PRO-AUTONOMY LEADER VISITS EAST TIMOR

Oecussi pro-autonomy leader João Corbafu is arriving in Dili on Thursday, 14 December, for a week’s visit. He has expressed wishes to meet with SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello, Bishop Belo, Manuel and Mario Carrascalão, as well as family and friends.

Corbafu, who is expected to be able to encourage a large number of refugees to return should he choose to do so, arrived in Oecussi proper yesterday for the first time since the violence of last year and met with UNTAET and UNHCR representatives. He stressed that he had come as an individual and former Indonesian civil servant, and not as a pro-autonomy leader.

Corbafu stated that he would like to move home to East Timor permanently, but not before March next year.

The visit to East Timor follows a meeting between Corbafu and Xanana Gusmão on 23 November at the camp of the Jordanian Peacekeepers in Bobomento, Oecussi.

AUSTRALIAN PEACEKEEPER WOUNDED IN ATTACK

An Australian Peacekeeper was injured following a suspected militia attack last night, 11 December. Private Christopher Carter received minor shrapnel wounds to the lower leg and buttock as a result of an explosion. The explosion occurred at Aidabaleten, about 60 kilometers west of Dili and is believed to have been from a grenade thrown at the UN position.

First aid was provided at the scene and a helicopter immediately brought the soldier to the UN Military Hospital in Dili. His situation is described as satisfactory.

An investigation into the incident has been launched.

CABINET TO DEBATE PROPOSAL ON RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

A draft proposal for the setting up an East Timor Commission of Truth and Reconciliation is being presented to the Cabinet tomorrow, 13 December, by UNTAET’s Office of Political Affairs.

The draft proposal has been circulated for consultation with various interest groups for months and Priscilla Hayner, an American consultant on Truth and Reconciliation, recently returned to East Timor for a ten-day visit to assist in the work.

Once endorsed by Cabinet, the proposal will be brought to the National Council for debate and approval.

NEW SERIOUS CRIMES JUDGE SWORN IN

Luca Ferrero from Italy was sworn in as a Judge for the Special Panel for Serious Crimes yesterday, 11 December.

Mr. Ferrero has worked for three years in Sicily and the last six years in the criminal court of Turin.

The Panel now has two international judges and one Timorese.

NATIONAL COUNCIL DEBATES POLITICAL CALENDAR

In today’s National Council session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Milena Pires, Council members considered the Calendar for Political Transition, prepared by the CNRT Presidency.

Council member Xanana Gusmão first took the floor and explained the main points of the document. According to him, the calendar should provide the basis for debate within the Council, where a final decision on the details of the proposal would have to be worked out.

Several members took the floor and expressed their opinions on a wide range of issues regarding the calendar, in particular on the necessity for a strong civic education program. They also talked about the necessity to urgently consider the regulation on political party registration, to settle problems related to party names and flags, and to agree on a civil and electoral registration. Some members voiced the necessity for caution when choosing independence date and others expressed concern with the pace of the timorization process of the Administration of East Timor.

At the end of the debate, the National Council voted to approve a motion by Mr. Avelino Coelho da Silva, which proposed:

That the National Council should approve the CNRT/CN "Broad Timeline for the Process Leading to East Timor’s Declaration of Independence," as presented by CNRT/CN President Xanana Gusmão, with the understanding that the proposal contained broad guidelines to be observed and was not a static and dogmatic document;

That the details of the calendar’s implementation be reviewed by the Standing Committee on Political Affairs; and

That the Committee report to the Council by 12 January 2001".