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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000151 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS 
PACOM FOR POLADS - AMB CHRISTY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  6/1/2018 
TAGS: PGOV ASEC TT
SUBJECT: STABILITY RETURNS TO TIMOR-LESTE'S EASTERN DISTRICTS 
 
REF: A) 07 DILI 362, B) 08 DILI 06 
 
DILI 00000151  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Henry M. Rector, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. 
Embassy Dili, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
Summary 
 
------- 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  Ambassador and Poloff traveled to the eastern 
districts of Viqueque and Baucau from May 27 - 28 to meet with 
local officials and members of civil society.  These districts 
were the focal points of political violence during and after 
national elections in 2007.  Despite lingering tensions between 
the National Police of Timor-Leste and some Catholic Church 
officials on the one hand, and with the district administrators 
belonging to the opposition FRETILIN party on the other, these 
key players have improved security by engaging in regular 
dialogue in spite of their differences.  Some local leaders said 
that the heightened security measures undertaken in response to 
the February 11 attacks on the Prime Minister and President have 
also enhanced stability.  End Summary. 
 
Viqueque: Security Pre-requisite For Fighting Poverty 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶2. (C) On May 27, the Ambassador met with local officials in 
Viqueque including District Administrator Francisco da Silva, 
Deputy National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) Commander Jose 
Casmiro de Carvalho, and Father Beneditos Randung.  Viqueque was 
the scene of some of Timor-Leste's worst political violence 
following the establishment of the Gusmao government. According 
to the officials, the greatest challenge facing Viqueque at this 
time is poverty, exacerbated by a 60 percent illiteracy rate and 
dire unemployment.  However, they stressed that improved 
security is a pre-requisite to addressing these problems, and 
they reported positive developments in this regard.  They 
described the security situation as greatly improved, thanks to 
efforts by the Catholic Church and the PNTL to promote 
reconciliation.  They also said that the joint military and 
police operations in response to the February 11 attacks by 
armed rebels against President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime 
Minister Xanana Gusmao have significantly enhanced public 
security. 
 
¶3. (C) When asked for his reaction to President Jose 
Ramos-Horta's visit to the district last November (reftels), the 
District Administrator downplayed its impact and observed that 
"(national) politicians visit for political reasons."  In a 
private conversation with the Ambassador, Father Randung 
expressed concerns over the "politicized" environment created by 
FRETILIN in the district, but stopped short of predicting any 
future episodes of violence on last year's scale. 
 
¶4. (C) On May 28, the Ambassador met with Resistance-era leader 
Colonel Domingues Raul (AKA Falur Rate Laek), who praised Prime 
Minister Xanana Gusmao's handling of the military petitioners 
issue.  He said the petitioners "should not be allowed back into 
the army under any circumstances."  He cautioned against high 
expectations for fast transformation within the armed forces, 
noting that "we are still a young army." 
 
¶5. (U) While in Viqueque, the Ambassador made public donations 
of books to local educators and of sporting equipment to youth 
groups.  The Ambassador gave an interview on Viqueque's local 
community radio station highlighting USG support for justice, 
the rule of law, economic development and the strengthening of 
Timor-Leste's democratic institutions. 
 
Baucau: "Back To Normal" 
 
------------------------ 
 
¶6. (C) On May 28, the Ambassador visited Baucau, the scene of 
political violence following the establishment of the new 
government last August.  According to District Administrator 
Luis Aparicio Guterres, a member of the opposition FRETILIN 
party, the city is "back to normal," although he expressed 
serious concern about the  "excessive hand" of the police. 
 
DILI 00000151  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Guterres assured us, however, that improved dialogue among key 
players including FRETILIN, the PNTL, and the Church has 
resulted in increased stability. 
 
¶7. (U) Ambassador also met the International Center for 
Journalism (ICFJ) representatives and the city's community radio 
station, where he was briefed on local programs sponsored by 
USAID to enhance the professional development of local 
reporters. 
KLEMM