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RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 2134

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000369 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS 
PACOM FOR POLAD AND JOC 
NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC MARR TT
SUBJECT: EAST TIMOR SITREP FOR JULY 10-17, 2006 
 
 
DILI 00000369  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. Summary: 
New government leaves opposition parties cold 
Prosecutor General sworn in for second four-year term 
Rai Los hands over his weapons 
Parliament back to work on electoral law and Alkatiri case 
Plans for additional demonstrations called off 
Internally Displaced People (IDPs) beginning to return~slowly 
End summary. 
 
New government leaves opposition parties cold 
--------------------------------------------- 
¶2. Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta on July 14 announced the 
composition of the cabinet over which he will preside (see 
septel).  Public response to the announcement has been generally 
muted, as most of the population in Dili seems more intent on 
getting back to their normal lives.  However, there were several 
critical statements by opposition parties and civil society. 
Among the criticisms voiced were that the new government has not 
expanded the representation of opposition parties within the 
cabinet and that Ramos-Horta was "wearing Alkatiri's old shirt" 
by retaining much of the same cabinet. 
 
¶3. The major opposition parties had the previous day 
demonstrated their objection to the approach of President Xanana 
Gusmao and Ramos-Horta in forming the new government by refusing 
to attend a meeting of opposition parties with Gusmao.  Absent 
from that meeting were the heads of the Democratic Party (PD), 
the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Timorese Social 
Democratic Association (ASDT), and the Timorese Democratic Union 
(UDT).  The opposition parties' primary complaint is that they 
have not been consulted as mandated by the Constitution in the 
formation of the new government. 
 
Prosecutor General sworn in for second four-year term 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶4. President Gusmao today swore in Longinhos Monteiro for a 
second four-year term as Prosecutor General.  Monteiro's first 
term ended several months ago and there has been ongoing 
speculation that he would be replaced.  Several candidates had 
been discussed, with Truth and Friendship Commission member 
Aniceto Guterres most often mentioned as having the support of 
both Gusmao and the ruling Fretilin party.  However, Gusmao has 
also been urging Monteiro to move forward on the criminal cases 
against former Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato and former Prime 
Minister Mari Alkatiri and has been reported to be using the 
threat of not reappointing him as pressure.  The decision to go 
ahead and reappoint him possibly reflects Gusmao's satisfaction 
with the progress of these cases. 
 
Rai Los hands over his weapons 
------------------------------ 
¶5. In a widely covered and well-attended ceremony on July 11 
"Rai Los" the head of the group in Liquica district that claims 
to have been armed by former Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato 
handed over his group's weapons as evidence to the Prosecutor 
General.  Emboffs and other observers in attendance counted 
fewer weapons than previously seen in his possession.  However, 
Railos explained to local media that several weapons had already 
been passed to one of the military dissidents who had given the 
weapons to Australian forces in a separate handover.  Notably, 
however, Railos did not handover his pistol, which remained 
visible in his pocket. 
 
¶6. Observers at the ceremony remarked on the varied and somewhat 
confusing cast of characters in attendance.  In addition to 
Railos, who was inexplicably dressed in an F-FDTL uniform, and 
Ramos-Horta who arrived in the company of Bishop Nacimento and 
the head of a visiting European Commission delegation, also in 
attendance were several members of the National Police (PNTL) 
including the National Commissioner of Police and the head of 
the Police Reserve Unit (URP). 
 
Parliament back to work on electoral law and Alkatiri case 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
¶7. The National Parliament appeared to be genuinely back to work 
this last week, with plenary sessions proceeding as normal. 
 
DILI 00000369  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Parliament's recess, normally due to begin July 15, was delayed 
until August 15 and will be delayed again "if necessary."  Early 
in the week, Parliament received a letter from former Prime 
Minister Alkatiri in which he stated his intent to cooperate 
with the judicial process based on allegations that he was 
involved in arms distribution.  In addition he asked to "hold 
back" his position as a Member of Parliament until the case is 
completed. 
 
¶8. The electoral law drafted by the Alkatiri government was 
resubmitted to Parliament last week by the Ramos-Horta 
government and has been admitted to the Parliamentary Committee 
for Constitutional Affairs for review. 
 
Plans for additional demonstrations called off 
--------------------------------------------- - 
¶9. Although continuing to voice their unhappiness with the 
dominance of Fretilin in the new government and with perceived 
lack of progress on the criminal case against former Prime 
Minister Mari Alkatiri, the National Front for Justice and Peace 
(FNJP) has informed Emboffs and announced publicly that it will 
not be organizing additional demonstrations in the near future. 
The FNJP, led by dissident F-FDTL major, Augusto Tara, was the 
primary force behind the anti-Alkatiri demonstrations that took 
place in Dili in June.  Instead, they plan to focus their 
energies on campaigning for the swift prosecution of the 
Alkatiri criminal case. 
 
Internally Displaced People (IDPs) beginning to return~slowly 
--------------------------------------------- ------------------ 
¶10. Security throughout Dili has improved to the point where 
many IDPs have begun to make forays back to their homes. 
However, official numbers of IDPs have yet to go down 
significantly.  One of the reasons for this is that large 
numbers of IDPs are retaining their camp registration even if 
they are spending the majority of their time back in their 
neighborhoods.  Several phenomenon appear to be at work here. 
Probably the most important is that there is still a widespread 
perception that security is tenuous and will require a greater 
police presence in the neighborhoods to overcome.  Other factors 
at work include continued community tensions especially in the 
hardest hit neighborhoods; lack of housing for those whose homes 
were destroyed or damaged; and a desire or need to maintain 
access to the resources provided in the camps.  The various 
organizations and agencies providing aid to the IDPs have formed 
a working group to address the long-term challenge of getting 
people back to their homes. 
DICKEY