often overshadowed by the Minister whose is
more inclined to politicize such situations and turn a blind eye
to police brutality. Martins set the tone for a more measured
response by the PNTL in a public address delivered over the
weekend in which he called for calm and stated that the PNTL
would carry out its duties without reference to where people
came from or other affiliations.
SHIRATORI