EMBASSY DILI EAC MEETING ON MAY 24, 2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L DILI 000255 SIPDIS SIPDIS PACOM FOR JOC NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/24/2016 TAGS: ASEC AMGT ID TT SUBJECT: EMBASSY DILI EAC MEETING ON MAY 24, 2006 CLASSIFIED BY: Grover Joseph Rees, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Dili, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) CLASSIFIED BY: Grover Joseph Rees, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Dili, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) On May 24, 2006, the DCM convened a meeting of Embassy Dili's EAC to review the Embassy's contingency planning in light of the deteriorating security environment. The Ambassador, RSO, POL, MGMT, USAID, CONS, and ODC attended the meeting. ¶2. (C) POL and ODC reported of continued factional violence among various groups in different parts of Dili and environs. The FDTL has continued operations against dissident FDTL members as well as against groups supporting them. Groups of thugs were seen in at least three areas of Dili. One group established an informal roadblock near a roundabout located on the road to the airport. They beat a woman in a taxi wishing to pass them because they perceived her as being from the west. The Tasitolu and Tibar areas west of Dili were relatively stable by nightfall after prolonged clashes throughout the day. The Becora area -- site of some of yesterday's clashes -- was also stable much of the day but most of its population has left. ¶3. (SBU) Management officer reported that the policy of admin/liberal leave for FSNs should continue. He also added that there were 37 open seats on outbound flights. RSO noted that most businesses either did not open today or closed early and that local police presence was scarce to nonexistent. USAID reported that most of its contractors and grantees would be departing in the next few days, following Embassy's change to Ordered Departure. USAID representative stated that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has increased back up to around 20,000. ¶4. (C) Ambassador described the meeting held by President Gusmao and FM Ramos Horta. President Gusmao stated that he has requested armed intervention because he sees it as the only way to deal with the climate of panic that has engulfed East Timor. After the meeting, FM Horta told the Ambassador that East Timor would appreciate USG assistance in encouraging Australia to land troops within the next 24 hours. (See septels for full readout). ¶5. (C) EAC members agreed that the Ambassador, an ODC representative, and a TDY Poloff shall transfer from their current residences to sites closer to the Embassy compound. The EAC also agreed to conduct nightly radio checks, to track all requests for travel outside of Dili, to implement a shadow roster to ensure adequate coverage in the event that the Mission must commence 24 hour operations, and to recommend staff prepare "get away" bags. The EAC also agreed that an updated warden message be sent out to Amcits, strongly advising that they depart, and that Embassy devise talking points for all personnel to use when fielding questions from inquiring Amcits. ¶6. (SBU) We will continue to monitor developments and will take additional measures as necessary to ensure the safety of the American community in East Timor. REES