The East Timorese Transitional Administration is hosting an international conference for countries willing to help develop the future East Timor Defence Force. The conference will be held in Dili from 21 to 23 November and will be opened by the Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello and CNRT President Xanana Gusmão.
Twelve countries have been invited and are expected to contribute towards the training and equipment of the future defence force. The regular element is expected to reach the strength of 1,500 in three year’s time. Falintil will constitute the core of this force.
On the first day, 21 November, there will be public opening statements by Vieira de Mello, Gusmão, DSRSG Jean-Christian Cady, the Head of the Office of Defence Force Development Roque Rodrigues and Falintil Commander Taur Matan Ruak.
The conference program will also include field trips to the districts to identify possible training sites and facilities.
INSPECTOR GENERAL’S SECOND REPORT ON TEACHERS
The Inspector General Mariano Lopes presented the second part of his inquiry on the recruitment of school teachers – targeting the secondary teachers – on Wednesday to the Transitional Cabinet.
In the report, the Inspector General presents findings on four areas and ten recommendations.
On the recruitment policy, the Inspector General concluded that UNTAET staff had no role in the selection of secondary teachers other than the discussion of recruitment policy at the highest levels. “The process was carried out entirely by CNRT’s district and national education committees, mostly working voluntarily,” the report states.
CNRT district education and UNTAET district administration offices did not fully understand the recruitment process and selection criteria, the report also says.
In addition, many districts nominated candidates who did not have the minimum qualifications and were unprepared when these nominees were eliminated from the list of candidates by the national office.
On the recruitment process, the problem occurred because some local CNRT district education committees failed to comply with directives and because UNTAET Education Division failed to apply sufficient resources or supervision to the recruitment process.
On the same Cabinet meeting, Cabinet Member for Social Affairs Father Filomeno Jacob answered to the findings and reported on the implementation of the recommendations of both reports on primary and secondary teachers.
He also said that the whole process is expected to be completed by the third week of November. Once that happens, the Inspector General will receive a report for review.
In the letter, Father Jacob states that the Inspector General’s report is an important step ahead in the building of a civil society and that this is a lesson in open management and building confidence for East Timor. Finally, he thanks the Inspector General for the work done to “uphold the ideals of democratic practices.”
OPENING OF EAST TIMOR NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello and CNRT President Xanana Gusmão officially opened the National University of East Timor today. Around 4,500 students are enrolled and some 1,000 students on probation will join early next year.
Classes start on Monday, 20 November, with 120 East Timorese teachers.
Currently, the University has some 35,000 books, mostly in English, donated by the New South Wales University and around 10,000 books that belonged to the former East Timor National Library.
PRESIDENT OF PORTUGUESE ASSEMBLY VISITS EAST TIMOR
SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello and National Council Speaker Xanana Gusmão welcomed António de Almeida Santos, the President of the Portuguese National Assembly, in a special session of the National Council in Dili today.
A co-operation protocol of US$150,000 was signed between the Portuguese National Assembly and the East Timorese National Council. The donation will mainly be used for the setting up process of the Council and also includes computers, technical books and documents for the Council’s library.
Yesterday, the Council agreed unanimously on a resolution on the proposed Trust Fund for East Timor Workplan from January to December 2001 to be submitted to the Donors’ Conference in Brussels. The Council, however, presented five conditions. Tomorrow, the Council will discuss the transition calendar.
MEETING WITH MILITIA LEADERS AT THE BORDER
UNTAET Chief of Staff N. Parameswaran met a group of eight militia, including three leaders, in Batugade, East Timor, at the border with West Timor, on 14 November. The meeting was requested by the militiamen and focused on the possible return of refugees.
The militia leaders were Joanico Cesário Belo, from Baucau, and Câncio Lopes de Carvalho and Nemésio Lopes de Carvalho, from Ainaro.
Two CNRT and two Falintil members also participated in the meeting.
The possibility for more “come and see” visits was discussed and two militia leaders indicated that they intended to work towards peace and wanted reconciliation and repatriation. They also said they were not afraid to return to East Timor and that they were ready to face the consequences, including the judicial process.
The three leaders were among the authors of a petition sent to the United Nations Security Council on 14 October asking for security.
EXPERT REPORTS ON CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
James Dunn, a former Australian diplomat and specialist on foreign affairs, has been assigned to prepare a report on the crimes against humanity committed in East Timor last year, such as torture, killings and forced mass deportation. It is expected that the report will be completed by the beginning of next year.
UPDATE ON TIMORIZATION: 150 MORE CIVIL SERVANTS HIRED
Last week, the Central Recruitment Office of Civil Service and Public Employment has recruited 150 more East Timorese as civil servants for various departments in Dili and other districts. This brings the total of civil servants working under the East Timor Transitional Administration to 5,969 East Timorese.
