Cablegate: Embassy Dili Eac Meeting, 12 February 2008

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

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