OVER 600 REFUGEES RETURN FROM WEST TIMOR

More than 600 refugees returned from camps in Indonesian West Timor today in a process facilitated by independence leader Xanana Gusmão, former Mahidi militia leader Câncio Lopes de Carvalho and his brothers Nemésio and Francisco.

The mass return, in which UNTAET, International Organization for Migration and UNHCR played a crucial part, follows a 7 July border meeting led by Xanana Gusmão between community representatives from East Timor's Ainaro district and militia leaders from West Timor.

The refugees crossed the border at Salele, Covalima district, in the presence of Gusmão, Indonesian regional military commander Major General William da Costa, UNTAET's Chief of Staff N. Parameswaran and representatives from the Ainaro and Covalima districts.

"This is a historical moment…as we discussed with President Megawati in Jakarta, good relations between East Timor and Indonesia are fundamental," Gusmão said today, adding that he praised Major General da Costa for his efforts in the reconciliation process.

Speaking to the media at the border, Câncio Lopes de Carvalho said that he "was ready to face justice" and that he, as a commander, would take responsibility for any violent acts committed by the Mahidi militia after the 1999 Popular Consultation.

Francisco Lopes de Carvalho said that he felt remorseful about the suffering pro-autonomy groups had caused and that he accepts the result of the 1999 Popular Consultation. "I promise to change my political views," he added.

Parameswaran today also held a meeting with former pro-autonomy leader Hélio Moniz Caetano who confirmed that he will return to Covalima district with up to 1,000 refugees on 19 September. This is a follow-up to another border meeting held in Salele last month between Gusmão and Covalima elders with leaders of the Covalima refugees.

The Chief of Staff will be continuing discussions with political and militia/pro-autonomy/pro-integration leaders with a view to promoting reconciliation and negotiating further refugee returns. As in the past, the Chief of Staff is only conducting negotiations with those refugees not under indictment for serious crimes.

TRAVEL BETWEEN DILI AND OECUSSI MADE EASIER

Scheduled transport services between the district enclave of Oecussi and East Timor proper - by air, boat, and bus - are likely to commence in the near future, ending the isolation that has troubled the enclave since the Popular Consultation of August 1999.

In the meantime, the Government of Portugal has agreed to subsidize travel by East Timorese to and from Oecussi during the transition period. Passenger flights twice a day, five days a week, are expected to start next week between Oecussi and Dili. East Timorese will pay US$5 for the ticket in each direction.

After independence, an aid project now under discussion with the Government of Germany is expected to materialize. This will provide longer-term support to the development of an East Timorese shipping industry, including a regular ferryboat service carrying passengers and cargo.

Details of the transport services, now at an advanced planning stage, were discussed last Saturday with the District Advisory Council of Oecussi and other community leaders. In general terms, the plans were given a warm welcome.

Questions were raised about safety of travelers and the cost of tickets. UNTAET provided reassurances on the issue of safety, over which there can be no compromise. As regard costs, while initially subsidized by donors, it was explained to the District Advisory Council that in coming years all transport services would be expected to operate on a fully commercial basis, according to demand.

Plans are also underway to soon establish a regular bus service through West Timor and the resumption of a ferryboat service linking Kupang, West Timor, to Dili, with a stop in Oecussi on the way.

SWEARING-IN OF CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

Several foreign dignitaries, as well as East Timor's diplomatic corps, will attend tomorrow's swearing-in ceremony of the 88 members of the Constituent Assembly.

The Portuguese Government will be represented by the Commissioner for Transition Assistance to East Timor, Vítor Melícias, and the Head of Political Affairs in the Portuguese Foreign Ministry, Leonardo Mathias.

The newly elected Chief Minister of Australia's Northern Territory Clare Martin will attend, as well as Brazilian Dulce Pereira, Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, CPLP.

SRSG extended invitations to the Indonesian Government while in Jakarta this week.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS STAFF ASSIGNED TO UNTAET JAKARTA OFFICE

Three staff members from East Timor's Department of Foreign Affairs who accompanied the East Timor delegation to Jakarta this week have taken up their duties at UNTAET's Jakarta office.

Juvencio de Jesus martins, Jorge Trinidade Neves de Comoes and João da Camara are scheduled to work in Indonesia until East Timor's independence, and will possibly become the new country's diplomatic representatives in Jakarta thereafter.