ETTA TO FIGHT CORRUPTION IN PROCUREMENT TENDERS

In recent weeks there have been increasing indications of corruption in the East Timor Transitional Administration (ETTA) procurement system involving East Timorese and foreign companies.

Price fixing and collusion have been detected. The Transitional Administration takes these matters seriously and is investigating all instances thoroughly. Where corruption has been established, firm action will be taken.

The ETTA Contracts Committee is now in place with the task of formally reviewing all major contracts. In addition, the Procurement Policy Committee has been formed in accordance with UNTAET Regulation 2000/10 and these two committees are actively involved in efforts to deal with corruption.

Proactive steps are planned to help redress the procurement practices used in the past. To help the East Timor business people understand the procurement process and to be able to compete for contracts, ETTA is also planning to open a Procurement Advisory Center in Dili, which will be comprised of East Timorese and internationals.

This facility is a multilateral project supported by United Nations Agencies and international financial institutions. The purpose of the Center is capacity building of the local business community. Such an initiative will enhance the business prospects of the local contractors and suppliers and at the same time establish a competitive market to support the new administration.

BRUSSELS MEETING STARTS

The two-day Brussels Donors’ Meeting on East Timor started today, 5 December, with the main purpose of looking into a plan of the key benchmarks for the East Timor transition.

"The continued support of donors in the coming years – and particularly during this critical countdown to independence – is vital to the achievement of a successful transition plan, allowing the East Timorese to fully resume their lives and truly reap the benefits of independence after the traumatic events of last year," says SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello.

The meeting, chaired by the SRSG and Jemal-ud-din Kassum, World Bank Vice President for East Asia, opened with speeches by the European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten and Cabinet Member for Foreign Affairs José Ramos-Horta.

RECONCILIATION MEETING IN INDONESIA

An UNTAET and CNRT delegation is meeting with representatives from the pro-autonomy umbrella organization UNTAS today and tomorrow in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The purpose of the meeting, which is a follow-up of a meeting on 24 October, is to further the process of reconciliation.

The East Timor delegation, which also includes representatives from UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, leaves for Denpasar, Indonesia, on Thursday for additional meetings with pro-integration leaders based there.

WITNESSES TO BE INTERVIEWED

Investigators from the Serious Crimes Unit, led by the Chief of Investigations, Oyvind Olsen, is expected to begin the hearing of the first 20 witnesses on Thursday in the premises of the Indonesian Attorney-General.

Yesterday, the team began to review documented evidence, mainly earlier witness statements, handed over by Indonesian authorities.

The Serious Crimes Unit intends to interview 30 to 50 witnesses relating to five of the most advanced cases currently being investigated in East Timor.

This is the first time the Serious Crimes Unit is conducting interviews in Indonesia.

CENTRAL CIVIL REGISTRY OPENS

The new Central Civil Registry of the East Timorese Transitional Administration (ETTA) is opening tomorrow, 6 December.

The office will be responsible for the conduct of civil registration and it will from now on be possible for East Timorese to register births, marriages and deaths and obtain certificates for these events.

The civil registration process will in the future gather the data necessary for electoral registration and provide the East Timorese with identity cards.

CNRT President Xanana Gusmão and his wife Kirsty will receive the first ETTA birth certificate on behalf of their recently born child at the opening ceremony of the Central Civil Registry.