CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY BEGINS DRAFT CONSTITUTION DEBATE

The Constituent Assembly today began debating East Timor's first Constitution, passing its first article declaring East Timor to be a republic and defining its name, and official independence date.

The first article of the Constitution, translated from Portuguese, is as follows:

1) The Democratic Republic of East Timor is a democratic state ruled by law, sovereign, independent and unitary, based upon the popular will and respect for the dignity of the human being. 2) 28 November 1975 is the day of the independence proclamation of the Democratic Republic of East Timor.

With a vote of 71 in favor, four opposed, and 11 abstentions, the assembly approved the first clause; and with a vote of 70 in favor, six opposed, and eight abstentions, the second clause was adopted.

The second clause has no bearing on the upcoming 20 May, 2002 date on which UNTAET will transfer its powers to an independent East Timor administration. The 20 May, 2002 independence date was approved by both the Constituent Assembly and the UN Security Council in late October.

The assembly's Committee on Systemization and Harmonization completed its draft of the Constitution on 27 November after molding sections prepared by the assembly's four thematic groups into one single cohesive text.

An affirmative vote of at least 60 of the 88 assembly members will be needed for the Constitution to be passed.

CEREMONY MARKS GRADUATION OF FIRST FULL ETDF BATTALION

A ceremony marking the completion of basic training of 350 more recruits was held Saturday, 1 December at the East Timor Defense Force's base in Metinaro, near Dili. East Timor has now its first full 600-member battalion.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General Sergio Vieira de Mello and East Timor Defense Force Commander Brigadier-General Taur Matan Ruak were among those speaking at the event.

The SRSG expressed his thanks to the Portuguese and Australian armed forces for their "tremendous support" in training the East Timor Defense Force.

"The armed forces of East Timor have a special responsibility and a particular role to play in the future independent state of East Timor," Vieira de Mello added. "Proud of a past of fighting and resistance, they will be the guarantor of national independence and sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom and democracy in East Timor."

Commander Taur Matan Ruak addressed the challenges of transforming a guerilla force into a Defence Force, and thanked the countries that have been actively involved in the training of this first battalion, especially Australia and Portugal, but also New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the United States.

The recruitment and selection process for the first 600-member battalion was completed in January 2001, and 250 of these recruits completed their basic training at their former base in Aileu district in June. Their 12-week basic training was conducted by Portugal, with specialist training conducted by Australia.

The Metinaro Training Center was formally handed over to the East Timor Defence Force on 6 July of this year. The process of recruiting men and women to join a second ETDF battalion is underway. In the first phase, the Office for Defence Force Development is recruiting some 260 new soldiers above the age of 18, who are expected to begin basic training in January 2002.

EAST TIMOR MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE DISABLED

SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello and independence leader Xanana Gusmão were among the 200 people that gathered today in Dili to mark, for the first time, the International Day for the Disabled.

"While East Timor has won its freedom and independence after much sacrifice, we still face many challenges and all East Timorese are being asked to take part in the building of a new nation. It is essential that disabled Timorese also participate in this process, give voice to your concerns and play a role in the rehabilitation of your country," the SRSG said at the ceremony which featured dance, music and poetry performed by students of the local School for Disabled Children and members of the the Disability Working Group.

The SRSG said he hoped the event would provide a forum for disabled and non- disabled people in East Timor to come together and pay closer attention to the needs and skills of the disabled.

Some 80 disabled East Timorese were present at the ceremony organized by the Secretary of State for Labor and Solidarity, UNTAET's Division of Social Services and the Disability Working Group comprised of Dili-based international and national NGOs. Similar events were also held today in Aileu and Viqueque districts.