VZCZCXRO5712
PP RUEHDT
DE RUEHDT #0042 0430955
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120955Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3853
INFO RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0953
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0857
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 3276

UNCLAS DILI 000042 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, CA/OCS, S/ES-O/CMS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC TT
SUBJECT: EMBASSY DILI EAC MEETING, 12 FEBRUARY 2008 
 
REF: DILI 0039 
 
¶1. (U) In response to yesterday's attacks on Timor-Leste 
President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, 
Ambassador convened Embassy Dili's Emergency Action Committee at 
16:00 on February 12.  Participants included DCM, RSO, 
Management Officer, MilRep (ODC), Acting USAID Mission Director, 
POL/CONS/PD/ECON Officer, IMO, and Ambassador's OMS. 
 
¶2. (U) Ambassador reported he had just met with the acting head 
of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), 
Finn Reske-Nielsen, who updated him on UNMIT's cooperation with 
the GOTL in responding to the incident.  According to 
Reske-Nielsen, one piece of good news to emerge from yesterday's 
violence was the positive performance under pressure of the 
Timorese government. The Timorese political leadership, state 
institutions and security forces reacted correctly and in a 
relatively well-coordinated manner, in contrast to the April-May 
2006 crisis in which the GOTL had collapsed into confusion and 
violence. 
 
¶3. (U) RSO reported that Dili was calm overnight and today, 
based on his own observations and consultations with UNMIT's 
security chief.  He reported that he had met with Deputy 
Commander of the National Police, who said that Dili is calm and 
that he was coordinating closely with the UN police mission 
(UNPOL) on maintaining public order and apprehending the 
fugitives who had attacked the President and Prime Minister. 
Our local guard force is in place at full strength.  Businesses 
are open and schools, including international schools, are 
holding classes.  RSO said he had coordinated with the 
management of both of Dili's international schools at COB 
yesterday and at OOB today, and said he would do so tomorrow. 
 
¶4. (U) RSO reported that some local staff are concerned that the 
release of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado's body from the morgue 
to his family may spark unrest.  MO said that an expatriate 
family living near the home of Reinado's father and been advised 
by their employer at the UN to take precautions for this event. 
It is not known exactly when Reinado's body will be released, 
although this will be within the next few days. 
 
¶5. (U) MilRep said that in response to the GOTL's request 
yesterday, additional Australian Defense Force personnel are now 
arriving to augment the International Stabilization Force 
already deployed in country. 
 
¶6. (C) POL/CONS/PD/ECON Officer told Ambassador that post had 
sent out two warden notices yesterday.  There have been fewer 
than five inquiries from concerned Amcits.  He stated that the 
GOTL had imposed a parliamentary approved, formal 48-hour state 
of emergency yesterday.  During this period, demonstrations are 
prohibited, checkpoints and searches are in place, and there is 
a curfew in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. 
 
¶6. EAC adjourned and agreed to meet again as necessary. 
 
KLEMM