Dili, 7 June 2000
The World Bank administered Trust Fund for East Timor and UNTAET today signed a US$12,7 million grant for the health sector.
This grant, a first phase in rehabilitating the health sector in East Timor, will be used to develop health services in the territory and to restore access to these services to the entire population as soon as possible. Part of the grant will be used for the development of a policy for an appropriate national health system.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the National Consultative Council by the SRSG Sergio Vieira the Mello, Klaus Rohland, the World Bank Country Director for Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the Pacific Islands, and senior CNRT member João Carrascalão.
“This is probably the most important document I have signed,” said SRSG Sergio Vieira the Mello. “It is a vital project in the true meaning of the word. Now, let’s make sure that the Timorese people see the actual results of this signing.”
FIFTY-FOUR FAMILIES HOMELESS AFTER MUDSLIDES
Mudslides have made 54 families homeless in the village of Adu, Quelicai sub-district, in Baucau. Another six villages are also affected. The mudslides, in an area of some five square kilometers, occurred a few days ago, after heavy rains in the region. In addition to the destroyed homes, rice paddies, coconut trees and cassava crops have been drenched by the deluge. There have been no casualties.
The World Food Programme and UNHCR have been sending food and shelter materials to the affected area.
UNTAET is currently conducting a survey of the situation, to assess the need for additional relief.
FOUR BODIES EXHUMED
Four bodies have been exhumed for forensic investigations in connection with the September 1999 violence. The exhumations were carried out in Aileu (one body found), Ermera (two bodies) and in Baucau (one body).
The corpses are kept in cold storage at the Human Rights Centre’s morgue in Komoro.
In addition, the Human Rights Centre has completed its examination of 66 bodies found in Oecussi. The findings will be used in the criminal investigations into the September violence last year.
INDONESIAN FISHERMEN RETURN HOME
Seven stranded Indonesian fishermen, who should have been flown back home yesterday, finally left this morning.
UNTAET received diplomatic clearance from the Indonesian authorities only late yesterday for the fishermen to be airlifted to the Indonesian Island of Buton.
The seven left Dili at 11:00 a.m. on board a UNTAET plane. They were accompanied by Mr. Mulyadi, the Indonesian attaché in Dili.
The seven Indonesian fishermen were found on 6 May in East Timorese waters in Lautem, Los Palos. Their boat was abandoned in Los Palos’ Tutuala area, when the seven were brought to Dili and detained in Becora jail for illegal entry into the country.
Their broken fishing boat is abandoned in Tutuala and no decision has been made yet on whether to repair it.
REHABILITATION OF BECORA JAIL
The second phase of the rehabilitation of Becora prison started a week ago and is expected to be completed by the end of July. Three jail blocks will be repaired. One of the blocks was a former jail unit for women and it has four cell rooms with capacity for 20 people. The other two blocks have five and six cell rooms.
The prison buildings are being repaired by UNTAET’s Building Management Services and the Bangladeshi Peacekeeping Battalion.
Of a total of 21 buildings which were in need of repairs, four had been completed in the first phase of the rehabilitation.
Becora jail is designed to accommodate 260 to 270 prisoners. There are 56 Civilian Police, 23 Timorese UNTAET Local Staff and six international prison staff working in Becora jail.
WEST TIMOR GOVERNOR VISITS
The West Timor Governor, Piet Tallo, will arrive to Dili tomorrow, 8 June, for a one-day visit.
Governor Tallo will be accompanied by five of his senior cabinet members and two journalists from the official Indonesian news agencies Antara and TVRI.
Governor Tallo is scheduled to arrive in Dili’s Komoro airport at 9:00 a.m. and will be welcomed on his arrival by SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello and CNRT President Xanana Gusmao.
Through the morning, Governor Tallo will be attending a roundtable meeting at UNTAET headquarters discussing issues ranging from border control and refugee repatriation to trade and investment.
Governor Tallo and his delegation will also hold discussions with CNRT at the organization’s new headquarters in Caikoli.
Governor Tallo will hold a joint press conference with UNTAET before returning to West Timor.
UNTAET TEAM TO VISIT INDONESIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL
An UNTAET team of four people left today for Jakarta to meet a team from the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, 8 June.
The team includes Oyvind Olsen, the chief of the Human Rights Investigations Unit, Gita Welsh, head of Judicial Affairs, Amandio Benevides, acting chief prosecutor for the Dili District Court, and Jonathan Prentice, representing the Political Affairs Office.
They are expected to discuss the imminent visit of representatives from the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office to Dili. The delegation is coming to East Timor to investigate the killing of Dutch journalist Sanders Thoenes, the church massacres in Suai and Liquiça, the attacks on the houses of Bishop Belo and Manuel Carrascalao.
TWO NEW REGULATIONS SIGNED
Two new regulations were approved yesterday by the National Consultative Council.
The draft regulation on the Establishment of Panels with Exclusive Jurisdiction over Serious Criminal Offenses establishes panels of judges within the Dili District Court, with exclusive jurisdiction to deal with serious criminal offenses.
According to Regulation No. 11, signed on 8 March 2000 by SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello on Organization of Courts in East Timor, the District Court of Dili has exclusive jurisdiction over serious crimes such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, murder, sexual offenses and torture.
The second regulation, on the Organization of the Public Prosecution Service in East Timor, establishes public prosecutors offices and defines, among other things, the impartiality of the public prosecutors.
