Dili, 7 April 2000
SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello today signed the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in legal, judicial and human rights matters between UNTAET and Indonesia, which was earlier signed by Indonesia.
Yesterday in Rome, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the conclusion of the memorandum and said that the accord would facilitate the joint efforts of the UN and Indonesia to investigate and prosecute those responsible for last year's violence in East Timor.
The Secretary-General also expressed his appreciation to Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman for taking this important step in meeting their obligations to bring about justice for the crimes committed in East Timor.
According to the agreement, UNTAET and Indonesia pledge to make detained persons available to give evidence or assist in investigations, ensure judicial documents are served, and carry out arrests, searches and seizures. Both parties also agree to facilitate the transfer of people from one jurisdiction to another, allow for forensic experts to participate in exhumations, ensure representatives of the authorities can participate in legal proceedings and provide information, evidence and relevant documents.
In a press briefing held today in Dili, Ambassador Peter Galbraith, Director of UNTAET Political Division, said that “the document exceeds UNTAET’s expectations in terms of the level of cooperation that is envisaged in it.” (see attached transcript)
TIMORESE CUSTOMS OFFICERS COMPLETE TRAINING
The first group of eighteen Timorese Border Control Service officers has today completed a seven-day refresher course in customs procedures. The course covered basic training in immigration procedures, customs entry, money collection and professional conduct.
The eighteen will join six international customs officers in manning the two land border crossings between East and West Timor in Batugade and Salele. The crossing post in Batugade is expected to open at the end of the next week, with Salele following soon after.
Currently there are 31 international and 70 Timorese officers in Border Control Service with posts at the Dili Airport and the Port.
PKF HELICOPTER CROSSES INTO WEST TIMOR AIRSPACE
TNI has made a complaint to the UN PKF that a white helicopter violated the border between East Timor and Indonesia south of Memo (southwest of Dili) at 15.30 yesterday. UN Peacekeeping Force is investigating the complaint, and it appears that a PKF helicopter may have accidentally drifted across 1-2 kms into West Timor while trying to avoid low clouds and fog. Upon completion of the investigation, a formal reply will be sent to the TNI.
FORMER TNI MEMBERS RETURN TO AILEU
Around 60 demobilized East Timorese and their families returned safely to East Timor this week. It was the largest group of former Indonesian army soldiers to repatriate so far. The return of the ex-TNIs and their families totaling some 450 people started on Saturday, 1 April, and was completed on Thursday, a month after they left the camps in the Kupang area in West Timor.
Because most of them are from Aileu district, a cantonment site for the Falintil, who fought 24 years of Indonesian rule, the return required prolonged negotiations that involved Falintil and community leaders, representatives of UNTAET, including Civilian Police and the Peacekeeping Force.
Following their arrival returnees underwent a search of their belongings and then proceeded to their homes.
WORLD BANK AND PORTUGAL SIGN CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
As a follow up to the pledge at the December donor conference in Tokyo, Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dr. Luis Amado, today in Dili signed a contribution agreement with the World Bank. According to the document, Portugal is to contribute US$50 million to the World Bank’s Trust Fund for East Timor over four years.
The agreement will allow for implementation of the Small and Medium Entreprise Project which will aim at the development of the East Timorese private sector through loans to business enterprises. The project with initial funds of US$4,8 million will be executed through the Portuguese Banco Nacional Ultramarino.
The Portuguese contribution to the World Bank Trust Fund will also allow for important projects in education, roads and power to go forward on schedule.
