TIMOR-LESTE UPDATE: GOTL WELCOMES U.S. OFFER OF HELP WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DILI 000050 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR S/ES-O PLS PASS SECRETARY'S STAFF FBI FOR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS JAKARTA FOR LEGATT - DALEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/15/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS KCRM ASEC AS TT SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE UPDATE: GOTL WELCOMES U.S. OFFER OF HELP WITH INQUIRY REF: A) DILI 29 B) DILI 40 (NOTAL),C) DILI 47 (NOTAL) DILI 00000050 001.2 OF 003 CLASSIFIED BY: Henry M. Rector, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Dili, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On February 15, the GOTL welcomed our offer of assistance with the criminal investigation into the February 11 attacks on President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao (reftel A). Dili remains calm and secure. The International Stabilization Force (ISF) has been augmented by about 230 Australian Defence Force personnel and 70 Australian Federal Police. A manhunt is underway to apprehend the 20-30 attackers still at large. It is being carried out jointly by the ISF, the UN Police Mission (UNPOL),the National Police (PNTL),and Armed Forces of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL). Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd paid a half-day visit to Dili to express his solidarity with the country. Would-be assassin Alfredo Reinado's funeral was held on February 14 without incident. End summary. ¶2. (C/NF) Assistance To Investigation of February 11 Attacks -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador spoke today with the Acting President, the Prime Minister, the Prosecutor General, and the acting Foreign Minister to convey FBI readiness to provide assistance to the criminal investigation of the February 11 attacks on President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. All were profoundly grateful for the quick offer of assistance. In order to streamline channels of command and communication, U.S. assistance should be provided directly to the Timor-Leste authorities, preferably to the Prosecutor General who is leading the investigation, and not to the United Nations authorities. For the record, the Prosecutor General today in his conversation with the Ambassador harshly criticized the sloppiness of UNPOL crime scene investigators. Once the Embassy receives the formal GOTL request, we will forward it immediately to Washington agencies. Acting President Focused on Public Order; Welcomes U.S. Assistance -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Acting President Fernando Lasama de Araujo, flanked by the Prime Minister, Acting Speaker of Parliament Guterres, and SRSG Khare, spoke to a gathering of the diplomatic corps on February 15. In a short prepared statement, Lasama stated the focus of the government since the February 11 attacks has been the maintenance of constitutional and public order. To the latter end, two (and only two) constitutional rights (those of freedom of movement and assembly) have been partially suspended through February 23. He called on the perpetrators of the acts to surrender immediately and assured that if they did so, they will enjoy their full constitutional rights and protections. The acting president reported that Jose Ramos Horta's condition is steadily improving - all vital signs are positive and his doctors expect a full recovery. Finally, President Lasama expressed particular gratitude to three countries for their offers of assistance since Monday: Australia, Portugal and the United States (for offering FBI criminal investigatory support). Ramos-Horta Condition Improving -------------- ¶4. (U) A source close to the family confirmed to us that President Ramos-Horta's condition is serious but is slowly improving. He was reportedly able to speak a few words and recognized people present at his bedside at Royal Darwin Hospital. ¶5. (U) While public discussion is currently focused on the DILI 00000050 002.2 OF 003 recovery of Ramos-Horta, Section 82 of Timor-Leste's Constitution addresses permanent disability of the President. According to Article 2, the President can be declared permanently incapacitated by the Supreme Court of Justice. Elections must then follow within 90 days. Since Timor-Leste has not yet set up its Supreme Court, this function would likely be performed by the Court of Appeals, currently the highest court in the land. PM Rudd Visits -------------- ¶6. (U) Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd paid a half-day visit to Dili on the morning of February 15. He met with Acting President Lasama, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, and FRETILIN Secretary General Mari Alkatiri. In his meetings with GOTL SIPDIS officials, Rudd discussed not only recent events, but also various aid projects in the areas of job creation and agriculture. He also visited with Australian military and doctors at Aspen Clinic to thank them for their emergency treatment of Ramos-Horta after shooting. ¶7. (C) The encounter between PMs Gusmao and Rudd was held in a 45-minute session with broad participation, then a half-hour one-on-one meeting. F-FDTL Commander Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak participated in the first meeting. According to Australian diplomatic contacts, PM Rudd asked TMR to clarify his call for a "second investigation." TMR responded that he wanted an international investigation not into the attacks, but into the initial reaction to the incidents by security forces including ISF and UNPOL. Rudd pointedly commented that now was not the time to criticize foreign friends who were assisting Timor-Leste. ¶8. (U) At a joint press conference with Acting President Lasama, PM Rudd stressed that "renegade elements" would not derail democracy in Timor-Leste, and he reaffirmed his commitment to upholding security and stability there. The Acting President thanked RM Rudd for Australia's rapid response to the crisis, especially doctors' treatment of President Ramos-Horta. Lasama thanked the Timorese public, particularly its youth, for its non-violent reaction to the events of February 11. He called for the nation to unite and for political parties "to put the campaign on hold" since elections are not due until 2012. ¶9. (U) PM Rudd is reported to have visited President Ramos-Horta at the Royal Hospital in Darwin en route home to Canberra. Search Operations Ongoing -------------- ¶10. (C) According to UN Political Chief Colin Stewart, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao met with UNMIT Head Atul Khare, ISF Commander Brigadier Baker, F-FDTL Commander Taur Matan Ruak, and PNTL Commander Alfonso de Jesus on the morning of February 14 to discuss improved coordination in the ongoing manhunt for the remaining suspects in the attacks on the President and Prime Minister. The ongoing joint operation is being carried out by ISF, Australian Special Forces (SAS) personnel, F-FDTL, UNPOL, and PNT-L. The group agreed to set up a Joint Information Coordination Group to ensure that the search teams do not receive conflicting reports. Contradictory intelligence was apparently a problem on the first day of the deployment, according to Stewart, and may have been the reason that an initial search in the hills near Ramos-Horta's compound on Tuesday proved fruitless. During the meeting TMR, reportedly demanded a greater role for the F-FDTL, which had been confined to base during the initial aftermath of the attacks. At this point, the F-FDTL is providing static security at key facilities and assisting the ISF at checkpoints as well as participating in the joint search operation. Reinado Buried Yesterday -------------- DILI 00000050 003.2 OF 003 ¶11. (U) Reinado's funeral was held on February 14 today at the residence of his foster father Victor Alves. Hundreds attended. Present in conspicuous numbers were members of Dili's youth groups - identifiable by their tattoos and black clothing -- who had revered Reinado in life. However, the mood was mournful and respectful rather than defiant or angry. PNTL and Portuguese National Guard (GNR) were conspicuously deployed near the venue. ¶12. (U) Victor Alves did much to pacify the public mood by urging that the nation unite and put the past behind. He met on February 13 with Prime Xanana Gusmao and SRSG Atul Khare. Alves reportedly declined Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's offer of a military funeral, and chose to present the body at the wake wearing a suit, not a military uniform. Politics, Not As Usual -------------- ¶13. (U) The opposition FRETILIN party continues to denounce rumors that it was behind the attacks. On February 14, Secretary General Mari Alkatiri held a press conference to SIPDIS refute a widely-circulated e-mail charging that he had manipulated Reinado into cooperating in a coup attempt. He threatened to sue those who were behind the e-mail. ¶14. (U) Leaders of all political parties met at UNMIT headquarters on February 14. Hosted by SRSG Atul Khare, the meeting resulted in a unanimous statement condemning the attacks, calling for thorough investigation, and apprehension and trial of the perpetrators. KLEMM