FIRST CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY HEARING TAKES PLACE

The preliminary hearing into the first case of Crimes Against Humanity committed in East Timor in the wake of the 1999 popular consultation starts on Friday, 16 February, at the Dili District Court. The case concerns eleven persons of committing Crimes Against Humanity, including murder, torture, deportation and forcible transfer of civilian population in Los Palos, Lautem District, between 21 April and 25 September 1999. The accused, most of whom were members of pro-autonomy militia group Team Alfa, also known as Jati Merah Puti, was involved in a number of killings, including the ambush and killing on 25 September 1999 of a group of clergy, church workers, a journalist and a youth near the village of Verokoko, Los Palos. The indictment also contains the first accusation against an Indonesian Army Officer, Lt. Sayful Anwar, Deputy Commander of its Special Forces Command, KOPASSUS, stationed in Los Palos, for the mutilation, torture and murder of Averisto Lopes on 21 April 1999, at the Team Alfa base. The group is accused of committing at least 13 murders. In related news, the second serious crimes trial so far opened today in the Dili District Court. The trial is of a 36-year old man suspected of committing, aiding or otherwise assisting in the murder of a man in Asulau village, Ermera district, on 28 May 1999. Several witnesses were heard and a date for final decision was set for 7 March.

HEARINGS ON POLITICAL PARTIES REGULATION

Two major draft regulations, on the Political Parties Registration Regulation and on Civil Registration, will be introduced before the National Council tomorrow. On Thursday, SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello is expected to brief the National Council on the new resolution approved by the Security Council, which extended UNTAET’s mandate. Carlos Valenzuela, Chief of the Electoral Office, will make a presentation on electoral systems. On Friday and Saturday, 16 to 17 February, the Political Affairs Committee of the National Council will be holding public hearings on the Political Parties Registration Regulation. Invitations have been extended to all heads of political parties, as well as representatives of civil society, including the Catholic Church, the NGO Forum, the Women’s Network and human rights NGO Yayasan HAK.

REHABILITATION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN OECUSSI STARTS

The rehabilitation of the temporary district court and the judge’s residence in the enclave of Oecussi will start next Monday, 19 February. The works are expected to be completed before the end of March. Three bidders, all East Timorese, competed in the tender process. A company from Oecussi won the tender. A total of 28 public buildings have been totally of partially refurbished by the East Timor Administration since the beginning of the present fiscal year, with a budget of US$5.2 million. Thirteen East Timorese companies and seven foreign companies have carried out the rehabilitation works, which have employed 400 East Timorese workers.

RECONCILIATION MEETING IN SUAI

Over 250 people from Covalima District’s all seven sub-district attended a community meeting on reconciliation hosted by UNTAET’s Chief of Staff, N. Parameswaran, last Friday, 9 February. The meeting was held to discuss, among other things, the possible return of Caetano Mendonça, the former Head of the Covalima Local Assembly during the Indonesian period. The community agreed that Caetano Mendonça, a member of the pro-autonomy group UNTAS, was welcome to return, but that he should face justice if he was implicated in any violence. Reconciliation meetings have already been held in Ainaro and Baucau.

TRANSMITTER TOWER BREAKES IN STRONG WINDS

The top part of the transmitter tower that broadcasts the UNTAET-run Televisaun Timor Lorosa’e (TVTL) and Radio UNTAET collapsed due to strong winds yesterday. An engineer is currently attempting to repair the transmitter. The accident affects transmissions in Dili district only.