UNPol in East Timor Security Briefing 01 February 2007

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

UNPOL is taking action to stop the confrontations and crimes committed by the gangs in Dili.

On 31 January 2007, in the early morning fighting involving about 200 persons erupted in Fatuhada. Police units, FPU and ISF responded to disperse the group, restore order in the area and arrested a 29-year old male for possession of offensive weapon (i.e. a large sword approximately 74 cm in length) and attempted assault.

Yesterday, in the afternoon, a total of 120 UNPOL and FPU officers, with back up from 100 ISF, conducted a large operation at Bairro Pite and Ailok-Laran, in Dili. We searched more than 10 houses and we identified and arrested a total of 47 suspects, found in possession of a large number of illegal weapons, including some homemade firearms and "Cocktail Molotov". The suspects are presently under UNPOL custody at the detention Center in Dili to collect more evidence before taking them to court.

Among the suspects was also arrested the PSHT Leader, Jaime Xavier, and seized numerous illegal weapons, including: machetes, darts, spears, batons, knifes, and also a small portion of explosives, one homemade pistol, one riffle and ammunitions.

According to the amount and diversity of evidence and materials collected we believe that these gangs are organized criminal structures, with capacity to cause destabilization to the general security situation of the country, if they are able to proceed with their criminal activities.

In relation to the 6 (six) murder cases that occurred in Dili for the month of January, UNPOL collected evidence, identified several suspects and already arrested one man who is at this moment in preventive prison at Becora, and we also asked the issuance of several arrest warrants for other suspects.

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