The appointment of a new police commander, scheduled for next month, could rekindle the bitter splits that led to the collapse of the police force in 2006. An anonymous leaflet circulated in Timors capital, Dili, warned of violence if a police officer from the countrys eastern districts was installed as commander. The Gusmao government responded by stepping up security around government buildings, erecting several roadblocks in Dili, and enforcing a ban on off-duty police taking their guns home with them.

It remains unclear who is responsible for the leaflet. According to the Associated Press, government sources and one UN official believe it was written by a group of police officers. Already there is discontent in police ranks. Last month members of the Police Task Force Unit threatened to strike for higher pay; according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, their anger led to a confrontation at police headquarters. A number of corruption investigations are also underway. The interim police commander Alfonso de Jesus has reportedly been questioned recently over disciplinary issues, while UN police arrested Bacau police chief Aderito da Costa Ximenes on October 9.

Deputy police commander Mateus Fernandes, however, denied that the inflammatory leaflet came from within the police force. According to Agence France-Presse, Fernandes alleged: Some politicians have launched this to realise their own interests via the police and have been using this issue of who will become the police commander.

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