Warning: Gruesome stuff below

On the 25^th of May, the Timorese army (F-FDTL) attacked the police (PNTL) headquarters. About 100 policemen and a handful of UN police were trapped inside. In negotiations between the FDTL top commanders representatives of UN, it was decided that the police would be allowed to surrender and safely exit the building to be transported to a safe place under the control of UN. Foreign minister José Ramos-Horta and president Xanana Gusmão were promised the same thing.

The police were allowed to exit the building and marched afoot to the UN HQ approximately 2 kms away. Some 500 metres before arriving, a group of military men opened fire on the police. Three policemen were killed, 27 were injured. Another six died of their injuries during the night.

I can’t understand. Why this senseless violence? I know about the tension between the army and the police, but i cannot understand why. And i cannot understand why it has gone so far.

Here is a set of slides (PPT, 1.7 MB) with pictures and some background on the massacre (all the obvious warnings apply). Please check it out if your stomach allows.

I also include a mail forwarded to me by my friend Waheeb (thank you) which describes the massacre in no uncertain terms (the mail has been edited slightly for readability).

From: coursesenu Ibrahim
Date: Sat, 27 May 2006 10:40:03 +0300
Subject: Dili massacre

I am now in Dili when this incident happened on 25/5/06 (Thurday). This act was too brutal that no civilized person can ever accept. On that particular day, Timor Leste Military attacked Timor Leste Federal Police Headquarters. Upon negotiation with the top military commander by the represtatives of UN, it was promised that police, about 100 of them and a few UN police officers trapped in the building could surrender without any harm with a condition they first laid down their arms. Negotiations were also made by Timor Foreign Minister, Jose Ramos Horta and President Xanana Gusmao. They too were given the same assurance and conditions. As part of the deal, they were allowed to go to any safe place under the control of UN.

Military and police personnel of UNOTIL (UN) who acted as the negotiator disarmed the police and they marched in a row together with the UN police for the UN HQ situated about 2 kms away. About 500 meters from the HQ, a group of military men opened fire with their automatic rifles and killed the helpless policemen and women without mercy although at that time a few UN police officers risked thier lives went forward to stop the shooting. It was a terrible genocide and 3 Timor police died on the spot and leaving 27 others injured. The injured were them thrown into the UN cars and drove to safety although they came under intensive firing. The rests who were not or slightly injured ran on foot to the UN HQ . The small clinic at UN HQ became like a slaugher house with people lying on the floor in pools of blood. Crying and groaning were heard everywhere. With one or two doctors and a few qualified assitance assited by many unqualified UN staff attended to them, nothing much could be done.

Although the situation was dangerous outside, it was decided that those with critical injuries be ferried to the General Hospital where better medical facilities were available. Later in the evening another 6 more died. In this incident, two UN police officers were also injured with one officer from Pakistan injured his arms by a bullet and a Philipino sustained injuries over his head and stomach. He was later tranfered to Darwin Hopsital and operated to remove the bullet in his abdomen . About a foot of his affected intestine was also removed.

Until this time, noon, 27/5/06, situation in Dili (capital city of Timor) here was like mad where killings and fighting continued in the streets. Houses were burnt, some with families in them. No one knows whom killed whom but this is a civil war between various people from different regions and political interests. Let pray for the heroes who died in this mass massacre to R.I.P.

Coursesenu