UNPol in East Timor Security Briefing 02 February 2007

The general situation in Dili still remained relatively calm and peaceful.

1 February 2007, Dili – at 08.40 hrs, in Manumeta Raihan river bed, South Central Dili, it was reported to UNPOL that two man discovered the body of a deceased male, the head had been decapitated. UNPol NID responded and the case is under investigation.

1 February 2007, Dili­United Nations Police made a sweeping arrest of 49 people late last night for riotous behaviour, possession of illegal weapons and suspicion of other crimes including homicide.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General Atul Khare accompanied by the Deputy SRSG for Security Support and Rule of Law Eric Tan visited Dili District Police Headquarters late last night to see the weapons seized.

After the successful operation, SRSG, Mr. Khare, said: “Effective police action, response to the felt needs of the community undertaken with full observance of the laws, is essential to restore peace and security; I am deeply grateful to all police officers, UNMIT and PNTL who are willing under difficult and challenging circumstances, under great personal risks, to restore the climate of peace and security in this country. I am also indebted to the cooperation extended by the people of Timor-Leste and their authorities to make this operation a successful one.”

1 February 2007, Dili – UNPOL helped the staff of the Ministry of Labour during the physical exercise of assisting IDP families to relocate to the Districts. The support of the Traffic Unit was greatly appreciated and their management of the traffic to and from the Ministry, and in the area around the Ministry was very important to facilitate a safe relocation of people to the Districts.

The number of families who were relocated with assistance from UNPOL and PNTL officers are as follows:

Viqueque 14

Maliana 1

Suai 1

Same 1

Ermera 2

Manatuto 3

Lautem 11

Lospalos 1

Baucau 21

During the week, at least 65 families moved to the districts and another 38 families were scheduled to return to their homes in the Hali Dolar aldeia from a Hera IDP site.

Violence in the past week has caused sudden movements of people back into some IDP camps. This has required a flexible response from the relevant authorities in relation to the relocation of these people to other areas and also in providing the support and security to the new IDPs have moved into the camp due to recent escalations in fighting around Dili.

While several IDPs, especially from Dili, frequently move freely between the camps and their homes, recent youth clashes has ceased this movement.

This has been a daily broadcast of the UN Police in Timor-Leste, for the people of Timor-Leste