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Herald Tribune
U.N. report blames East Timor's former prime minister, security chiefs for recent unrest
The Associated Press

Published: October 17, 2006


DILI, East Timor A U.N. report released Tuesday largely blamed East Timor's former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and his government for the violence that wracked the nation earlier this year, saying it illegally armed civilians and recommending a criminal investigation.

"Alkatiri ... failed to use his firm authority to denounce the transfer of security sector weapons to civilians in the face of credible information that such transfer was ongoing and involved members of the government," said the U.N. Special Commission of Inquiry for East Timor.

"Accordingly, the Commission recommends further investigations to determine whether Mari Alkatiri bears any criminal responsibility."

East Timor descended into chaos in April and May following the dismissal of 600 soldiers by Alkatiri, a move that split the armed forces into factions and later spilled over into gang warfare that left at least 30 people dead and sent 150,000 fleeing from their homes.

Calm largely returned with the arrival of international peacekeepers and the installation of a new government, but isolated acts of violence have continued.

The U.N. report into the violence, presented to East Timor's parliament on Tuesday, said Alkatiri's interior minister, Rogerio Lobato, and his minister of defense, Roque Rodrigues, provided weapons to civilians "and created a situation of significant potential danger."

"They should be held accountable," the report said, recommending that dozens of other members of the security forces be prosecuted for the killings.

Alkatiri declined immediate comment, but his political opponents, President Xanana Gusmao and Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta, issued a joint statement appealing to "parties not to take advantage of the substance of the report."

They called for "maturity and reasoning ... with the firm objective of calming the animosities of the people."

Observers have expressed concerns that the commission's findings and political rivalry ahead of May 2007 general elections could spark new violence. Security was increased at U.N. offices in the capital, Dili, but there were no reports of incidents.

An emergency Cabinet meeting will be convened to consider the commission's conclusions, the leaders' statement said.

The three-member commission, established by the U.N. Security Council in June, based its findings on interviews with more than 200 witnesses and 2,000 documents.

The report, translated into the local Tetum language, Portuguese and Bahasa Indonesia, also recommended that foreign judges and investigators oversee the criminal trials on the April and May bloodshed to ensure they are safe and fair.

The government should compensate people who have lost family members or homes and increase security at prisons after the escape of 57 detainees, including suspects in the recent crimes.

DILI, East Timor A U.N. report released Tuesday largely blamed East Timor's former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and his government for the violence that wracked the nation earlier this year, saying it illegally armed civilians and recommending a criminal investigation.

"Alkatiri ... failed to use his firm authority to denounce the transfer of security sector weapons to civilians in the face of credible information that such transfer was ongoing and involved members of the government," said the U.N. Special Commission of Inquiry for East Timor.

"Accordingly, the Commission recommends further investigations to determine whether Mari Alkatiri bears any criminal responsibility."

East Timor descended into chaos in April and May following the dismissal of 600 soldiers by Alkatiri, a move that split the armed forces into factions and later spilled over into gang warfare that left at least 30 people dead and sent 150,000 fleeing from their homes.

Calm largely returned with the arrival of international peacekeepers and the installation of a new government, but isolated acts of violence have continued.

The U.N. report into the violence, presented to East Timor's parliament on Tuesday, said Alkatiri's interior minister, Rogerio Lobato, and his minister of defense, Roque Rodrigues, provided weapons to civilians "and created a situation of significant potential danger."

"They should be held accountable," the report said, recommending that dozens of other members of the security forces be prosecuted for the killings.

Alkatiri declined immediate comment, but his political opponents, President Xanana Gusmao and Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta, issued a joint statement appealing to "parties not to take advantage of the substance of the report."

They called for "maturity and reasoning ... with the firm objective of calming the animosities of the people."

Observers have expressed concerns that the commission's findings and political rivalry ahead of May 2007 general elections could spark new violence. Security was increased at U.N. offices in the capital, Dili, but there were no reports of incidents.

An emergency Cabinet meeting will be convened to consider the commission's conclusions, the leaders' statement said.

The three-member commission, established by the U.N. Security Council in June, based its findings on interviews with more than 200 witnesses and 2,000 documents.

The report, translated into the local Tetum language, Portuguese and Bahasa Indonesia, also recommended that foreign judges and investigators oversee the criminal trials on the April and May bloodshed to ensure they are safe and fair.

The government should compensate people who have lost family members or homes and increase security at prisons after the escape of 57 detainees, including suspects in the recent crimes.

***

Herald Sun
UN calls for probe of former E Timor PM
By Nelson da Cruz in Dili

October 17, 2006 09:37pm
Article from: Agence France-Presse

THE UN called today for the former East Timor premier Mari Alkatiri and a series of senior government and security force members to be criminally investigated, in an eagerly awaited report into the violence that rocked the country earlier this year.

The report, drafted at the request of the Government, also said events leading to the bloodshed in which 37 people died in April and May could largely be explained by the frailty of the young nation's institutions.

Mr Alkatiri stepped down as prime minister in June amid swirling allegations that he had armed a hit squad and ordered it to kill his political opponents, but he has maintained his innocence.

The UN Commission found no evidence that Mr Alkatiri gave such instructions nor did it recommend that he face prosecution for the illegal movement of weapons.

"Nevertheless, the Commission recommends further investigations to determine whether Mari Alkatiri bears any criminal responsibility with respect to weapons offences," the report said.

The report also found that the Government had failed to follow the law when it called out the armed forces to control protests in April, "a matter for which... in particular the former Prime Minister bears responsibility."

East Timor's capital Dili was rocked by unrest following the dismissal of soldiers who had deserted complaining of discrimination from their superiors based on whether they came from the east or west.

Analysts say politicians harbouring decades-old grievances against each other took advantage of the soldiers' disgruntlement.

Battles between security force factions degenerated into bloody street violence involving youth gangs. More than 150,000 people fled their homes and some 3000 Australian-led peacekeepers were deployed to restore calm.

The 79-page report cleared President Xanana Gusmao of ordering Major Alfredo Reinado, the head of the military police who deserted just ahead of May's wave of unrest, "to carry out criminal actions".

It said however that Maj Reinado himself, who was jailed on weapons charges but escaped shortly afterwards, could be "reasonably suspected of having committed crimes" during an armed confrontation on May 23.

Others who should be held accountable over the illegal transfer of weapons were interior minister Rogerio Lobato and defence minister Roque Rodrigues - both of whom were sacked - as well as defence force chief Taur Matan Ruak, the report said.

The commission's mandate was to provide recommendations for prosecution or investigation and establish the facts relating to the violence. It has no legal authority.

Aside from listing individuals, the report said that "failures of the rule of law and accountability were at the heart of the events of April and May...

"Institutional weaknesses and divisions within and between institutions were brought to the fore and culminated in open confrontation" between police and armed forces.

The report was distributed to parliamentarians today in Dili.

Security in the normally sleepy seaside capital was beefed up at government offices with dozens of UN police and Australian-led peacekeepers patrolling the streets.

The respected International Crisis Group warned last week that the release of the report was "potentially explosive".

Head of Parliament, Francisco Guterres, said however that the production of the report should help stop low-level violence which has persisted on Dili's streets.

"With the acceptance of this report, it is now time for us all to halt violence," he said.

Copies of the report - which have been released in English, Portuguese and the Timorese language of Tetum - are to be distributed to the public tomorrow, Mr Guterres said.

East Timor gained independence in 2002 after a period of UN stewardship. It was ruled by Indonesia for 24 years before its people voted overwhelmingly in 1999 in favour of breaking away from Jakarta.

***

Reuters
E.Timor ex-PM should face probe, UN says
Tue 17 Oct 2006 7:54 AM ET

By Lirio da Fonseca

DILI, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Further investigation is needed to determine whether former East Timor prime minister Mari Alkatiri should be prosecuted over the arming of civilians during a wave of violence in May, a U.N. report said on Tuesday.

The report, prepared by a U.N.-appointed Independent Special Commission of Inquiry, said it found no evidence to recommend Alkatiri, who resigned under pressure in June, be prosecuted over illegal transfer of weapons from security forces to civilians.

"Nevertheless, there is information before the Commission giving rise to suspicion that he knew about the illegal arming of civilians," said the report, issued on a U.N. Web site (www.ohchr.org).

Alkatiri, who heads the dominant Fretilin party in parliament, has been widely blamed for the violence which erupted after fighting within the armed forces spiralled into rioting, arson and looting in the streets of the capital, Dili.

During the chaos, more than 30 people were killed and more than 150,000 displaced from their homes.

Australia in late May led a force of over 3,000 foreign peacekeepers to end the fighting, which pitted ethnic gangs and East Timor's fledgling police and military against one another.

President Xanana Gusmao said parliament should quickly take action based on the report and called for an end to the sporadic unrest that has continued in the tiny country half the size of Belgium.

"We ask all groups which are still involved in violence to stop their actions. We should not live in this situation forever," he told reporters.

The 79-page report made a number of recommendations for pursuing criminal cases related to the violence including prosecuting former interior minister Rogerio Lobato over the illegal arming of civilians, and rebel leader Major Alfredo Reinado, who escaped from a Dili prison in August.

It named a string of security forces members, rebel soldiers and civilians who should be prosecuted or investigated over some of the killings that occured.

A summary of the report also blamed the weakness of institutions for the chaos in East Timor.

The territory of around a million people voted in a bloody 1999 referendum for independence from Indonesia, which annexed East Timor after colonial masters Portugual withdrew in 1975.

"It is the view of the Commission that the crisis which occurred in Timor-Leste can be explained largely by the frailty of state institutions and the weakness of the rule of law."

East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta, who replaced Alkatiri, last week played down the chance of violence after the release of the U.N. report, but urged foreign forces to stay until 2007 elections.

Security was tight in the capital ahead of the release of the report, with government offices closing early. There were no immediate signs of unrest after the report was published.

Malaysian police guarded parliament and Bangladeshi troops carrying rifles were stationed outside judiciary offices.

After a strong vote for breaking with Jakarta, East Timor was run by the United Nations for two-and-a-half years before becoming independent in 2002.

Giving jobs to some 600 military rebels whose dismissal triggered this year's violence is crucial to resolving the East Timor crisis, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report last week.

The ICG also said charismatic President Xanana Gusmao and Alkatiri may need to consider forgoing any role in 2007 elections to resolve the political impasse and allow new leaders to emerge.

***

BBC - Tuesday, 17 October 2006, 09:08 GMT 10:08 UK

E Timor ex-PM accused on unrest

A UN inquiry into East Timor has recommended former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri face a criminal investigation.

The report said Mr Alkatiri failed to prevent weapons falling into the hands of civilians despite credible evidence that it was happening.

Mr Alkatiri stepped down as prime minister in June under intense pressure from both home and abroad.

The tiny nation was rocked by two months of unrest that left more than 30 people dead earlier this year.

International peacekeepers had to be brought in to restore order, after thousands of people fled their homes as street battles broke out between rebel soldiers and those loyal to the government.

The violence was triggered by Mr Alkatiri's decision to sack 600 disgruntled soldiers in March.

Mr Alkatiri was accused of authorising the distribution of arms to a civilian hit squad with orders to kill his political rivals - a claim he has strongly denied.

But a special UN commission investigating the violence found there was "credible information that such [weapons] transfer was ongoing and involved members of the government".

The report said Mr Alkatiri failed "to use his firm authority to denounce the transfer of security sector weapons to civilians".

It recommended he face "further investigation to determine whether... [he] bears any criminal responsibility with respect to weapons offences."

The commission also recommended that the former defence and interior ministers be held accountable for the illegal transfer of weapons.

***

ABC Radio - Tuesday, 17 October , 2006 18:10:00

Alkatiri singled out in UN report
Transcript PM programme

Reporter: Anne Barker

MARK COLVIN: A United Nations inquiry has recommended that East Timor's former Prime Minister Mari Alkatari should face further investigation for his involvement in the country's unrest earlier this year.

The UN has named dozens of people as perpetrators in the violence, which left about 30 people dead when the violence first erupted in April.

The report's been submitted to East Timor's parliament in Dili.

Anne Barker joins me on the line now.

MARK COLVIN: Anne, what is the general overview of the UN's report to start off with?

ANNE BARKER: Well Mark, this was an inquiry that began back in June when the new Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta actually approached the United Nations asking for an independent investigation into the ongoing violence that began at the end of April.

Now a three-person panel has spent many weeks looking at the issues. It's examined 2,000 documents and it's done more than 200 interviews, and today its 80 page report names dozens of people, most of them unknown names to people like yourself or me, for inciting the violence in several incidents since the 28th of April, from a market-place shooting, to the murder of eight policemen in central Dili on May the 25th.

MARK COLVIN: So presumably these were people who were actually out there whipping it up on the streets?

ANNE BARKER: That's right. A lot of these people its says were acting on their own volition. Some of them were acting on the authority of other people.

For example Alfredo Renado, the rebel leader and his men, about 20 men, they've been accused crimes against life and the person, in other words murder or potentially manslaughter.

Colonel Raylos and his group of about 30 men, who allege that they were armed by the Interior Minister, Rogerio Lobato have also been accused of committing crimes against life.

The Commission says that it was satisfied that that group of 31 men received arms from Rogerio Lobato. It also found there was no massacre as alleged at a place called Tasitolu where it was widely alleged that about 60 people had been killed in about April or May.

And it also says that Mari Alkatari, the now ousted Prime Minister should be investigated further for his involvement in the violence over the recent months.

MARK COLVIN: So that's pretty strong about Mr Alkatiri. I'll just take you back for a second. You said that they do find that Rogerio Lobato who was then the Interior Minister did supply arms to these rebels?

ANNE BARKER: That's right.

Now, there was an allegation not only that Rogerio Lobato had authorised the transfer of weapons to those 31 men, apparently to kill any political opponents of Mari Alkatiri and the Fretilin Party. But also the allegation was that he in turn had been acting on the authorisation of Mari Alkatiri.

Now, the panel has said there is no evidence that Mari Alkatiri was personally involved in the illegal movement or possession of those weapons, but that there was information suggesting he knew about the illegal arming of those civilians.

And it recommends further investigation against Mari Alkatiri to establish whether he bears any responsibility with respect to weapons offences.

MARK COLVIN: There are already court proceedings underway against both Mari Alkatiri and Rogerio Lobato the former Interior Minister we were just talking about. Where do they stand and what does this UN report mean for those proceedings or any further court charges.

ANNE BARKER: Well those two cases specifically have been in limbo for many weeks now mainly because of this inquiry. It was regarded as wise to await the findings of an independent inquiry before those cases would proceed.

Rogerio Lobato faces four charges already. He's been under house arrest since I think June.

Mari Alkatiri has been investigated but again, that case hasn't proceeded any further. You would expect now that the inquiry is complete, the Prosecutor General in Dili would now act on many of these cases, not just those two but certainly those cases would go forward. And there could be dozens more people prosecuted or charged in the weeks ahead.

But I'd have to say there's been an absence of international judges in recent weeks in Dili and certainly there's not a huge staff of judicial officers in the capital, so, you'd expect that this kind of process could take some time.

MARK COLVIN: And how are Timorese people, particularly in Dili, likely to react to this report?

ANNE BARKER: Well that's been the big fear. That perhaps certain names would be named as they have been and there are, as I said, dozens of individuals named in the report.

Now if justice is not quick or forthcoming, the fear is that this could incite violence among people wanting to take the law into their own hands.

It's too early to know just whether that will happen but certainly that's the fear among some. But I've spoken to the Australian Defence Chiefs in Dili in recent days and we've also heard from Jose Ramos Horta who was in Australia last week and they're not particularly concerned that there'll be any outbreak of violence as a result of this report.

MARK COLVIN: Anne Barker there reporting on the report of the United Nations on the violence that started to erupt in Timor in April.

***

The Age - October 18, 2006

PM blamed for Timor violence
Lindsay Murdoch, Darwin

FORMER East Timorese prime minister Mari Alkatiri failed to stop weapons being distributed to civilians and should face a criminal investigation, a UN inquiry has found.

The probe also accuses two former ministers in Mr Alkatiri's government and the head of East Timor's defence force of creating a "situation of significant potential danger" and recommends that they be held accountable for the illegal transfer of weapons.

The central findings of the report by a three-member panel set up by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan are potentially explosive in a country in which tens of thousands of people are still living in refugee camps, too afraid to return to their homes.

Violence in April and May claimed up to 40 lives and exposed deep divisions in East Timor's army and police.

The army remains loyal to defence chief Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak, one of the heroes of East Timor's independence struggle, despite the report's accusations that he failed to "exhaust all avenues to either prevent or stop" a confrontation between his troops and police.

Fretilin, the ruling party with widespread support in rural areas, will be deeply unhappy with the findings.

Mr Alkatiri is still the secretary-general of the party, which he insists he will lead into national elections next year.

The report says Mr Alkatiri's cabinet failed to follow proper procedures when it ordered the army onto Dili's streets, saying that Mr Alkatiri in particular must bear responsibility.

The report accuses army rebel Alfredo Reinado and his men of "having committed crimes against life and the person" during a gun battle on Dili's outskirts on May 23. Major Reinado led a mass escape from Dili's main jail in August and has been holed up in the country's western mountains.

When told of the findings against him, Major Reinado said: "I did not start anything. There was loss of life on my side as well as the other. What am I supposed to do when I am attacked?"

Major Reinado has been holding secret talks with Australian peacekeeping commander Mick Slater about giving himself up.

Asked whether the findings would affect the negotiations, he said: "Ask Mick Slater. He's in charge of everything."

The inquiry found that President Xanana Gusmao, the most popular figure in the country, "should have shown more restraint and respect for institutional channels in communicating directly with Major Reinado" after he and his men deserted the army in May.

Mr Gusmao is rarely criticised in public.

The inquiry said there was no information before it that could lead to a recommendation that Mr Alkatiri be prosecuted for being personally involved in the illegal distribution of weapons.

But it found there was information "giving rise to suspicion" the he knew about the illegal arming of civilians with police weapons by former interior minister Rogerio Lobato, who is under house arrest in Dili.

The report accuses Mr Alkatiri of failing to use his authority to denounce "credible information" about the transfer of weapons by members of his government.

It found that Mr Lobato and police commander Paulo Martins bypassed institutional procedures by irregularly transferring weapons within the police force.

It names Mr Lobato and former minister of defence Roque Rodrigues as having armed civilians along with Brigadier Ruak.

Hundreds of Australian police and troops and other international security forces in Dili were on high alert last night, fearing the report could trigger violence.

***

Sydney Morning Herald - October 18, 2006

UN Timor report points to top
Lindsay Murdoch, Darwin

Lindsay Murdoch
October 18, 2006

The United Nations inquiry into violence in East Timor recommends a criminal investigation into the former prime minister Mari Alkatiri, accusing him of failing to stop weapons he knew were being distributed to civilians.

The inquiry also accuses two former ministers in Mr Alkatiri's government, and Taur Matan Ruak, the head of East Timor's defence force, of creating a "situation of significant potential danger", recommending they be held accountable for the illegal transfer of weapons to civilians.

The three-member inquiry's findings could be explosive, with tens of thousands of people still in refugee camps, afraid to return home. The army remains loyal to Brigadier-General Ruak, a hero of the independence struggle.

The inquiry found the President, Xanana Gusmao, "should have shown more restraint and respect for institutional channels in communicating directly" with army rebel Alfredo Reinado after he and his men deserted in May. Mr Gusmao, the most popular figure in the country, is rarely criticised in public.

Mr Gusmao said the report was impartial and independent, and yesterday asked that it not be politicised. He called for an end to the ongoing violence. "We cannot live eternally under this climate of continued disrespect for the lives and good of others," he said.

He said the Government should immediately consider the recommendations and the Prime Minister, Jose Ramos-Horta, should convene an urgent meeting of ministers.

The report accuses Reinado and his men of "having committed crimes against life and the person" in a gun battle on Dili's outskirts on May 23.

Reinado led a mass escape from a jail in Dili in August and has been in hiding, saying he was confident the inquiry would clear him of wrongdoing.

Contacted by telephone and told of the findings against him, Reinado said: "I did not start anything. There was loss of life on my side as well as the other. What am I supposed to do when I am attacked?"

Reinado has held secret talks with the Australian peacekeeping commander, Brigadier Mick Slater, about giving himself up. The report said Mr Gusmao "did not order or authorise the armed group of men under the command of Major Reinado to carry out criminal actions". The inquiry - established by the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan - accuses General Ruak of failing to "exhaust all avenues to either prevent or stop" confrontation between troops and police.

Mr Alkatiri is still the secretary-general of Fretilin, the ruling party, and he insists he will lead it to elections next year.

The report says Mr Alkatiri's cabinet failed to follow procedures when it ordered the army on to Dili's streets, saying Mr Alkatiri must bear responsibility.

But it says it saw no information which could lead to a recommendation that Mr Alkatiri be prosecuted for involvement in the illegal movement, possession or use of weapons.

But it finds there was information "giving rise to suspicion" that he knew about the illegal arming of civilians police weapons by the former interior minister, Rogerio Lobato, who is under house arrest in Dili.

The report accuses Mr Alkatiri of failing to use his authority to denounce "credible information" about the transfer of weapons to civilians by members of the government. It finds that Mr Lobato and the police commander Paulo Martins bypassed institutional procedures by irregularly transferring weapons within the police force.

It names Mr Lobato and the former defence minister Roque Rodrigues as having armed civilians along with General Ruak.

The inquiry said the fragility of state institutions and the weakness of the rule of law were the underlying factors that contributed to the crisis.

It names scores of people suspected of crimes during the crisis and recommends prosecution. It names others who should be investigated. Australian police, troops and international security forces in Dili were on highest alert last night.

For weeks they have tried curb gang violence and attacks in Dili. Many government offices closed early yesterday.

The violence in April and May claimed up to 40 lives and helped force Mr Alkatiri's resignation.

Judges likely to hear cases have already asked for UN protection.

...