Five journalists from Kupang, West Timor, are currently visiting Dili. This is the first visit to East Timor by representatives from the local media in West Timor after the popular consultation on 30 August 1999.
There are approximately 120,000 refugees still in West Timor and on 8 June, during West Timor’s Governor Piet Tallo’s visit to Dili, it was decided that an exchange of journalists from both countries would help accelerate the repatriation process.
“We believe that the journalists are our best vehicle in presenting objective and accurate information to the population of refugees,” SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello said during a press conference, in which Governor Tallo, CNRT President Xanana Gusmão and Bishop Belo took part.
The four-day visit includes briefings by various United Nations officials, as well as representatives from the CNRT and the National Consultative Council.
The group will travel to Liquica tomorrow, 7 July, where they will meet with former militia leaders from Besi Merah Putih, who have returned from West Timor, CNRT leaders and UNTAET’s District Administrator.
A meeting with SRSG De Mello is scheduled for Saturday, 8 July. Before returning on Monday, the journalists will attend the opening of the East Timor Press Club.
