Seven members of the investigation team from the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office left Dili today. Four members will remain in Dili until early August to conduct additional investigations. The bulk of the work, though, has been concluded and a report leading up the indictments is expected in a couple of weeks.
The Indonesian team has been in East Timor for nine days to question witnesses and collect resulting material evidence concerning the five priority criminal cases presented by the Indonesians. One group consisting of two investigators has spent three days in Suai to question witnesses in the 6 September case of the massacre in the local church.
The rest of the 17-person strong team remained in Dili, interviewing witnesses in the cases of the massacre in the Liquica Church, the attack on Manuel Carrascalão’s residence, the attack on Bishop Belo’s compound and the murder of Dutch journalist Sander Thoenes.
The visit proceeded with no disturbances.
The questioning of witnesses was conducted by UNTAET investigation staff in the presence of observers from the Attorney General’s team. In addition to the questioning of witnesses, the team took photographs, including aerial shots, of various crime scenes.
COMMITTEE SET UP TO INVESTIGATE KILLING OF PEACEKEEPER
SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello and Force Commander Lt. General Boonsrang Niumpradit returned to Dili from Denpasar, Indonesia, yesterday after meetings with West Timor Commander Maj. General Kiki Syahnakri.
General Syahnakri accepted that the group that killed Private Leonard Manning probably operated out of West Timor and offered all possible assistance in locating and arresting the perpetrators. It was also agreed than an ad hoc TNI/Peacekeeping Force committee be set up to fully investigate the killing of Private Manning.
The SRSG stated that that there could be no normal relations between the appointed leadership in East Timor and pro-autonomy groups in West Timor until these group denounced the killing of the New Zealand soldier, renounced the use of violence and accept the results of the popular consultation of last August.
SKIRMISH ON ATAURO ISLAND
Civilian Police in Atauro island, off the cost of Dili, reported that 20 confirmed Indonesian persons arrived on the island yesterday evening, 27 July, in five motorboats brandishing Indonesian flags. Once on the shore, they threatened the local population with machetes and stones. No injuries were reported. CiviPol has dispatched an extra team of six armed officers to the area.
ELECTORAL ASSESSMENT MISSION LEAVES
The needs assessment mission from the Department of Political Affairs at United Nations Headquarters met with SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello today before leaving Dili after a week-long visit.
The group has gathered information needed to recommend a plan of action for the electoral process in East Timor, and met numerous representatives from the local community, political parties, UNTAET and NGOs.
On Wednesday, the team met with representatives from the National Consultative Council, whose members received an informal briefing and asked questions in regard to the election. Yesterday, mission members met with representatives from the Timorese RDTL party.
During the visit, the group traveled to Ermera, Oecussi, Los Palos, Suai, Viqueque, Baucau and Maliana, where they met with UNTAET Districts Administrators, CNRT members and NGOs.
The mission will assess the capacity of local and regional actors to determine the available resources for the establishment and conduct of sustainable democratic elections.
A report of the mission’s findings is expected by mid-August.
ACTION PLAN ON FOREST RESOURCES
Over the past two weeks, UNTAET’s Agricultural Department has carried out extensive visits of East Timor’s protected natural areas. Forestry officers have visited 13 of the 15 areas declared protected natural areas in regulation 2000/19 and come to the conclusion that forest resources are in a critical shape.
The mapping of the protected areas is part of a greater action plan focusing on the protection of natural resources in East Timor.
Over the next week, UNTAET staff will discuss strategies with local communities to implement a draft National Watershed Management and Forest Resource Action Plan. It is crucial that watershed areas are maintained since these systems of valleys, hills and rivers naturally transport rainfall into the sea.
The plan also looks at promoting alternatives to the trade in timber. Traditionally, East Timor has been a major producer and exporter of non-timber products, such as honey, beeswax, vanilla and sandalwood oil. The Agriculture Department is looking into ways to boost these industries.
UNTAET has also launched an awareness raising campaign on forest fires. The practice is being used in many places in East Timor to clear land for planting, getting rid of dry grass to invigorate pastures or to facilitate hunting, but is ultimately leading to erosion and sedimentation of water systems. Information about the dangers of forest fires is being disseminated through the media, billboards and village meetings. The Watershed Management and Forest Resource Action Plan is currently subject to a consultative process with the CNRT, relevant UNTAET departments and various representatives from East Timorese society.
As part of this program, the Agricultural Department will hire 21 East Timorese staff, including park rangers, next month.
RAT PROBLEM IN VIQUEQUE
Between 60 and 90 per cent of rice fields in the sub-districts of Viqueque, Watukarbau and Lacluta in the Viqueque district have been damaged by rats.
UNTAET Agriculture Department is using pesticide as a short-term solution to the problem. The next step will be to clean the surrounding fields by cutting the grass near the crops.
The World Food Programme is helping the population in the affected areas.
