C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DILI 000362

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, P, INR/IC, PRM/A, DS/IP, DRL/CRA,
CA/VO, DS/CI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017
TAGS: PINR CVIS PREF ASEC TT
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT RAMOS HORTA DESCENDS ON OPPOSITION TERRITORY TO
WIN CONSTITUENTS


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CLASSIFIED BY: Hans Klemm, Ambassador, US Embassy Dili, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)

1. (SBU) Summary. On a November 6 - 8 trip, President Jose Ramos
Horta traveled into FRETILIN territory to defend the Alliance
for a Parliamentary Majority (AMP) government, promote his
anti-poverty program, and counter the opposition FRETILIN
party's criticisms of against his government. He praised
Timor-Leste's foreign friends for extending goodwill and aid as
the country seeks to restore security, economic and social
progress and overcome political violence and domestic divisions.
End summary.


2. (SBU) In a move to mobilize his populist appeal, President
Jose Ramos Horta traveled on November 6 - 8 to Los Palos,
Baucau, Vemasse and nearby subdistricts for a series of direct
dialogues with the overwhelmingly pro-FRETILIN population in
those cities. In August, these areas were the scenes of
violence following the announcement of the new AMP coalition
government. Poloff joined the President's traveling party in
Baucau, along with the Portuguese Ambassador and the Malaysian
Poloff. Aides to the President described the trip as a "show
of courage" meant to win over groups of people who have felt
disenfranchised by the FRETILIN defeat in the June 30
parliamentary elections. Since last August, FRETILIN has
repeatedly criticized the President's "unwillingness to travel
to districts of FRETILIN support to explain his reasons for
forming a new government" excluding the party from power. These
accusations have also hinted at cowardice by the President for
favoring frequent trips abroad over travel within Timor-Leste.
November 5 - 8, Ramos Horta tackled the opposition on its own
turf while reaching out to new constituents. He also used the
occasion to meet with Armed Forces of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL)
troops and members of the National Police (PNTL), praising the
latter in Baucau for its work and noting that "at one time, the

(U.S.) Department of State noted your poor human rights record.
You are doing great work today, and I remind you above all
things to always observe human rights."

Pressing the flesh and feeling their pain

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3. (U) During lengthy, town-hall style meetings with hundreds of
citizens in different locations, the President offered the
opportunity for citizens to ask him questions directly. Turnout
was high. In Baucau the crowds were largely welcoming, although
some questions were hostile. He addressed all questions and at
the end of each event the audiences seemed very receptive and
positive, and seemed somewhat surprised that the President
ventured into their districts to address their concerns. Ramos
Horta's main messages were the following:

-- Peace: The nation cannot afford itself to be divided by
ideologies - we are all Timorese.

-- The legality of the AMP-led government: If the AMP-led
government is illegal and unconstitutional, as FRETILIN has
charged, the question should be brought before a court of law.
If the courts find that the government is illegal, it will
resign and the President would apologize to the people.

-- Anti-Poverty Efforts: During its five years in power, the
FRETILIN government failed to improve the lot of the people and
to secure the future. The AMP government is committed to
establishing an anti-poverty program to move the country ahead,
but FRETILIN has threatened to derail it in the National
Parliament. Timor-Leste's resources are many, and its global
friendships also indicate the country is not alone.

-- Old versus New: FRETILIN is the historical basis of the
nation, and Ramos Horta stressed his role as a founding party
member. However, mistakes were made over the years. Differences
in outlook emerged between those FRETILIN leaders who went into
exile in U.S. Mozambique, Angola, Europe, and those such as
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao who continued the struggle in
Timor-Leste. Ramos-Horta stressed that Xanana was not a
"traitor" as recently alleged by FRETILIN, but rather a warrior
who fought for national independence while others were in exile.
He attempted to de-mystify former FRETILIN Prime Minister Mari
Alkatiri as a man who is a vocal critic of the current
government in spite of his own unimpressive five years in office


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Ramos Horta Criticizes "Anti-Foreigner Propaganda"; Highlights
International Friendships

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4. (U) At each stop, Ramos Horta introduced the members of the
diplomatic corps as representatives of the goodwill enjoyed by
Timor-Leste around the world. He complained that some
politicians and newspapers, such as the Timor Post, have been
guilty of spreading anti-foreigner propaganda in spite of the
fact that Malaysia, Australia, the U.S., Portugal, and others,
have offered us assistance. He mentioned Portugal's deep
historical friendship with Timor-Leste; Malaysia's support,
which strengthens the country's ties to ASEAN; Indonesia's new
post-Suharto democracy, which reflects a different country than
the one which occupied them; and Australia's unwavering
friendship, as exemplified through the great work of the
International Stabilization Force (ISF) "which has also been
victimized by false propaganda."


5. (C) On U.S.-Timor-Leste relations, Ramos Horta consistently
expressed his support and friendship for the U.S. in both his
public and private remarks. In his speeches, he described the
U.S. as unfairly criticized for having allegedly condoned
Indonesia's 1975 invasion at the height of the Cold War. He
said that it was time to see the U.S. as "our friend, the
world's only superpower which made it possible for us to attain
our independence." In private conversations with Poloff, he
blamed the FRETILIN leadership for almost inviting an Indonesian
invasion in 1975 by initiating a civil war and using
Marxist-Leninist slogans, which he described as "stupid and
senseless." This Marxist rhetoric, he said, had led to fears
that an Indonesian invasion was justified in order to prevent
the emergence of "another Cuba" in Southeast Asia.

What the President is Thinking

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6. (C) In conversation with Poloff, the President shared his
thoughts on current issues. He said he was glad to talk to the
people directly in order to challenge FRETILIN's "divisive
rhetoric" and explain his plans to enhance their standard of
living. He described all key political players as his old
friends or acquaintances, going back many years before
independence from Portugal. Comparing Xanana and Alkatiri, said
the former was "arrogant, but he likes to pretend to be humble,
unlike Alkatiri, who doesn't even pretend to be anything but
arrogant." Nevertheless, his admiration for Xanana was clear,
especially his legacy as a fighter for independence. Ramos
Horta described "the secret to knowing Alkatiri" as
understanding his ethnic Yemeni roots, which are different from
those of most Timorese, and his years of exile in Africa. Ramos
Horta noted that if Yemenis are disliked in Indonesia by
Javenese Muslims, "imagine in a Catholic country." He also
noted Alkatiri's dour personality, which is different from the
average Timorese. "The population here likes to smile and he
never does, not even for pretense."


7. (C) On the August crisis, Ramos Horta said he had considered
appointing Alkatiri as Prime Minister, but Xanana advised him
against it. Ramos Horta believes that Alkatiri would have used
his appointment to strengthen his power and erode any one
else's. He also noted that although it cannot be proven,
Alkatiri "was certainly behind the violence," and said that many
children were found to have from 5 to 50 USD in their pockets to
throw rocks at vehicles and burn down homes and buildings,
including the Customs building in Dili. He noted "that money
came from somewhere, and I am sure it was from Alkatiri and
FRETILIN although they consistently deny it." He further noted
Alkatiri does not have the best interests of Timor-Leste at
heart as he claims, but has proven to be a manipulator through
violence" at the expense of the country's security.


8. (C) On FRETILIN, Ramos Horta described the party as "in
transition," and observed that the top party leadership was
divided, as demonstrated during the last party summit October 25
- 28, which many top leaders, including former Minister of

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Public Administration Ana Pessoa, failed to attend. Ramos Horta
said he would promote his own agenda rather than simply react to
FRETILIN criticisms.

Conclusion: JRH Back In The Fray

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10. (SBU) President Ramos Horta has been criticized for
traveling frequently overseas while neglecting to reach out to
those in Timor-Leste's hinterlands. He began to challenge those
criticisms when he visited the FRETILIN stronghold of Viqueque
on October 24 , continued this outreach with his November 6 - 8
trip to the centers of FRETILIN support, where he publicly
challenged the opposition's philosophy, blaming Alkatiri
directly for fomenting division, and contrasting FRETILIN's
approach with his own vision for the country. In the meantime,
FRETILIN critiqued the President's anti-poverty proposals at the
National Parliament and challenged its legality and
constitutionality in the Court of Appeals on November 8.
KLEMM