CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONERS PRESENT REPORTS TO SRSG

Constitutional Commissioners today presented SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello with detailed reports from each of East Timor’s districts on what tens of thousands of people should like to be considered by the future Constituent Assembly when drafting a Constitution.

“People climbed mountains and braved weather in order to make their valuable and precious contributions at the public hearings,” one Commissioner said today in front of the 200 people attending the handover ceremony.

“The people want the Constituent Assembly to listen and not turn their backs to us,” another Commissioner said.

Upon receiving the reports, the SRSG praised the Commissioners for carrying out their task in the short time period allocated for the process, and despite linguistic and logistical constraints. He also praised the more than 38,000 people that turned out at the 200 public hearings throughout the country.

“The impression I gained was that many were captivated by the process and thrilled that for the first time – perhaps in their lives – they were being asked their views, knowing that they would have the opportunity to shape decision-making in their future nation,” the SRSG said.

The Constitutional Commissions – which consist of between five and seven Commissioners, one Rapporteur and one Constitutional Adviser – held public hearings in each of East Timor’s 65 sub-districts between June 18 and July 14.

Among the prevalent issues discussed at the hearings were the political system, currency, and flag East Timor should adopt; the type of punishments that should be applied to those responsible for serious crimes; the educational system; laws for foreign investors; how oil and gas revenue from the Timor Sea should be distributed; and the official language.

The SRSG will present a final report outlining the commission’s findings to the Constituent Assembly, which will be elected on August 30, once it convenes in mid-September.

The SRSG noted that nothing contained in the reports presented today was binding upon the future Constituent Assembly, but added that “given the overwhelming public response to the process of consultation, what is clear is that the people have spoken.”

UNTAET CHIEF OF STAFF MEETS INDONESIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER

UNTAET Chief of Staff N. Parameswaran met with Indonesia’s new Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda yesterday in Jakarta. During the 15-minute meeting, the Chief of Staff briefed the Foreign Minister on current developments in East Timor and also discussed a number of bilateral issues. N. Parameswaran also conveyed an invitation from SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello for the Foreign Minister to visit East Timor at a mutually convenient time.

The office of the Chief of Staff is also coordinating a week-long “come and see” visit to Manatuto district of two representatives from the Manatuto refugee community in West Timor. The representatives served as civil servants in Manatuto during the Indonesian rule.

The visit is part of the on-going effort to bring back refugees to East Timor from camps in West Timor.

NEW SERIOUS CRIMES PROSECUTOR SWORN-IN

Elois da Sousa was sworn-in as Prosecutor for the Special Panel for Serious Crimes today by SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello. Da Sousa, a professor of criminal law, has worked as a prosecutor for 17 years in her native Brazil. She will be working directly under the Deputy Prosecutor General for Serious Crimes, Jean-Louise Gilissen.

There are currently nine prosecutors – eight internationals and one East Timorese – in the Office of Serious Crimes of the Dili District Court.