SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello sent a letter on 28 July to Attorney-General Marzuki Darusman seeking his cooperation in the investigation into the murder of New Zealand Peacekeeper Private Leonard Manning; in particular, the arrest and extradition to East Timor of any suspects found on Indonesian territory.
Vieira de Mello also sent a list of the ten suspects in the case, together with the warrants issued for their arrest.
Private Manning was murdered on 24 July, while tracking a group of armed individuals in Suai. The Transitional Administrator called the killing a “truly barbaric crime.”
Should these killers be found on Indonesian territory, it is the intention of UNTAET to seek their extradition so that they face trial in East Timor.
Vieira de Mello formally requested, under Section 11 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Legal, Judicial and Human Rights Related Matters, dated 6 April 2000, that the Government of Indonesia executes the arrest warrants and surrenders to UNTAET the 10 persons should they be located in Indonesia.
FALINTIL RECEIVES NON-MILITARY TRAINING
Eighty-two members of Falintil were brought to the Headquarters of the Portuguese Peacekeeping Force in Maubisse yesterday to start a non-military training program. The program is run by the Portuguese Battalion and will cover topics such as environmental protection, first aid, communication techniques, computer and language training and physical training.
Groups of up to 80 volunteers will go through three training periods of two weeks each. Upon completion of the course, the students will receive a diploma. The program has been worked out by the Peacekeeping Force in close cooperation with Falintil.
THIRD CABINET MEETING
The Cabinet will meet for the third time this Wednesday, 2 August, followed by a National Consultative Council meeting on Thursday.
Ana Pessoa, Cabinet Member for Internal Administration, will be attending a Cabinet meeting for the first time. Among the topics to be discussed will be a code of conduct for Cabinet members.
The NCC will also discuss the introduction of two new draft regulations, one on Supplementary Appropriation – US$100,000 that is needed to unload and distribute agriculture goods given by the Chinese Government worth US$6 million – and one to amend regulation number 1999/3. The amendment is a technical correction to the regulation on the Establishment of a Transitional Judicial Service Commission to include the panels of the serious criminal offenses.
SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello will also brief the Cabinet on his meetings in Denpasar, Indonesia, with West Timor Commander Kiki Syahnakri.
MARY ROBINSON VISITS EAST TIMOR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, arrives in Dili for a three-day visit on Saturday, 5 August.
Upon her arrival in Dili, she will meet CNRT President Xanana Gusmão, SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello and representatives from UN agencies and the International Committee of Red Cross.
The High Commissioner will also visit Suai, where she will meet with UNTAET and Peacekeeping staff and attend a ceremony for the victims of the church massacre last year.
Mary Robinson will also deliver a keynote speech at the human rights workshop on the theme “Human Rights and the Future of East Timor”, organized by UNTAET’s Human Rights Unit and East Timor Lawyers Association, ANMEFTIL, at the Cannosians Sisters’ Complex in Becora, Dili, on Monday, 7 August.
Before leaving East Timor on 7 August, she is expected to meet Bishop Belo and representatives from various NGOs. A press conference will be held at the VIP Lounge of the Dili Airport, at 1 p.m.
DILI STADIUM TO BE RENOVATED
The Dili stadium playing field will undergo rehabilitation, starting next week. The work is expected to be completed in time for the first international sports event in East Timor since the popular consultation. On 27 August the Australian under-18 soccer team will be competing an East Timorese team.
A “turf consultant” is expected to arrive next week from Darwin to look at the condition of the field and plans are to level the field, plant additional grass and set up sprinklers. The work is carried out by UNTAET’s Dili District Administration, the Bangladeshi Engineers of the Peacekeeping Force with the support of UNICEF and the Northern Territory Government in Australia.
Twenty-five East Timorese workers will be hired through a Transitional Employment Project to assist in the work on Dili stadium.
Similar renovation works are planned for the stadium in Baucau.
TEACHERS’ CONGRESS
CNRT and UNTAET will stand hosts for the first national teachers’ congress, starting 10 August. It is expected that some 1,000 teachers will attend to discuss matters related to the educational system and the situation of teachers and students in East Timor, such as curriculum, salary scales and school year calendar.
The participants are both primary and secondary schoolteachers.
The congress, to be held in the CNRT Headquarters, ends on 12 August.
