UNCLAS DILI 000039

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, CA/OCS, S/ES-O/CMS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AMGT CASC TT
SUBJECT: EMBASSY DILI EAC MEETING, 11 FEBRUARY 2008



1. (SBU) Charge convened Embassy Dili's Emergency Action
Committee at 1300 hours on Monday, February 11 in response to
the shooting earlier that morning of President Jose Ramos-Horta
and attempted shooting of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao by the
group of fugitive military dissidents associated with Major
Alfredo Reinado, the former head of Timor Leste's Military
Police. EAC participants included Charge, RSO, Management
Officer, Information Management Officer, POL/ECON/CONS/PD
officer, Milrep (ODC), Acting USAID Mission Director, USAID
Executive Officer, and Ambassador's OMS.


2. (SBU) Noting that Dili was calm as of that time, Charge
summarized a briefing for the diplomatic corps just given by
Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres and Foreign Minister
Zacarias Da Costa. Charge reported that DPM Guterres and ForMin
Da Costa confirmed that Reinado had been killed in the attack on
President Ramos-Horta, and that the GOTL intended to announce
this shortly. The DPM and ForMin expressed some concern about
possible violent reaction to the announcement by Reinado's
supporters in Dili and elsewhere in Timor-Leste, but said they
had put extra security measures in place. DPM Guterres said
that Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao had met with the acting head
of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor (UNMIT) and
the commander of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) on
next steps. That group agreed that the ISF, the National Police
(PNTL), Armed Forces (F-FDTL), and United Nations Police Mission
(UNPOL) would devise a plan to provide public security and
apprehend surviving perpetrators of the attack.


3. (SBU) Charge noted that post had already sent out a warden
message to Amcits advising them to limit their movements,
exercise caution, and remain in contact with the Embassy for
further updates.


4. (SBU) RSO noted that he had been in touch with both Dili
International School and Quality International School, and that
as a precautionary measure, both had sent their students home.
RSO agreed to touch base with school officials both at COB
Monday and OOB Tuesday to discuss the advisability of holding
classes. RSO said he had been in touch with UNMIT security
personnel, who had confirmed that Dili was calm and that they
would be setting up checkpoints around town to ensure security.
RSO agreed that for tonight, we would advise Embassy personnel
not to travel after dark. RSO noted that our local guard staff
was currently in place at full strength, and that the Embassy's
security posture was unchanged.


5. (SBU) Management officer noted that all 27 members of the
official American community are accounted for. He reported that
post has a 28-day supply of fuel and an ample supply of MREs.
MO also said he would ensure that draft evacuation orders were
current should they be needed. Charge said that with the
exception of a small number of essential employees, liberal
leave could be granted to local national employees concerned
about their families' security.


6. (SBU) IMO said that post's radio network had been activated
and satellite phones were charged. He agreed to conduct a radio
check on Monday evening. Charge noted that Timor-Leste's cell
phone network seemed to be overburdened, with many calls not
going through or being dropped.


7. (SBU) MilRep said reported that the Commander of
Timor-Leste's Armed Forces (F-FDTL) had ordered his troops to
their barracks for the time being, and that this order was being
obeyed.


8. (SBU) POL/CONS/ECON/PD noted that we had had few inquiries
from non-official Amcits in country, but that he would field
these calls as needed. He agreed to respond to any questions
from journalists based on the brief statement prepared by Charge
and cleared by the Department.

RECTOR