From Geneva REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY
THE INFORMATION SERVICE
The Special representative of the UN
Secretary General in East Timor, Sérgio Vieira de Mello, answering a question
on the militias in refugee camps in West Timor, said it was very difficult
to comment on the situation in West Timor since the UN had no presence
there. There have been testimonies by returning refugees indicating militia
remained active in the refugee settlements, especially after the army and
police leave these camps. Therefore, intimidation of refugees seems to
continue. On the other hand, there were also signs that the army and Police
were taking forceful action against the militia and steps to disarm the
militia. There had been a first clash between the Indonesian Army and a
group of militiamen in which one militia leader that we were looking for
was wounded, said Mr Vieira de Mella.
In response to another question, he said he was in Geneva at the invitation of the Institut universitaire de hautes études internationales to give a lecture. He would also meet colleagues from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which he is still responsible for.
Asked about the achievements so far of the East Timor mission, he said the National consultative Council, with 11 Timorese out of the 15 members, was expanded and a new National Council was established with 36 members, all Timorese, including 13 women. An effort is being made so that women are well represented -- at least one third -- in all institutions of East Timor. The first meeting, two weeks ago, appointed Xanana Gusm=E3o as its first speaker and a woman as deputy speaker. This will be our 'proto-legislative body' until national elections are held next year. It was quite difficult to establish a new judiciary but it is now functioning. The vast majority of judges and prosecutors are East Timorese. The system is up and running except for serious crimes where a committee was established and international judges and prosecutors with experience in particular with crimes against humanity had to be brought in.
Concerning the executive, a cabinet system was established, composed of 9 members with 5 portfolios held by East Timorese. A new civil service is also being created and recruitment is on the way with priority to vital sectors such as education and health. A new police is being created as well. The police academy is working well but resources are limited and only 150 policemen are trained every trimester. A small East Timorese defence force is being created which will be very modest but which the East Timorese consider essential for their future defence needs.
There were weaknesses in many sectors and we would have wished things had moved faster. But to build a country out of its ashes in a territory which was one of the most underdeveloped of Indonesia was not easy task.
On a question on the appointment of the High Commissioner for Refugees, said he was surprised the question was put to him. He stressed he was not part of the decision making process. He said the Secretary General possesses many qualities and one of them is a global view and understanding of the needs of the organization. Therefore, he surely had good reasons for making the choice he made. Speaking as Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs he will support Mr Ludders fully. Mr Ludders will receive the full support of my office, he said.
Answering another question on East Timor, he said the language used in the administration is predominantly Basa Indonesia. There was a decision that Portuguese be the official language and the final decision should be left to the Timorese. Portuguese is being reintroduced in the country thanks to the technical support of Portugal.
Asked about the needs for short term reconstruction of East Timor, Mr Vieira de Mello said two trust funds were established, one for the administration of East Timor, an amount of only 59.23 Million dollars per year, and a World Bank trust fund for reconstruction, which amounts, for a three year period, to just over 300 million dollars. Donors have responded quite generously and both funds are adequately funded. The Asia Development Bank is in charge of infrastructure reconstruction and gets funds from the World Bank trust fund. We are getting bilateral contributions from Australia, New-Zealand, Japan, the United States, Norway, Portugal and several others. All of these contributions are part of the overall figure of 522 million approved by the donor conference in Tokyo last year (for the three year period). He added all assistance provided to East Timor was in the form of grants and not as loans.
On his relationship with the Government of Indonesia, he said the relations are good, President Wahid and his cabinet determined to establish long term constructive and friendly relations with East Timor. As regards the question of justice and human rights, the commission which visited East Timor in December 1999 recommended the establishment of a special jurisdiction to look into serious crimes committed in East Timor last year. It was decided in early 2000 that the Indonesian and East Timor jurisdictions first be given a chance. He did not agree with the comment that the Indonesian judiciary had done nothing. The attorney general of Indonesia is committed to Justice and demonstrated that in different ways, sending teams of investigators to East Timor and issuing a first list of 22 suspects.