SVM:

In response to the recent violent incidents that have occurred in the Dili market area, despite certain constraints in terms of their numbers and resources, UNTAET CIVPOL have undertaken several immediate measures to ensure satisfactory level of law and order.

CIVPOL increased its presence in the area of Dili market with a special patrol of seven officers assigned to patrol the market area during the busiest time of the day, from 5am to 3pm. The increase of CIVPOL presence is coupled with a parallel increase in the number of Interfet patrols in the market. Other special patrols were assigned to the parts of the city like Becora and Bairro Pite, where recently there were violent incidents.

In addition, instructions have been issued to the CIVPOL officers in the field that all weapons carried without a justifiable reason be confiscated on the spot.

People working with knives or machetes, like butchers, or someone who is clearing bushes with a machete, will be allowed to use it of course, but anyone who is carrying a weapon in the street without a reasonable explanation will have the weapon confiscated. UNTAET CIVPOL officers are to use their judgement in these situations.

An instruction is already in force for CIVPOL officers to carry extendable batons on patrol duty. National contingents which have not had this equipment included in their gear upon arrival are in the process of being equipped.

A process has already started to train and equip 50 UNTAET CIVPOL officers to deal with public disorder, who are to be ready and operating in the period before the establishment of the Rapid Response Unit. These 50 officers will be issued with riot gear.

(At this time, it is expected that RRU will be in place in early March. It will initially consist of 120 police officers armed with side-arms and short rifles, and it will eventually have 240 officers.)

Currently there are 387 UNTAET CIVPOL officers deployed in East Timor, with scheduled arrivals that should bring this number to 632 by 15th of February. The full authorized strength is 1,640 officers.

Apart from the immediate activities on law and order maintenance, CIVPOL is engaged in ongoing activities on the establishment of new Timorese police force. In the next two weeks around twenty thousand application forms for the future police officers will be distributed in all regions of East Timor. The applicants will compete for 3,000 available positions in the future force.

The training will consist of an intensive four-month course followed by eight months of on-job supervision and training. The course will be conducted at the East Timor Police Academy in Comoro. (The first class will have 40 recruits to be followed by another class at the third month of first class’ course)

During the course, candidates will be trained in the basics of criminal law, police techniques, traffic rules, investigation techniques and driving. The graduates of the Police Academy would then join UN CIVPOL officers on the ground and gradually replace them.

The criteria for successful candidates will be their level of education and life experience. The general requirements will be related to their ability to read and write, skills related to the police function and general education.

Returnees

The United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) informed today that the US Navy and Marines are helping UNHCR to transport shelter material, non-food items, and trucks aboard an amphibious vehicle to the enclave of Oecussi, in West Timor.

This afternoon, the ship left from Japan to Oecussi where the goods will be off-loaded to UNHCR warehouse prior to distribution.

Border Control Service

Today the first 14 Timorese officers of the new Border Control Service signed their contracts. The Border Control Service is to start functioning tomorrow by taking over control of immigration and customs controls at the Comoro Airport, in Dili.

(For background details, please see briefing note of 26th of January)

Symbolic hand-over ceremony

On 1st of February, day of the first physical transition from Interfet to UNTAET PKF, Interfet Commander Peter Cosgrove will hand-over the command to Force Commander of PKF Jaime de los Santos, in Baucau. It will be a symbolic ceremony with the presence of a small group, including the commanders of the three battalions in the region (Philippines, Korea and Thailand).

The roughly two thousand troops currently in the Eastern part of the country will stay in the same positions and simply change their uniforms.

The first 250 troops of the Portuguese battalion arrive in East Timor on Monday, the 31st of January, and a second contingent of 250 on February the 5th. Both groups are flying to Baucau, along with equipment. The total of Portuguese troops will be 707. Portugal will have the command of Central Sector, with its Headquarters in Dili.

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