MILITIA SHOT DEAD BY NEW ZEALAND PEACEKEEPERS

A militia member was killed by New Zealand Peacekeepers at noon today three kilometers southeast of Tilomar, Suai district, eight kilometers from the border with West Timor, Indonesia.

The incident followed a sighting of a group of approximately 15 militia members four kilometers east of Tilomar, in the vicinity of Kulit village, at sunrise today.

The New Zealand Peacekeepers were tracking the group and had set up a post of ten soldiers at the location where the incident later occurred. A group of three militia – believed to be part of the group sighted earlier – approached the post from behind and a brief firefight ensued. The first shots were fired by the New Zealand soldiers.

The militias were wearing Indonesian army fatigues and were armed with automatic rifles.

This is the second time United Nations Peacekeeping Force has shot dead members of the militia. Australian Peacekeepers killed two militias on 2 August in Maliana district, also along the border with West Timor.

Portuguese Peacekeepers exchanged fire with militia on Saturday evening in the Alas area in Manufahi district. There were no casualties. A sighting of a militia was reported the following day, 24 September, in the same area.

DRAFT ON REGULATION ON POLITICAL PARTIES

The draft regulation on the Registration, Organization and Internal Democratic Process of Political Parties in East Timor has been finalized and will be sent to the East Timorese political parties and NGOs for consultation and discussion.

Once approved and signed, the regulation will establish the obligations and responsibilities of the political parties. It covers a wide range of issues, from basic principles such as freedom of speech to instructions on the set-up of the executive body of a political party.

NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER VISITS EAST TIMOR

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke arrives in East Timor on Friday, 29 September, for a two-day visit.

Helen Clarke will meet with Deputy SRSG Jean-Christian Cady, Force Commander Lieutenant General Boonsrang Niumpradit, members of the East Timor Transitional Cabinet, Bishop Belo and CNRT President Xanana Gusmão.

On Saturday, 1 October, the Prime Minister will travel to Tilomar sub-district in Suai district, where the New Zealand Battalion is deployed, and the Lolotoe sub-district of Bobonaro.

VICTOR RAMOS RETURNS

The first East Timorese athlete to return from the Olympic Games, boxer Victor Ramos arrived in Dili today. He left Sydney yesterday and spent the night in Darwin.

Victor Ramos, who only lasted two minutes and 23 seconds in the Sydney Games ring, was beaten by Ghanaian lightweight Raymond Narh.

The rest of the East Timorese Olympic Team returns on 4 October.

MONEY RAISED FOR SCHOOL RECONSTRUCTION

A Latin American Party organized two weeks ago in the United Nations Club House in Dili raised US$4,570 US dollars, to be used for the reconstruction of schools in Dili district.