TIMOR SEA ARRANGEMENT APPROVED BY EAST TIMOR CABINET

An Arrangement between the East Timor Transitional Administration and the Australian Government was approved today, giving East Timor 90 per cent of the revenues from the oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea. The East Timor Transitional Cabinet this afternoon endorsed the Arrangement on the Timor Sea, which has been negotiated between the Transitional Administration, on behalf of East Timor, and the Government of Australia, since March 2000. Today’s Cabinet meeting was attended, on an exceptional basis, by Xanana Gusmão. “This is a good agreement for East Timor, but it is also the starting point of good co-operation between East Timor and Australia at all levels,” said Cabinet Member for Economic Affairs Mari Alkatiri, one of the lead negotiators of the agreement, after the Cabinet meeting. Before coming into force, the Arrangement must be approved by the elected government of East Timor in accordance with its Constitutional processes.

“This is the very first time the United Nations has participated in negotiating a treaty on behalf of a country. It will be up to the new elected Government of East Timor to decide whether it wants the treaty or not. I believe it is a good treaty, I think it is to the advantage of East Timor and so my recommendation would be that East Timor agree its terms,” Cabinet Member for Political Affairs and Timor Sea Peter Galbraith, Alkatiri’s co-negotiator, said today. “East Timor will have to work in the coming months to devise a new fiscal regime for the area, as is its sovereign right, and that regime will have to balance the need of the East Timorese people for revenue and the need to have an environment that will encourage the oil companies to make investments,” Galbraith added. Australia’s Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Minister for Industry Nick Minchin and Cabinet Members Mari Alkatiri and Peter Galbraith will initial the Arrangement on Thursday in Dili.

MORE THAN 15,000 EAST TIMORESE ATTEND
CONSTITUTIONAL HEARINGS

More than 15,000 people have so far attended Constitutional Commission public hearings aimed at soliciting the views of East Timorese on what should be considered by the future Constituent Assembly when drafting a Constitution. At the mid-way point of the four-week hearing phase, over 2,200 people have turned out in Ainaro district; nearly 2,000 in Viqueque; some 1,800 in Manafui district, and 1,700 in Dili district. Cova Lima, Bobonaro and Baucau districts have each turned out more than 1,000 people. Manatuto, Ermera, Oecussi, Aileu and Lautem districts have in total turned out nearly 4,000 people. UNTAET officials involved in organizing the hearings say that the turnout has in many cases exceeded expectations and demonstrates that people are anxious that their input be heeded by the future Constitutional Assembly.

Among the prevalent issues being discussed at the hearings are the political system, currency, and flag East Timor should adopt; the type of punishments that should be applied to those responsible for serious crimes; the educational system; laws for foreign investors; how the revenue from the Timor Sea should be distributed; and what official language should be. Women’s groups have been well represented at the hearings, with many calling for Constitutional safeguards against domestic violence and a robust family law. The commissions – consisting of between five and seven Commissioners, one Rapporteur and one Constitutional Adviser – will be holding public hearings in each of East Timor’s 65 sub-districts until 14 July. The Constitutional Commissioners will subsequently prepare a report from each district that will ultimately be presented by Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello to a future Constituent Assembly.

POLITICAL PARTIES FINALISE DRAFT NATIONAL UNITY PACT

A five-member Working Group designated by East Timor’s political parties has finalized a draft text of a Pact of National Unity. The pact is intended to be a framework that will bind the political parties to an agreed set of principles throughout the election process. The draft Pact of National Unity will be presented tomorrow to representatives of the 16 parties that have registered to run in the 30 August Constituent Assembly elections. In comments to the press in the lead up to the Working Group meeting, the SRSG said the pact is intended to reassure those East Timorese who are fearful that the electoral process will not be marred by political violence. After the draft had been agreed upon, the SRSG said that the pact would “assure the East Timorese population that their fears are not justified,” adding that efforts to foster the agreement represents an “essential part of our strategy to guarantee security during the electoral campaign.”

TWO CABINET MEMBERS REPLACED

National Security Advisor Nici Dahrendorf has replaced Jean-Christian Cady, who left the UNTAET mission last week, in his functions as Cabinet Member for Police and Emergency Services, until further notice. Cabinet Member for Internal Affairs Ana Pessoa has decided to resign before the 15 July deadline, which calls for all politically active Cabinet Members to leave the Cabinet. Ms. Ana Pessoa, who is running in the elections, has been replaced by Florindo Pereira, Dean of the Civil Service Academy. Pereira, a former senior civil servant, will serve until the formation of a new Transitional Cabinet following the 30 August elections. By 15 July, when the electoral campaign starts, politically active Cabinet Members will be suspended from their governmental functions. SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello will preside over a Cabinet consisting of international Cabinet Members and non-political Timorese Cabinet Members or senior Timorese civil servants. A new Transitional Cabinet will be established after the elections.

FIRST CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY TRIAL STARTS

The trial of the Los Palos massacre started today with a closed session at the newly renovated Court of Appeals, in Dili. The first day focused mainly on logistical and practical issues related to the trial. This is the first Crimes Against Humanity trial in East Timor. Eleven persons, most of whom were members of pro-autonomy militia group Team Alfa, of Lospalos, are accused of committing Crimes Against Humanity, including murder, torture, deportation and forcible transfer of civilian population in Lospalos, Lautem District, between 21 April and 25 September 1999. Preliminary hearings into the case started in mid-February and over 600 pages of statements by the accused and 78 witnesses have been translated. The trial proper is expected to start next Monday, 9 July with statements by the Prosecution.

NINE SUSPECTS HELD IN CONNECTION WITH QUELICAI ARSON

Nine suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the burning of over 50 houses and other structures in the Quelicai area of Baucau district last May. Seven of the arson suspects surrendered themselves to the United Nations Civilian Police officials in Baucau on Monday following repeated calls from community leaders and CivPol authorities. They were brought before the Baucau Prosecutor yesterday, and then moved to the Becora prison in Dili. Two other suspects thought to be involved in the arson attack were detained and went before the Baucau Prosecutor late last month. CivPol officials say that they had secured arrest warrants for the nine suspects within 15 days of the incident. The Quelicai arson attacks stemmed from a fight between two youth groups outside the Quelicai Church which, added to prevalent political tension, led to a burning rampage.

MS. FRECHETTE ACCOMPANIES SRSG TO BAUCAU

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette today traveled to Baucau and Aileu districts as part of a four-day visit aimed at assessing electoral progress to date and ensuring maximum coordination within the UN system. In Baucau town, Ms Fréchette joined an Open Dialogue Civic Education session led by SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello, which was attended by some 500 people. The SRSG repeatedly appealed to the people to participate in the political process, to attend party meetings, to demand party leaders to present their programs and ideas, and to attend public hearings on the Constitution. “This is your process. An informed people can not be manipulated.” Cabinet Member for Economic Affairs Mari Alkatiri and Cabinet Member for Social Affairs Father Filomeno also addressed the crowd. Ms. Fréchette stayed in Baucau for lunch with DA Marito Reis and proceeded to Alieu district, where she met with district officials to assess electoral progress to date. Over the coming days the Deputy-Secretary-General will meet with ETTA and UNTAET members, NGO representatives, and the heads of UN agencies present in East Timor.