CABINET AGREES TO RECONCILIATION PROPOSAL

The East Timor Transitional Cabinet today agreed to a proposal to establish a Commission for Truth, Reception and Reconciliation. The commission will focus its activities in three areas: facilitating the reintegration of East Timorese returnees, establishing a historical record about human rights abuse, and recommending legal and institutional safeguards to protect human rights in the future.

The Cabinet recognized the urgency of a draft regulation establishing the Commission being finalized, and referred to the National Council for consideration.

The Cabinet also agreed that the National Council should consider the significant and sensitive question of the Transitional Administration’s land policy.

The Cabinet agreed that it would refer to the National Council its 25 October policy decision on the land functions that should be undertaken during the period of the Transitional Administration.

The policy view is that fundamental questions relating to the final settlement of land claims and land title should be deferred to a duly elected government and legislature.

SRSG BRIEFS NATIONAL COUNCIL

The Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello today said he had requested that a Cabinet member, together with the Principal Legal Adviser, prepare a paper formally proposing to enhance the power of the Timorese Cabinet members.

Speaking to the East Timor National Council (NC) today, Sergio Vieira de Mello said that the paper would also contain provisions to allow UNTAET to better collaborate with the East Timor Transitional Administration (ETTA) in the task of creating the basis for a sustainable governing administration in the country. The Transitional Administrator voiced his hopes that by the end of this week he would be able to submit this paper for the consideration of the Secretary General in New York.

The Transitional Administrator also explained existing privileges and immunities of international staff in East Timor.

The Transitional Administrator referred to the case in which an international civilian staff member was involved in an accident that resulted in the death of a Timorese citizen. He explained that he insisted with the United Nations Secretary General that the staff member’s immunity be lifted and that he be brought to a Judge in Dili, to show that no one should be above the law.

A detailed account on the technicalities of the immunities and privileges of international staff was provided to National Council members by the Principal Legal Adviser, Johan van Lamoen.

On the census of the East Timorese population, the Transitional Administrator explained that a regulation on civil registration is now being prepared. If approved by the Cabinet and NC, the civil registration process shall start on 1 February 2001.

The NC will meet again tomorrow, 14 December.