Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DILI280
2006-05-31 15:15:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Dili
Cable title:  

EAST TIMOR SITUATION REPORT FOR MAY 30

Tags:  ASEC PGOV MARR PHUM CASC TT 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2605
INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0470
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHXX/GENEVA IO MISSIONS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0538
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0460
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0308
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0322
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0399
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0194
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 1930
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 DILI 000280 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW
USPACOM FOR JOC AND POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/31/2016
TAGS: ASEC PGOV MARR PHUM CASC TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITUATION REPORT FOR MAY 30

REF: (A) Dili 271; (B) Dili 275

DILI 00000280 001.2 OF 003


CLASSIFIED BY: Grover Joseph Rees, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy
Dili, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)


S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 DILI 000280

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW
USPACOM FOR JOC AND POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/31/2016
TAGS: ASEC PGOV MARR PHUM CASC TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITUATION REPORT FOR MAY 30

REF: (A) Dili 271; (B) Dili 275

DILI 00000280 001.2 OF 003


CLASSIFIED BY: Grover Joseph Rees, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy
Dili, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



1) Summary:
Alkatiri backtracks on Presidential control of security;
Meeting of the Superior Council on Defense and Security
postponed again;
Pessoa, not Ramos-Horta, may take Defense portfolio;
Violence in Dili Declining?
Status of ADF activities;
Joint ADF operations with armed FDTL members;
Baucau;
Food Security;
American Citizens.
End summary.

Alkatiri backtracks on Presidential control of security

2) (SBU) The Government appears to be backing out of agreements
made at yesterday's meeting of the Council of State. Sources
familiar with that meeting have unanimously reported that the
Prime Minister agreed to the President's assumption of "sole
responsibility" for the national security forces including the
police (PNTL) and military (FDTL). See Ref B. These sources
also reported that the Prime Minister agreed that the Ministers
of Defense and Interior would either resign or be dismissed.
See Ref B. Earlier today, however, the Prime Minister made
several public and private statements to the effect that he
retains control over the security forces and that any dismissals
of Cabinet members are "within my exclusive competency" and will
be done "in my own way and in my own time." In a meeting with
USDOD officers assigned to Embassy Dili, FDTL commander General
Taur Matan Ruak said that "under the Constitution" his
obligation is to "support the Office of the Prime Minister."
Shortly thereafter, Matan Ruak reportedly attended a meeting
with Alkatiri and several key Alkatiri loyalists in preparation
for a scheduled meeting of the Superior Council on Defense and
Security. In addition, Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato has
reportedly refused to resign unless the Prime Minister does as

well. Alkatiri reportedly told President Gusmao and Foreign
Minister Jose Ramos Horta this afternoon that he would dismiss
Lobato only if they agreed to accept an Alkatiri loyalist,
Antoninho Bianco, as Lobato's replacement. The President
reminded the Prime Minister of yesterday's agreement that a
different person (Gusmao loyalist Alcino Barris) would replace
Lobato, and at that point the discussion reportedly broke down.

Meeting of the Superior Council on Defense and Security
postponed again

3)(SBU) The Superior Council on Defense and Security was
scheduled to meet this afternoon in order to work with the
President on how to implement new security arrangements under
yesterday's "declaration of crisis." See Ref B. Knowledgeable
sources have reported that it had been agreed at the Council of
State meeting yesterday that the Prime Minister would appoint a
new Minister of Defense (Ramos Horta) and a new Minister of the
Interior (Barris) in time for them to participate in today's
meeting. See Ref B. When Alkatiri subsequently refused to do
this (see paragraph 2),and the President insisted, the
scheduled meeting did not take place. After several more hours
of discussion among the principals, Alkatiri reportedly agreed
to hold a Council of Ministers (cabinet) meeting tomorrow
morning at which the two ministers would resign or be dismissed
and their replacements would be announced. The two new
Ministers will then participate in a rescheduled Superior
Council for Defense and Security meeting at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Pessoa, not Ramos-Horta, may take Defense portfolio


DILI 00000280 002.2 OF 003


4) (C) A source close to the negotiations has indicated that the
original agreement between Gusmao and Alkatiri, in which Foreign
Minister Jose Ramos-Horta would assume the Defense portfolio
while retaining Foreign Affairs, has been changed. Instead, this
source reports that Senior Minister and Minister of State
Administration Ana Pessoa will also become Minister of Defense.
According to this source, the original arrangement broke down
when Ramos-Horta said he would take the Defense ministry only if
he were also appointed Deputy Prime Minister in what would
become in effect a government of national unity. Alkatiri
refused to agree to this condition. It was then agreed that
Pessoa, a key member of the "Mozambique group" who has been
Alkatiri's most important advisor and ally, would become
Minister of Defense. According to Embassy's source, Pessoa has
agreed to take direction from the President rather than from the
Prime Minister in accordance with yesterday's declaration of
crisis, and the President trusts her to honor this agreement in
part because of his perception that she has become disillusioned
with Alkatiri. (Comment: Another element that may have
contributed to this surprising change is that Ana Pessoa is the
former wife of Jose Ramos-Horta. Despite their many political
and philosophical differences, the two Senior Ministers continue
to regard each other with affection and respect. Ramos-Horta has
become President Gusmao's most important ally during the recent
crisis, and he may have been instrumental in persuading the
President to accept Pessoa. Nevertheless, it is far from clear
that she would side with Gusmao and Ramos-Horta in future
disputes with Alkatiri. End Comment.)

Violence in Dili Declining?

5)(SBU) Although yesterday began as a relatively peaceful day,
there was substantial violence and destruction by the end of the
day. Emboffs traveling through the Becora area saw rows of homes
aflame and smoke plumes rising from many sections of the city.
Among the victims were several Embassy FSNs who had their homes
destroyed and whose only remaining possessions are the clothes
on their backs. There was somewhat less violence last night,
possibly because of the calming effects of the President's
televised address to the nation (see Ref B),but houses were
burned in several neighborhoods. Early in the evening, before
the President's address, a grenade explosion was heard by a
number of people in the Bidau area including Embassy local
guards at the COM residence.

6) (SBU) There appeared to be substantially lower levels of
violence today than yesterday. Emboffs reported more people on
the street this morning than on previous days in the troubled
Becora neighborhood, although fires were still smoldering from
houses that had been burned during the night or in the early
morning hours. In the afternoon, however, clashes broke out
between Loromono (westerners) and Lorosa'e (easterners) armed
with pipes and slingshots near the Comoro market. Several
buildings and many market stalls were burned before the
Australian Defense Forces (ADF) could calm the situation. A
recent agreement between the ADF and the Dili Fire Department
made it possible for firefighters to respond to the latest round
of burnings.

Status of ADF activities

7)(C) The Australian Defense Forces (ADF) continue to face
difficulties with crowd dispersal and control. Emboffs witnessed
the ADF break up a fight between two small youth gangs. The
fighting recommenced as soon as the ADF had moved out of the
immediate area. Situational awareness is also a problem.
Yesterday evening emboffs witnessed a large mob actively burn
houses and shops less than a kilometer from two large ADF
checkpoints. The ADF units were unaware of the activity and
appeared unable to respond when the problems were reported.

8)(SBU) ADF has begun using select members of the police force
to assist in conducting patrols. On two separate occassions,
emboffs witnessed ADF units operating side-by-side with armed

DILI 00000280 003.2 OF 003


members of the East Timor national police (PNTL)Q

Joint ADF operations with armed FDTL members

9(C) Not far from the Metinaro FDTL base, Emboffs observed
yesterday armed FDTL soldiers working side by side with ADF
manning a check point. This would appear to contradict several
public announcements by ADF representatives that there are no
joint ADF/FDTL operations, and it is also contrary to the
understanding of Australian diplomats in Dili, but ADF and FDTL
sources have separately confirmed this operation. (These sources
stated that the Metinaro checkpoint is the only joing ADF/FDTL
operation, but see paragraph ___). Approximately one kilometer
to the east, armed FDTL units are operating their own
checkpoint, in apparent contravention of the agreement that the
military would remain in their barracks. Soldiers manning that
checkpoint report that their objective is to prevent gangs of
eastern youth from going to Dili, but the FDTL members were seen
stopping vehicles traveling both directions.

10)(S/Noforn) US Defense representatives assigned to Embassy
Dili observed two armed and uniformed FDTL members today at a
checkpoint between Dili and Hera --- the first town east of Dili
--- today working alongside ADF members. According to the US
Defense Representatives' report, ADF sources also reported that
FDTL will likely be employed more actively to the east of Dili.
(Comment: As previously stated in Ref A, Embassy Dili believes
that the presence of armed FDTL members working jointly with ADF
members --- particularly at a checkpoint immediately adjacent to
Dili guarding the approaches to the city --- is deeply
problematic. FDTL is widely regarded in Dili as the principal
perpertrators of killings and other violence during the last few
weeks. Joint ADF-FDTL operations could lead to continued
tension and instability and significantly reduce popular support
for ADF. Moreover, the authorized presence of armed FDTL at a
highway checkpoint immediately adjacent to Dili could provide a
springboard for further FDTL actions against actual or perceived
adversaries. End Comment.)

Baucau

11)(SBU) Emboffs visiting Baucau today report that the city is
quiet and that inhabitants are actively following events in
Dili. Some Baucau residents fear that that the violence in Dili
could spread there as well. Police, public transportation,
government offices, and schools appear to be functioning
normally in Baucau, and internally displaced persons (IDPs)
there appear to be gathered in smaller numbers and in better
conditions than IDPs in Dili.

Food Security

12)(SBU) The government has commenced food distribution in all
neighborhoods in Dili to help mitigate the effects of the
prolonged closure of markets. Despite the large crowds gathering
at the distribution points, there were no reports of violence at
these sites.

American Citizens

13)(SBU) Approximately 62 non-official American citizens remain
in East Timor and the Embassy continues to encourage them to
depart. Today was the last day that Australian military flights
to Darwin would be available for evacuation. More than 40 seats
were available on today's Dili-Bali flight.
REES