Dili, 21 September 2001

GOVERNMENT TO HOLD FORMAL MEETING EACH TUESDAY

The new all-East Timorese Second Transitional Government, which was sworn in yesterday, held its first informal meeting today.

Members discussed a wide range of practical issues and decided to hold a formal meeting every Tuesday morning.

The Government also decided on the agenda for their first formal meeting, which will take place next Tuesday, 25 September.

The Second Transitional Government and its Council of Ministers will govern East Timor during the remaining transitional period before its independence as a democratic and sovereign state, which is expected early next year.

This Transitional Government has its powers reinforced, formulating policies and supervising a newly formed Public Administration. According to the Regulation establishing the Government, the Transitional Administrator, who has legislative and ultimate executive authority over the body, shall be regularly consulted by the Council of Ministers.

RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE PANEL HOLDS FIRST MEETING

Thirteen members of the Steering Committee for the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation's Selection Panel yesterday held its first formal meeting at which it endorsed a decision to hold one position vacant for a pro-autonomy representative.

The Selection Panel has met with pro-autonomy groups in Kupang and Bali in Indonesia twice over the past month in a bid to fill a panel position with a pro-autonomy representative. The pro-autonomy groups have so far declined to fill a position, deferring a decision until they have had more time to confer with their supporters.

The Selection Panel yesterday also decided to launch a public information campaign on 27 September that will distribute leaflets, posters, and other materials throughout East Timor, the West Timorese refugee camps, and to the East Timorese diaspora.

The public information campaign aims to solicit nominations for the 5-7 posts of national commission members, and the 25-30 posts of district commission members.

The Panel is scheduled to visit each of East Timor's districts between October 15-30, and has placed an October 31 deadline for the submission of nominations for the Commission.

The Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation will ultimately undertake two primary functions: it will establish a truth-seeking function and inquiring into the pattern of human rights violations in East Timor committed within the context of the political conflicts between 1974-1999. The commission will also create a community reconciliation body to facilitate agreements between local communities and the perpetrators of non-serious crimes and non-criminal acts committed over the same period.

NAVAL TRAINING FACILITIES INAUGURATED AT METINARO

New naval training facilities were inaugurated yesterday at the East Timor Defence Force (ETDF) base in Metinaro, near the capital Dili.

The training of 50 future ETDF Marine Officers by their Portuguese counterparts will begin later this month. The group of trainees, who will become the first officers and privates of the East Timorese Navy, will receive weapons, machine operation and communications training.

The Portuguese Government has donated two 22-meter Albatross Class patrol boats that are due to arrive in East Timor in December.

ETDF Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, representatives from the Peacekeeping Force, the Portuguese mission and the Dili District Administration took part in yesterday's inauguration of the new facility.

The first four-month ETDF basic training course was completed in June, with 247 graduates. The second group of cadets, 350 strong, began their training at the end of July. Thirty-two of the first class of graduates are serving as instructors for the second basic training course, alongside ten Portuguese specialists. Areas covered include drills, weapon skills, and target practice. East Timor hopes to have its first full 600-member battalion by independence.

WORKSHOP ON FUTURE OF DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS OPENS

SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello today traveled to Ermera district to participate in a National Workshop on the roles and functions of the Suco (village) and Posto (sub-district) Development Councils - the local institutions whose members have been democratically elected by the community. The results of the Workshop are expected to provide discussion material on local governance structures for the newly elected Constituent Assembly.

The aim of the two-day workshop is also to share information with the Councils and other parties involved in the project regarding community payments through the Councils which are facilitated by the Community Empowerment and Local Governance Project (CEP), an UNTAET project administered by the World Bank.

"Posto and Suco Councils were never established to marginalize the existing traditional structures, but as a complement to local governance," the SRSG said at

today's Workshop session. "As we know, a reduced civil service is envisioned for East Timor, particularly in the districts. With such a configuration, it will be difficult to deliver all the services needed at village level, solely through Government channels."

"While it is up to the newly sworn-in Council of Ministers to decide, a dedicated budget line could be made available directly to the communities to ameliorate the effects of a reduced civil service," the SRSG continued, adding that it is important that closer coordination be established between the Councils and the donor community.

Xanana Gusmão and the Head of the National Planning and Development Agency Emília Pires are also taking part in the Workshop. Other participants include Council representatives, local community and political party leaders, donors, NGO and Church representatives.

There are 418 Suco Councils and 60 Posto Councils throughout East Timor.