Dili, 31 May 2000
Yesterday morning, 30 May, the Peacekeeping Force set up road blocks north and south of the Aileu cantonment after a group loyal to Falintil commander Eli Seti refused to obey an order by Falintil to break up their company.
The leadership of Falintil had decided to break up the fifth company as part of a reorganization plan. The decision was to divide up the company, with its members assigned to serve in four other companies. The defiant group was initially displeased with the decision. An ultimatum was given to the group to either accept the order or to lay down their weapons and leave Falintil and the cantonment.
The group, numbering between 35 and 40, was given until 2 p.m. yesterday to make up their minds. CNRT President Xanana Gusmao returned to Dili from Brunei and was immediately flown by helicopter to Aileu to talk to the dissidents.
When the deadline was up, Peacekeeping troops were informed that the majority had pledged allegiance to Falintil. The end result was that all the soldiers accepted the terms and chose to stay with Falintil. The situation is now stable and quiet in the cantonment.
SPECIAL POLICE UNIT ARRIVES IN EAST TIMOR
An advance team of 20 Jordanian Rapid Response Unit Officers arrived in East Timor on the 23 May. The officers are waiting for the arrival of their supplies before leaving for Baucau where their unit will be headquartered. Baucau, east of Dili and East Timor s second largest city, is a strategic location supported by an airport.
The full Jordanian Unit is expected to be in East Timor by the middle of June and will set up base at the old helicopter landing site in Baucau. The full force will have 120 personnel, 20 vehicles, 30 containers and sufficient logistics to ensure the unit s self-sufficiency.
The Jordanians duties will be similar to that of the Portuguese Rapid Response Unit in Dili. Their job is to maintain public order and supplement Civilian Police (CivPol) units. The Jordanian unit will have some patrolling duties as well. The unit will report directly to the CivPol Commissioner. The unit may be deployed to any part of East Timor should the need arise.
BLOOD SAMPLES COLLECTED IN DILI AND VIQUEQUE
Health experts have over the past week collected blood samples from people and pigs in Dili and Viqueque in order to find out how widespread Japanese Encephalitis is in East Timor.
About 80 samples have been collected in three villages in Viqueque, while the International Committee of The Red Cross hospital and Bairo Pite clinic in Dili have collected another 90 samples. In addition to Japanese Encephalitis, the samples are also to be tested for dengue and malaria. These samples have been sent to Australia and results are expected by the end of this week.
In Beacu, samples from 22 people were taken, including samples from family members and neighbours of the 23-year old woman who died from Japanese Encephalitis on 16 May.
Samples were also taken from 29 people and one pig in Uaimori, home of the 12-year old girl who is currently being treated for the disease at the MSF France hospital in Viqueque.
Samples from 29 people and one pig were also collected in Craras, in Viqueque district.
