VIQUEQUE MURDER SUSPECTS ARRESTED

Three persons, suspected of murder committed in Viqueque during a riot on 12 March, were arrested today in Viqueque and Baucau by CivPol and the Peacekeeping Force. The suspects, from Baucau and the villages of Olobai and Boromatan in Viqueque, have been brought to Dili for questioning. Clashes between youth groups from two villages last month left two people dead, roughly 40 houses burnt and 25 partially destroyed. The situation in Viqueque has since been calm.

FIRE BRIGADE HANDED OVER TO
TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION

The Portuguese-run Fire Brigade in East Timor handed over its equipment to the East Timor Transitional Administration in a ceremony today in Dili. Attending the hand-over ceremony was Father Vitor Melicias, representing the Portuguese support commission to the Transition of East Timor, CATTL, and UNTAET’s Chief of Staff N. Parameswaran. The Brigade started its operations in East Timor in September 1999, as part of the humanitarian assistance provided by the Portuguese Government. The aid package includes equipment and refurbishment of fire stations for a total amount of US$ 636,000. Fire stations have since been established in Dili, Aileu and Baucau districts. There are currently 66 East Timorese firefighters under the command of three Portuguese. All the national staff have been recruited as civil servants of the East Timor Transitional Administration.

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNOR GENERAL, PREMIER OF VICTORIA VISIT

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Sir William Deane, is visiting East Timor on 24-25 April. The purpose of the visit is to participate in ANZAC Day Ceremonies. The Governor-General will meet with Acting SRSG Jean-Christian Cady, CNRT President Xanana Gusmão, CNRT Vice-President José Ramos-Horta and Peacekeeping Force Commander Boonsrang Niumpradit before flying to Balibo and the Australian Battalion of the Peacekeeping Force. On Wednesday, 25 April, the Governor-General returns to Dili to take part in an ANZAC Day Church service at the Dili Cathedral. Another prominent Australian, the Premier of Victoria, Mr. Steve Bracks, is visiting East Timor tomorrow. He is scheduled to meet with the CNRT leadership, Dili Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, the Cabinet Member for Economic Affairs Mari Alkatiri, the Cabinet Member for Social Affairs Father Filomeno Jacob, among others. Before leaving East Timor on Thursday, 19 April, Mr. Bracks is also expected to visit Aileu. Victoria is home to the largest East Timorese population in Australia, with a community of more than 10,000.

SEIZURE OF CONTRABAND CIGARETTES

The Border Service of the East Timor Transitional Administration last week seized around 40,000 cigarettes which had been smuggled from Indonesian West Timor into East Timor in a car belonging to an international NGO. The seizure was made last Thursday, 12 April, in Atabae, Maliana District. The East Timorese driver, employed by the NGO, stated that he had been asked by a friend in East Timor to deliver the cigarettes as a favor. Three weeks ago in the same area, the Border Service seized 1,200 cartons of cigarettes, hidden in the tank of a fuel truck. The Border Service has seized dutiable goods, mainly cigarettes and alcohol, with assessed penalties for the amount of around US$300,000 since July 2000.