The East Timor Transitional Cabinet agreed today that fundamental questions relating to the final settlement of land claims and disputes should be deferred to a duly elected government and legislature. In the interim, the Transitional Administration will perform a number of important functions. It will register claims to land, but no land titles. It will assign temporary use agreements and settle disputes related to temporary use, which, among other things, will promote investor confidence.
It will also institute a period for registering land claims extending well into independence, coupled with a public information campaign. Further, the Transitional Administration will help to initiate a national debate on the land question and strengthen capacity for the resolution of land disputes at the community level. The Cabinet also agreed to propose to the National Council a package of income and business tax measures to commence by January next year. These measures are designed to raise more revenue for East Timor and ensure the effective administration of the business tax system, minimizing the opportunity for tax evasion. A system of deductions for spouses and children will be proposed for introduction as soon as is practicable after January 2001.
MILITIA KILLED IN CLASH WITH PEACEKEEPERS
A militia member was shot dead following a clash yesterday evening, 24 October, between New Zealand Peacekeepers and a group of three militias.
The incident occurred as the militia group approached a New Zealand patrol position, seven kilometers northeast of Suai in Cova Lima district.
The Peacekeepers initiated a firefight, which left one militia member killed. The remaining withdrew from the scene of the clash. The body of the killed militia member was discovered at first light today, 25 October.
The Peacekeeping Force is continuing to search the area and are maintaining an active patrolling schedule.
The clash was the latest in series of confrontations between militia and the Peacekeeping Force near the border with West Timor, Indonesia. In a similar incident, New Zealand soldiers shot dead a militiaman on 26 September.
