Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DILI258
2006-05-25 07:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dili
Cable title:  

EAST TIMOR SITREP #2 FOR MAY 24, 2006

Tags:  ASEC PGOV MARR PHUM TT 
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O P 250715Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2564
INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0436
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHXX/GENEVA IO MISSIONS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0495
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0420
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0274
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0288
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0359
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0160
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 1886
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DILI 000258 

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 TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITREP #2 FOR MAY 24, 2006


DILI 00000258 001.2 OF 003


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 03 DILI 000258

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 TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITREP #2 FOR MAY 24, 2006


DILI 00000258 001.2 OF 003


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




1. (U) Summary:
GOET REQUESTS INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION
CONTINUED FIGHTING BETWEEN FDTL AND DISSIDENT FORCES
UPDATE ON DISSIDENT LEADERS
POLICE UPDATE
THE SITUATION IN DILI
IDP UPDATE
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY EVACUATION
End summary.

GOET REQUESTS INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION


2. (C) At a meeting with the diplomatic corps this afternoon,
President Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, Foreign
Minister Ramos Horta and President of Parliament Francisco
Guterres, formally request international intervention. A
written request was later submitted to the Government of
Australia. According to the Australian Embassy, Australia has
formally replied in the affirmative but emphasized that
additional details need to be worked out. A team is reportedly
coming to Dili from Canberra tomorrow to begin those
discussions. See septel for details of the request and analysis
of implications for the GOET.

CONTINUED FIGHTING BETWEEN FDTL AND DISSIDENT FORCES


3. (C) Active fighting between FDTL and dissident forces
commenced around 7:00am in the Tibar / Tasitolu area,
immediately west of Dili. Dissident forces who had gathered in
the Tibar area overnight then moved to the FDTL base in Tasitolu
(a few kilometers closer to Dili) and attacked using small arms.
These forces reportedly consisted of members of the various
police and special units who had defected at the start of
hostilities as well as members of the so-called petitioner
group. Force levels in this engagement were estimated to be
30-40 soldiers from FDTL with naval augmentation (which had to
sail in backward after losing the forward gear) against
approximately 80-100 dissident forces. As of late this
afternoon, it appeared that FDTL has regained some control over
the area, although residents of Tibar were still reporting
ongoing shooting as of 5:00pm. Accurate casualty figures are

not yet available, though early reports are that dissident
forces suffered heavy casualties while only one FDTL injury has
been confirmed.


4. (SBU) Additional skirmishes between FDTL units and
yet-to-be-identified forces occurred in the hills overlooking
the Taibesse neighborhood of Dili this afternoon. Emboffs heard
sporadic gunfire and periodic grenade explosions. These clashes
took place near the home of the Commander of FDTL, Brigadier
General Taur Matan Ruak, and Embassy received several
unconfirmed reports of an attack on his house. The fighting
reportedly expanded into the Lahane area, near the official
residence of President Xanana Gusmao, and resulted in a
telephone call from Police Commissioner Paulo Martins to
President Gusmao suggesting that the President's life might be
in danger. Although the President was not in Lahane when he
received the call --- he was meeting with diplomats in his
office near downtown Dili --- he was visibly upset, in part
because he had not previously been notified of any FDTL
operations in Lahane. As of late afternoon, this situation was
still developing, but it is currently believed to involve
smaller force levels on both sides.


5. (U) The situation in the Becora / Fatuahi area, where
hostilities were initiated yesterday, has stabilized. In the
aftermath of yesterday's fighting, FDTL recovered two vehicles,
a motorbike and a cell phone that had been left behind by
fleeing dissident forces.


6. (U) The nature and size of the dissident forces appears to be

DILI 00000258 002.2 OF 003


fluid and it remains difficult to get an accurate profile of
numbers and makeup as they are comprised of members of Major
Reinado's dissident military police group, Lt. Salsinha's
dismissed petitioner group, recently defected members of
specialized police units, and a mix of other supporters.

UPDATE ON DISSIDENT LEADERS


7. (C) Embassy staff spoke to Lt. Salsinha late afternoon today.
Salsinha stated that he was still in Ermera district but has
moved into the mountains further away from Dili. He reported
that he is currently standing by and waiting to hear from
Foreign Minister Ramos-Horta regarding the commencement of
dialogue between the GOET and the petitioners. He denied that
any of his men were moving toward Dili. (Note: Embassy has
several credible reports of petitioner involvement in the
current fighting as well as of some petitioners traveling toward
Dili this afternoon. End note.)


8. (C) In conversations with several sources this afternoon,
Major Reinado was reported to be in an upbeat and confident
mood. He stated that the FDTL had attacked the police station
in Tasitolu this morning and that his group therefore had to
respond. He emphasized that his main goal remains the reform of
the FDTL. When asked about the prospect of international
intervention, he responded that he would be "willing to
establish peace" but would never surrender to international
forces, only to President Xanana Gusmao. He repeated that he
wants Gusmao to use his powers as President and Commander in
Chief to dissolve the government.


9. (C) Major Marcos Tilman was reportedly involved in the attack
on the Tasitolu military headquarters earlier today.

POLICE UPDATE


10. (C) Emboff visited the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR)
compound today to ascertain the level of police still on duty in
this unit. The compound was notably less busy than usual, with
approximately 35 total officers seen during the lunchtime visit
when the compound is normally full and active. The UIR
commander was not present. An inspector initially stated that
all UIR officers were accounted for and at their usual duty
posts, but later admitted that at least seven had deserted.
Embassy information indicates a far larger defection rate, but
apparent attempts to hide the scale of the problem makes
assessing the exact level of police defection difficult. Police
Commissioner Martins has remained in sproadic contact with
police headquarters but has reportedly gone into hiding. Police
and UN reports indicate that the Deputy Police Commissioner has
most likely joined Maj. Reinado's group in Aileu.

THE SITUATION IN DILI


11. (U) The atmosphere around the city was notably tenser during
the day, although in central Dili there were still many signs of
normal life. The widespread panic and exodus that seized the
city in the aftermath of the April 28 riots does not appear to
be repeating itself. However, exodus out of the city is at this
point impossible due to ongoing clashes and roadblocks on the
main roads out. International flights out of East Timor
continued to have several dozen empty seats, although these
numbers are decreasing.


12. (U) Among the most worrying developments within the city is
the increasing level of intimidation and violence carried out by
groups of young men, often armed with machetes or sticks,
against either westerners (loro mono) or easterners (lorosa'e).
On the road out of the city toward Tasitolu and Tibar, a group
of about 50 young men, accompanied by several police, were
stopping all traffic and were seen attacking a woman who
attempted to pass in a taxi. Near the the central market,
emboffs witnessed another group armed with sticks, machetes, and
slingshots chase out the merchants and shoppers. Sporadic
gunfire was heard throughout the day to the south, east and west
of the city.


DILI 00000258 003.2 OF 003


IDP UPDATE


13. (U) The number of people seeking shelter in Dili's
internally displaced persons (IDP) camps has increased
significantly over the last day or so. While most IDPs are
going to the larger well-known camps, new camps have also been
established. International NGOs providing aid to the camps
estimated as of late this afternoon that there are now about
20,000 IDPs in Dili, located in up to 26 different sites. The
larger sites are struggling with overcrowding and deteriorating
health and sanitation conditions. Camp organizers are
attempting to move some of the IDPs to alternate sites to lessen
the resource strain. As of now, security arrangements at the
larger camps appear to be under control with security personnel
providing adequate screening of entrants.

AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY EVACUATION


14. (C) According to the Australian Embassy, the Australian
military will send tomorrow a C-130 to evacuate dependents,
volunteers, and non-essential personnel.

REES

STEIN
REES