Koevoet
09-06-06, 17:03
Hello All,
Thursday May 25, 2006
Woke up around 6:30 to sounds of gunfire in Colmera (the neighbourhood where I live). Into the office just after 7 to hear that there is fighting in many parts of the city.
Things have worsened considerably this morning with gangs of Timorese armed with machetes and bows and arrows joining the fighting. These guys have set up roadblocks on all the main roads in Dili and they're stopping non-UN vehicles. This gets a little complex but they’re looking for non "Timor-Lorosae" Timorese. That means Timorese people who are from the western districts of East Timor. This whole meltdown – including the desertions and dismissals from the FDTL (army) – may have started as an "Eastern versus Western" dispute. The reasons for that are long and complex but relate to Timorese history from long ago, as well as to the make-up of the Militias during the guerilla warfare during the Indonesian occupation (1975 til 1999). Anyway, it appears that those two factions of Timorese people are now taking sides in the dispute and possibly even entering into the fighting.
11: am
Dispatched some Movcon staff and security people in two UN vehicles to go and escort our flight crews from their homes to the airport. Told crews to take provisions and overnight gear.
12:02pm
Gunfire erupts around the UN compound. Initially sounds of automatic weapons and pistols. Escalated quickly to include explosions. Some rounds occasionally entering the compound and can be heard whistling through trees and smacking against buildings.
13:00 to 13:30
The noise is almost constant from the battle going on next door. "Next door" is the PNTL (Timorese national police) Headquarters. What at first was reported as an attack on the police headquarters by the so-called "rebels" or "591", turns out to be an attack by the FDTL (Timorese army) against the PNTL. For whatever reasons, the army (FDTL) has decided it must forcibly disarm the police (PNTL) (you may have to make notes . . . ). Around 13:30 the PNTL called for a UN brokered cease-fire (armed only with pistols, they were clearly going to be over-run).
Senior UN military and police advisors negotiated a deal wherein the PNTL would surrender all their weapons and hand over the police station in return for safe-conduct to the UN compound. Once the PNTL had turned over their weapons they were still very reluctant to leave the station. After being reassured by the UN negotiators that the FDTL commander would abide by the agreement, approximately 60 unarmed PNTL officers were led out of the police station by a senior UN military officer, carrying a UN flag. Several UN vehicles were at the front and the back of the column. In addition, approximately 20 UN police officers (also unarmed) walked in front of, and at the rear of, the PNTL officers. They all began walking the short distance via road to the UN compound, with many FDTL soldiers lining the sides of the road.
As they approached the first intersection, one FDTL soldier opened fire on the procession, at point-blank range, with an automatic weapon. Within seconds at least one more soldier opened fire from the opposite side of the road – again within feet of the unarmed group. In those immediate first bursts of gunfire, approximately 20 of the police fell to the ground, wounded or dead. One of the senior UN police showed incredible bravery by rushing to one of the soldiers who was firing his weapon and wrestling with him. I believe he saved additional lives as the weapon continued to discharge while the UNPOL member forcibly directed it into the air as he and the soldier wrestled with it.
It was clear from their wounds that seven or eight of the police were killed instantly. I think the murderous assault only lasted about ten seconds. When it stopped, everyone in the procession – wounded or not – was lying on the ground. The sound of automatic weapons was replaced instantly by the sounds of human distress. The screaming and moaning of the wounded fused with yells for help here and there and everywhere.
There was no longer any sense of one group. Just small clusters of people struggling to get to the gates of the UN compound. Clumps of two or three helping each other run, walk or limp. Some were crawling on their own, or trying to. Most (maybe twenty all together?) were huddles of three or four, all walking crab-like, carrying someone between them.
Once inside the compound, they all collapsed. Some people tore off pieces of clothing, trying to stop the bleeding of others. Many more crouched and knelt around shapes in dark blue uniforms, giving what comfort they could. Some of the uniforms were dark blue with shiny splashes of red. A few people just knelt or lay on the grass and cried.
I had become part of one huddle, carrying a guy with two gruesome wounds. We kept carrying him toward the clinic as people all over the compound ran this way and that; many yelling for doctors. Now shots and explosions could be heard from some new gun battle across the street.
We laid him on the grass as we saw the doctor running toward us. We held his head as the doc knelt and examined his wounds.
"You can let him go now."
20:05 (8:05 pm)
The day didn’t get much better, but I’ve written all I can write for now. As it does most nights, the shooting stopped at nightfall. I didn’t feel tired until a few minutes ago but now I’m exhausted. Luckily the rains came again tonight to wash it all away.
I’ll send another update tomorrow. Insh Allah.
JP
Hello Everybody,
Much quieter this morning in and around Dili. But there are a lot of tired and grumpy looking people in the barracks because we were ordered to remain in the compound overnight. Those of you who work (or have worked) for the UN know what an adventure that is . . . No beds – not even pillows. Cement floors and little crawly bugs. The PX ran out of food of course. Having said that, there are a heck of a lot of people here feeling lucky just to see the sun rise.
Occasional small arms fire was heard during the morning but it was fairly far away. For various reasons that don’t need to be discussed here, we brought one of our MI-8’s from the airport and landed in the compound. We had anticipated the possible requirement to do so and had made the appropriate adjustments in and around the car park area a few weeks ago. We made tow trips in and out and suffered relatively little collateral damage. (Those of you familiar with MI-8’s will understand that "little collateral damage" means not too many windows and pieces of roof were lost.) The last flight lifted off from the compound at 12:20.
At around 12:30pm our security was breached and armed gunmen entered the UN compound. We all stayed crouched in our offices while we waited for help to arrive. The phones weren't working so I was the only one able to talk to the Australian military (via our radios in flight-following). The only way I could establish contact with anybody was to transmit a "Mayday" on 121.5. Sure enough, an Australian P-3 Orion that was high overhead on a recon mission, picked it up. With their help we were finally able to get an army SAS team to the compound. Though I’ve been in this business for 36 years now (my God!) it’s the first time I’ve heard of a Mayday call from the ground station to the aircraft.
Luckily, while we waited for the troops to arrive, no shots were fired within the compound. By the time the SAS guys got here, the intruders had slinked back out of the compound and were holed up in a government building across the street.
The very good news is that our D/SRSG was able to convince the Australians (using various methods) to dispatch a permanent security force to the UN HQ. We now have about 40 soldiers patrolling in and around the compound, along with several M113 armoured vehicles. This should be plenty to dissuade the "bad guys" from launching an assault.
One of my Timorese friends lost his brother yesterday; he was in the PNTL (police). Another lost her sister; she was in the FDTL (army). Did they know each other? Did they fight each other?
Yesterday turned my world upside-down and inside-out. Though I’ve seen it, I’m having trouble comprehending that human beings can do these things to each other.
Thursday May 25, 2006
Woke up around 6:30 to sounds of gunfire in Colmera (the neighbourhood where I live). Into the office just after 7 to hear that there is fighting in many parts of the city.
Things have worsened considerably this morning with gangs of Timorese armed with machetes and bows and arrows joining the fighting. These guys have set up roadblocks on all the main roads in Dili and they're stopping non-UN vehicles. This gets a little complex but they’re looking for non "Timor-Lorosae" Timorese. That means Timorese people who are from the western districts of East Timor. This whole meltdown – including the desertions and dismissals from the FDTL (army) – may have started as an "Eastern versus Western" dispute. The reasons for that are long and complex but relate to Timorese history from long ago, as well as to the make-up of the Militias during the guerilla warfare during the Indonesian occupation (1975 til 1999). Anyway, it appears that those two factions of Timorese people are now taking sides in the dispute and possibly even entering into the fighting.
11: am
Dispatched some Movcon staff and security people in two UN vehicles to go and escort our flight crews from their homes to the airport. Told crews to take provisions and overnight gear.
12:02pm
Gunfire erupts around the UN compound. Initially sounds of automatic weapons and pistols. Escalated quickly to include explosions. Some rounds occasionally entering the compound and can be heard whistling through trees and smacking against buildings.
13:00 to 13:30
The noise is almost constant from the battle going on next door. "Next door" is the PNTL (Timorese national police) Headquarters. What at first was reported as an attack on the police headquarters by the so-called "rebels" or "591", turns out to be an attack by the FDTL (Timorese army) against the PNTL. For whatever reasons, the army (FDTL) has decided it must forcibly disarm the police (PNTL) (you may have to make notes . . . ). Around 13:30 the PNTL called for a UN brokered cease-fire (armed only with pistols, they were clearly going to be over-run).
Senior UN military and police advisors negotiated a deal wherein the PNTL would surrender all their weapons and hand over the police station in return for safe-conduct to the UN compound. Once the PNTL had turned over their weapons they were still very reluctant to leave the station. After being reassured by the UN negotiators that the FDTL commander would abide by the agreement, approximately 60 unarmed PNTL officers were led out of the police station by a senior UN military officer, carrying a UN flag. Several UN vehicles were at the front and the back of the column. In addition, approximately 20 UN police officers (also unarmed) walked in front of, and at the rear of, the PNTL officers. They all began walking the short distance via road to the UN compound, with many FDTL soldiers lining the sides of the road.
As they approached the first intersection, one FDTL soldier opened fire on the procession, at point-blank range, with an automatic weapon. Within seconds at least one more soldier opened fire from the opposite side of the road – again within feet of the unarmed group. In those immediate first bursts of gunfire, approximately 20 of the police fell to the ground, wounded or dead. One of the senior UN police showed incredible bravery by rushing to one of the soldiers who was firing his weapon and wrestling with him. I believe he saved additional lives as the weapon continued to discharge while the UNPOL member forcibly directed it into the air as he and the soldier wrestled with it.
It was clear from their wounds that seven or eight of the police were killed instantly. I think the murderous assault only lasted about ten seconds. When it stopped, everyone in the procession – wounded or not – was lying on the ground. The sound of automatic weapons was replaced instantly by the sounds of human distress. The screaming and moaning of the wounded fused with yells for help here and there and everywhere.
There was no longer any sense of one group. Just small clusters of people struggling to get to the gates of the UN compound. Clumps of two or three helping each other run, walk or limp. Some were crawling on their own, or trying to. Most (maybe twenty all together?) were huddles of three or four, all walking crab-like, carrying someone between them.
Once inside the compound, they all collapsed. Some people tore off pieces of clothing, trying to stop the bleeding of others. Many more crouched and knelt around shapes in dark blue uniforms, giving what comfort they could. Some of the uniforms were dark blue with shiny splashes of red. A few people just knelt or lay on the grass and cried.
I had become part of one huddle, carrying a guy with two gruesome wounds. We kept carrying him toward the clinic as people all over the compound ran this way and that; many yelling for doctors. Now shots and explosions could be heard from some new gun battle across the street.
We laid him on the grass as we saw the doctor running toward us. We held his head as the doc knelt and examined his wounds.
"You can let him go now."
20:05 (8:05 pm)
The day didn’t get much better, but I’ve written all I can write for now. As it does most nights, the shooting stopped at nightfall. I didn’t feel tired until a few minutes ago but now I’m exhausted. Luckily the rains came again tonight to wash it all away.
I’ll send another update tomorrow. Insh Allah.
JP
Hello Everybody,
Much quieter this morning in and around Dili. But there are a lot of tired and grumpy looking people in the barracks because we were ordered to remain in the compound overnight. Those of you who work (or have worked) for the UN know what an adventure that is . . . No beds – not even pillows. Cement floors and little crawly bugs. The PX ran out of food of course. Having said that, there are a heck of a lot of people here feeling lucky just to see the sun rise.
Occasional small arms fire was heard during the morning but it was fairly far away. For various reasons that don’t need to be discussed here, we brought one of our MI-8’s from the airport and landed in the compound. We had anticipated the possible requirement to do so and had made the appropriate adjustments in and around the car park area a few weeks ago. We made tow trips in and out and suffered relatively little collateral damage. (Those of you familiar with MI-8’s will understand that "little collateral damage" means not too many windows and pieces of roof were lost.) The last flight lifted off from the compound at 12:20.
At around 12:30pm our security was breached and armed gunmen entered the UN compound. We all stayed crouched in our offices while we waited for help to arrive. The phones weren't working so I was the only one able to talk to the Australian military (via our radios in flight-following). The only way I could establish contact with anybody was to transmit a "Mayday" on 121.5. Sure enough, an Australian P-3 Orion that was high overhead on a recon mission, picked it up. With their help we were finally able to get an army SAS team to the compound. Though I’ve been in this business for 36 years now (my God!) it’s the first time I’ve heard of a Mayday call from the ground station to the aircraft.
Luckily, while we waited for the troops to arrive, no shots were fired within the compound. By the time the SAS guys got here, the intruders had slinked back out of the compound and were holed up in a government building across the street.
The very good news is that our D/SRSG was able to convince the Australians (using various methods) to dispatch a permanent security force to the UN HQ. We now have about 40 soldiers patrolling in and around the compound, along with several M113 armoured vehicles. This should be plenty to dissuade the "bad guys" from launching an assault.
One of my Timorese friends lost his brother yesterday; he was in the PNTL (police). Another lost her sister; she was in the FDTL (army). Did they know each other? Did they fight each other?
Yesterday turned my world upside-down and inside-out. Though I’ve seen it, I’m having trouble comprehending that human beings can do these things to each other.