9 March 2001 -- Following the 7 March destruction of a mosque in the East Timorese town of Baucau, a top Cabinet member from the United Nations mission in the territory has expressed sorrow over the violence and warned of the dangers of religious intolerance.

"Religious intolerance and destruction of places of worship have no place in a civilized society," Peter Galbraith, Cabinet Member for Political Affairs, said yesterday during a meeting in Baucau with the head of the local Muslim community.

On Wednesday a series of incidents resulted in the burning of Baucau's mosque, minor injuries to staff members of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and damage to its vehicles.

UNTAET chief Sergio Vieira de Mello today appointed an investigation team to look into the incidents in Baucau, particularly the manner in which the Rapid Response Unit dealt with the demonstrations, the way the UN Civilian Police ("CivPol") district office coordinated the operations and the relations of CivPol and the Rapid Response Unit with the public.

The UN mission also decided today to establish a District Operations Centre "very soon" and to hold weekly meetings in Baucau between the local leaders, youth and UNTAET.

 

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Not an official document of the United Nations. Maintained by the Peace and Security Section of the Department of Public Information in cooperation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. (c) United Nations 2001