Dili, 24 February 2000

UNTAET ready for family reunion

UNTAET said today that it is ready for the next family reunion at the border of Batudage, expected to take place this Saturday.

On Tuesday the 22^nd, a meeting was held in Montain, at the border, to discuss the family reunion meetings that have been taking place at various border crossing points of East Timor, and possible new arrangements for future reunions.

UNTAET military, police and civilian representatives, TNI local commanders, UNHCR and IOM representatives participated in the meeting.

UNTAET stressed that incidents such as the one last Saturday at the Batudage border point should not happen again, and the TNI said that it was investigating the case.

The next meeting to discuss family reunions will take place on 7^th of March.

Last Saturday, in Batudage there were 10 CivPol officers from Dili and 15 from Maliana, but after the incident that number will likely be increased this week.