SRSG MEETS SURRENDERED MILITIA

Yesterday, SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello met two militiamen who had surrendered in the district of Ermera the previous day. SRSG, on a one-day visit to the district, met the militiamen in Gleno at the Kenyan Peacekeeping Force compound.

The militias, armed with rifles, turned themselves in to local residents of Lakiama village at 5 p.m. last Sunday.

The men were very weak, on the brink of starvation and had to be supported when they were walking. They claimed that they were part of a 10-man group that infiltrated East Timor on 31 August.

The two militiamen, belonging to Besi Merah Putih (Red White Iron) militia, were brought to Dili in the same helicopter used by SRSG for the trip. A nurse accompanied the militiamen on their journey to Dili where, upon arrival, they were taken to the United Nations Military Hospital.

SRSG Vieira de Mello says that the defections are clear evidence that UNTAET’s strategy is working. An extensive campaign is being carried out by UNTAET and the Peacekeeping Force urging militia to hand over their weapons in return for guaranteed security and assistance in resettlement. The Peacekeeping Force has received information that militia groups have become aware of the fact that other militia members have been successfully reintegrated in their home villages.

UNTAET’s message for months has been that all East Timorese are welcomed back in the country but that there will be no amnesty for the ones involved in serious crimes.

In a separate incident, four men belonging to the Ablai militia surrendered yesterday, 11 September, south of Same in Manufahi district. The men stated that they were part of a group of 38 men that crossed the border into East Timor on 31 July.

CABINET DECIDES ON DEFENCE FORCE STRUCTURE

The Transitional Cabinet of East Timor today approved the establishment of a national defence force based on Option III of the King’s College independent study released in August.

This option calls for a defence force built upon a base of Falintil members, with a professional regular corps of 1,500, supported by 1,500 volunteer reservists. These reservists will be based in their home villages and called for training at periodic intervals.

The establishment of the defence force and related security issues will be placed under the administrative responsibility of the Deputy Transitional Administrator, Jean-Christian Cady.

UNTAET will be issuing identity cards to active Falintil members from today, 12 September. Processing of cards is expected to be completed by the end of the week.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TO OPEN

The National University of East Timor is opening next month, when the official school year starts. The East Timorese Transitional Cabinet has so far granted the University a budget of US$1,320,000, which will be transferred from the education budget and will be used to run the University for its first year.

The proposed campus is projected to have a student population of about 4,500. Priority will be given initially to former students; students previously enrolled in Indonesian universities but who are unable to return to Indonesia; students and teachers who have been involved in teaching; and high school graduates. The first intake of high school graduates will be limited to 500. In all, some 3,000 students have enrolled and are expected to start their classes in mid-October.

Approximately 140 lecturers and support staff will be working at the University. The campus will be spread in four locations in Dili.

FIRST CRIMINAL COURT CASE IN BAUCAU

The first criminal court case in Baucau will open on 15 September. The case concerns the murder of a 62-year old woman in Los Palos in December last year.

According to the prosecution, the woman was tortured and left for dead by four men after having been accused of killing children by witchcraft.

The indictment was filed on 1 August and the men were detained in May this year. They are being held in Becora prison at the moment.

There are currently four criminal cases being tried in the Dili court.

The first criminal sentence in East Timor was carried out on 25 August in the Dili District Court. MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MURDERED UNHCR STAFF

A memorial service will be held tomorrow, 13 September, for the three UNHCR staff members murdered in Atambua last week. The memorial service will be attended by SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello and CNRT President Xanana Gusmão and UNHCR staff from around East Timor.

UNHCR is awaiting final identification before the bodies can be flown to Darwin, Australia, and onwards to their final destinations. Senior UNHCR staff will accompany the bodies.

UNHCR reports that there is a strong and visible militia presence in Atambua and Betun and that tension is high. There are, however, no reports of specific incidents.

Since the attack on the UNHCR headquarters in Atambua, on 6 September, there have been only seven spontaneous returns by refugees into East Timor.

SRSG CANCELS TRIP TO SYDNEY OLYMPICS

Due to time constraints because of the volatile situation in West Timor and the planned visit of the Security Council to East Timor, SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello will not be representing the United Nations Secretary General at the Sydney Olympics as planned.

The United Nations headquarters in New York has yet to appoint a replacement.

OLYMPICS SHOWN IN PUBLIC

UNTAET’s TV-station Televizaun Timor Lorosa’e (TVTL) will be broadcasting the Sydney Olympics live for its entire duration in three public venues in Dili; the Gymnasium Building, the Becora Cultural Center and the Don Bosco School.

Viewers will be able to watch the games projected live, with two hours of Tetum highlights at 7 a.m. each day, featuring special information about the Timorese competitors and news from TVTL’s Timorese reporter in Sydney, Antonio Diaz.

The buildings will be open to the public all day, from 10 a.m. until late.

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