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EXPANSION OF NATIONAL COUNCIL
SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello announced today the composition of the new National Council of East Timor, which will be inaugurated on Monday, 23 October. The National Consultative Council met today for the last time and approved an amendment to expand the National Council.The National Council will consist of 36 representatives, 13 from political parties, 13 from the districts, seven from civic organizations and three members from religious groups. Thirteen of the representatives are women. Two seats are still vacant.
CNRT President Xanana Gusmão is among the 13 members representing a political party.
Timorese CNRT official Gloria de Castro Hall has been selected as the National Council Secretary.
The National Council is the result of a thorough selection process that included the consultation of East Timorese all over the country, and of the SRSG’s efforts to bring more balance to the new body. The National Council reflects in a broader way East Timorese society, as well as the current political scene.
SCHOOLS REHABILITATED
Four primary schools and one junior high school in Dili today received construction material and a grant of approximately US$10,000 from the UNTAET’s Education Department.
The five schools are part of 50 priority schools across the territory in bad need of rehabilitation.
The agreement was signed this morning between representatives of the schools and the Project Management Unit of the Education Department.
In other news related to the start of the school year, several Indonesian publishers are expected to deliver, by next week, all of the 1,1 million textbooks ordered for East Timor.
About 98,000 Portuguese language books will arrive in East Timor today. Some 600,000 books have arrived from Indonesian and Portuguese publishers so far.
All books sent from the Indonesian publishers show pictures of East Timor and contain a preface by CNRT President Xanana Gusmão in Tetum, Portuguese and Indonesian.
It is expected that the books will be distributed to the students by next week. Each student gets to keep the books for one year after which it is handed over to other students.
ANIMAL VACCINATION CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
UNTAET’s Agriculture Unit is launching an Animal Vaccination Campaign tomorrow, 21 October. Large cattle and buffaloes will be vaccinated against acute haemorrhagic septicemia, a bacterial disease that is fatal.
Initially, eight districts will be targeted.
The first phase of the campaign is expected to be completed before the rainy season starts. The next phase will start once the rains have stopped again. Some 50,000 animals will be vaccinated.
MINI OLYMPICS
UNTAET is organizing a full day of Mini Olympic Games at the Dili stadium tomorrow as part of the celebrations of the UN Day on 24 October.
Twelve different sports will be featured, including track and field, volleyball, table tennis and a soccer match between internationals and Timorese.
It is expected that over 300 people will participate.
The event is sponsored with some US$20,000 from the East Timorese business community. Any proceeds from the event will be used to support East Timorese athletes and orphanages.
The Mini Olympic torch will be brought – with police motorcycle escort – from UNTAET headquarters and SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello will open the games with a speech at the stadium.