REMAINS OF MASSACRE VICTIMS TO BE RETURNED TO RELATIVES

The remains of 28 people, murdered in the so-called Suai church massacre on 6 September 1999, will soon be handed over from the Special Panel for Serious Crimes to relatives for burial.

In a meeting yesterday in Covalima district between Deputy Prosecutor General for the Special Panel for Serious Crimes, Jean-Louis Gilissen, and some 15 relatives of the victims, it was decided that the remains, which have been kept in Dili for forensic examination, will be returned as early as next week.

Relatives presented the Deputy Prosecutor with a list of 39 victims and stated that they are ready to bury the unidentified remains in a collective grave before the rainy season starts. It is now up to the Catholic Church to decide how and where the remains should be buried.

Jean-Louis Gilissen said today in Dili that an indictment in the Suai church massacre case should be filed by the first week of November.

SRSG MEETS CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

The SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello today met with the Constituent Assembly Speaker Franscico Guterres, also known as Lu-Olo, and the two Vice Speakers, Francisco Xavier do Amaral and Arlindo Marçal.

The SRSG and the Speakers exchanged views on the development of the work of the Constituent Assembly and discussed ways in which UNTAET can offer assistance to the Assembly.

During the meeting, the SRSG handed over to the Speaker eight regulations that had not been approved by the National Council prior to its dissolution on 15 July. The regulations, which will now be considered by the Assembly, are on the creation of a Central Bank of East Timor, a Labor Code, telecommunications, television and public radio, among other things.

The SRSG also handed over to the Speaker the Charter of Women's Rights in East Timor from the East Timorese Gender and Constitutional Working Group. The Charter, which will be presented to the Constituent Assembly for its consideration when drafting the Constitution, reflects the aspirations and desires of women from all 13 districts, based on meetings, congresses and interviews conducted in 2000-2001.

DEATHS IN DIARRHEA EPIDEMIC LESS THAN ESTIMATED

The Minister of Health Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo today said that the recent outbreak of diarrhea in the Oecussi enclave has killed less people than initially expected.

Six children are confirmed to have died in what is believed to be Shigellosis, also known as bacillary dysentery, an infectious disease caused by the Shigella bacteria. Nine children are currently being treated in hospital in the enclave and a number of tests have been made to try to establish the type of disease and how it has been spread. The Health Department is waiting for the laboratory results.

Over 400 cases of diarrhea have been reported in the enclave since 10 September. The six children who died were all under the age of two.

"We have brought in large supplies of antibiotics, oral rehydration packages and intravenous fluids, so in terms of medical logistics we are well-off," Dr. Rui de Araújo said. "The Peacekeeping Force, CivPol, NGOs and UN Agencies are all assisting the Department of Health Services," he added.

An extensive campaign has also been launched in Oecussi, in which health officials urge the population to boil water and pay extra attention to personal hygiene. The information has been disseminated through local health staff, the Church and Radio UNTAET.

Most people who are infected with Shigella develop often-bloody diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps starting a day or two after exposure.