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RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 1993

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DILI 000304 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, DS, CA 
NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW 
PACOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  6/12/2016 
TAGS: PGOV MOPS ASEC PHUM UN KPKO CASC PO MY TT AS
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITREP FOR JUNE 12, 2006 
 
REF: A) DILI 296 B) DILI 300 
 
DILI 00000304  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Grover Joseph Rees, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy 
Dili, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: 
GOET Calls on UN to Establish Independent Special Inquiry 
Commission; 
Opposition MP Joins Major Reinado to Call for Changes to the 
Constitution; 
GNR Cooperates Effectively with JTF; 
Security environment. 
End summary. 
 
GOET Calls on UN to Establish Independent Special Inquiry 
Position 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
----------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a rare appearance before Parliament today, 
Foreign/Defense Minister Ramos-Horta announced the GOET's 
request that the United Nations establish an independent Special 
Inquiry Commission to review specific violent incidents and 
other related events that contributed to the present crisis. 
The Minister explicitly mentioned the events of April 28-29 and 
May 23-25 as the major topics for the investigation.  When 
questioned about an investigation into allegations that Prime 
Minister Mari Alkatiri armed pro-Fretilin groups, Ramos-Horta 
stated the commission could include an investigation into this 
accusation.  Sources reported, however, that the Prime Minister 
is hoping the UN will limit the scope of the investigation to 
relations between the police and military.  Surprisingly, 
despite the presence of many opposition MPs, very few questions 
were asked of the Minister regarding the proposed investigation 
and recent events. 
 
¶3. (C) On Sunday, Australian television aired a press conference 
in which the Australian Justice Minister announced that the 
Australian Federal Police (AFP) forensics team that is currently 
investigating violent clashes that occurred between the military 
(F-FDTL), police (PNTL), and dissident forces does not plan to 
investigate allegations that Prime Minister Alkatiri established 
and armed secret Fretilin hit squads to eliminate key opposition 
leaders and members of the group of petitioners. (Note: 
"Petitioners" refers to the approximately 595 former F-FDTL 
members dismissed in March.)  EmbOff spoke today with officers 
at the Australian Embassy, who confirmed that no such 
investigation would take place.  The Australian Embassy sources 
said the ADF would not investigate the allegations against 
Alkatiri both because the forensics team is currently occupied 
with other investigations and because the GOA feared it would 
give the impression that it was supporting anti-Alkatiri 
factions. 
 
Opposition MP Joins Major Reinado to Call for Changes to the 
Constitution 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) Yesterday, dissident leader Major Alfredo Reinado was 
joined by opposition MP Manuel Tilman, the leader of a small 
opposition party called KOTA (Association of Timorese Warriors), 
at a press conference held in the mountain town of Maubisse. 
During the press conference, Tilman said he was calling for a 
"gathering of intellectuals" to discuss the current crisis and 
propose policy changes to the GOET.  (Note: Although several 
"intellectuals" did indeed travel to Maubisse today to meet with 
Tilman, many others refused to do so out for fear of appearing 
aligned with Reinado's group.)  Tilman offered the first 
proposal, which included changes to the Constitution that would 
grant the President more extensive powers.  He also called for 
the dissolution of the current Parliament, the installation of a 
caretaker government, and new national elections to be held 
 
DILI 00000304  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
within six months.  The Timorese constitution includes language 
that prohibits amending the constitution for six years from the 
date it was adopted, but Tilman claims this can be overcome if 
the President declares a state of emergency, effectively 
suspending the Constitution.  While it is extremely unlikely 
that any of Tilman's requests will even receive a response from 
the GOET, it is noteworthy that Reinado has aligned himself with 
an intelligent and generally well-respected (if somewhat 
idiosyncratic) opposition MP. 
 
¶5. (C) During a meeting with the President's Chief of Staff, 
Agio Pereira, EmbOff was informed that President Gusmao met with 
dissident leaders Majors Tara and Tilman last weekend at his 
home in Balibar.  Pereira stated that both men had agreed to a 
broader dialogue that would include Reinado's group and the 
petitioners.  It is still unclear whether the groups would 
accept the direct participation of Prime Minister Alkatiri or if 
he would be represented by Foreign/Defense Minister Horta. 
Pereira also indicated that the President would meet with Major 
Reinado and Lieutenant Gastao Salsinha (spokesman for the 
petitioners) separately next weekend.  While any possible 
dialogue would still aim to promote reconciliation, Pereira 
indicated that the President believes it is crucial that these 
groups also face an appropriate judicial process.  He also 
stated that he believes it is highly likely that the group of 
demonstrators recently organized by Major Tilman (See Ref A) 
will conduct larger anti-Alkatiri demonstrations within the next 
few days, possibly in coordination with groups from the East. 
The Chief of Staff concluded by stating that the President will 
address Parliament this Wednesday to discuss the dialogue 
process and his proposed next steps. 
 
GNR Cooperates Effectively with JTF 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) During a meeting with EmbOff today, Portuguese special 
police (GNR) Commander Carvalho and GNR Liaison Officer Soares 
confirmed the close GNR-Joint Task Force coordination previously 
reported by the JTF Police Commander and dismissed allegations 
of strained relations, stating that these reports were 
exaggerated by the press. (See Ref B).  Although the GNR remains 
outside the JTF command structure, the GNR Liaison Officer said 
he has established an effective working relationship with the 
JTF Command Center and remains in constant contact regarding 
incidents in the sector controlled by GNR.  He also explained 
that there are daily coordination meetings between the GOET, 
JTF, and GNR.  While Ramos-Horta was initially the GNR's key 
contact within the GOET, Soares stated that Interior Minister 
Baris has now largely assumed this role.  GNR Commander Carvalho 
stated that in addition to the 130 officers on the ground, the 
GNR Headquarters in Lisbon was dispatching a four person 
investigative team to provide forensics support within GNR's 
sector.  He indicated that the presence of this team would in no 
way impede any investigation currently underway by the 
Australian police (AFP) forensics teams. One operational 
difference between the GNR and JTF forces is that the GNR does 
not conduct foot patrols, nor do they have any permanent 
security posts in their zone.  Carvalho concluded the meeting by 
showing EmbOff a map of the GNR's sector and explaining that the 
U.S. Embassy falls within this area.  He provided EmbOff with 
his direct number and stated that GNR stands ready to respond to 
any security problems at the U.S. Embassy. 
 
Security environment 
--------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Over the past three nights the now common reports of 
scattered house burnings and gunshots (the latter mostly at 
night) continued.  Since Friday the city has gradually become 
more active, with a few more grocery stores and other commercial 
establishments re-opening their doors.  This morning a cargo 
vessel docked at Dili's port, the first commercial vessel to 
unload in Dili for several days.  Crowded conditions at the 
internally displaced persons (IDP) camps continued.  Yesterday 
marked the first violent act to take place in an IDP camp, when 
 
DILI 00000304  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
a man outside the camp shot a woman insider the camp with an 
arrow.  The man reportedly perched on a ladder outside the camp 
and waited for this particular woman to walk by.  American 
citizens and other internationals, mostly NGO workers, are 
slowly trickling back into Dili to help with relief efforts for 
the IDPs. 
REES