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DIGEST OF THE UNITED NATIONS POLICE IN EAST TIMOR SECURITY BRIEFINGS JANUARY 2008
DIGEST OF UNITED NATIONS POLICE IN EAST TIMOR SECURITY BRIEFINGS JANUARY 2008
The data for this digest is compiled from the 18 United Nations Police in East Timor (UNPol) Daily Security Briefings released* during the month of January 2008.
Total Reported Confirmed Arrests: 129 (+ an unconfirmed number of arrests)
01 January 2008
Dili - 2 Murders: Comoro Road, Dili - Police discover the body of a man who appearted to have been fatally stabbed following a disturbance. Four suspects arrested; Tasi Tolu - 21-year-old man was killed after being stabbed in a fight. Statements from witnesses obtained.
Sporadic disturbances. Police made 6 arrests: 3 for rock throwing, 3 for identification purposes in relation to an alleged assault.
Districts - Several minor incidents of fighting and assault took place over New Year's Eve and early on New Year's Day. No serious injuries were reported. Unconfirmed number of arrests.
02 January 2008.
Dili - Police attended 5 incidents, only 2 of which were confirmed (minor traffic accidents).
UN Police (UNPol) Drug Taskforce, Dili District Police, and the Timorese National Police (PNTL) raided two bars in Dili as part of an operation to crackdown on activities related to illegal immigration, the sale of drugs, and possible human trafficking. A total of 21 women and seven men were arrested for identification purposes.
A large fight involving approximately 200 youths took place behind Bairo Pite police station. Police brought the situation under control, but later that evening, the same youths gathered and threw stones at a house occupied by several UNPol officers. None of the officers were injured. Police are investigating.
Ermera District - A fight took place between two groups in Ermera district which resulted in a 30-year-old man sustaining injuries to his arm and several windows of a UN Police vehicle being smashed. Police brought the situation under control, but later the next morning, the same groups gathered and threw stones at the police station. The situation has again been brought under control by the police, but remains tense
04 January 2008
Dili - Police attended 7 incidents, including 2 minor incidents of fighting in Tasi Tolu and Fatuhada. In both cases, the suspects fled upon the arrival of the police. There were no reports of any injuries.
Covalima District - Police received a report that villagers from Matai were burning houses in the village of Kunain in revenge for a fight that had taken place on Tuesday. Police arrived and dispersed the crowds, arresting 4 people. A total of 8 houses had been burnt. A police taskforce has been set up to identify suspects, and UN Police and Border Patrol Units (BPU) remain in the village to prevent further trouble.
06 January 2008
Dili - 2 people were arrested; 1 for causing a public disturbance in the vicinity of the Airport IDP camp, and 1 for rock throwing in Balide.
Covalima district - Police arrested 10 people in connection with the disturbances in the village of Kunain that took place on Friday last week. Investigations are in progress.
Tilomar sub-district of Covalima - Police received a report of a fire in a house in Sadahur village. No injuries are reported, and police think it is very unlikely that the incident is connected in any way to the recent disturbances in Kunain village.
07 January 2008
Dili - Police attended 4 incidents, including 3 traffic accidents and a minor assault upon a 21-year-old woman near Comoro Bridge.
32-year-old man suspected of being mentally ill entered the yard of the residence of former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, and damaged three cars before being stopped by one UNPol and one PNTL officer. The man was later arrested and taken to Dili District police station. There are no reports of any injuries.
Police arrested a total of 7 people: 5 for assault, 1 for rock throwing, and 1 for damaging property
Ermera District -UNPol and PNTL patrol arrested 7 men in relation to the incidents of arson that occurred in Lebo Rema sub-village on 5 January. The police were patrolling the area after reports that fighting was going to resume between the two groups from Lebo Rema and Eraulo sub-villages. Several weapons were found on the arrested men, including one machete, one dart, one bow, twelve arrows and two slingshots.
08 January 2008
Dili - Police responded to 3 incidents. Police managed to locate 2 fishermen from Atauro who were reported as having gone missing whilst travelling by boat from Dili to Atauro. After a search operation involving two helicopters and police in Liquica and Dili districts, maritime police discovered that the two fishermen had suffered engine trouble and had come ashore safely in Metinaro.
Police arrested a total of 12 people: 9 for assault, 1 for causing damage to property, 1 for rock throwing, and the final arrest was the execution of an arrest warrant.
09 January 2008
Dili - Police responded to 6 incidents, including a case of domestic violence in Vila Verde. Separately, a local 30-year-old man discovered an unexploded grenade on his property in Delta 1 and handed it over to police.
Police arrested 7 people: 5 for rock throwing, 1 for attempted murder, and 1 in relation to a public disturbance. The remaining arrest was the execution of an outstanding arrest warrant.
Ainaro District - 6 people wearing masks and carrying swords held up a car in the vicinity of Cassa-Hatu-Udo and stole some bags containing around $1000 in cash. The windscreen of the car was smashed during the robbery, but there were no reports of any injuries.
10 January 2008
Dili - Police responded to 5 incidents, none of which was serious.
Police arrested 1 man for assault and detained another man for identification purposes.
Ermera district - Samalete village: 3 men from the village set fire to the house of a 60-year-old man. The motives for the attack are not yet known. Police are investigating
Baucau District - A 31-year-old man was arrested for threatening a police officer in Tirilolo New Town.
11 Janaury 2008
Dili - Police responded to two incidents, both of which were minor traffic accidents.
14 January 2008
Dili - Police responded to 8 incidents, 4 of which were confirmed. They included 2 small fights, 1 in Caicoli, and 1 in the 28 November High School. A 19-year-old man sustained a minor injury in the fight in Caicoli. 4 men were arrested in connection with the incidents.
Ermera District - Police received reports of gunfire in the Erasui area in Ermera Town. PNTL Taskforce officers responded, and found no evidence of weapons having been fired. However, 4 people were arrested for possession of traditional weapons in a surcharged environment.
15 January 2008
Dili - Police responded to 4 incidents, 3 of which were confirmed. They included a fight in Bairo Pite. The suspects fled upon the arrival of the police, and there were no reports of any injuries
Police, assisted by the ISF, responded to reports of a confrontation between two gangs in Tasi Tolu. 7 men were arrested after the clash. There are no reports of any serious injuries.
Viqueque District - Police arrested 4 men in Loihuno village for allegedly assaulting a 54-year-old-man and a 24-year-old woman. Both victim suffered only minor injuries and did not require hospital attention.
16 January 2008
Dili - Police responded to 2 incidents, which were both minor traffic accidents.
A 36-year-old man was injured outside Dili Beach Hotel by a dart fired from a sling shot. He sustained an injury to his left ribs which is not thought to be serious. Police have identified a suspect and are investigating further.
17 January 2008
Dili - Police responded to 1 incident. The incident took place early in the morning, when thieves attempted to steal fuel from the Fomento power station. An F-FDTL soldier on static security duty fired 7 warning shots upon discovering the thieves. Police later arrested 5 people in connection with the attempted burglary. There were no reports of any injuries.
Ermera District - Samalete village - Police investigators responded to a report of a dead body found by a river. The body was identified as a 45-year-old man who had been missing since Monday. The cause of death is thought to be accidental. It appears he slipped whilst trying to climb a steep embankment and hit his head on a rock.
Covalima District - Faularan village - The house of a 22-year-old woman was set on fire after a domestic argument. There are no reports of any injuries, and police have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of arson.
21 January 2008
Dili - Plice attended 4 incidents, including a dispute over land near Becora Market Bridge where a large crowd had gathered. The Community Policing Officer of Becora and the Suco chief went to Becora police station to solve the matter. There was no fighting.
Police received a report of a warehouse on fire in the Comoro area. The fire was soon extinguished and only parts of the warehouse were damaged. The cause of the fire is as yet unknown, and police are investigating further
Ermera District - Police arrested 3 men in Laua’la village, Ermera, in connection with a triple murder that took place on 15 November 2006.
Baucau District - A 39-year-old man was reported murdered yesterday in Abafala village, Quelicai sub-district, Baucau. A 50-year-old man attacked the victim with a machete and then handed himself over to the police. Police have obtained the murder weapon and a confession from the suspect. The reason for the attack is not yet clear
22 January 2008
Dili - Police attended 5 incidents, including a protest by around 100 people that took place outside of the National Parliament. The protestors were from Oecusse and were complaining about the stoppage of the Nakroma ferry service between Dili and Oecusse. There were no reports of any associated security incidents.
Police arrested 3 people on suspicion of assault.
Liquica District - A 13-year old girl discovered a dead body in Darubata sub-village. Police attended the scene and identified the body as a 50-year-old man from Darubata. An investigation is underway.
Baucau District - PNTL officers arrested 4 men for erecting an illegal road block on the road between Dili and Baucau near Triloka village.
23 January 2008
Dili - Police attended 5 incidents, including a fight between youths near Kampung Marinir School. The aggressors fled upon the arrival of the police. There were no reports of any injuries.
Police responded to a report of a fight between two gangs in the Comoro area. Police brought the situation under control, arresting a twenty-seven-year-old man in the process. One sling shot and two darts were recovered. There were no reports of any injuries.
Ainaro District - Police responded to a report of a fight between two men who were arguing over a piece of land in Manutasi, Ainaro district. One of the men sustained an injury to his ribs and was taken to Ainaro hospital.
24 January 2008
Dili - Police attended 3 confirmed incidents, none of which was serious.
Police made arrested two men; one for assault and one for disorderly behaviour.
Baucau District - Police received a report of two groups fighting in Buibau village. The police were able to stop the fight, and arrested a 20-year-old man in the process. There were no reports of any injuries.
25 January 2008
Dili - Police attended 3 confirmed incidents, including a case of assault where a 22-year-old man sustained a minor injury to his chin. The suspect fled the scene and the victim was taken to Dili hospital.
26 - 31 January 2008
The security situation in Dili and across the country over the week has remained relatively calm with low level disturbances occurring at irregular intervals in Dili and the districts. The overall situation nationwide is expected to remain calm over the next 24 hours.
Over the past week, there was a total of 40 incidents with an average of 6 incidents per day. This compares with 36 incidents last week and 65 incidents during this time last year. The majority of incidents in the capital involved traffic accidents, sporadic fighting and petty burglaries
