NATIONAL COUNCIL REJECTS ETTA REGULATION

The National Council today rejected a draft regulation to legally establish the East Timor Transitional Administration, ETTA. Nine councilors rejected the draft regulation and eight abstained. None of the councilors present approved the measure. The Transitional Cabinet had endorsed the measure on 6 June as a means of granting ETTA legal authority under domestic law and to further delegate authority from UNTAET to independent institutions. The regulation would have enabled, among other things, Cabinet Members to sign agreements and contracts on behalf of ETTA, rather than on behalf of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG).

Deputy SRSG Jean-Christian Cady today urged the National Council to accept the regulation, stressing that its passage would reflect and enhance the Timorization of the decision-making process. Cady acknowledged the frustration of many of the councilors present that the draft regulation had taken too long to reach them, but stressed that it had been the result of much careful discussion and deliberation. Many of those who voted against the draft regulation had earlier argued that because ETTA had long been functional without the passage of the legislation, they saw little reason to enact it now. In separate developments; the National Council postpone until Wednesday a draft regulation on the establishment of a Commission on Reception, Truth and Reconciliation; and referred an amended version of the East Timor Defence Force regulation back to the standing committees on Foreign Affairs and Defense for further study.

UNTAET SRSG LAUNCHES VEHICLE REGISTRATION DRIVE

Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, João Carrascalão, was the first person to register a car with the new East Timorese Office of Motor Vehicle Registration in Dili, which was inaugurated by the SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello today. The Cabinet Member was presented with a license plate by Deputy SRSG Jean-Christian Cady. “The registration of vehicles complements the existing laws relating to the administration of justice and enhances the rule of law and peace through support to the police in enforcement of vehicle controls and traffic laws,” said Vieira de Mello at the ceremony marking the beginning of the Motor Vehicle Registration process in East Timor. “This is an important step in curbing lawlessness and showing the authority of the state to those who got used to thinking that this is a free for all,” he added.