Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LISBON351
2008-02-12 17:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:  

TIMOR LESTE: IN AFTERMATH OF ASSASSINATION

Tags:  MARR PO TL PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6129
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHLI #0351/01 0431740
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121740Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6623
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0548
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI PRIORITY
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0385
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 0046
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0147
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1523
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 000351 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS AARON FORSBERG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018
TAGS: MARR PO TL PREL
SUBJECT: TIMOR LESTE: IN AFTERMATH OF ASSASSINATION
ATTEMPTS, PORTUGAL CONSIDERS SENDING ADDITIONAL GENDARMES

REF: DILI 0040

LISBON 00000351 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Dep P/E Counselor Cari Enav for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 000351

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS AARON FORSBERG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018
TAGS: MARR PO TL PREL
SUBJECT: TIMOR LESTE: IN AFTERMATH OF ASSASSINATION
ATTEMPTS, PORTUGAL CONSIDERS SENDING ADDITIONAL GENDARMES

REF: DILI 0040

LISBON 00000351 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Dep P/E Counselor Cari Enav for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Summary
--------------
1.(SBU)Portugal is closely monitoring developments in its
former colony of Timor Leste but has no immediate plans to
send additional paramilitary troops to help stabilize the
situation following the attempted assassination of President
Jose Ramos Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. Although
not responsible for security around the President,s home,
Portuguese forces and emergency personnel arrived at the
scene shortly after receiving a distress call, providing
medical aid and transporting Ramos Horta to the Australian
medical clinic. Portugal remains concerned about the
volatile security situation in Dili, noting that deep-rooted
problems persist despite the fact that renegade military
officer Alfredo Reinado is out of the picture. Portuguese
Ambassador to Canberra is in Darwin to demonstrate support
for Timor Leste and concern for Ramos Horta.

No Additional Forces for Now
--------------

2. (C) The Foreign Minister's Advisor for Asian Affairs, Rita
Laranjinha, told post that Portugal is closely monitoring
developments in Timor Leste and that its paramilitary forces
stationed there, the Guardia Nacional da Republica (GNR),are
sending regular updates on the security situation. Portugal
has no immediate plans to reinforce its 240 strong GNR
presence, given the distance and the fact that Australia has
already sent over 200 additional military and police
personnel since the assassination attempt. The government
will carefully consider Timorese requests for such assistance
when asked, probably within the next few days, as noted by
visiting Timorese Parliament President Fernando Lamasa de
Araujo to government officials on February 11. Lamasa de
Araujo, who was shocked by these events, according to
Larinjinha, departed Lisbon for Dili on February 12. In a
separate February 11 conversation on the subject, Political
Director Bramao Ramos told Ambassador Stephenson that he

expected Timor Leste to ask for additional GNR forces shortly.


3. (C) Note: During a January trip to Dili, Minister of
Interior Rui Pereira told Timorese officials that GNR forces
would remain in Timor Leste until the end of 2008 but would
not make any long term commitments. The government had been
awaiting a February UN decision to extend the UNMIT mission
before committing to a continued GNR presence, Laranjinha
noted. This UN decision will likely be postponed in light of
the assassination attempt as Special UN Envoy Atul Kare has
just left New York for Dili. End Note.

GNR ) First Responders to Ramos Horta Attack
--------------

4. (C) Laranjinha had no comment regarding the breach of
security at Ramos Horta's compound, noting that the
Australians and Timorese are responsible for security there.
She did note, however, that immediately following the attack,
the GNR and Portuguese emergency personnel received a
distress call (it is unclear from whom) and arrived at the
compound within five minutes, providing first aid to Ramos
Horta and transporting him to the Australian clinic for
medical care. Laranjinha said that she had heard that Ramos
Horta was expected to survive and would likely remain in the
Darwin hospital for one month. The Portuguese were not
involved in responding to the attempted assassination of
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Laranjinha added.

Political Situation Still Volatile
--------------

5. (C) Reinado clearly hoped to destabilize the government by
assassinating Ramos Horta and Gusmao although he did not
appear to have any clear follow-up plan, Laranjinha said,
noting that Reinado had no infrastructure in place to take
over. The political balance of power remains quite volatile
with deep-rooted problems continuing to plague the economy
and efforts at national reconciliation. Even with the
"charismatic" Reinado out of the picture, many of his
followers will likely continue to harbor strong resentment
against the government, Laranjinha said. Separately,
Political Director Bramao Ramos expressed concern to
Ambassador Stephenson regarding the response by Timorese

LISBON 00000351 002.2 OF 002


youth, fearing a worse reaction to the death of Reinado than
if Ramos Horta or Gusmao had died. Laranjinha commented that
recent events may make it more difficult for Gusmao to reach
agreement with opposition leader Mari Alkatiri on legislation
to pardon past offenses, an idea Gusmao discussed with
Portuguese Minister of Interior Pereira during his January
visit to Dili.

Portuguese Ambassador Expresses Support in Darwin
--------------

6. (C) In addition to the Portuguese heads of state and
government roundly condemning the attacks, the Portuguese
Ambassador to Canberra has traveled to Darwin to express
support for the Timorese government and concern for the
health of Ramos Horta. He is in close communication with
Timorese Foreign Minister de Costa -- who is also in Darwin
-- and is relaying all developments back to Lisbon.

Comment
--------------

7. (C) The former colony of Timor Leste holds a special place
in the Portuguese psyche and is the largest recipient of
Portuguese foreign assistance and gendarmerie stationed
abroad. A steady stream of visitors continues in both
directions, with Defense Secretary of State Joao Mira Gomes
traveling to Dili in December 2007 to sign the 2008-2010
Framework Agreement for Technical Military Cooperation,
Minister for the Interior Rui Pereira traveling in January to
discuss the security situation, and a planned visit by
Minister of Justice in February to review strengthening the
judicial system. In fact, at the time of the assassination
attempts, Minister for Work and Social Security Jose Vieira
da Silva was in Dili participating in a conference and
Timorese Parliament President Fernando Lamasa de Araujo was
in Lisbon meeting his counterparts. Although the Portuguese
government often comments that its capability to deploy
forces worldwide are stretched thin due to budget and
military capacity constraints, Laranjinha implied that
Portugal would step up to the plate and provide additional
forces to Timor Leste if asked.
Stephenson