East Timor: President Gusmão takes emergency powers to quell unrest
{{date|May 30, 2006}}

[[w:President of East Timor|President]] [[w:Xanana Gusmão|Xanana Gusmão]] has taken special security powers in a bid to quell the violence raging in [[w:East Timor|East Timor]]. The period of emergency rule, which would last 30 days, was imposed to "prevent violence and avoid further fatalities" and lead to "rapid reestablishment of public order."
[[Image:Gouverneurspalast_klein.jpg|260 px|right|thumb|Government Palace, Dili]]
Gusmão, a popular former guerilla leader, will take sole control of the army and police and also the management of the 1,300 strong [[Australia]]n-led peacekeeping force on the troubled island. 

At least 27 people have been killed, criminal documents reported stolen, and looting widespread in the East Timorese capital, [[w:Dili|Dili]] during the present period of unrest.

The Australian military commander in East Timor, Brigadier Michael Slater has called the mobs "gutless thugs."

The decision to give emergency powers to President Gusmão was taken in "close collaboration" with [[w:Prime Minister of East Timor|Prime Minister]] [[w:Mari Alkatiri|Mari Alkatiri]]. Mr Alkatiri was unable to stop the rioting that followed the government's decision in March to lay-off 600 soldiers when they refused to work, complaining of discrimination.

As the disorder grew during April and May, East Timor appealed for international assistance. Justice Minister Domingos Sarmento said that [[Portugal|Portugal]] had offered to provide East Timor with 120 security personnel by the weekend.

==Related news==
{{aussieissue|2006 East Timor crisis}}
*{{wikinews|title=Fighting in Dili continues ahead of multinational deployment|date=May 25, 2006 }}
*{{wikinews|title=Gang violence continues in East Timor|date=May 27, 2006 }}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5029794.stm|title= Emergency rule for E Timor|author=BBC News|pub=BBC|date=May 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Gusmao-takes-over-security-in-East-Timor/2006/05/30/1148754970475.html|title= Gusmao takes over security in East Timor|author=The Age|pub=The Age|date=May 30, 2006}}

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[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:East Timor]]
[[Category:Indonesia]]
[[Category:Portugal]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[category:Australia]]
[[category:Oceania]]

[[de:Ausnahmezustand in Osttimor erklärt – Lage beruhigt sich langsam]]
President Xanana Gusmão has taken special security powers in a bid to quell the violence raging in East Timor. The period of emergency rule, which would last 30 days, was imposed to "prevent violence and avoid further fatalities" and lead to "rapid reestablishment of public order."
Government Palace, Dili
Gusmão, a popular former guerilla leader, will take sole control of the army and police and also the management of the 1,300 strong Australian-led peacekeeping force on the troubled island. 

At least 27 people have been killed, criminal documents reported stolen, and looting widespread in the East Timorese capital, Dili during the present period of unrest.

The Australian military commander in East Timor, Brigadier Michael Slater has called the mobs "gutless thugs."

The decision to give emergency powers to President Gusmão was taken in "close collaboration" with Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri. Mr Alkatiri was unable to stop the rioting that followed the government's decision in March to lay-off 600 soldiers when they refused to work, complaining of discrimination.

As the disorder grew during April and May, East Timor appealed for international assistance. Justice Minister Domingos Sarmento said that Portugal had offered to provide East Timor with 120 security personnel by the weekend.

category:Australia
category:Oceania
Asia East Timor Indonesia Portugal Politics and conflicts