MALAYSIAN CIVILIAN POLICE FEARED DROWNED

A Malaysian officer from the Civilian Police, missing at sea off the coast of East Timor’s Oecussi enclave since Wednesday morning, is feared to have drowned.

A helicopter search, which began at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, was called off the following day when the policeman’s body could not be found. However, the search resumed today, 9 June, along the Oecussi coastline.

The missing police officer has been identified as Sergeant Kanagarethnam Mallaiappen.

The Malaysian Government and the missing person’s immediate family have been notified of the tragedy.

The policeman was on duty during an operation with an Australian Peacekeeping Force landing craft en route to Citrana in Oecussi. He was lost at sea while swimming during a break.

MILITIA MEMBER ARRESTED

An alleged militia member from Dili was arrested on Wednesday, 7 June, in Bobonaro. He is expected to be brought to Becora prison in Dili today and be presented before an investigating judge.

REGISTRATION OF CIVIL SERVANTS STARTS

Approximately 500 people turned up for the first day of registration of former civil servants yesterday, 8 June. It is UNTAET’s intention to register people formerly employed by the Indonesian government in East Timor. The data collected will be used in negotiations with Indonesia over pension payments.

It is estimated that as many as 34,000 people worked for the Indonesian authorities in East Timor.

The registration process will continue in alphabetical order in Dili for three more weeks. The process will move on to the rest of East Timor’s districts in July.

DILI’S POWER CONTRACT EXTENDED

UNTAET’s contract with the Northern Territory’s Power and Water Authority for the provision of electricity supply to Dili was extended yesterday.

SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello made the announcement last night after meeting Northern Territory Chief Minister Denis Burke, who is on a two-day visit to East Timor.

The power contract was due to expire in three days. The Northern Territory government delegation is still holding talks with UNTAET. Chief Minister Burke is scheduled to leave Dili for Darwin today, 9 June.

OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO VISIT EAST TIMOR

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will send a team to Dili on 18 June, after a decision last month by the Executive Commission to allow East Timorese athletes to participate in the Sydney Olympic Games.

The team will include Kevan Gosper, an Australian member of the IOC, and Father Miro, director of the Olympic Solidarity.

TOY PISTOLS CONFISCATED

The Peacekeeping Force in Sector West has over the past week confiscated eight toy pistols brought across the border from West Timor by East Timorese traders. The pistols were bought at border trading markets.

PKF will continue to monitor and confiscate these items as they look very realistic and can potentially be used to intimidate people.

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