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RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 1867

C O N F I D E N T I A L DILI 000245 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS; USPACOM FOR JOC AND POLAD; JOINT STAFF FOR J5 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  5/22/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC MARR KDEM TT
SUBJECT: CHARGE MEETS WITH STATE MINISTER ANA PESSOA 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Paul W. Turnbull, Major, US Defense 
Representative, Office of Defense Cooperation, DOD. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  Charge Stein and USAID representative Fuller 
held a warm meeting with Senior Minister and Minister for State 
Administration Ana Pessoa on May 22, 2006 to discuss the 
commission she leads to investigate the grievances of the former 
FDTL soldiers, the "petitioners" dismissed earlier this year. 
Pessoa expressed appreciation for the assistance the U.S. has 
given thus far for relief and rehabilitation, and emphasized 
that it is now very important that accurate information be 
conveyed to the petitioners residing in the western districts. 
With this goal in mind, she asked for USG assistance in 
delivering newspapers and repairing community radio stations. 
Charge suggested that the Commission prepare an informational 
pamphlet that could be inserted into the newspapers or otherwise 
distributed to the petitioners.  Pessoa agreed and promised to 
follow-up on the suggestion of a pamphlet with commission 
members.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) Pessoa stated that many of the petitioners are young men 
who have little formal education and are thus easily manipulated 
by others.  Much of the information these young men receive is 
misleading and transmitted to them by their older colleagues and 
leaders who often have their own motives and goals.  Many 
petitioners, she said, erroneously believe that an attack from 
FDTL is imminent and have been told that the group needs to 
stick together for protection. Few have a correct understanding 
of the work of her commission.  Therefore, she warmly welcomes 
U.S. assistance in getting correct factual information conveyed 
to these petitioners and their families.  She suggested that the 
U.S. help in sending newspapers to the areas where petitioners 
reside and requested that the U.S. assist in repairing community 
radio stations so they can disseminate information. (Note.  The 
GOET has no funding this fiscal year to help repair radio 
stations, and new funding will not become available until July. 
End Note). 
 
¶3. (C) Charge informed her that USAID has been assisting in the 
delivery of newspapers to those in IDP camps for several days 
now.  Pessoa expressed thanks but said since the IDP situation 
has improved, the focus should now shift to the petitioners 
residing in the western districts.  Charge suggested that the 
Commission prepare some sort of fact sheet in pamphlet form that 
could be inserted into newspapers.  Pessoa appeared to support 
this idea and promised to discuss it with commission members in 
a meeting later today and possibly even prepare the pamphlets 
for distribution within the next couple days. 
 
¶4. (C) COMMENT. The meeting with Pessoa was facilitated by 
Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta who is spearheading the GOET 
response to the dissident military groups.  When Charge 
suggested to Horta during a meeting on May 20 that an 
information campaign might be useful to correct the 
misinformation that is received by petitioners, Horta agreed and 
immediately telephoned Pessoa.  Having now received Pessoa's 
formal request for assistance, USAID is seeking ways to help 
community radio stations located in the western districts and 
will send the two portable radio stations previously funded by 
USAID to those areas identified by the GOET as having the 
greatest need.  END COMMENT. 
 
STEIN