UNPol in East Timor Security Briefing 23-24 January 2007

In Dili the general situation remains relatively tense but under control, with sporadic confrontations between gangs of troublemakers in Hudilaran and Bairro Pite.

On Monday, 22 January 2007, at around 19.30 hrs, a conflict occurred between two groups of young men near the Helipad, in Dili. Three Timorese male were injured and one killed during the confrontation. Australian Army provided lift for them to Dili Hospital. The body is in morgue waiting for autopsy and UNPOL is investigating the case.

On Monday, 22 January 2007, at around 21.30 hrs, a group of unknown persons attacked some houses at Hudilaran-Fatuhada area, in Dili, by throwing stones. After that, the attackers approached and pulled a man to an isolated area. The Police went to the crime scene and found the victim with serious cuts on the head and immediately sent him to Dili Hospital. However, the victim died on the way to Hospital. Investigation is going on.

Police Roadblocks: UNPOL is planning to start in the near future traffic operations to re-establish the Law and order on the streets of Timor-Leste. Our Objective is to increase the road safety by insuring the integrity of people and goods traveling on Timorese roads. Therefore, after several awareness campaigns with friendly advising from the Traffic agents, UNPOL is going to increase the Law enforcement, through roadblocks and Police measures to apply the regulations and Laws of Timor-Leste, especially concerning drivers that are not qualified with drivers license. UNPOL will also take action to apply the regulations prohibiting the use of vehicles without Identification Plates or people traveling on the roof, in order to prevent the growing number of road accident casualties.

On Tuesday, 23 January 2007, in the early afternoon, Police Unit stopped and searched seven trucks carrying a total of 197 people from Maliana coming to attend a National Party meeting in Dili. A knife was seized during the search.

On Tuesday, 23 January 2007, In the night, Police units and FPU who were in the vicinity of Ailok Laran heard gun shots. More gun shots were also heard in Bairro Pite and Fatuhada in the night, but Police units could not locate the perpetrators. However, FPU managed to recover 12 cutlasses, 12 slingshots, an axe, 9 spear, 20 darts and several wooden and iron sticks and bars. A male subject was arrested at the airport roundabout in the night for throwing stones and damaging one vehicle.

On Wednesday, 24 January 2007, the UNPOL and PNTL of Maubisse brought to Dili Court the arrested suspect who killed a Timorese male in Ainaro, on Sunday, 21 January 2007. The suspect who allegedly perpetrated the crime is related to the victim and both were drinking together, when for unknown reasons the suspect stabbed the victim on the thigh. The accused has been arrested by the Police. The victim was taken to Dili Hospital and died at around 23.30 hrs of the same day. The autopsy was done in the afternoon of 22 January 2007 and the body was released to the family. Investigation is under coordination of UNPOL NID with cooperation from PNTL of Maubisse.