UNPol in East Timor Security Briefing 19 March 2007

The situation in Dili has been calm over the weekend with some gang-related incidents occurring in Kampung Baru and Bairo Pite.

UNPOL attended six incidents today, including a fight in Kampung Baru involving about 20 people. UNPOL and a UN Formed Police Unit dispersed the crowd and arrested one person. The other incidents were minor, and include a traffic accident and a report of a run away child.

Around midday yesterday, UNPOL responded to a report of a rock throwing fight between gangs in Kampung Baru. UNPol responded quickly and brought the situation under control.

Later on Sunday, there were two further incidents of fighting, UNPOL, in coordination with the ISF, brought both incidents under control. In Kampung Baru, four people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the fight. In Bairo Pite, one person was arrested for possession of a sword.

In a separate incident yesterday at around 1840 hours, there were reports of shots being fired in the vicinity of the Ministry of Education. According to the Commander of the F-FDTL, his soldiers stationed at the Ministry fired three warning shots into the air upon seeing two youths pass the building in possession of a pistol. No people were injured.

The UNPOL Major Crime Investigation unit has been making further progress in its follow-up to recent cases. Over the weekend, the Unit identified two witnesses to an attempted murder in Kampung Baru in January. A witness statement has also been collected in the case of a January murder in Bairo Pite.

Across the country, there have been 14 arrests in the past 36 hours.

The Police advise that you should avoid traveling during the night to the most affected areas. Contact the police if you see anything suspicious or any kind of problems, and avoid remaining near any disturbances. Call 112 or 7230365 to contact the police 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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