Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DILI172
2009-07-14 08:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dili
Cable title:  

TRIAL BEGINS FOR PRESIDENT'S ATTACKERS

Tags:  PGOV PREL MARR KJUS TT 
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VZCZCXRO6567
RR RUEHCHI RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHDT #0172 1950819
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140819Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4455
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 1127
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1292
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 3988
UNCLAS DILI 000172 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KJUS TT
SUBJECT: TRIAL BEGINS FOR PRESIDENT'S ATTACKERS

UNCLAS DILI 000172

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KJUS TT
SUBJECT: TRIAL BEGINS FOR PRESIDENT'S ATTACKERS


1. (U) The trial for the 28 individuals accused of attacking
President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Gusmao in February 2008
began in Dili on July 13. The suspects, including ex-soldiers
and an Australian woman, are charged with attempted murder,
conspiracy to murder, and other offenses, for their alleged role
in the attacks on Timor's two highest-ranking public officials.
Ramos-Horta was shot multiple times outside his home and nearly
died in the attacks on February 11, 2008, while Gusmao escaped a
separate ambush on the same day unharmed.




2. (U) The leader of the group, Gustao Salsinha, denied the
accusations in court. Salsinha surrendered to authorities in
April 2008 after remaining at large for several months. The
group's original leader, Alfredo Reinado, was killed by the
president's security detail at the time of the attack.
Ramos-Horta publicly forgave his attackers and suggested he
might pardon the ex-soldiers if they are convicted.




3. (U) UN police conducted lengthy security checks at the court
building and closed the streets around the building for several
hours. The capacity crowd inside the court room consisted
mainly of relatives and other ex-soldiers, the so-called
petitioners whose mass firing sparked political crisis in 2006.
Spectators on the streets cheered when Salsinha arrived and
waved banners calling for truth and justice. Police kept the
crowd away from the front of the building and removed the
banners without incident. Lawyers expect the trial to last for
several months.




4. (SBU) In a July 13 conversation with the Ambassador,
Timor-Leste's Prosecutor General also predicted that the trial
would last several months, if for no other reason than more than
60 witnesses are scheduled to testify in addition to the
accused. The Prosecutor General expressed some reservations
regarding the strength of the state's case, while noting it had
been prepared prior to her assuming the post in March 2009. She
shared, for example, that the ballistics evidence against the
accused was inconclusive.




5. (U) Embassy requests Department approval of the if-asked
press guidance suggested below.



Q: What is the position of the United States on the trial of
Gustao Salsinha and others for the attack on President
Ramos-Horta?



A: We applaud the steps the Timorese Government has taken to
date to peacefully apprehend, investigate and prosecute those
individuals suspected of the attacks on the President and Prime
Minister. We have consistently urged the Government to bring
accused criminals to justice under domestic law. The full
establishment and development of rule of law and the elimination
of an atmosphere of impunity are critically important for
sustaining stability in Timor-Leste.

KLEMM