MARTINS NAMED COMMISSIONER OF EAST TIMOR POLICE SERVICE

SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello today appointed the East Timorese director of the Police College, Paulo Fatima Martins, to be the Commissioner of the East Timor Police Service.

The appointment was made after consultation with the Minister for Internal Administration, Antoninho Bianco.

Martins, a police officer in East Timor since 1977, held various positions during the Indonesian period, among them head of the traffic police and District Police Commander of Viqueque.

He left the Indonesian Police force (POLRI) at the time of the 1999 Popular Consultation and, after assisting in the set-up of the East Timor Police Service, was appointed director of the Police College in January 2001.

Martins will now be tasked with administrative responsibility over the East Timor Police Service and work alongside UNTAET's Civilian Police Commissioner, José Luís da Costa e Sousa.

Over 1,200 East Timorese officers have graduated from the Police College and are in the field undergoing Field Training Programs in investigations, close protection, crowd control, administration, traffic control and in the Marine Unit.

The East Timor Police Service has a projected target of 3,000 officers by the year 2003.