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FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2564
INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0436
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
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RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0420
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RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0288
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0359
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0160
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 1886

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DILI 000258 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS; USPACOM FOR JOC AND POLAD; JOINT STAFF FOR J5 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  5/24/2016 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV MARR PHUM TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITREP #2 FOR MAY 24, 2006 
 
 
DILI 00000258  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Sean Stein, Charge de Affairs, Embassy Dili, 
State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: 
GOET REQUESTS INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION 
CONTINUED FIGHTING BETWEEN FDTL AND DISSIDENT FORCES 
UPDATE ON DISSIDENT LEADERS 
POLICE UPDATE 
THE SITUATION IN DILI 
IDP UPDATE 
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY EVACUATION 
End summary. 
 
GOET REQUESTS INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION 
 
¶2. (C) At a meeting with the diplomatic corps this afternoon, 
President Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, Foreign 
Minister Ramos Horta and President of Parliament Francisco 
Guterres, formally request international intervention.  A 
written request was later submitted to the Government of 
Australia. According to the Australian Embassy, Australia has 
formally replied in the affirmative but emphasized that 
additional details need to be worked out.  A team is reportedly 
coming to Dili from Canberra tomorrow to begin those 
discussions. See septel for details of the request and analysis 
of implications for the GOET. 
 
CONTINUED FIGHTING BETWEEN FDTL AND DISSIDENT FORCES 
 
¶3. (C) Active fighting between FDTL and dissident forces 
commenced around 7:00am in the Tibar / Tasitolu area, 
immediately west of Dili.  Dissident forces who had gathered in 
the Tibar area overnight then moved to the FDTL base in Tasitolu 
(a few kilometers closer to Dili) and attacked using small arms. 
 These forces reportedly consisted of members of the various 
police and special units who had defected at the start of 
hostilities as well as members of the so-called petitioner 
group.  Force levels in this engagement were estimated to be 
30-40 soldiers from FDTL with naval augmentation (which had to 
sail in backward after losing the forward gear) against 
approximately 80-100 dissident forces.  As of late this 
afternoon, it appeared that FDTL has regained some control over 
the area, although residents of Tibar were still reporting 
ongoing shooting as of 5:00pm.  Accurate casualty figures are 
not yet available, though early reports are that dissident 
forces suffered heavy casualties while only one FDTL injury has 
been confirmed. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Additional skirmishes between FDTL units and 
yet-to-be-identified forces occurred in the hills overlooking 
the Taibesse neighborhood of Dili this afternoon.  Emboffs heard 
sporadic gunfire and periodic grenade explosions.  These clashes 
took place near the home of the Commander of FDTL, Brigadier 
General Taur Matan Ruak, and Embassy received several 
unconfirmed reports of an attack on his house. The fighting 
reportedly expanded into the Lahane area, near the official 
residence of President Xanana Gusmao, and resulted in a 
telephone call from Police Commissioner Paulo Martins to 
President Gusmao suggesting that the President's life might be 
in danger. Although the President was not in Lahane when he 
received the call --- he was meeting with diplomats in his 
office near downtown Dili --- he was visibly upset,  in part 
because he had not previously been notified of any FDTL 
operations in Lahane. As of late afternoon, this situation was 
still developing, but it is currently believed to involve 
smaller force levels on both sides. 
 
¶5. (U) The situation in the Becora / Fatuahi area, where 
hostilities were initiated yesterday, has stabilized.  In the 
aftermath of yesterday's fighting, FDTL recovered two vehicles, 
a motorbike and a cell phone that had been left behind by 
fleeing dissident forces. 
 
¶6. (U) The nature and size of the dissident forces appears to be 
 
DILI 00000258  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
fluid and it remains difficult to get an accurate profile of 
numbers and makeup as they are comprised of members of Major 
Reinado's dissident military police group, Lt. Salsinha's 
dismissed petitioner group, recently defected members of 
specialized police units, and a mix of other supporters. 
 
UPDATE ON DISSIDENT LEADERS 
 
¶7. (C) Embassy staff spoke to Lt. Salsinha late afternoon today. 
 Salsinha stated that he was still in Ermera district but has 
moved into the mountains further away from Dili.  He reported 
that he is currently standing by and waiting to hear from 
Foreign Minister Ramos-Horta regarding the commencement of 
dialogue between the GOET and the petitioners.  He denied that 
any of his men were moving toward Dili.  (Note: Embassy has 
several credible reports of petitioner involvement in the 
current fighting as well as of some petitioners traveling toward 
Dili this afternoon.  End note.) 
 
¶8. (C) In conversations with several sources this afternoon, 
Major Reinado was reported to be in an upbeat and confident 
mood.  He stated that the FDTL had attacked the police station 
in Tasitolu this morning and that his group therefore had to 
respond.  He emphasized that his main goal remains the reform of 
the FDTL.  When asked about the prospect of international 
intervention, he responded that he would be "willing to 
establish peace" but would never surrender to international 
forces, only to President Xanana Gusmao.  He repeated that he 
wants Gusmao to use his powers as President and Commander in 
Chief to dissolve the government. 
 
¶9. (C) Major Marcos Tilman was reportedly involved in the attack 
on the Tasitolu military headquarters earlier today. 
 
POLICE UPDATE 
 
¶10. (C) Emboff visited the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) 
compound today to ascertain the level of police still on duty in 
this unit.  The compound was notably less busy than usual, with 
approximately 35 total officers seen during the lunchtime visit 
when the compound is normally full and active.  The UIR 
commander was not present.  An inspector initially stated that 
all UIR officers were accounted for and at their usual duty 
posts, but later admitted that at least seven had deserted. 
Embassy information indicates a far larger defection rate, but 
apparent attempts to hide the scale of the problem makes 
assessing the exact level of police defection difficult. Police 
Commissioner Martins has remained in sproadic contact with 
police headquarters but has reportedly gone into hiding. Police 
and UN reports indicate that the Deputy Police Commissioner has 
most likely joined Maj. Reinado's group in Aileu. 
 
THE SITUATION IN DILI 
 
¶11. (U) The atmosphere around the city was notably tenser during 
the day, although in central Dili there were still many signs of 
normal life.  The widespread panic and exodus that seized the 
city in the aftermath of the April 28 riots does not appear to 
be repeating itself.  However, exodus out of the city is at this 
point impossible due to ongoing clashes and roadblocks on the 
main roads out.  International flights out of East Timor 
continued to have several dozen empty seats, although these 
numbers are decreasing. 
 
¶12. (U) Among the most worrying developments within the city is 
the increasing level of intimidation and violence carried out by 
groups of young men, often armed with machetes or sticks, 
against either westerners (loro mono) or easterners (lorosa'e). 
On the road out of the city toward Tasitolu and Tibar, a group 
of about 50 young men, accompanied by several police, were 
stopping all traffic and were seen attacking a woman who 
attempted to pass in a taxi.  Near the the central market, 
emboffs witnessed another group armed with sticks, machetes, and 
slingshots chase out the merchants and shoppers.  Sporadic 
gunfire was heard throughout the day to the south, east and west 
of the city. 
 
 
DILI 00000258  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
IDP UPDATE 
 
¶13. (U) The number of people seeking shelter in Dili's 
internally displaced persons (IDP) camps has increased 
significantly over the last day or so.  While most IDPs are 
going to the larger well-known camps, new camps have also been 
established.  International NGOs providing aid to the camps 
estimated as of late this afternoon that there are now about 
20,000 IDPs in Dili, located in up to 26 different sites.  The 
larger sites are struggling with overcrowding and deteriorating 
health and sanitation conditions.  Camp organizers are 
attempting to move some of the IDPs to alternate sites to lessen 
the resource strain.  As of now, security arrangements at the 
larger camps appear to be under control with security personnel 
providing adequate screening of entrants. 
 
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY EVACUATION 
 
¶14. (C) According to the Australian Embassy, the Australian 
military will send tomorrow a C-130 to evacuate dependents, 
volunteers, and non-essential personnel. 
 
REES 
 
STEIN 
REES