Dili, 9 March 2001
SRSG APPOINTS INVESTIGATION TEAM
ON BAUCAU INCIDENTS


UNTAET SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello appointed today an investigation team to look into the incidents in Baucau on 7 March. No incidents have been reported over the past two days. The team will investigate the manner in which the Rapid Response Unit dealt with the demonstrations, the way the United Nations Civilian Police district office coordinated the operations and the relations of CivPol and the Rapid Response Unit with the public. DSRSG Jean-Christian Cady and the Police Commissioner José Luís da Costa e Sousa met today to discuss further action after an assessment team returned to Dili yesterday evening. It was decided to establish a District Operations Center very soon and to hold weekly meetings in Baucau between the local leaders, youth and UNTAET. On behalf of the East Timor Government, Cabinet Member for Political Affairs Peter Galbraith expressed deep sorrow over the destruction of the mosque to the head of Baucau Muslim community in a meeting in Baucau yesterday. He also said that “religious intolerance and destruction of places of worship have no place in a civilized society.” On Wednesday a series of incidents resulted in the burning of Baucau mosque, damages of UN vehicles, minor injuries to UNTAET staff and damages of a local restaurant.

ELEVEN YEARS IMPRISIONMENT IMPOSED
ON CONVICT BY SERIOUS CRIMES PANEL


Mr. Carlos Soares Carmona, 36 years old, was convicted guilty of charge yesterday by the Special Panel for Serious Crimes at the Dili District Court for the killing of a man on 28 May 1999 in Asulau village, Ermera district. Mr. Carmona was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. He killed the victim after accusing him of killing his children by witchcraft. On Wednesday, 7 March two more preliminary hearings on serious crimes took place. The case of an Alpha militia member accused of murder and attempt of murder on 25 September 1999 in Lautem sub-dustrict, Lospalos was postponed to April 26 after the legal representative of the accused could not be present. On the case of a Halilintar (“Thunder”) militia member suspect of killing a man in Memo, Bobonaro district the trial was set for 12 June 2001. In the preliminary hearing, the public prosecutor asked for an amendment to change the indictment. The court asked the public prosecutor to clear the indictment before the end of March.

DISTRICTS CLEAN UP VILLAGES

Suai and Viqueque districts are starting a new project to clean up the villages on a permanent way. Both districts have established a fixed day of the week in which the community, District Administration staff and PKF will collect garbage and clean the roads. The new clean up routine started in Suai today and will start in Viqueque tomorrow. The idea came from District Advisory Councils in meetings with the community, UNTAET and the village’s heads. Similar projects have being implemented in Baucau, Covalima and Manufahi.

YALE UNIVERSITY DELEGATION TO VISIT EAST TIMOR

A delegation from the United States-based Yale University will arrive in East Timor on Sunday, 11 March for a ten-day visit. The group is led by Bishop Paul Moore, former Anglican Bishop of New York who played an important role since 1989 in mobilizing support for East Timor in the US. The delegation intends to carry out an assessment of East Timor’s needs in several areas, including judicial system, human rights, trauma treatment, environmental protection and determine how it can contribute to the international effort to rebuild the country.