EAST TIMOR SITREP #1 FOR MAY 24, 2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000252

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS; USPACOM FOR JOC AND POLAD; JOINT STAFF FOR J5

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/24/2016
TAGS: ASEC PGOV MARR PHUM CACS TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITREP #1 FOR MAY 24, 2006


DILI 00000252 001.4 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Sean Stein, Charge de Affairs, Embassy Dili,
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (U) Summary.
- EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF COMMENCMENT OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN FDTL
AND DISSIDENTS
- FDTL ACTIVITIES
- OTHER VIOLENCE IN DILI
- AIR TRAFFIC ISSUES
- DISIDENT MILITARY GROUPS
- OTHER POLICE ISSUES
- IDP CAMPS OVERCROWDED
- AMCIT PHOTO JOURNALIST COMES UNDER FIRE IN TASITOLU
- AMCIT NURSE REMAINS IN TIBAR AREA
- WARDEN UPDATE
End Summary.


2. (SBU) A highly credible Embassy source provided a description
of the outbreak of hostilities between the FDTL and the
dissident military police led by Major Reinado. The source was
on the scene at the time, assisting an Australian journalist
interview Reinado. He provided the following description of the
events:
-- Shortly after the media interview was over, several regular
FDTL appeared and approached Reinado and his men;
-- Reinado warned them to turn back, stating that he had no
issue with the regular FDTL, only with Colonel Lere;
-- When the soldiers continued to approach, Reinado's men were
ordered to fire on them.

FDTL ACTIVITIES


3. (SBU) Combat operations have reportedly ceased in the Fatuahi
area to the southeast of Dili, but new clashes, this time
between the FDTL and dissident police and civilians, have broken
out to the west of Dili, a few kilometers past the airport. FDTL
has established a roadblock on the main intersection to the
south of the airport. (Note: this does not disrupt traffic
between Dili and the airport.) There are credible reports of
FDTL patrols in Dili disarming police throughout the capital.
Reports indicate that the FDTL may be preparing to resume
patrols in order to secure the city. FDTL has deployed a .50
caliber machine gun -- the largest weapon in the FDTL arsenal,
to Tasitolu.

OTHER VIOLENCE IN DILI


4. (U) There are several reports of clashes between civilian
groups in Dili in both the Comoro and Becora areas. Gunshots
have been heard in various places around Dili.

AIR TRAFFIC ISSUES


5. (SBU) According to USDR, sporadic gunfire and conflict in the
Tibar and Tasitolu area could pose a threat to aircraft using
the Comoro airport.

DISIDENT MILITARY GROUPS


6. (C) Major Reinado: According to FDTL reports, Maj. Reinado
has been given refuge by a detachment from the Police Reserve
Unit (PRU) in Aileu. The PRU is a special paramilitary arm of
the police equipped with side arms and assault rifles.


7. (C) Majors Tilman and Tara and the Petitioners: At the
request of the Government, the Embassy has maintained contact
with Tilman and Tara and with Salsinha to encourage them to keep
their followers under control, refrain from undertaking any
provocative activities, and reject the use of violence. As of
yesterday evening, all three men stated that they and their
followers are committed to dialogue and that they will not use
violence except in self-defense or if the FDTL begins to conduct
operations in their area. That commitment may have broken down
as Maj. Tilman is now reportedly leading the group fighting in

DILI 00000252 002.4 OF 002


Tibar and Tasitolu.

OTHER POLICE ISSUES


8. (SBU) The atmosphere at National Police Headquarters is
reportedly very tense. Guards have been posted around the
perimeter and on the roof, ostensibly to provide general
security, but actually to deter FDTL units from entering the
compound. Early indications today confirm yesterday's reporting
that the National Police Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) - the
unit charged with responding to civil disturbances - has
virtually ceased to exist as an organized unit.

IDP CAMPS OVERCROWDED


9. (SBU) Dili's IDP camps have become overcrowded as families
have fled from the Becora and Tasitolu suburbs. One IDP camp in
Becora has been evacuated and the IDPs relocated to a camp in
central Dili. Youth have also attempted to enter one of the
largest IDP camps with concealed weapons, but were expelled by
security guards. The World Health Organization has been asked
to do a rapid assessment of the health and sanitation situation
in the camps as recent torrential rains may lead to a health
crisis.

AMCIT PHOTO JOURNALIST COMES UNDER FIRE IN TASITOLU


10. (SBU) At around 1015 this morning, Poloff was contacted by
an American photo journalist who had entered the Tasitolu area
to cover ongoing clashes there. The Amcit reported that his
vehicle was hit by gunfire near FDTL headquarters and that he
had been pinned down by continued shooting. Amcit requested
Embassy assistance to convey him to safety. This proved
unnecessary as the Australian military representatives was
nearby and was able to assist. The Amcit he is now safe and
does not know the identity of the shooters.

AMCIT NURSE REMAINS IN TIBAR AREA


11. (SBU) Poloff was also contacted around 2300 last night by an
Amcit nurse who lives in the Tibar area. She reported that the
mob that Charge had seen earlier (see May 23 Sitrep cable) had
grown and was becoming more beligerant. Police had come to the
clinic compound to warn them to evacuate as they expected the
situation to deteriorate and that the compound may be targeted
because some patients and staff are easterners. Embassy offered
to arrange to evacuate her to Dili, but she declined. She and
her colleagues have opted to remain in place, secure the
compound as much as possible and try to maintain a very low
profile. The Embassy remains in contact with her.

WARDEN UPDATE


12. (SBU) The Embassy has sent an SMS warden message this
morning advising US Citizens to avoid all areas where violence
has been reported and to avoid non-essential movements. The
State Department's revised Travel Warning has been sent via
email to the American community.STEIN