The Timor-Leste's Defence Forces (F-FDTL) had decided this Friday, May 26, in coordination with the Australian commander, a security perimeter around the Timor-Leste's capital. The Australian troops started arriving Dili yesterday. They are now patrolling the city.
This security perimeter includes the offices of the four pillars of the State (including the private residences of the President of Republic, the National Parliament speaker, the Prime Minister, and the President Judge of the Court of Appeal), the power station, the communications towers, water reservoirs, the National Hospital and the airport, among others key facilities.
The political definition of this security perimeter was made by the Government, in straight cooperation with the Head of State.
The Government decided to include the four pillars of the State on the security perimeter due to the need to protect the vital structure and the critical activity of Timor-Leste's State.
This morning rumours were spread about an alleged attack to the President Office, in Dili centre. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister asked the intervention of the Australian troops to protect the President's Office premises.
The deployment of Forces in the field follows the signature of an agreement between Timor-Leste's and Australian's authorities on the terms of reference of their intervention.
New Zealand had also agreed on the terms of reference of its action.
An advanced team of 25 policemen from Malaysia has also been deployed, 8am, in Timor-Leste. This group was scheduled to arrive yesterday. These policemen are anti-subversion experts.
Three police officials from the Portuguese GNR are expected to arrive in Dili, Sunday, 28, to evaluate the situation. The Commander of the group composed by 120 elements is among the first to arrive to Timor-Leste. Portugal announced also that its advanced team will arrive next week.
F-FDTL Commander guarantees that the author of shooting have been detained
After yesterday's confrontations in Dili centre, next to Timor-Leste's National Police (PNTL) and Military Police Headquarters, which involved members of F-FDTL and PNTL, the F-FDTL commander, brigadier general Taur Matan Ruak, says that the alleged military, author of the shooting against several policeman who had deposed their weapons after United Nation Military Observers mediation, was immediately disarmed. He is now detained and will face justice in due time. Investigation will continue in order to find if there are other members of the military involved.
Government maintains its security powers
The Government maintains in full its internal security powers. After the President's statement of having assumed the referred powers, Prime-Minister contacted the President and was informed that the meaning of the President's statement was that in questions of security there has to be coordination between these two sovereign bodies. Prime-Minister agreed with the President and said they always had and always will maintain a good institutional coordination on these issues.
The coordination between the two offices has been total. An example: the decision to require the military international intervention to solve the Timor-Leste's crises, an idea of the Prime Minister, was fully supported by the President and the National Parliament speaker. The State appeared as a whole requesting the intervention. The letters requesting the foreign intervention to the Governments of Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Portugal were signed by the three leaders.
Dili, May 26, 2006
For further information please contact the Media Advisor: Rui Flores (tel. +670 723 01 40 or rui.flores@gmail.com)