SITUATION REVIEW – APRIL 2015 Issues to watch Highest incident total in a single month since establishment of EWER system in early 2009 Increase attributable to spikes in incidents involving defense and security forces, land disputes and fighting between groups of youth Highest incident total in a single month since establishment of EWER system in early 2009 In April, the Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) system recorded 122 violent incidents, which is the highest monthly incident total recorded since the system was established. There were 48 incidents recorded in Dili District, which is more than twice the 13-month average of 19.2 incidents per month. The system also recorded notably higher than average incident totals in: Baucau, with 12 incidents (monthly average: 7) Oekusi, with 11 incidents (monthly average: 8.4) Likisá, with 9 incidents (monthly average: 7.1) Lautein, with 6 incidents (monthly average: 3.9) Manatuto, with 5 incidents (monthly average: 2.8) The higher number of incidents in April can be attributed to increases in three particular types of incidents: Total number of violent incidents by district in April 2015 District Incidents Aileu 3 Ainaro 6 Baucau 12 Bobonaro 2 Covalima 3 Dili 48 Ermera 4 Lautem 6 Likisá 9 Manatuto 5 Manufahi 5 Oekusi 11 Vikeké 8 Total 122 Incidents involving defense and security forces: The EWER system recorded 15 violent incidents that involved the F-FDTL (5 incidents) and the PNTL (10 incidents). This is a significant deviation from the norm – in an average month, there are approximately 4 incidents involving the military and police. Seven of these incidents occurred in Baucau District and were directly related to an ongoing Joint PNTL-F-FDTL operation (Operation HANITA), which was initiated by the Council of Ministers in March to respond to violent confrontations between the Police and suspected KRM members in January and early March. The incidents related to HANITA fell into two categories – those in which community members became targets of HANITA for failing to comply with the curfew and other limitations in effect in the east of the country, and confrontations during attempts by HANITA to capture suspected KRM members. In at least two incidents, members of Operation HANITA fired at and injured suspects, after warning shots reportedly failed to prevent the suspects from fleeing. In another series of incidents in Buruma Suku (village), confrontations between community members with machetes and the PNTL ended with warning shots being fired into the air, after the PNTL captured some youth suspected of being involved with KRM. In another incident in Soba Suku, a man died while fleeing from the F-FDTL when he fell down a ravine. PNTL personnel were also involved in 8 other incidents that were unrelated to Operation HANITA. In 2 separate incidents in Bairo Pite, Dili, PNTL personnel physically assaulted journalists while on duty. In one case, the journalist was photographing a PNTL member who had punched a young person and in the other case a journalist started audio recording a PNTL member who was using bad language at a roadside checkpoint. In both cases, the PNTL members assaulted the journalists and accused them of bias against the PNTL. In another incident in Becora Suku, a married couple called the PNTL after their son started attacking them and breaking things in their home. When the PNTL member arrived, he beat the son with his baton until he was seriously injured. In another incident in Caraubalo Suku, Vikeké District, an ununiformed PNTL member punched and kicked an old man at a cockfight. The man had previously brought a case against the PNTL member, after he had impregnated the man’s daughter, which had led to the PNTL member’s transfer. Land-related incidents: Nineteen land-related incidents were recorded in April – nearly double the normal monthly average. At least 7 occurred during a land surveying exercise currently being undertaken by the Government’s National Cadastral System (SNC). These incidents, which resulted from disputes among family members and neighbors, occurred as members of the SNC team were attempting to survey disputed land. Fighting between groups of young people: The EWER system recorded 42 incidents that involved young people or groups of young people fighting or throwing stones, which is more than double the monthly average of 19 youth-related incidents. Unsurprisingly, Dili recorded the highest number of incidents (23) – 17 of which involved intoxicated groups of young people throwing stones and fighting. Other incidents included confrontations between Martial Arts Groups and young people acting out land disputes on behalf of family members. INCIDENT CHARACTERISTICS 2 The Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) System is implemented by NGO Belun with generous support from the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)‐funded Civil Society Monitoring of Security Sector Development (CSM-SSD) Program and from the Peace Fund, a project of the GIZ, on behalf of German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Timorese State Secretariat for Youth and Sports. The contents and opinions expressed herein are the responsibility of NGO Belun and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of USAID, the Government of the United States of America, GIZ or the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports. For more information on the EWER program or to view additional publications please visit: http://www.belun.tl CONFLICT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED By the Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) team: On 13 April, the team met with the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport (SEJD), Mr. Leovigildo Hornay, to share information about the EWER system and incident data related to youth and community sporting events supported by SEJD. On 24 April, the team met with the Maubisse Sub-district Conflict Prevention and Response Network and other partners to plan a Tara Bandu ceremony, which will regulate the cost of traditional payments relating to birth, death and marriage, the high cost of which have led to conflict in the Sub-district in the past. On 30 April, the team met with the Dili focal points of the Ministry of the Interior’s National Department for Community Conflict Prevention to reinforce cooperation between the Focal Points and EWER monitors in preventing conflict in the future. By the Land Mediation and Dispute Resolution (LMDR) team: On 29 April, the team worked with District Director of the Office of Land and Property to facilitate a mediation session between family members in Suku Holsa, Maliana Sub-District. The mediation was successful and will now proceed to a second phase, during which community elders will certify the agreement over how the disputed land will be shared. On 30 April, the team met disputants in Suku Tapo Memo, Maliana Sub-district to discuss a 2010 agreement that had not been carried in practice. The agreement will be revisited in a second phase of mediation in May, with local leaders and elders in attendance. ABOUT THIS SITUATION REVIEW This situation review reports on violent incidents and trends in Timor-Leste that were identified by Belun’s Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) monitoring system in 43 of Timor-Leste’s 65 Sub-Districts in April 2015. Descriptions of all incidents recorded by the EWER system can be found at: www.belun.crowdmap.com. Belun strives to share up-to-date and verified information. Considering that situations change rapidly, we appreciate receiving information to clarify or update our EWER monitoring data. For more information or to report an incident, please contact: Marilia O. da Costa, EWER Program Manager: [email protected] Laurensius Lein, Conflict Prevention and Policy Specialist: [email protected] 3 The Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) System is implemented by NGO Belun with generous support from the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)‐funded Civil Society Monitoring of Security Sector Development (CSM-SSD) Program and from the Peace Fund, a project of the GIZ, on behalf of German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Timorese State Secretariat for Youth and Sports. The contents and opinions expressed herein are the responsibility of NGO Belun and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of USAID, the Government of the United States of America, GIZ or the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports. For more information on the EWER program or to view additional publications please visit: http://www.belun.tl
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