VERDICTS DELIVERED IN FIRST CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY CASE

The Special Panel for Serious Crimes in Dili today delivered verdicts in East Timor’s first Crimes Against Humanity trial, known as the “Los Palos case.”

The case concerned five incidents, namely the torture and murder of Evaristo Lopes in April 1999; the forced deportation and persecution of the villagers of Leuro; the murder of Alexio Oliveira; the murders of Alfredo da Araujo and Kalistu Rodrigues; and the murders of nine civilians, including two nuns and three priests, in September 1999.

All ten accused, who were members or supporters of the pro-autonomy Team Alfa militia, were convicted of committing a range of Crimes Against Humanity in East Timor’s easternmost Lautem district in 1999.

The sentences delivered for the offences ranged from four to nineteen years for single acts. However, four of the accused were convicted of participation in multiple crimes, and therefore will serve sentences of up to 33 years and four months, the maximum allowed under the Indonesian law being applied. Three of the accused were acquitted of the murder of Alexio Oliveira.

Joni Marques, the leader of Team Alfa, was convicted of involvement in the murder of 12 people, as well as torture, persecution and deportation. He was sentenced to serve a total of 33 years and four months.

In an important finding of fact that will likely serve as a backdrop for similar trials in the future, Judge Marcello da Costa announced that the court had established beyond doubt that there was in East Timor during 1999 an “extensive attack by the pro-autonomy armed groups supported by the Indonesian authorities targeting the civilian population.” This finding was necessary to prove the widespread or systematic nature of the attacks that led to the charges of Crimes Against Humanity.

An eleventh suspect, Indonesian Lt. Syaful Anwar – the deputy commander of the Indonesian special forces (Kopassus) in Lautem district when the crimes took place – was indicted by the Prosecution but is currently at large. An arrest warrant is still outstanding for Lt. Anwar and has been served upon the Indonesian Attorney-General.

The Special Panel for Serious Crimes, which consists of one East Timorese and two international judges, can try cases of Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, Murder, Sexual Offences and Torture, carried out between 1 January and 25 October 1999. The Special Panel was set up in June of last year.

The Lospalos trial began in July of this year.

INTERNATIONAL DONOR’S CONFERENCE BEGINS IN NORWAY

International donor countries convened in Oslo, Norway, today for a conference to review the progress of East Timor’s transition to full independence.

The main meeting, co-chaired by UNTAET and the World Bank, is focusing on the steps to be taken in the run-up to East Timor’s 20 May independence, the recently launched national development planning process and fiscal strategy.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, UNTAET SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello, World Bank President Jim Wolfensohn, East Timor’s Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri and its Foreign Minister, José Ramos-Horta, are among those participating in the conference hosted by the Government of Norway.

This conference follows similar meetings in Tokyo (December 1999), Lisbon (June 2000), Brussels (December 2000), Dili (March 2001) and Canberra (June 2001).

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY PASSES THREE MORE ARTICLES

The Constituent Assembly today passed three new articles of East Timor’s first draft Constitution.

The articles relate to the separation of church of state, and to the official language and national emblems that East Timor will adopt.

Article 12 mandates that the State shall be separated from the Church and other religious denominations, and shall respect different religious denominations.

Article 13 states that Tetum and Portuguese shall be the official languages of East Timor, and that Tetum and other national languages should be valued and developed by the State in order to foster communication between different linguistic groups.

Article 14 mandates that East Timor’s national symbols shall be a flag, an emblem and a national anthem, all of which will be approved by future legislation

All three articles were passed by significant majorities.

PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT DELIVERS NAVAL VESSELS TO ETDF

The Portuguese government this morning delivered two modified Albatross patrol boats to the East Timor Defense Force (ETDF).

ETDF Commander Taur Matan Ruak and Portuguese Ambassador Pedro Moitinho de Almeida were present this morning as the vessel that carried the patrol boats from Portugal lowered them into the water close to Dili’s Port.

The ETDF Commander said he was delighted with the Portuguese naval donation, and expressed hope that Portugal would continue to support East Timor in these areas in the future.

The 22-meter boats will soon be manned by 50 specially trained East Timor Defense Force Marine Officers who have been undergoing training with Portuguese specialists since last February.

The patrol boats are part of a US$2.2 million Portuguese aid package to the East Timor Defense Force Navy.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPROVE TEXTS ON MARKETS, BORDERS

East Timor’s Council of Ministers today approved the text of agreements related to the Establishment of Regulated Markets and on Cross Border Movement of People and Goods For Traditional Purposes.

Today’s meeting was chaired by Minister of Justice Ana Pessoa, as Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri and Foreign Minister José Ramos-Horta are currently attending the donor’s conference in Oslo, Norway.

The texts approved today will be finalized for signature during the next high level meeting between SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello, Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri, Foreign Minister José Ramos-Horta and representatives of the Government of Indonesia.

Among other issues discussed today, the Council agreed that an extraordinary meeting be held on Friday to discuss refugees, border control, immigration, and social issues.