12 February 2001 -- More than 130 people from all walks of life in East Timor congregated today for the first large-scale debate on human rights, reconciliation and elections that was organized with the help of UNTAET, the United Nations Transitional Administration in the territory.

According to UNTAET, the overall goal of the symposium is to promote and encourage discussions at all levels of East Timorese society on the reconciliation and electoral processes, and their link to human rights.

"Why should we ask East Timorese to re-open wounds, when many are simply trying to start a new future?" UNTAET chief Sergio Vieira de Mello said at the opening ceremony. "Reconciliation is necessary in East Timor to cure the infection so the wounds will not fester."

The head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Mark Malloch Brown, who left East Timor this afternoon after a two-day visit, underlined that rights should be at the centre of building a democratic society. "The biggest threat to a nation is poverty," he said. "That is why UNDP promotes the rights-based approach to development."

The symposium, which closes tomorrow, is organized by UNDP in conjunction with UNTAET and the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Forum. Other speakers and panellists at the event include Xanana Gusmão, President of the CNRT (National Council of Timorese Resistance); Peter Galbraith, Cabinet Member for Political Affairs; Carina Perelli, Director of the Electoral Assistance Division at UN Headquarters; Aniceto Guterres, Executive Director of Yayasan Hak (a human rights organization); and Finn Reske-Nielsen, UNDP Representative and UN Development Coordinator

 

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Not an official document of the United Nations. Maintained by the Peace and Security Section of the Department of Public Information in cooperation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. (c) United Nations 2001