EAC MEETING: REVERSE TRIPWIRES ESTABLISHED

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000298 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS PACOM FOR JOC AND POLAD NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/7/2016 TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT TT SUBJECT: EAC MEETING: REVERSE TRIPWIRES ESTABLISHED REF: (A) Dili 207; (B) Dili 248 DILI 00000298 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Grover Joseph Rees, Ambassador, EXEC, State. REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (U) Summary: Embassy Dili's Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met on 7 June to develop reverse tripwires related to the current political and security situation in East Timor, discuss added security measures at the Embassy, and review the Mission's policy for travel within East Timor. Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM),Regional Security Officer (RSO),USAID Director, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) representative, Political Officer, Management Officer, FAST leader, and TDY political and security officers attended. End summary. Reverse tripwires -------------- ¶2. (S) The EAC agreed on the following reverse tripwires: -- Timorese security forces are no longer involved in politically-motivated acts. -- Timorese military (F-FDTL) operations in Dili have ended. -- Effective control of security in Dili by international forces has begun. -- Ongoing control of security in Dili by international forces. -- Absenteeism in the local guard force (LGF) remains consistently below 10 percent each shift and the Regional Security Officer (RSO) is able to ensure guard coverage of all operational USG facilities. -- Re-establishment of communication and cooperation among host nation institutions. -- GOET cooperation with international forces. -- International forces are working to separate Timorese security forces from armed dissidents. -- International forces are providing an effective, capable policing agency near the Embassy. -- There has been no credible evidence that gangs or other perpetrators of violence are targeting Americans or other foreigners. -- Americans are aware of specific locations to avoid. -- Gang violence is localized. -- International forces control Comoro road and the route to the airport. -- Host country nationals are gradually returning to their homes and local businesses and government offices are gradually re-opening. -- International forces are providing an effective, capable policing agency in areas of the city frequented by Americans. -- Emergency Action Committee (EAC) determines that the Ambassador can safely travel in certain areas of the city without armed escort. -- International forces control Nicolau Lobato road and the area adjacent to the Peace Corps annex. -- International forces control Nicolau Lobato road, Beach road, and the area adjacent to the Ambassador's residence. -- International forces control the route between the ODC residence and the airport as well as the route from the airport to the Embassy. -- Vetting and investigation of recent Timorese police and military activities has begun. -- Dialogue aimed at neutralizing dissident groups in East Timor has begun. -- International forces control all areas in Dili. DILI 00000298 002.2 OF 002 Actions to consider -------------- ¶3. (S) The EAC agreed on the following actions to consider if some or all of the aforementioned reverse tripwires are realized: -- Conclude the FAST team's mission in Dili. -- Bring specific U.S. Mission employees back to Dili to support Mission operations. -- Remove restrictions on employee movement in certain areas of the city, including the airport, Comoro road from the airport to the Embassy, and the route from Comoro road to Beach road near Pertamina. -- Lift Ordered Departure status. -- Conclude the Mobile Security Division (MSD) team's deployment in Dili. -- Re-open the Peace Corps annex. -- Remove restrictions on the Ambassador's residence. -- Remove restrictions on the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) residence. -- Remove restrictions on employee movement in all areas of the city. RSO activities -------------- ¶4. (U) The RSO reported that the Mobile Security Division (MSD) team is now able to provide armed escort for Mission officers other than the Chief of Mission on a case-by-case basis as determined by the RSO. The RSO has also directed the MSD to provide training for the local guard force (LGF),especially regarding vehicle searches and compound access control. Travel within Dili -------------- ¶5. (U) The EAC agreed that the "green zone," in which employees can travel freely, would continue to include the beach road from the Comoro river to the Palacio do Governo, one road to the south between the Indonesian Embassy and the heliport, and the portion of Comoro road from the heliport to the Australian Embassy. During daylight hours the green zone would also include the portion of the beach road that extends east of the Palacio do Governo to the Cristo Rei statue and the road directly south from the ocean to the UN compound at Obrigado Barracks. Outside this zone, employees must not travel alone and must coordinate travel with the RSO. The RSO emphasized that these zones are subject to change as required by conditions in Dili. REES