An Australian construction worker suspected of possessing and dealing drugs was arrested last Saturday, 17 June, in Dili. He is the first foreigner to be arrested in East Timor.
The arrest followed the detention of a Civilian Police officer from Egypt suspected of drug dealing. He was held and questioned Friday night.
On Saturday morning, CivPol searched the suspect’s premises and found a significant amount of organic matter, believed to be marijuana, as well as paraphernalia and money.
The case of the Australian citizen, who is being held in Becora prison in Dili, has been turned over to the investigating judge.
The plants will be weighed and analyzed in Australia and the results are expected in about two weeks.
A full report was sent from Dili to United Nations Headquarters in New York, where a decision will be made shortly about where the case of the CivPol will be tried.
PERTAMINA TO SELL BULK FUEL AT LOWER PRICES
Following talks between Pertamina’s marketing manager Toharso and Deputy SRSG for Governance and Public Administration Jean-Christian Cady, the Indonesian petroleum company announced that it is selling bulk petrol and diesel at the price of 3,000 rupiahs a litre.
The low price will apply provided that the buyer purchases at least five drums of fuel, which translates into 1,000 litres. It is hoped that taxi drivers and others who use smaller quantities of fuel, could form groups to buy the bulk fuel.
UNTAET welcomes this move by the company, since it is likely to ease the economic pressure on the local transportation industry.
This should also put pressure on other retailers to charge reasonable prices for fuel.
MILITIA SUSPECT DETAINED IN BECORA
A militia suspect, arrested in Maliana on 8 June, is currently held in the Becora prison, in Dili, under a 30-day detention order.
The suspect is alleged to have committed murder and arson during last September’s violence. Currently, CivPol officers are questioning witnesses.
TENSE FALINTIL SITUATION DEFUSED
A tense situation involving Falintil was defused by United Nations Civilian Police, Rapid Response Unit and the Peacekeeping Force on Friday night.
The incident involved two Falintil members in Comoro, a neighborhood of Dili, who were beaten up by locals. Subsequently, around 60 Falintil members, including five platoon commanders, left the cantonment in Aileu for Dili to seek revenge.
CivPol and Peacekeeping Forces negotiated with Commander Falur, Commander Lere and Commander Pedro at a Peacekeeping Force roadblock seven kilometres from Dili.
After tense negotiations, the Falintil members agreed to return to their Aileu cantonment.
CivPol has refused to accept Falintil’s ultimatum that the assailants should be arrested within three days and is currently carrying out investigations in the Comoro area.
DRAFT REGULATION ON ENVIRONMENT INTRODUCED
The National Consultative Council held a public hearing today to discuss the draft of the Regulation on Protected Places introduced last week. The draft lists, among other things, a number of endangered species, as well as 15 protected wild areas in East Timor. These areas shall be managed and protected so as to preserve their wild and natural character.
The council heard five witnesses. Three from Timorese environment NGOs (Joaquim Amaral from Forte, Demetrio Carvalho from Haburas and Abilio Sarmento from Fontana) and Serge Verniau, Head of UNTAET’s Agriculture Unit and George Bouma from the Environment Protection Unit.
Representatives from the environmental groups suggested that more areas be included in the list of areas to be protected and asked to be consulted to a larger degree in the drafting process. They also wanted communities to have a direct say in the use of community forests.
UNTAET acknowledged the concerns of the Timorese environmentalists and agreed that a more comprehensive regulation should be drafted. Both parties agreed that this draft regulation responds to the most urgent environmental needs.
NEGOTIATIONS ON THE TIMOR GAP
Peter Galbraith, Director of UNTAET’s Political Affairs Office and Mari Alkatiri from the CNRT, returned to Dili on Saturday, 17 June, after a round of preliminary negotiations with the Government of Australia on the issue of the Timor Gap.
The meeting was held with a view to establishing a new legal regime to govern petroleum exploration and exploitation in Timor Gap once East Timor becomes independent.
JORDANIAN SPECIAL POLICE DEPLOYED IN BAUCAU
Seventy-five Jordanian police officers arrived in Baucau district on Saturday to join the Rapid Response Unit team there. The total number of the team now stands at 95; its final strength will be 120.
