MANUFAHI CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY INDICTMENT FILED

An indictment against four militia members containing charges of Crimes Against Humanity was filed yesterday by UNTAET's Prosecutor General.

The crimes were allegedly committed in Manufahi district as part of the orchestrated campaign of violence surrounding the 1999 popular consultation by members of Tim Sasurut Ablai, which was a section of the Ablai pro-autonomy militia group.

The indictment charges Deputy Commander of Tim Sasurut Ablai Benjamin Sarmento and third-in-command Romeiro Tilman with the murder of seven civilians, the deportation or forcible transfer of about 12,000 people from Same sub-district, and the destruction of property including the killing of livestock and burning of whole villages.

Militia member Joao Sarmento is charged with his participation in the murder of five civilians, deportation or forcible transfer of population, and persecution. Militia member Domingos Mendonca is charged for his participation in the murder of three civilians and persecution.

The four militia members are currently imprisoned in East Timor. The Commander of Tim Sasurut Ablai, Bernadino da Costa, is still at large.

SUAI COMMUNITY LEADERS MEET WITH PRO-AUTONOMY LEADERS

UNTAET Chief of Staff N. Parameswaran hosted a border meeting yesterday between almost 250 community representatives from Cova Lima and pro-autonomy leaders including Caetano Mendonça, the former head of the Cova Lima Local Assembly during the Indonesian rule, and his son Helio Moniz, deputy chief of public affairs for the pro-autonomy umbrella group UNTAS.

The meeting -- which was also attended by Xanana Gusmão and other East Timorese national representatives -- was branded "very successful and very emotional," by the UNTAET Chief of Staff.

This is part of the effort to bring back refugees to Cova Lima from camps in West Timor. Similar meetings will be held for all districts of East Timor.