Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DILI247
2006-05-23 15:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dili
Cable title:
EAST TIMOR SITREP #1 FOR MAY 23, 2006
VZCZCXRO4512 OO RUEHCHI RUEHNH RUEHPB DE RUEHDT #0247/01 1431512 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O P 231512Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY DILI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2549 INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0426 RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE RUEHXX/GENEVA IO MISSIONS COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0483 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0410 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0264 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0278 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0349 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0150 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 1870
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000247
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS; USPACOM FOR JOC AND POLAD; JOINT STAFF FOR J5
E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/23/2016
TAGS: ASEC PGOV MARR PHUM TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITREP #1 FOR MAY 23, 2006
DILI 00000247 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Sean Stein, Charge de Affairs, Embassy Dili,
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000247
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS; USPACOM FOR JOC AND POLAD; JOINT STAFF FOR J5
E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/23/2016
TAGS: ASEC PGOV MARR PHUM TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITREP #1 FOR MAY 23, 2006
DILI 00000247 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Sean Stein, Charge de Affairs, Embassy Dili,
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) Summary:
GOET PROPOSAL FOR TALKS FALTERS AS REINADO AND FDTL CLASH
COMMENTS FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTER
REQUESTS FROM THE GOET
POLICE ISSUES
IDP CAMPS
SITUATION IN DILI
End Summary.
GOET PROPOSAL FOR TALKS FALTERS AS REINADO AND FDTL CLASH
2. (C) Charge Stein and USDR traveled to Gleno at the request of
Foreign Minister Horta this morning to meet with representatives
of the dissident military groups and to persuade them to join a
proposed dialogue to be lead by President Gusmao and including
representatives from the Military, Parliament, Catholic church,
and Police. Once the agreement of the groups was secured, the
Foreign Minister traveled from Dili and joined the discussions.
While still meeting with the groups, Ramos Horta received a call
around 11:30am from Prime Minister Alkatiri notifying him that
fighting between Maj. Reinado, who had not attended the meeting,
and a band of AWOL military police and petitioners and the FDTL
had broken out in the mountain town of Fatu Ahi, several
kilometers to the south of Dili. The PM reportedly told Horta
that FDTL had taken control of the situation and was going to
"see it through to the end".
3. (U) According to various reports, the conflict began after
Reinado came down from his base in Aileu, accompanied by a group
of petitioners, to convey his demands to an Australian
journalist. Reinado was reportedly infuriated that the national
television channel did not broadcast his message in full last
night and hoped that the Australian journalist would spread his
much stronger, inflammatory message.
4. (SBU) The first shots were fired at approximately 11:30 am.
It is not clear which side initiated contact. Shortly after
hostilities commenced, FDTL deployed troops from Dili and
Metinaro to the area. FDTL sources have confirmed that the FDTL
has initiated a general mobilization of troops from Baucau,
Metinaro, and Hera.
5. (U) At present, a group of soldiers from Tasi Tolu has set up
a check point near the western edge of the capital city. Other
FDTL posts are reportedly being established throughout Dili.
Currently, the clashes between the two sides do not appear to be
moving closer to the capital.
6. (C) The number of casualties from the clash remains unclear,
but Government and military sources have confirmed that there
are at least 7 FDTL injured. USDR received a brief call from
Reinado at 3:30pm indicating that he was still alive. In a
phone conversation with Embassy staff at approximately 4:00pm,
Lt. Salsinha reported that two injured members of Reinado's
group had returned to Aileu. There are no other reports of
injuries to members of Reinado's group.
COMMENTS FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTER
7. (U) In a briefing for the diplomatic corps, FM Horta stated
that the government remained committed to carrying out the
proposed dialogue with all groups with the exception of the one
led by Maj Reinado.
REQUESTS FROM THE GOET
8. (C) After the briefing for the diplomatic corps, Horta asked
to meet privately with the Charge. In that meeting, Horta
conveyed his appreciation for assistance in helping to negotiate
with the dissident groups and requested that the Charge maintain
contact with Majors Tilman and Tara to encourage them to remain
DILI 00000247 002.2 OF 002
calm and to refrain from taking any actions which might be
considered hostile. Horta also reported that he and Prime
Minister Alkatiri had met immediately prior to the briefing and
had decided to request immediate "robust" multilateral or
bilateral police assistance. He said that he had spoken to the
Portuguese foreign minister and had been told that the
Portuguese president was reconsidering the decision to deploy
GNR (the Portuguese National Guard) and that he was hopeful that
Australia would immediately dispatch police. Timor did not
intend to request military assistance at this time. Horta also
said that the Security Council was not scheduled to consider the
situation in Timor until June 5 and that Timor was considering
the possibility of asking the Council to move this date forward.
POLICE ISSUES
9. (C) On the road from Gleno, Charge and USDR witnessed a group
of 11 police who reported that they were heading to Ermera to
join Maj. Tilman. In addition, EmbOffs sited several of Maj.
Tilman's followers establishing lookout posts to the west of
Dili. Australian reporting indicates that there has been a
standoff between a group of police and military near Tasitolu.
IDP CAMPS
10. (U) NGO's working in the IDP camps report that numbers in
the camps began to sharply increase again today. So far, new
arrivals are reporting that they are there to escape the
outbreak of communal violence in the Becora and Taibesse
neighborhoods (see yesterday's East Timor Sitrep). Meanwhile, a
second day of rain has begun to make life difficult in Dili's
IDP camps. NGOs were working to address issues of flooding and
sanitation.
SITUATION IN DILI
11. (U) The atmosphere around the city was tense, but there did
not appear to be widespread panic. Government offices and many
business closed early and workers were sent home. A yet unknown
number of Dili residents have begun to flee the city, but there
does not appear to be a mass exodus as there was earlier in the
month. The heavy rains have flooded many parts of the capital
city and are likely causing people to remain in their homes.
International flights out of Timor were less than half full, but
airline offices and travel agencies closed this afternoon after
the fighting broke out. American citizens have been notified of
the current security situation and been strongly advised to
avoid the affected areas, see EAC cable for more information.
STEIN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS; USPACOM FOR JOC AND POLAD; JOINT STAFF FOR J5
E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/23/2016
TAGS: ASEC PGOV MARR PHUM TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITREP #1 FOR MAY 23, 2006
DILI 00000247 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Sean Stein, Charge de Affairs, Embassy Dili,
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) Summary:
GOET PROPOSAL FOR TALKS FALTERS AS REINADO AND FDTL CLASH
COMMENTS FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTER
REQUESTS FROM THE GOET
POLICE ISSUES
IDP CAMPS
SITUATION IN DILI
End Summary.
GOET PROPOSAL FOR TALKS FALTERS AS REINADO AND FDTL CLASH
2. (C) Charge Stein and USDR traveled to Gleno at the request of
Foreign Minister Horta this morning to meet with representatives
of the dissident military groups and to persuade them to join a
proposed dialogue to be lead by President Gusmao and including
representatives from the Military, Parliament, Catholic church,
and Police. Once the agreement of the groups was secured, the
Foreign Minister traveled from Dili and joined the discussions.
While still meeting with the groups, Ramos Horta received a call
around 11:30am from Prime Minister Alkatiri notifying him that
fighting between Maj. Reinado, who had not attended the meeting,
and a band of AWOL military police and petitioners and the FDTL
had broken out in the mountain town of Fatu Ahi, several
kilometers to the south of Dili. The PM reportedly told Horta
that FDTL had taken control of the situation and was going to
"see it through to the end".
3. (U) According to various reports, the conflict began after
Reinado came down from his base in Aileu, accompanied by a group
of petitioners, to convey his demands to an Australian
journalist. Reinado was reportedly infuriated that the national
television channel did not broadcast his message in full last
night and hoped that the Australian journalist would spread his
much stronger, inflammatory message.
4. (SBU) The first shots were fired at approximately 11:30 am.
It is not clear which side initiated contact. Shortly after
hostilities commenced, FDTL deployed troops from Dili and
Metinaro to the area. FDTL sources have confirmed that the FDTL
has initiated a general mobilization of troops from Baucau,
Metinaro, and Hera.
5. (U) At present, a group of soldiers from Tasi Tolu has set up
a check point near the western edge of the capital city. Other
FDTL posts are reportedly being established throughout Dili.
Currently, the clashes between the two sides do not appear to be
moving closer to the capital.
6. (C) The number of casualties from the clash remains unclear,
but Government and military sources have confirmed that there
are at least 7 FDTL injured. USDR received a brief call from
Reinado at 3:30pm indicating that he was still alive. In a
phone conversation with Embassy staff at approximately 4:00pm,
Lt. Salsinha reported that two injured members of Reinado's
group had returned to Aileu. There are no other reports of
injuries to members of Reinado's group.
COMMENTS FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTER
7. (U) In a briefing for the diplomatic corps, FM Horta stated
that the government remained committed to carrying out the
proposed dialogue with all groups with the exception of the one
led by Maj Reinado.
REQUESTS FROM THE GOET
8. (C) After the briefing for the diplomatic corps, Horta asked
to meet privately with the Charge. In that meeting, Horta
conveyed his appreciation for assistance in helping to negotiate
with the dissident groups and requested that the Charge maintain
contact with Majors Tilman and Tara to encourage them to remain
DILI 00000247 002.2 OF 002
calm and to refrain from taking any actions which might be
considered hostile. Horta also reported that he and Prime
Minister Alkatiri had met immediately prior to the briefing and
had decided to request immediate "robust" multilateral or
bilateral police assistance. He said that he had spoken to the
Portuguese foreign minister and had been told that the
Portuguese president was reconsidering the decision to deploy
GNR (the Portuguese National Guard) and that he was hopeful that
Australia would immediately dispatch police. Timor did not
intend to request military assistance at this time. Horta also
said that the Security Council was not scheduled to consider the
situation in Timor until June 5 and that Timor was considering
the possibility of asking the Council to move this date forward.
POLICE ISSUES
9. (C) On the road from Gleno, Charge and USDR witnessed a group
of 11 police who reported that they were heading to Ermera to
join Maj. Tilman. In addition, EmbOffs sited several of Maj.
Tilman's followers establishing lookout posts to the west of
Dili. Australian reporting indicates that there has been a
standoff between a group of police and military near Tasitolu.
IDP CAMPS
10. (U) NGO's working in the IDP camps report that numbers in
the camps began to sharply increase again today. So far, new
arrivals are reporting that they are there to escape the
outbreak of communal violence in the Becora and Taibesse
neighborhoods (see yesterday's East Timor Sitrep). Meanwhile, a
second day of rain has begun to make life difficult in Dili's
IDP camps. NGOs were working to address issues of flooding and
sanitation.
SITUATION IN DILI
11. (U) The atmosphere around the city was tense, but there did
not appear to be widespread panic. Government offices and many
business closed early and workers were sent home. A yet unknown
number of Dili residents have begun to flee the city, but there
does not appear to be a mass exodus as there was earlier in the
month. The heavy rains have flooded many parts of the capital
city and are likely causing people to remain in their homes.
International flights out of Timor were less than half full, but
airline offices and travel agencies closed this afternoon after
the fighting broke out. American citizens have been notified of
the current security situation and been strongly advised to
avoid the affected areas, see EAC cable for more information.
STEIN