Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DILI540
2006-10-27 11:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dili
Cable title:  

UNMIT ADDRESSES SECURITY ISSUES

Tags:  PGOV KPKO MARR ASEC CASC UN TT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2183
PP RUEHDT RUEHROV
DE RUEHDT #0540/01 3001159
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 271159Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3082
INFO ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0732
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0803
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0647
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0709
RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 0002
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0046
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 2418
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000540 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
PACOM FOR POLAD AND JOC
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO MARR ASEC CASC UN TT
SUBJECT: UNMIT ADDRESSES SECURITY ISSUES


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000540

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
PACOM FOR POLAD AND JOC
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO MARR ASEC CASC UN TT
SUBJECT: UNMIT ADDRESSES SECURITY ISSUES



1. (SBU) Summary: UNMIT sees ongoing disturbances in Dili
becoming more organized and UNPOL notes drug related behavior
and evidence that payments are being made to perpetrators.
Recognizing the counterproductive effect of freeing most of
those of those arrested after only a short period of detention,
UNMIT is meeting with prosecutors in an attempt to devise better
means of holding key offenders for longer periods. Despite the
escalated level of violence in the past week, the UN is not
raising its threat level beyond its current Phase Two. In
response to concerns raised by the diplomatic corps, UNPOL
provided assurances of increased attention to any movements
directed toward the area where most embassies and diplomatic
residences are located. End Summary.


2. (SBU) In an October 27 meeting with chiefs of diplomatic
missions and international agencies, UNMIT acting SRSG Finn
Reske-Nielsen and acting UNPOL Police Commissioner Antero Lopes
provided an overview of the security situation in Dili from
their perspective. Lopes had only sketchy reports regarding
killings and related clashes earlier on October 27, but noted
that the situation had been brought under control. (Note: Two
fish vendors from a Lorosae (eastern) dominated market were
ambushed and killed, apparently by a gang of Loromonu (western)
youth, while waiting to purchase fish from incoming boats in the
beach-front area West of the US Embassy.) In regard to the
escalated violence of the past week, Lopes stressed the
following points:
-- Disturbances are more organized, and homicides are
increasing.
-- The current hotspots are Fatuhada (the neighborhood behind
the U.S. and other diplomatic missions),Bebonuk (just west of
the Embassy where the October 27 murders took place),and the
Comoro/Airport area.
--Martial arts groups such as "77" and "SHT" have been heavily
involved.
--Incidents usually begin with skirmishes involving individuals
and grow into clashes of groups, generally of no more than 40
persons, but in the October 24 conflict around the airport
groups of as many as 300 were observed.
--Evidence of drug-related behavior beginning to be seen among
perpetrators, as well as many reports of payments being made to
participants in the violence.


3. (SBU) In regard to the October 24 clashes around the airport
which involved the highest levels of violence here in recent
months, Lopes noted that:
-- 200 UNPOL were engaged in the operation, including the
Portuguese, Malaysian and Bangladeshi formed units.
-- The casualty toll among Timorese was two killed, 5 injured,
while two Portuguese GNR received minor injuries and 6 UNPOL
vehicles were damaged.
-- An Australian ISF member fired on an armed Timorese
assailant but there is no evidence the Timorese was hit
(contrary to some media reports).
-- Gunshots were directed at UNPOL in the Fatuhada area but no
casualties resulted.


4. (SBU) The acting SRSG and Lopes acknowledged that the
inability of the judicial system to process cases was resulting
in most of those arrested quickly being released. Lopes said
arrests for the more minor offenses were minimal, because it was
realized that the process of holding perpetrators for only a
short time actually was counter productive, since they then
returned to the streets as "heroes who had beat the system."
Reske-Nielsen said UNMIT consulting closely with prosecutors to
devise more effective means of processing cases within the
limitations of existing judicial resources to ensure that the
worst perpetrators could be held for longer periods.


5. (SBU) Despite the escalated level of violence in the past
week, the UN is not raising its threat level beyond the current
Phase Two, i.e., restricting some movements but keeping all
staff and dependents in country. A number of the heads of
diplomatic missions expressed concern about the increasing
proximity of the violence to the area where most diplomatic
missions are located. Lopes provided assurances that while
UNPOL may not always be visible in the immediate vicinity of the
diplomatic establishments, in coordination with JTF they were
carefully monitoring all the approaches to the area and moving

DILI 00000540 002 OF 002


to intercept any movements of groups in that direction.
GRAY