Dili, 26 January 2001
UNTAET CANCELS CONTRACT AFTER CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION

UNTAET has cancelled a contract for the supply of goods valued at thousands of dollars, following a two-month long investigation into corruption allegations. The investigation, of both foreign and national private companies, was prompted by a complaint lodged with the Central Administrative Service of UNTAET following the announcement of the results of a local tender. The allegations concern collusion and price fixing. In order to verify the validity of these allegations, both the World Bank’s Fraud and Corruption Unit and UNTAET’s Procurement Policy Committee have carried out a joint investigation. UNTAET judged that the findings warranted cancellation of the contract. “Corruption will not be tolerated by the Transitional Administration. Early on we created the Office of the Inspector General, soon followed by the Procurement Policy Committee to fight fraud in the public administration. Transparency and accountability are not simply words. Corruption is unacceptable, regardless of who is involved. However, we believe this cancellation will be an exception,” said UNTAET Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello.

FOUR MILITIA MEMBERS APPREHENDED BY PEACEKEEPERS

Four former militia members, suspected of committing crimes in 1999, have been arrested by UN peacekeepers from New Zealand. The four persons were apprehended on Wednesday and Thursday as they were crossing the border legally into East Timor. The suspects have been handed over to the Civilian Police for further investigation.

TIMORESE TAKES OVER AS DILI DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR

Mr. Ruben João Braz de Carvalho, a former East Timorese civil servant, has been appointed as the new District Administrator. Mr. Carvalho, 43, signed the oath of office yesterday at the Office of Civil Service and Public Employment of the East Timor Transitional Administration. The Office of Civil Service and Public Employment yesterday shortlisted nine candidates for positions as District Administrators and Deputy District Administrators. The interviews are expected to start early next month. There are currently four Timorese District Administrators and six Timorese Deputy District Administrators.

CEREMONY MARKS FALINTIL TRANSFORMATION

The transition of Falintil into the East Timor Defence Force will be marked by a ceremony in Aileu on 1 February 2001. The day starts with a march, followed by speeches by Falintil Commander Taur Matan Ruak, CNRT President Xanana Gusmão, Force Commander Boonsrang Niumpradit and SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello. Portuguese paratroopers will perform parachute jumps, followed by a lunch and cultural events. The first batch of 600 troops will commence training the first week of February in the former Indonesian army barracks in Aileu. The basic training will take five weeks, followed by advanced infantry training and specialized training.

RESEARCH ON ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES COMPLETED

UNTAET’s Environmental Protection Unit has completed research on endangered birds in East Timor and has concluded that there are at least 24 birds in the country classified as endangered species under international law, and consequently protected by East Timorese law. The research was conducted in response to inquiries regarding the sale of rare birds in and around Dili received by the office of Environmental Protection. The environmental law in question, Regulation 2000/19 on Protected Places, approved in June, establishes that “all animal and plant species listed on the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species” can not be killed, injured, harmed, disturbed, sold or exported. All birds included in this list are considered endangered species by the World Conservation Monitoring Center. The endangered birds are Black Kite, Shirt Toed Eagle, Japanese Sparrow Eagle and Red Cheeked Parrot, among others. The Environmental Protection Unit will now disseminate information to all UNTAET departments and the public and investigate complaints received and reported to CivPol where a breach in the regulation is believed to have occurred. The Unit will also assist CivPol and other agencies in the identification of endangered species and provide expert advice to the judiciary.

PROSECUTOR GENERAL MEETS WITH MSSRS. DARUSMAN, GUTERRES

UNTAET’s Prosecutor General, Mohamed Othman, returned from Indonesia on Wednesday after meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Marzuki Darusman and former Aitarak militia leader Eurico Guterres. Mr. Othman and the Indonesian Prosecutor discussed further cooperation in bringing the perpetrators of the atrocities carried out in East Timor to justice. Othman also asked the Indonesian authorities to question the recently arrested suspected killer of New Zealand Peacekeeper Leonard Manning on behalf of UNTAET. In talks with Eurico Guterres last Tuesday, the former militia leader said that he would be willing to make a recorded statement to UNTAET to give his version on the events in East Timor 1999. The date of this interview is to be determined at a later stage.

NEW BATCH OF TIMORESE POLICE CADETS GRADUATE

Fifty more East Timorese police cadets graduated today from the Police College of East Timor in Dili, receiving their certificates from Paulo Martins, who was appointed the first East Timorese director of the Academy on 15 January. The 50 police officers will now undergo a three-month field training and subsequently be deployed in all 13 districts. One hundred and fifty cadets are currently undergoing basic training, part of a year-long training programme.

INDONESIAN JOURNALISTS TO VISIT EAST TIMOR

During his recent visit to Kupang, West Timor, UNTAET’s Chief of Staff, N. Parameswaran proposed to Indonesian officials to invite another group of journalists and media personnel from West Timor to visit East Timor. N. Parameswaran also met with militia leaders Joanico Cesário Belo, Câncio Lopes de Carvalho, Nemézio Lopes de Carvalho and Filomeno de Jesus Hornay. Once again, the militia leaders expressed their willingness to return to East Timor. UNTAET’s position is that all refugees are welcome to return, but that there will be no amnesty for crimes committed in 1999.