DILI CALM, ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED FOR ATTACKERS OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000047 SIPDIS SIPDIS EAP FOR EAP/MTS PACOM FOR POLADS - CHRISTY E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/13/2018 TAGS: PGOV ASEC AS TT SUBJECT: DILI CALM, ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED FOR ATTACKERS OF TIMOR-LESTE PRESIDENT AND PM REF: A) DILI 40, B) DILI 45 DILI 00000047 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Henry M. Rector, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Dili, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. In Timor-Leste, the government is functioning normally and Dili remains calm two days after the shooting of President Jose Ramos-Horta and the attack on Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. The GOTL has officially extended the 48-hour state of emergency for seven more days. The bodies of Major Alfredo Reinado and his accomplice killed during the shootout at the Presidential compound were released to their families. A wake was held at the home of Reinado's family in Dili, and the funeral will be held on the morning of February 14. The Prosecutor General has issued 18 arrest warrants. End summary. Public Security Update -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On February 13, Dili remained calm, as did the rest of Timor-Leste. Portuguese National Guard (GNR),regular police (PNTL),PNTL Rapid Response Units, and Armed Forces (F-FDTL) were visibly deployed at strategic locations such as government facilities as well as potential hotspots, including the Reinado family home. The security presence did not cause tension or friction, and people went about their business normally. Seventy Australian Federal Police have arrived to assist. ISF Commander Brigadier James Baker told Ambassador that Dili remains "very calm" and if this continues, conditions could return to normal as early as Friday. ¶3. (U) The GOTL has officially extended its 48-hour state of emergency for seven days. The 8:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m. curfew remains in effect and is being enforced by the United Nations Police Mission (UNPOL) and the Australian International Stabilization Force (ISF). The Office of the Ombudsman (Provedor) has said that it will monitor enforcement of the state of emergency and assess any reports of human rights violations that might occur. But Potential Flashpoints Loom -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Despite the calm, events in the coming days could possibly spark unrest. These include Reinado's funeral and the apprehension of the 20 - 30 other perpetrators, who still remain at large. In this regard, Prosecutor General Longhinos Monteiro announced that he had issued 18 indictments and arrest warrants. He told media that this number may well increase. ¶5. (U) The GOTL is aware of the potential for unrest. Bishop Gunnar Stalsett, a Norwegian member of the Nobel Prize Committee who is a confidante of President Ramos-Horta, met with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao on the morning of February 13. Stalsett told Ambassador that Gusmao had told him that the situation may become "more dramatic" in the coming days. Blame Game Continues -------------- ¶6. (U) F-FDTL commander Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak (TMR) held a press conference in which he absolved his troops of blame in the incidents, and instead criticized UNPOL, PNTL, and the ISF. He said that the F-FDTL was only responsible for maintaining security on the President's compound, while responsibility for the President's personal security rested with both PNTL and UNPOL. He implied that F-FDTL was successful in that it defeated the attackers who breached the compound, but that international forces failed in their duties. He specifically mentioned that "given the large number of international forces present in Timor-Leste, and particularly in the area of the capital, how was it possible that vehicles carrying armed elements could circulate near and implement an approach towards the homes of both the President of the Republic DILI 00000047 002.2 OF 002 and the Prime Minister?" The general called for an investigation on the events and performance of the international forces. Reinado's Body Released, Wake Held -------------- ¶7. (U) Major Reinado's body was transported this afternoon to his father's home in Marconi, Dili, about two kilometers west of the U.S. Embassy. A wake was held in the late afternoon, and over 300 people gathered within the first hour to pay their respects. Large groups of supporters chanted "Long Live Reinado, Long Live the Major!" as they marched in procession by his casket. More crowds are expected this evening, and he is expected to be buried tomorrow on the grounds of his step-father's house in Dili. Rumor Mill Churning -------------- ¶8. (C) As might be expected, a variety of rumors and theories are circulating about the attacks. One has it that Xanana Gusmao himself had orchestrated it. Another theory charges that the opposition FRETILIN party, which has associated itself with Reinado's accusations against Xanana Gusmao in recent weeks, attempted to use Reinado to mount a coup d'etat. FRETILIN Secretary General Mari Alkatiri has scheduled a press conference SIPDIS to dispute this account. Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak excitedly called for an international investigation to ascertain the facts of Monday's events. SRSG Atul Khare was sanguine today, however, predicting that the conspiracy theories would collapse of their own contradictions. Khare shared with the Ambassador that he was much more concerned with the continuing presence of 20-30 armed followers of Reinado in the hills outside Dili and their possible ability to excite young supporters of in the capital. We will continue to monitor events in the security situation closely. KLEMM