EAST TIMORESE DELEGATION TO VISIT REFUGEE CAMPS

A delegation led by UNTAET’s Chief of Staff N. Parameswaran is visiting a number of refugee camps in Indonesian West Timor next week. The purpose of the visit is to have a dialogue with the East Timorese refugees and inform them of the actual situation in East Timor. N. Parameswaran is also bringing a special Easter message from Bishop Belo and Bishop Nascimento, appealing to the refugees to return to their homeland, as well as information material in the form of brochures, posters and video cassettes prepared by UNTAET’s Office of Communication and Public Information.

The visit to the camps in Kupang, Soe, Kefamenanu and Atambua was initiated by the Udayana (Bali and West Timor) Commander Major General William da Costa and has received full support of the Indonesian authorities. Plans are also underway to send a ship later this month to pick up from Kupang those refugees who wish to return to East Timor. The East Timorese delegation consists of representatives from UNTAET, the International Organization for Migration, the Peacekeeping Force and the UN Military Observers.

NATIONAL COUNCIL TO ELECT SPEAKER BY SECRET BALLOT

The National Council today decided to elect its new Speaker by secret ballot. The motion, presented by the chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, was approved by 17 votes in favor, two against and one abstention. The election of the new Speaker is scheduled for Monday, 9 April. Another motion approved in today’s session requests SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello to inform the National Council on the appointment of the person who will replace José Ramos-Horta as Cabinet Member for Foreign Affairs in the interim.

EAST TIMOR FORCE COMMANDER VISITS SOUTH KOREA

The East Timor Defense Force Commander Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak is leaving for South Korea on Sunday, 8 April, for a six-day visit. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen the military relationship between South Korea and East Timor. Brigadier General Ruak is expected to meet the South Korean Defense Minister and other senior military officers. He will also visit the demilitarized zone at the border between South and North Korea.

MALAYSIA TO SET UP LIAISON OFFICE IN DILI

A delegation from the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, led by Mohamad Rameez Yahaya, arrived in East Timor today, 6 April, to set up a Malaysian Liaison Office in Dili. An official note has been sent to SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello informing UNTAET on the establishment of the mission.

PILOT AGROFORESTRY PROJECT LAUNCHED

A pilot agroforestry project, based on coffee production, has been launched in Bobonaro, aiming at helping 170 families grow coffee and fruit trees to help control soil erosion, improve soil fertility and crop production. The project is carried out by the Agricultural Department of the East Timor Transitional Administration and the Catholic Claritian Mission in East Timor and is expected to result in the launching of similar projects elsewhere in East Timor. Agroforestry is a farming technique whereby forest, fruit trees and agriculture crops are planted together in an area. As well as ensuring food security and improving the soil, the system promotes the settlement of farmers in a single area. Agroforestry is considered an appropriate strategy to produce organic agricultural products, since no chemicals are needed to improve soil fertility and pest control. The establishment phase of the project, valued at US$15,000, is six months. The Department of Agriculture is organizing a workshop on agroforestry in Dili in June with representatives from NGOs, the farming community and the Transitional Administration.

TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CABINET SECRETARIAT STAFF

Three newly recruited East Timorese Cabinet Secretariat staff will receive a two week long training beginning next week at the East Timor Civil Service Academy in Dili. The training will focus on government, governance, Cabinet and Cabinet Secretariat issues, among other things. These are the first East Timorese civil servants to be hired for the Transitional Cabinet Secretariat.