VZCZCXRO8010
OO RUEHDT
DE RUEHDT #0243 1790801
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 280801Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3602
INFO RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA IMMEDIATE 0892
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 1043
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 2976
UNCLAS DILI 000243
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, DS/IP. DS/EAP, DS/CC, AND S/ES-O/CMS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AEMR CASC KDEM TT
SUBJECT: EMBASSY DILI EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING, JUNE 28
1. (SBU) Embassy Dili's Emergency Action Committee (EAC),
chaired by Ambassador, convened at 1030 June 28 to assess the
security environment in preparation for post's participation in
observing national elections throughout East Timor on June 30.
Regional Security Officer (RSO) noted that in meetings on June
27, UN security personnel had concurred with our judgment that
the overall security climate in East Timor is favorable. Such
disturbances as have occurred have been minor and localized. A
study on electoral violence issued on June 22 by the
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and Belun,
a Timorese NGO, found that of 34 reported incidents of
election-related violence, half took place during the first week
of the campaign season, which started on May 28. This suggests
that the security conditions in East Timor have actually
stabilized as the campaign season has progressed.
2. (SBU) On June 29, Embassy Dili will deploy observation teams
to Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Covalima, Liquica, Ermera,
Lautem, Manatuto, Manufahi, and Viqueque districts. Ambassador
and Deputy Chief of Mission will observe balloting in Dili.
Each team consists of 3-4 persons, both official Americans and
local national staff. During the EAC meeting, RSO stressed the
importance of the teams reporting their whereabouts and safety
to RSO every 4-5 hours. This will be done by text message or
Iridium satellite phone. Teams will observe voting on June 30,
and, time permitting, vote counting on July 1. All teams will
be return to Dili by sundown on July 1. RSO and DCM reinforced
guidance that the teams should not travel at night.
3. (SBU) DCM noted that teams had received thorough security
briefings from UN Police (UNPOL) and Australia - New Zealand
International Stabilization Force (ISF) representatives on June
27. Both UNPOL and ISF reported during their presentations that
while they had no specific threat information in connection with
the elections, they had conducted a district-by-district
security evaluation and were standing by to support East
Timorese National Police (PNTL) should any disturbance arise.
Dili and Gleno, Ermera have been flashpoints in the past.
Embassy observer teams have been instructed to make contact with
both PNTL and ISF/UNPOL during their observation activities.
4. (SBU) EAC also touched on preparations for the post's
Independence Day celebration, which will be held from 15:00 -
18:00 local time on July 4. RSO reported that there was no
evidence of an increased threat in connection with the event,
but that he was planning to deploy an enhanced local guard
presence for overall security. Local police have also agreed to
provide additional personnel at the entrance to the chancery
during the event for both security and traffic control reasons.
5. (SBU) Embassy will provide the Department with updates on the
local security situation throughout the East Timor national
election process. Following balloting on June 30, the next
anticipated major milestone will be the announcement of
provisional results, likely to occur o/a July 10.
KLEMM