CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY PASSES ARTICLE DEFINING TERRITORY

The Constituent Assembly today passed two new articles of East Timor’s first Constitution, relating to the territorial boundaries and the decentralisation of the public administration.

Article five defines the territory of East Timor and reads as follows:

“The territory of the Democratic Republic of East Timor comprises the land surface, the maritime zone and the air space demarcated by the national boundaries, that historically comprise the eastern part of Timor Island, the enclave of Oecussi and the islets of Ataúro and Jaco.

The extent and limits of territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone, and the rights of East Timor to the adjacent seabed and continental shelf shall be laid down in the law.”

Eighty members voted in favor of the article, none voted against, and there were five abstentions.

The assembly then proceeded onto the Constitution’s sixth article, which relates to decentralization and reads as follows:

“On matters of territorial organisation, the State shall respect the principle of decentralisation of public administration.

The law shall establish and determine the administrative characteristics and competencies of the different territorial levels.

Oecussi and Ataúro shall deserve special administrative and economic treatment.”

This article was approved in three separate votes for each of its sections, and the majority of the members voted in favor.

CIVIL REGISTRATION UNIT MARKS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

East Timor’s Civil Registry marked its one year anniversary today with an announcement that more than 747,200 people have registered since the process began last March.

Registration continues throughout the territory in order to keep accurate records of the population. Since the beginning of August some 7,000 people, primarily refugees returning from West Timor, Indonesia, have been registered. New registrants will be eligible to vote in the presidential elections scheduled for April 2002.

Permanent Registration Offices have been set up in all 13 districts at which East Timorese residents can apply for birth, marriage and death certificates. A total of 4,592 people have applied for various certificates since early September when it became mandatory for people to register births and deaths within fourteen days.

This constant updating process allows the Government to predict requirements for school and medical facilities, and to maintain records for land and property rights. The Civil Registry figures also form the basis of electoral rolls.