EMBASSY DILI EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING, JUNE 28

UNCLAS DILI 000243 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS, DS/IP. DS/EAP, DS/CC, AND S/ES-O/CMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC AEMR CASC KDEM TT SUBJECT: EMBASSY DILI EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING, JUNE 28 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Dili's Emergency Action Committee (EAC), chaired by Ambassador, convened at 1030 June 28 to assess the security environment in preparation for post's participation in observing national elections throughout East Timor on June 30. Regional Security Officer (RSO) noted that in meetings on June 27, UN security personnel had concurred with our judgment that the overall security climate in East Timor is favorable. Such disturbances as have occurred have been minor and localized. A study on electoral violence issued on June 22 by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and Belun, a Timorese NGO, found that of 34 reported incidents of election-related violence, half took place during the first week of the campaign season, which started on May 28. This suggests that the security conditions in East Timor have actually stabilized as the campaign season has progressed. ¶2. (SBU) On June 29, Embassy Dili will deploy observation teams to Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Covalima, Liquica, Ermera, Lautem, Manatuto, Manufahi, and Viqueque districts. Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission will observe balloting in Dili. Each team consists of 3-4 persons, both official Americans and local national staff. During the EAC meeting, RSO stressed the importance of the teams reporting their whereabouts and safety to RSO every 4-5 hours. This will be done by text message or Iridium satellite phone. Teams will observe voting on June 30, and, time permitting, vote counting on July 1. All teams will be return to Dili by sundown on July 1. RSO and DCM reinforced guidance that the teams should not travel at night. ¶3. (SBU) DCM noted that teams had received thorough security briefings from UN Police (UNPOL) and Australia - New Zealand International Stabilization Force (ISF) representatives on June ¶27. Both UNPOL and ISF reported during their presentations that while they had no specific threat information in connection with the elections, they had conducted a district-by-district security evaluation and were standing by to support East Timorese National Police (PNTL) should any disturbance arise. Dili and Gleno, Ermera have been flashpoints in the past. Embassy observer teams have been instructed to make contact with both PNTL and ISF/UNPOL during their observation activities. ¶4. (SBU) EAC also touched on preparations for the post's Independence Day celebration, which will be held from 15:00 - 18:00 local time on July 4. RSO reported that there was no evidence of an increased threat in connection with the event, but that he was planning to deploy an enhanced local guard presence for overall security. Local police have also agreed to provide additional personnel at the entrance to the chancery during the event for both security and traffic control reasons. ¶5. (SBU) Embassy will provide the Department with updates on the local security situation throughout the East Timor national election process. Following balloting on June 30, the next anticipated major milestone will be the announcement of provisional results, likely to occur o/a July 10. KLEMM