SOCIAL AND SECURITY CONDITIONS IN BAUCAU IMPROVED FROM 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000313 CORRECT COPY - CAPTION SENSITIVE SIPDIS POLADS,EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TT SUBJECT: SOCIAL AND SECURITY CONDITIONS IN BAUCAU IMPROVED FROM 2007 DILI 00000313 001.2 OF 002 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Poloff visited the district of Baucau from December 3-4 to deliver sports equipment to residents in the Suco of Fatulia, sub-district of Venilale, and to meet with Catholic Church and National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) officials in the district. In contrast to previous visits, economic activity was thriving in local markets, farmers tended to their fields, children in school uniforms filled the streets, cars, buses, and motorcycles jammed the roads, and new businesses opened indicating economic progress due to increased political stability. More significantly, previously open political tensions were absent. Church and police officials expressed confidence that after a recent turbulent history, "the worst is finally over." End summary. Sports diplomacy -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On December 3, Poloff traveled to the Suco of Fatulia, sub-district of Venilale in the district of Baucau to donate sports equipment to the community and meet with local officials. The trip also served as a follow-up visit seven months after a contingent of engineers from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) visited that community to perform humanitarian work. Suco Chief Constancio Rego and community residents thanked the U.S. for its support of Timor-Leste, and offered special praise for the humanitarian assistance provided by the 31st MEU to their community in April 2008. ¶3. (SBU) During their visit, the Marines conducted repairs and refurbishments to the community primary school. In addition, U.S. military doctors and dentists conducted a clinic in Fatulia, and treated upwards of 1,500 patients from the local area. The community clinic remains stocked with supplies and medicine donated by the Marines, and treats an average of 15 patients per day. Community nurses Juvita da Costa and Joaquim dos Santos expressed hope for U.S. troops to return in the near future and described their work as "invaluable for our community," adding that "our people would love to welcome them back." Catholic Church "optimistic" -------------- ¶4. (SBU) During a visit on December 3 to the Salesian Pre-seminary Academy in Dom Bosco, Poloff met with school director Father Justiniano de Sousa to deliver sports equipment to students and discuss Catholic Church views on Baucau's security conditions. Father de Sousa observed that "conditions are thankfully different than a year ago. People live in peace and life has returned to normal for our citizens." He added that "it is very unlikely" that the violence that engulfed the district, especially the city of Baucau itself, in August 2007 will be repeated. ¶5. (SBU) As signs of progress, Father de Sousa noted that children are attending schools, new businesses have opened, and "people are generally violence fatigued and ready to move forward with a stable life." However, he added that education continues to be one of the greatest challenges facing Timor-Leste as the few books available in schools are in Portuguese, and teachers who lack Portuguese language skills are required to teach in that language. In spite of the presence of "a few score Portuguese language teacher volunteers from Portugal and Brazil" in the country, the overwhelming number of students are taught by Timorese teachers proficient in Tetum and Bahasa Indonesia. PNTL emerges from setback -------------- ¶6. (SBU) On December 4, Poloff met with Baucau's acting National Police (PNTL) Commander Joao Sanches Pires, who replaced former PNTL Commander Aderito Neto. (Note: Neto was relieved from command last October by Secretary of State Francisco Guterres. Mr. Guterres was urged by the United Nations Police (UNPOL) to relieve Neto following human rights abuse allegations against him by a subordinate officer. The investigation against Neto remains open.) Sanches Pires noted that the PNTL continues to face challenges in the district, such as lack of good infrastructure, low salaries, and lack of enough DILI 00000313 002.2 OF 002 patrol vehicles. However, he praised the mentorship from UNPOL and noted that "the morale of the police remains high in spite of our challenges because we are (Timorese) patriots committed to serving our people." ¶7. Acting Commander Sanches Pires also observed that the PNTL abides by equal treatment standards, and noted that many women form part of the force (approximately 30 percent). Looking ahead, he expressed optimism that the government will provide the PNTL with the tools they need to enhance their service and performance, and observed that the President had recently called this a priority (Note: In a November speech, President Jose Ramos-Horta underscored that the government must give priority to improving the workplace and living conditions of PNTL members.) On his predecessor's fate and ongoing investigation, Sanches Pires said that no one knows for sure the details of what happened, but force members are not talking about the case or speculating on its merits. During a separate conversation with Poloff, a UNPOL Australian Federal Police officer assigned to Baucau praised the professionalism and dedication of Baucau's PNTL force "in spite of their challenges," and noted that their work with UNPOL is close and professional. New leadership in the district -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Also on December 4, Poloff met with previous FRETILIN Baucau District Administrator Luis Aparicio Guterres. Minister for State Administration Arcangelo Leite replaced Mr. Guterres as District Administrator last September. The move has been described by political observers in Timor-Leste as normal, since it also occurred in other districts. Mr. Guterres' replacement did not generate local political backlash from FRETILIN, which traditionally enjoys strong support in Baucau. The new District Administrator, Antonio Guterres, was visiting Jakarta at the time of Poloff's visit, hence a meeting was not possible. ¶9. (SBU) While lamenting his replacement as "unfortunate and political," Luis Aparicio Guterres said that he was "content" to work in Baucau for the Ministry of Education, and enjoy his leisure time to write a new poetry book and reflect on life in peace. However, he added that municipal elections are scheduled for next July 2009 and that "if the people and FRETILIN draft me again as candidate for District Administrator, I am a slave of the people and will sacrifice my comfort to serve them again." Conclusion -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Security conditions in Baucau have improved during the past year, in part due to a decline in political agitation against the national governing coalition. That the District Administrator's and PNTL Commander's replacements this fall occurred without any political backlash underscore that times may have changed for the better in Baucau as observers have noted, and raise hope that this momentum will continue. KLEMM