EAST TIMOR SITREP FOR JUNE 12, 2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DILI 000304

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, DS, CA
NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW
PACOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV MOPS ASEC PHUM UN KPKO CASC PO MY TT AS
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITREP FOR JUNE 12, 2006

REF: A) DILI 296 B) DILI 300

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




1. (U) Summary:
GOET Calls on UN to Establish Independent Special Inquiry
Commission;
Opposition MP Joins Major Reinado to Call for Changes to the
Constitution;
GNR Cooperates Effectively with JTF;
Security environment.
End summary.

GOET Calls on UN to Establish Independent Special Inquiry
Position
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2. (SBU) In a rare appearance before Parliament today,
Foreign/Defense Minister Ramos-Horta announced the GOET's
request that the United Nations establish an independent Special
Inquiry Commission to review specific violent incidents and
other related events that contributed to the present crisis.
The Minister explicitly mentioned the events of April 28-29 and
May 23-25 as the major topics for the investigation. When
questioned about an investigation into allegations that Prime
Minister Mari Alkatiri armed pro-Fretilin groups, Ramos-Horta
stated the commission could include an investigation into this
accusation. Sources reported, however, that the Prime Minister
is hoping the UN will limit the scope of the investigation to
relations between the police and military. Surprisingly,
despite the presence of many opposition MPs, very few questions
were asked of the Minister regarding the proposed investigation
and recent events.


3. (C) On Sunday, Australian television aired a press conference
in which the Australian Justice Minister announced that the
Australian Federal Police (AFP) forensics team that is currently
investigating violent clashes that occurred between the military
(F-FDTL),police (PNTL),and dissident forces does not plan to
investigate allegations that Prime Minister Alkatiri established
and armed secret Fretilin hit squads to eliminate key opposition
leaders and members of the group of petitioners. (Note:
"Petitioners" refers to the approximately 595 former F-FDTL
members dismissed in March.) EmbOff spoke today with officers
at the Australian Embassy, who confirmed that no such
investigation would take place. The Australian Embassy sources
said the ADF would not investigate the allegations against
Alkatiri both because the forensics team is currently occupied
with other investigations and because the GOA feared it would
give the impression that it was supporting anti-Alkatiri
factions.

Opposition MP Joins Major Reinado to Call for Changes to the
Constitution
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--------------


4. (SBU) Yesterday, dissident leader Major Alfredo Reinado was
joined by opposition MP Manuel Tilman, the leader of a small
opposition party called KOTA (Association of Timorese Warriors),
at a press conference held in the mountain town of Maubisse.
During the press conference, Tilman said he was calling for a
"gathering of intellectuals" to discuss the current crisis and
propose policy changes to the GOET. (Note: Although several
"intellectuals" did indeed travel to Maubisse today to meet with
Tilman, many others refused to do so out for fear of appearing
aligned with Reinado's group.) Tilman offered the first
proposal, which included changes to the Constitution that would
grant the President more extensive powers. He also called for
the dissolution of the current Parliament, the installation of a
caretaker government, and new national elections to be held

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within six months. The Timorese constitution includes language
that prohibits amending the constitution for six years from the
date it was adopted, but Tilman claims this can be overcome if
the President declares a state of emergency, effectively
suspending the Constitution. While it is extremely unlikely
that any of Tilman's requests will even receive a response from
the GOET, it is noteworthy that Reinado has aligned himself with
an intelligent and generally well-respected (if somewhat
idiosyncratic) opposition MP.


5. (C) During a meeting with the President's Chief of Staff,
Agio Pereira, EmbOff was informed that President Gusmao met with
dissident leaders Majors Tara and Tilman last weekend at his
home in Balibar. Pereira stated that both men had agreed to a
broader dialogue that would include Reinado's group and the
petitioners. It is still unclear whether the groups would
accept the direct participation of Prime Minister Alkatiri or if
he would be represented by Foreign/Defense Minister Horta.
Pereira also indicated that the President would meet with Major
Reinado and Lieutenant Gastao Salsinha (spokesman for the
petitioners) separately next weekend. While any possible
dialogue would still aim to promote reconciliation, Pereira
indicated that the President believes it is crucial that these
groups also face an appropriate judicial process. He also
stated that he believes it is highly likely that the group of
demonstrators recently organized by Major Tilman (See Ref A)
will conduct larger anti-Alkatiri demonstrations within the next
few days, possibly in coordination with groups from the East.
The Chief of Staff concluded by stating that the President will
address Parliament this Wednesday to discuss the dialogue
process and his proposed next steps.

GNR Cooperates Effectively with JTF
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6. (C) During a meeting with EmbOff today, Portuguese special
police (GNR) Commander Carvalho and GNR Liaison Officer Soares
confirmed the close GNR-Joint Task Force coordination previously
reported by the JTF Police Commander and dismissed allegations
of strained relations, stating that these reports were
exaggerated by the press. (See Ref B). Although the GNR remains
outside the JTF command structure, the GNR Liaison Officer said
he has established an effective working relationship with the
JTF Command Center and remains in constant contact regarding
incidents in the sector controlled by GNR. He also explained
that there are daily coordination meetings between the GOET,
JTF, and GNR. While Ramos-Horta was initially the GNR's key
contact within the GOET, Soares stated that Interior Minister
Baris has now largely assumed this role. GNR Commander Carvalho
stated that in addition to the 130 officers on the ground, the
GNR Headquarters in Lisbon was dispatching a four person
investigative team to provide forensics support within GNR's
sector. He indicated that the presence of this team would in no
way impede any investigation currently underway by the
Australian police (AFP) forensics teams. One operational
difference between the GNR and JTF forces is that the GNR does
not conduct foot patrols, nor do they have any permanent
security posts in their zone. Carvalho concluded the meeting by
showing EmbOff a map of the GNR's sector and explaining that the
U.S. Embassy falls within this area. He provided EmbOff with
his direct number and stated that GNR stands ready to respond to
any security problems at the U.S. Embassy.

Security environment
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7. (SBU) Over the past three nights the now common reports of
scattered house burnings and gunshots (the latter mostly at
night) continued. Since Friday the city has gradually become
more active, with a few more grocery stores and other commercial
establishments re-opening their doors. This morning a cargo
vessel docked at Dili's port, the first commercial vessel to
unload in Dili for several days. Crowded conditions at the
internally displaced persons (IDP) camps continued. Yesterday
marked the first violent act to take place in an IDP camp, when

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a man outside the camp shot a woman insider the camp with an
arrow. The man reportedly perched on a ladder outside the camp
and waited for this particular woman to walk by. American
citizens and other internationals, mostly NGO workers, are
slowly trickling back into Dili to help with relief efforts for
the IDPs.
REES