Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Former police commissioner distances himself from the rebel groups

From Diário de Notícias

The former police commissioner has been in hiding in Aileu but he maintains that he continues to command the police force by having regular meetings with district police commanders. He told reporters that he has never contacted Reinado and his groups nor does he have any opinion on the push to remove Mari Alkatiri from government. He insits, "I am a police officer, not a politician."

Read here for more.

Comments:
Anonymous said...
Can asomeone explain to me why Commissioner Paulo Martins is in Aileu? The situation in Dili has returned to normality for the time being and many civil servants are back to their work, why hasnt he returned to continue his work and show some leadership within the Police Force in Dili rather than remain in Aileu. Timor needs to rebuild, retrain and recruit new Police Officers for its Police Force. I find it very disturbing and inexcusable that such a high ranking officer Mr Paulo Martins should take refuge (IDP) in all places Aileu an area which is full of insurgents (rebels, mutineers or whatever)who plan to remove the PM without any legal substance.

I question the Commisioners integrity as a Police officer in command of the Timorese Police force, for reasons unknown many Policemen got involved in the clashes during May, there were reports that some members of the Police force attacked key FFDTL bases in Dili. It is alarming that the commissioner left Dili before the confrontations of 25 May as reported in the Portuguese newspaper Expresso. It is sinister that he is currently in the hills of Aileu amidst rebels who want the removal of the PM in violation of the Constitution.

On another note it was rather obscure that the Commissioner Paulo Martins wrote a hand written memo to the PM of Timor Leste on 19 May 2006(see: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2006/s1666349.htm) about concerns over the arming of groups in Suai and handed the memo to a secretary of the Prime Minister rather raising the issue to the PM directly. As the most senior Police Officer in Timor, Paulo Martins has direct access to the Prime Minister should he need to raise such a serious allegation.

The photocopied (see ABC website as per above) memo with a Timorese Government header/seal is dubious since this does not appear to be the standard communiqué used by the Government. Clearly it purports serious allegations which should have been handled directly with the Prime Minister this shows clear incompetence when dealing with highly sensitive information.

Much is to be admired about the credibility of Commissioner Paulo Martins in light nof recent events. It is lamentabe that I have to question the integrity of Paulo Martins the Police Commissioner of Timor Leste in refuge in the hill of Aileu amongst the rebels.
 
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