NEW STRUCTURE OF NCC PROPOSED
CNRT and UNTAET have agreed on the new composition and structure of the National Consultative Council (NCC). The new expanded 33-member NCC is also likely to have a change of name.
The new structure was proposed by the CNRT leadership and UNTAET has accepted it as it was suggested.
The 33 members will include 13 representatives from the districts, seven representatives from parties of the CNRT and three representatives from other political parties. In addition, it will have one member each from a youth and students group, women’s group, the Timorese NGO forum, the Catholic Church, the Protestant churches, the Muslim community, professional associations, farmers’ associations, the labour movement and the business community.
All members, including the chairman, of the new NCC will be East Timorese.
ATTACK ON PEACEKEEPERS
Shortly after midnight yesterday, 20 June, an infantry position of the Peacekeeping Force came under attack from what appeared to have been a small group of armed men. The incident occurred at Aidabasalala, some 15 kilometers north of Maliana and approximately 30 kilometers into East Timorese territory.
Several bursts of automatic and semi-automatic fire and six grenades were aimed at the post or at the vicinity of it, before the assailants withdrew. The fire appeared uncoordinated, delivered from some distance and were not at serious risk to the Peacekeepers, due to the fortified positions. The Peacekeepers did not return fire, because of concerns of surrounding villagers. There were no injuries and only minor damage to nearby buildings.
This morning, gunfire was also heard by the Peacekeeping Force in Biamarae, five kilometers south-west of Aidabasalala.
PKF conducted an investigation in the area today, to gain further information on the attack.
The last attack on the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in East Timor occurred on 27 May, when four men threw a grenade at a PKF post 13 kilometers from Maliana. An Australian soldier received minor fragment wounds in the assault.
LISBON CONFERENCE OPENS
The Lisbon Donors Conference started today with an official dinner by the Government of Portugal, hosted by Foreign Minister Jaime Gama.
The World Bank had a separate meeting of the Donors’ Council for the World Bank Trust Fund, which was chaired by Klaus Rohland, the country director for East Timor, East Asia and Pacific Region.
A report on the trust fund was presented, covering the first six months of the operation and the proposed work program for the following six months, July to December 2000.
The actual conference starts tomorrow, 22 June, at 9 a.m. Lisbon time. The host country Portugal will open the conference, followed by four key statements by CNRT President Xanana Gusmão, SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello, World Bank director for East Asia Klaus Rohland, and the IMF Adviser for Asia and Pacific Department and Mission Chief for East Timor, Luis Valdivieso.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIAN POLICE TO BE REPATRIATED
CivPol has asked for the immediate repatriation of an Egyptian CivPol officer suspected of drug dealing.
Verbal approval from United Nations Headquarters in New York has been received by CivPol to repatriate the man. A written approval should arrive in the next day or two.
A full report has been sent to New York from CivPol headquarters in Dili and the Egyptian mission to the UN is now expected to report to the Egyptian authorities.
The officer concerned will be tried under Egyptian law.
ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEE CAMP SUSPENDED
The West Timor Military Commander Kiki Syahnakri held high-level talks with representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Kupang today. This follows the suspension of assistance to three main refugee camps in Kupang after a couple of serious incidents over the weekend at the Noelbaki camp.
On Friday and Saturday last week a group from the camp commandeered a UNHCR vehicle from Noelbaki to Kupang. The perpetrators threatened the local driver and the international staff member and forced them to drive to the military headquarters in the sub-district.
After a meeting in the camp on Saturday, the Head of UNCHR in West Timor, Craig Sanders, and one of the assistant governors of West Timor and mid-level Indonesian police officers and soldiers, came under threat of violence. A two-hour tense standoff took place, in which a UNHCR car sustained a smashed window. No one was injured in the incident.
The UNHCR held meetings with Indonesian government representatives all day yesterday. The West Timor Vice-Governor and representatives from the army and police were present.
Meanwhile, approximately 400 people crossed the border from Betun in West Timor to Suai in East Timor yesterday. This is the largest number of returnees into Suai in over a week, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The returnees are currently living in the transit camp in Suai and are expected to be brought to their villages in Suai and Same within a week.
On Monday, some 160 persons crossed the border at Batugade into Maliana from West Timor. About 135 people are expected to use that crossing today.
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE STRANDED IN LAUTEM
A boat with eight Vietnamese people, all men, was discovered on Monday at the Com port in Los Palos’ sub-district of Lautem.
Locals alerted CivPol when the boat people went ashore to try to buy fuel.
CivPol subsequently informed UNTAET Border Control who referred the matter to UNHCR after speaking to the boat people.
The boat had set sail from the Vietnamese coast on 16 May and is believed to be heading towards Australia.
UNHCR protection officers are currently interviewing the boat people to determine their status. UNHCR has already warned the Vietnamese of the consequences of trying to seek asylum in Australia, in that they would be put in a detention centre while Australian immigration worked on their cases.
For the time being, the Vietnamese are on their boat at Com under CivPol surveillance.
THREE ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH FALINTIL ASSAULT
Following the arrest of two persons in connection with the assault on two Falintil members in Comoro, Dili, last Friday, a third person was arrested yesterday. CivPol has also issued arrest warrants for two other suspects.
An incident management team led by Peacekeeping Force Chief of Operations – comprising representatives from UNTAET’s Political Affairs, CivPol, Falintil and UN Military Observers – has been formed to help defuse tension between Falintil and the local population.
The formation of this team follows last Friday night’s incident involving two Falintil members in Comoro who were beaten up by locals. Subsequently, around 50 Falintil members left the cantonment in Aileu for Dili to seek revenge.
After tense negotiations with CivPol, the Rapid Response Unit and Peacekeeping Force troops, the Falintil members agreed to return to Aileu.
