PKF Santa getting busy distributing Christmas presents to children and adults, alike during a Christmas Party at the PKF on December 22, 2000.
And a host more of Santa Claus!
PKF Force Commander Lieutenant General Boonsrang Niumpradit receives a warm welcome from people of Atsabe District. He was visiting the highlands where the Kenyan 1st Platoon is located, Saturday. Here, the air is cool and full of life.
The Force Commander flanked by Kenyan Contingent Commander Brigadier Samuel Kirogi told the people in a brief statement that the PKF was there to help them and he asked for their continued support and confidence in rebuilding their new nation. The Force Commander and his staff later flew in to Hatolia then Gleno and slept thereat with the Kenyan troops at the Company Headquarters after a night of full and exotic Kenya as well as Timorese songs and dances. The kenyan troops of company strong have been serving East Timor for the past 13 months and are due for rotation before the year ends. Jambo Sana!
PKF Force Commander bidding farewell to the 4th and 5th batches of Philippine Battalion in yesterday's send off ceremony (Sunday) at Dili harbor congratulated the Filipino troops for their past 6-9 months peacekeeping mission in East Timor. A new batch of troops just came in to Dili (Thursday). The troops are sailing back to the Philippines during a 10-day trip aboard BRP Quezon and BRP Benguet. Bon Voyage! Mabuhay!
Lieutenant General Boonsrang Niumpradit, Force Commander(L). Major General Mike Smith, Deputy Force Commander(C). Brigadier General Haingkeun Kwon, Chief of Staff (R)
Christmas Innocence...these two little darlings hold on to their lovely gifts and nothing could ever disturb them in their own dream world of innocence. (Photo by DID)
Logical Conclusion...a Falintil guard mans the threshold leading to a cantonment area where most of his comrades presently stay at Aileu. They will form the defence and armed forces of the new East Timor.
"The Better Truth"
Christmas Delights...Peacekeepers do the early ritual in a Dili neighborhood seemingly a prelude to the holidays.
Pressure to
build on Indonesia's Wahid in 2001
JAKARTA,
Indonesia (Reuters) -- Indonesia's parliamentary speaker said
political pressure would build on embattled President Abdurrahman
Wahid next year, adding he would support efforts to impeach the
Muslim cleric if he has broken the law.
A
parliamentary committee is investigating two financial scandals linked to
the palace involving a total sum of around $6 million, and is expected to
try to probe Wahid early in 2001 and announce its results soon after.
Akbar
Tandjung, who also heads the second largest party in parliament, the
former ruling Golkar party, said in an interview on Friday if the
investigations proved Wahid was criminally involved, that would open the
way for his impeachment.
He added
most Golkar MPs would support such a move, which is a complicated process
but one that would ultimately lead to a special session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR), Indonesia's highest legislative body.
Golkar holds
a quarter of the seats in parliament.
The comments
by Tandjung, one of Indonesia's most powerful figures, indicate the
world's fourth most populous nation will remain hostage to politics next
year and dash hopes of attracting investors still wary about instability
and violence.
Wahid is
already under pressure from some MPs to step down after 14 turbulent
months in office that has triggered mainly criticism of his erratic rule.
Wahid's supporters say the vast problems he inherited would have tested
any leader.
Tandjung
added that students, who were instrumental in helping topple former
autocrat Suharto
in May 1998, were now fed up and ready to put pressure on Wahid to go.
"If he
is proven to be involved in a case, of course parliament will (bring) the
case to the MPR," Tandjung said. Asked if he would support such a
move, Tandjung said: "Yes of course, that is the constitution."
The
50-member parliamentary committee was formed in September and has been
grilling people involved in the two scandals.
One, dubbed
Buloggate, involves the theft of $4.1 million from the national food
agency, Bulog, by people claiming to be acting on Wahid's behalf,
including his masseur.
The second,
Bruneigate, is over Wahid's acceptance outside government channels of a $2
million donation from the Sultan of Brunei for humanitarian aid in restive
Aceh province.
Wahid has
denied any wrongdoing, and his supporters have accused leading parties in
parliament of using the two scandals to try and topple him.
Tandjung,
who previously served in cabinets under the disgraced Suharto but who has
won some praise for trying to promote rational political debate, declined
to say if removing Wahid would invite more turmoil.
"If he
doesn't change his attitude and style of leadership, then I think we have
a serious problem. He needs to be more focused," Tandjung said.
Despite the
pressure on his leadership, Wahid was still very confident of himself,
Tandjung added.
The largest
party in parliament is the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle of
Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
East Timor: Shipload of Refugees Home for Christmas
Holidays
(LUSA) A ship carrying 245 East Timoreses refugees, some allegedly former
anti-independence militiamen, arrived in Dili from Indonesia Friday to
spend the Christmas season at home.
Coming from the West Timor capital of Kupang, the vessel was guarded by
several dozen UN peacekeepers. The passengers were being identified and
screened by UN and Dili officials before being transported to their homes
across the territory.
A spokesman for the International Migration Organization, one of the
voyage´s organizers, told Lusa that none of the passengers had known
links to pro-Indonesia militias and that those who chose to remain in East
Timor could freely do so.
However, at least one passenger, Horacio Cabeçadas, was identified by
locals as a former militia leader in the eastern town of Los Palos.
Cabeçadas told journalists at the port that he was returning
"without fear" as he had "never harmed anyone" and
hoped to be received "as a brother".
He said he planned to return to West Timor after the holidays but that he
would consider repatriation if he were reintegrated into the civil service
with the same status he had had under Indonesian occupation.
In biggest visit yet, 350 East Timorese refugees go
home for Christmas
(UN NEWS)
– In the largest visit yet by East Timorese refugees to their home
communities, a group of some 350 people have arrived in East Timor from
Indonesia for a three-week stay over the Christmas period, United Nations
officials said today.
The UN
Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) said that 244 refugees
had arrived in the capital, where they were screened and registered at a
transit centre before being transported by the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) to their home districts to see their families. An
additional 100 Christmas visitors arrived in the East Timor enclave of
Oecussi in West Timor. A UNHCR spokesperson in Geneva described the visit
as "the largest and longest such go-and-see visit to date."
Meanwhile,
the eight refugee leaders who arrived in Bacau, East Timor, yesterday for
a one-day visit received a warm welcome in their home communities.
According to UNHCR, they spent the night with relatives and held meetings
with local leaders before returning home. "They were well-received by
local leaders and the spirit was very positive," a UNHCR spokesman
told reporters today in Geneva. "Everyone expects these visits will
help to boost returns to East Timor."
In
connection with the visits, UNHCR has increased its efforts to counter
misinformation about conditions in East Timor among refugees in West Timor
by distributing brochures, posters and cassette tapes with the help of the
Indonesian government's Task Force on Refugees. The agency also broadcasts
regular radio messages into West Timor using UN and local Timorese radio
stations.
So far this year, nearly 50,000 East Timorese refugees have returned home, including 3,200 in the last four months, despite the withdrawal of aid workers from West Timor following the September murder of three UNHCR staff members. Since October 1999, a total of 174,000 people have returned to East Timor.
ROMANIA OFFERS MILY EQUIPMENT TO RI
Jakarta,
Dec 22 (ANTARA) - Defense Minister Mahfud on Friday disclosed that Romania
has offered military equipment to Indonesia in exchange for such
Indonesian commodities as coffee.
Romania
has also asked Indonesia to allow Romanian fishermen to fish in Indonesian
waters, Mahfud said after accompanying South Korean defense minister, Cho
Seong Pae, during a meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid at the
Merdeka Palace here.
On
the meeting between the South Korean minister and President Wahid, Mahfud
said Cho Seong Pae had revealed his wish to purchase four CN-205 military
aircraft produced by the Indonesian aircraft manufacturer, IPTN.
South
Korea has already bought eight CN-205s.
Mahfud
also revealed that Indonesia intends to purchase military equipment,
including weapons and warships, from South Korea.
RI may purchase helicopters from Russia
JAKARTA
(JP): The Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono said
on Friday th his force might buy MI-17 combat helicopters from Russia to
replace their older squadron, mostly of U.S. and French built helicopters.
Antara
quoted Indroko as saying the plan could be carried out if the country had
enough funds.
"We
have made the plan but we'll still wait for two months (for the
funds)," Indroko said.
He stressed
that the purchase by the navy would depend on the budget, which would be
decided in two months.
The Army
Special Forces Command (Kopassus) also wanted to buy the Russian-made
helicopters but the plan was canceled due to the regional financial crisis
that struck Indonesia in the mid-1997.
Separately
Defense Minister Mahfud disclosed that Rumania has offered military
equipment to Indonesia in exchange for Indonesian commodities such as
coffee.
Rumania has
also asked Indonesia to allow Rumanian fishermen to fish in Indonesian
waters, Mahfud said after accompanying the visiting South Korean defense
minister, Cho Seong Pae, during a meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid
at Merdeka Palace.
Tentative deal reached on UN budget, Turner agrees
to help pay US share
UNITED NATIONS—The United Nations reached a tentative agreement early
Friday on a deal that would cut the American share of the UN budget after
media mogul Ted Turner came forward and offered to pay for the US$34
million shortfall next year, diplomats said.
Japan and Russia also signaled they would help mitigate the costs that
would have to be swallowed in the future by some 18 developing countries
in granting the US reduction - gestures diplomats said helped seal the
deal.
“We have the contours of a deal,” one US official said, speaking early
Friday on condition of anonymity. “I think we’re almost there. Details
need to be finalized.”
If approved, the arrangement would allow the United States to reduce its
share of the UN administrative budget from the current 25 percent to 22
percent. The United States would also see a reduction in its share of the
peacekeeping budget from the current 31 percent to around 26 percent to 27
percent, diplomats from other countries said, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
The outcome, one diplomat from one of the nations most impacted by the
higher cost, is an “unmitigated defeat for the developing countries,”
and a victory for US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke.
US President Bill Clinton and senior administration officials had lobbied
the other 188 UN members hard to accept a cut in the American share, which
Congress had demanded as part of a package of conditions to pay off some
US$1.8 billion in arrears to the United Nations.
Countries such as Brazil, South Korea and Singapore - and other developing
nations that have seen a slight improvement in their economies in recent
years - were left to pick up much of the US slack after the European Union
said it wouldn’t pay any more.
In the end, after a week of around-the-clock negotiations, the EU appears
to have also gotten a deal for which it had pressed for many years: a
revamping of the system of billing countries for peacekeeping costs that
more closely reflects their ability to pay, diplomats said.
One of the keys that cemented the deal was an offer by Turner - who three
years ago stunned the United Nations with a US$1 billion gift - to pay the
US$34 million shortfall that the reduction in the US share of the regular
budget would create for 2001, the diplomats said.
While the years after that aren’t addressed by Turner’s offer, the
US$34
million filled a gap since many governments who could shoulder the US
burden in the coming years had already approved their 2001 budgets.
The United States made it known in the early hours of negotiations Friday,
the last official day of budget talks in the UN General Assembly, that the
US$34 million would be covered for 2001.
Turner, the billionaire founder of Cable News Network and a Time Warner
vice chairman, made international headlines in 1997 when he announced his
US$1 billion gift to the United Nations over 10 years. Since then, the
United Nations Foundation he established to disburse the money has made
grants to various UN agencies, particularly for population programs.
Calls placed after business hours Thursday to Turner’s publicist in
Atlanta and the Washington headquarters of the foundation were not
immediately returned.
The United States owes the United Nations US$1.8 billion in back dues, but
Congress has tied payment of a major chunk of that money - US$926 million
-to the reforms. Congress had held up payment, demanding the United
Nations
streamline its bloated bureaucracy.
Last week, US Sen. Joseph Biden, who co-sponsored the legislation imposing
the conditions, told UN members that he would be willing to try to free up
a US$582 million installment of that money even if all the US reforms
weren’t met.
Specifically, he said he thought he could persuade his fellow lawmakers to
accept a peacekeeping reduction that didn’t quite reach 25 percent as
long as the reduction in the regular budget reached 22 percent.
It wasn’t immediately clear how an EU proposal to make the US reduction
conditional on its payment of all of its arrears would be addressed in the
final outcome, the diplomats said.—AP
Coffee anyone? Green coffee beans. Found these spread out on the sidewalk. By having them on a tarp, they can be quickly gathered up when the afternoon rains come in. Another source of good revenue for East Timor, one of the best coffee beans in the world. (did)
Life in the Balance...the Commander USGET makes his Santa round by giving clothes and toys to less fortunate children denied of material comfort near the waterfront in Dili.
EAST TIMOR: Women fight an uphill battle
BY VANJA TANAJA
DILI - Five women considered to be “indecently” dressed were chased by a mob of mainly young men near the Mercado Lama (Central Market) here on November 10. Four managed to hide in an NGO-run clinic which was then stoned by the mob. Another was dragged by the mob to UN Civilian Police Headquarters. A Civpol officer from Nepal, who tried to protect the women was hit by rock and required five stitches.
Accounts vary about what the women were actually wearing, but why should attire provoke such behaviour? And what does this incident tell us about the status of women in East Timor?
Because of their dress, the women were accused of being prostitutes. In a report of the incident, Associated Press commented that prostitution is believed to have increased as a result of the UN presence.
The Timor Post ran extensive quotes from a Civpol spokesperson who said that although a women's dress should have no bearing on the kind of person she is, the incident reminds young women to take care about their appearance, inferring that otherwise they would be mistaken for prostitutes. The article also indicated that the women were intending to sue the perpetrators for assault and sexual harassment.
One Sunday at a popular Dili beach frequented by locals and foreigners, with two bikini-clad foreigners barely 50 metres away, a mob of 20 youths jumped off a pick-up truck and tried to force me to “get dressed” or they threatened a samurai or to “bathe” me in the ocean.
I was wearing a bikini top and a long sarong. They quoted Bishop Belo who allegedly said that “These things were communist”. The two bikini-wearing, sunbathing foreign women were not harassed. But the youths thought I was Timorese and that they had a duty to protect the morality of “their” women and society.
The East Timorese Women's Network, Rede Feto, unites 15 women's organisations and organised a women's congress last June. But given the strong influence of the Catholic Church and the very underdeveloped economic conditions which have a direct bearing on women's status, such organisations are fighting an uphill struggle for women's rights.
In East Timor, under customary law, women cannot inherit or own property. As Maria Olandina Cairo, head of Timorese women's organisation ETWAVE (East Timor Women against Violence) said at a human rights workshop here last August, this practice is highly discriminatory as it makes it impossible for women to be economically independent of their male partners. Economic independence is key to the possibility of women liberating themselves.
Under customary law in a practice called barlaque, a woman is bought as a bride. After protracted negotiations between two families, the bridal price is set. Depending on the woman's background and social standing, the price may range from 30 buffaloes, 20 horses, various other animals, gold jewellery and traditional cloth (tais) for a “princess” in a subdistrict of Los Palos to cash sums in the increasingly modern world of Dili. Apparently it is not uncommon for men to say, “I have bought you and therefore you have to obey me”.
FOKUPERS, a prominent women's organisation in East Timor, has set up a women and children's shelter for victims of domestic violence and incest. They also publish a newsletter called Babadok (named after the traditional drum played by women), which educates women on their rights and gives advice to the survivors.
FOKUPERS recently supported a woman in her divorce proceedings, successfully arguing that her husband had not provided for the family. This is still the strongest grounds for divorce in East Timor.
The influence of the Catholic Church is especially strong. Bishop Belo, in a letter to NGOs and health authorities working on HIV/AIDS awareness programs, said he considers it inappropriate for these organisations to discuss the use of contraceptives.
One woman activist told me that under Indonesian rule there were some HIV/AIDS awareness programs run by the occupiers, whereas now there are very few. She added that there is very little informative discussion of sex and sexuality, which in a country made up predominantly of young people is a recipe for disaster.
EAST TIMOR
Updated at 12.21pm:
The United Nations expects that East Timor will declare its
independence toward ''the tail-end of 2001,'' the UN administrator for the
territory told the Security Council overnight (HK time).
The key event before independence will be the election of an East Timorese constituent assembly that will draft and adopt a constitution, Sergio Vieira de Mello said.
His briefing to the council provided the most comprehensive scenario for the UN handover of power to the East Timorese following their overwhelming vote for independence from Indonesia in an August 1999 referendum.
He said the creation of a transitional Cabinet in July and the inauguration of a 36-member Timorese National Council in October marked ''a significant new phase'' in power-sharing between the UN administration and East Timorese representing all areas, parties and sectors of society.
''It is my firm view that a successful transition requires that we gradually put executive and legislative power into the hands of the East Timorese, so that the day of independence marks the culmination of a smooth transition, and not the point of a sudden transfer of power,'' Mr Vieira de Mello said.
The political calendar for the final transition has been the subject of intense discussion with the Cabinet, the National Council, and other East Timorese leaders, and a number of ''common understandings'' have emerged, he said.
''It is not, however, possible to give precise dates at this time, save that we are likely looking towards East Timor declaring its independence in the tail-end of 2001,'' he said.
The general election for a constituent assembly will most likely take place in the middle of next year and its primary job will be to adopt a constitution, he said.
''Once the constitution is adopted, the constituent assembly would be sworn in as the first parliament,'' he said. ''Depending on the process set out in the constitution, elections for a president [assuming a presidential system is chosen], the appointment of a government, and the declaration of independence would all take place in the last quarter of 2001.''
Jose Alexandre ''Xanana'' Gusmao, who assumed command of guerillas fighting the Indonesians during the 1980s, is widely expected to become East Timor's first democratically elected president next year.
By December 2001, the United Nations hopes to complete the investigation of all documented cases of serious human rights violations during the rampage that followed the 1999 independence referendum, he said. The United Nations also remains ''extremely anxious'' for Indonesia to start trying those accused of similar crimes as soon as possible, he added.
Mr Vieira de Mello stressed that the UN role will not end on independence day.
The organisation must find and train qualified East Timorese to run the country for the transition to be a success, he said. And an independent East Timor will also need UN support for technical and security matters as well as in many areas of public administration, he said.
This is FREEDOM and the cost it gets! It takes a lot of hardwork to live with it!
Life has to go on. Young entrepreneurs display various colors of fish at a wet market near the waterfront.
Col. Jerry Jalandoni, Philbatt (Center) Commander receives Lt. Col. Tor Aarnseth, (Left) Chief Public Information PKF during the latter's visit Wednesday ( Nov. 15) at Hqs Philbatt in Manatuto. Lt. Col. Aarnseth has been going around the areas of operations to feel for himself the various interests for Public Information.
FACES OF LIFE! Father and son display their day's catch at Dili market near the waterfront. Truly, these are big lobsters! It may even be too big to fit in the bowl. (Photo by Lt. Cdr.Olsom USGET)
BUY ANYONE! The ravage of time seems to have taught this old man the rudiments of survival. He is peddling around the main thoroughfare unmindful of the heat of the sun to gather some "rupiah" near the Dili harbor which is now becoming a bustling commercial area, just to keep him going for another day. (Photo by Lt. Col. D. Dawley/Lt. Cdr. Olsom)
A 21-strong United Nation Security Council mission visiting East Timor under Security Council Resolution 1319, met with acting Force Commander Major General Mike Smith Sunday afternoon at PKF Headquarters. The UN mission is led by Namimbian diplomat Martin Andjaba.
|
Old fighters try new life in East Timor |
By MARK DODD
KUPANG, WEST TIMOR
Monday 27 November 2000
Francisco Soares is finally going home. After seemingly endless negotiations, the Indonesian army has settled his salary arrears and paid his pension. The United Nations has promised that he and his family will be protected.
He is returning with his family to his home in Los Palos on the eastern tip of East Timor to start a new life as a rice farmer.
Mr Soares is no ordinary refugee. He is East Timorese but until recently served as a senior private in the Indonesian army attached to Kodim (Military District Command) 1629 in Lautem.
But until his capture by Indonesian forces in 1976, Mr Soares served as a fighter with the then Fretilin independence guerrillas.
His service with the Indonesian military is a sensitive issue. "Look, I want to make one thing clear. I served as a Milsas (short for Militarisasi), not the militia," he said in an interview on board the repatriation ship Patricia Anne Hotung. Militarisasi refers to a low-level, locally recruited soldier.
A total of 410 demobilised East Timorese soldiers and their families returned home in the first large repatriation of refugees by the UN since three of its staff were murdered by militia members on September 6 in Atambua, West Timor.
Given the former occupations of the refugees, this was the most politically sensitive repatriation carried out so far by the UN agencies and all the signs are that it was a success.
With Timorese national elections tentatively scheduled for August, 2001, political pressure to resolve the refugee issue forced a new approach in negotiations with Jakarta.
More than 250,000 East Timorese fled or were deported by the Indonesian military during post-election violence last year.
In an interview with The Age, the head of operations for UNHCR in Dili, Bernard Kerblatt, said he has noticed a new willingness by Indonesia to resolve the refugee issue.
"From a UNHCR perspective, the message permeating to a tactical level is: no more messing around. There is a completely different understanding of the situation now," Mr Kerblatt said.
"Clearly the police are playing a stronger role in encouraging all the refugees to decide their future. Some senior (Indonesian) diplomats based in New York have been assigned to Atambua of all places to tackle this problem."
The Age has learnt that UNHCR is considering a move to re-establish an office in West Timor, but only after at least two more successful ship repatriations out of Kupang.
The signs are encouraging, according to UN transition chief, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who on Friday praised the Indonesian army for its role in assisting the repatriation of the Milsas troops.
Last Tuesday the militia arrived at Kupang docks. There were men I recognised from last year. Ely Cortereal, a close associate of jailed Aitarak leader Eurico Guterres was there. There were other familiar faces whose names I cannot remember. But these men were not the strutting, arrogant toughs I knew from last year. They looked worried.
Francisco Soares considered his future. "You know I was Fretilin in 1976. Then we got caught in a situation where we were surrounded with no food. I was forced to join the (Indonesian) army.
"I might join the new army if they need me, but I think I'm too old now, so my second choice is to be a rice farmer. I have friends there in Lautem. I am free to go back," he said.
The first signs are good. On Wednesday when the ship docked at the dilapidated wharf at Com, among the first well-wishers were some senior Falintil commanders - old enemies now seeking reconciliation.
30,000 watching as former soldiers return to East Timor
While the children were excited, one group of middle-aged men was muted; there were a few smiles, but most exchanged pensive glances and talked in hushed tones, pointing to familiar landmarks, as the ship sailed east.
The men are former Indonesian soldiers returning with their families to their home villages in what is the most politically sensitive repatriation undertaken so far by the United Nations mission in East Timor.
A total of 410 men, women and children will land at Com and be taken by truck to the the villages of Viqueque, Los Palos and Lautem.
One man will be turned over to UN Civilian Police for suspected involvement in last year's violence. No details are being given about his case.
"It is the first major repatriation since August and it is a politically sensitive group whose safe return should send a positive message to those refugees still living in West Timor," Chris Lom, of the Geneva-based International Organisation for Migration (IOM), said.
The operation, which began in June, has been organised by the IOM, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor, East Timorese independence leaders and the Indonesian army and police.
It marks the first return of UN agencies to Indonesian West Timor since the murder on September6 of three foreign UNHCR staff in the border town of Atambua.
Security concerns were uppermost in the minds of senior UN officials during several tense days of negotiations in Kupang, the West Timorese capital, before the ship's arrival on Monday. The thorniest issue finally was payment of salaries and pensions to the former soldiers and public servants, many of whom were owed two or three years' arrears by Jakarta.
If this first repatriation of ex-soldiers is successful then up to 30,000 others, a number that includes family members, are likely to follow.
The UNHCR's senior Dili-based operations officer, Bernard Kerblatt, travelling with the refugees, said the organisation had noticed a change in the Indonesian attitude to refugee repatriation.
"It took the Atambua tragedy to get them to react," he said. "On [refugee] numbers they are delivering much more than before. We have to ensure what they are doing is sustainable."
He said the UNHCR sought a bigger role for Indonesian authorities, particularly the military, in helping refugees to return to East Timor, and so far the signs were encouraging.
"Let the international community give them some support. I think we must give the Indonesians a little time to do this in their own way."
Increased co-operation by Indonesia on refugee repatriation follows the recent replacement of several senior police and army officers, including that of the army's Eastern Region Commander, Major-General Kiki Syahnakri, with Major-General Willem da Costa, a native of nearby Flores.
"There is a completely different understanding of the situation now. Clearly the police are playing a stronger role in encouraging the refugees to decide for themselves whether they want to go home," Mr Kerblatt said.
The UNHCR estimates that 80,000 to 100,000 East Timorese refugees remain in West Timor, most of whom are considered to be likely returnees.
"Look, at the end of the day, these poor buggers don't have a choice. They can go back to their villages in East Timor, rot in a refugee camp or get involved in some shitty transmigration program. I would be taking my chances on returning to my village," said one aid official who asked not to be named.
Australia to pay for Timor army
SYDNEY, Nov 23 (AFP) -Australia will spend 26 million dollars (14 million US) over the next five years to help East Timor set up its own defence force, Defence Minister John Moore said Thursday.
Moore said Australia had an interest in the development of an independent East Timor which was secure, stable and democratic.
"A key element of preparing East Timor for independence is to give it the ability to provide for its own defence," Moore said in a statement.
Moore said a multi-national meeting, hosted by the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) in Dili over the last three days, had discussed the development of an East Timor defence force.
East Timor has the nucleus of a defence force in the Falintil guerrilla army which fought for independence against Indonesia for the last 25 years.
Small groups of Falintil are currently assisting UNTAET forces to maintain security along the border with West Timor.
UN questions slow pace of reconstruction in East Timor
A report by a UN Security
Council mission has questioned the slow pace of reconstruction in East
Timor, 14 months after it was razed by pro-Indonesia militia. (06:20:00 AEST)
The report says the overall state of East Timor's infrastructure remains
devastated.
The seven-member mission, which visited East Timor for two days last week,
introduced the report to the Security Council after a briefing on its
findings at UN headquarters in New York.
The mission said it was concerned by "the small amounts so far
expended on reconstruction and the uneven rate of progress of the rest of
the country compared with Dili.
Australian defense chief praises Philippine role in Timor
MANILA, Nov 20 (AFP) -Australian defense force chief Admiral Chris Barrie on Monday praised the Philippine armed forces for playing a key part in an international force that restored peace to East Timor.
He said Philippine troops "played a vital role" and displayed a "high level of patriotism" in serving both under the International Force for East Timor (Interfet) and later in a United Nations transitional body in the former Indonesian territory.
"The early deployment of a contingent from the armed forces of the Philippines was a particular highlight," Barrie said in a statement.
"Life in East Timor is taking on some sort of normalcy again and we are hopeful that those who are currently refugees in West Timor will shortly return to their homes," he said.
East Timor was thrown into chaos last year after pro-Jakarta militias went on a rampage after the territory voted for independence from Indonesia.
Barrie is in the Philippines to meet his local counterpart and strengthen defense ties.
Indonesian protesters attack Australian ambassador
Police failed to protect him when he arrived at the opening of an Australian insurance office in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
About 15 Indonesian journalists who were interviewing Mr McCarthy shielded him as protesters yelling "f--- you, f--- you" tried to kick and punch him. Mr McCarthy was unhurt.
At least one other Australian, believed to be an embassy official, was kicked in the stomach. Others were roughed up.
Mr McCarthy prompted a diplomatic stir this week when he said he believed that Indonesia's former military chief, General Wiranto, had "broad knowledge" of last year's violence in East Timor.
In an interview with the Herald, Mr McCarthy dismissed General Wiranto's claim he had been unaware of the campaign of violence to prevent independence in East Timor.
A journalist working for the Makassar-based Fajar newspaper told the Herald that Mr McCarthy was "kicked and punched a couple of times". "He did not say a word, he just stayed calm," she said. "We tried to hold the protesters from attacking him."
Another journalist, Rusdy Embas, said when the protesters arrived, they were yelling "where's the Australian, where's the Australian?"
"It happened very quickly," Embas said. "None of us expected the attack."
As the melee got ugly Mr McCarthy was pushed inside the insurance company's new offices. Witnesses said it took almost an hour for police to set up barricades outside so Mr McCarthy could be escorted to a car which drove him to the airport to catch a flight to Jakarta. Despite the arrival of police the protesters had refused to disperse and demanded that Mr McCarthy come outside. Nobody was arrested.
One of the protesters, Alfredo Dos Santos, was quoted by the Detik.com newsagency as saying they wanted to warn Mr McCarthy and the Australian Government to stop meddling in Indonesia's internal affairs, especially Timor. "It was Australia which deliberately played us against each other in East Timor and caused the civil war between East Timorese," he said.
Earlier yesterday Indonesia's Defence Minister, Mr Mohamad Mahfud, criticised Mr McCarthy for making "improper comments" which were "interfering in another country's internal affairs". But he told reporters in Jakarta that he regretted the attack on Mr McCarthy.
"It will only worsen the situation. The attack should only be considered a criminal, not politically motivated attack," he said.
Mr Mahfud later said the Government regretted the inability of local police officers to deal with the protesters.
Makassar's police chief, Colonel Amin Saleh, blamed the insurance company, PT MLC, for failing to tell police Mr McCarthy would attend the office opening.
A spokesman for the Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, said last night that the Australian Government regarded incidents like yesterday's as "totally unacceptable".
"We expect the Indonesian authorities to make every effort to ensure that this kind of incident does not happen."
A spokesman for Indonesia's Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sulaiman Abdulmanan, said the attack was strongly condemned, especially as it was on an ambassador from a close neighbour.
"Such acts are clearly against the law," he said. "The perpetrators must be punished according to the law."
Indonesia announced yesterday it was again postponing a meeting of ministers from Australia and Indonesia that had been rescheduled for Canberra in January after earlier being abruptly cancelled by Jakarta.
The postponement, another setback in attempts to repair relations between the two countries, came after the Vice-President, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri, banned all travel by ministers during December, the Islamic fasting month.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Mr Alwi Shihab, said his Government would send Australia a written apology.
The meeting was designed to open the way for President Abdurrahman Wahid to visit Australia.
UN investigator in East Timor agrees not to resign
The UN chief investigator for
serious crimes in East Timor has agreed not to resign after last minute
pledges by the body's administrators to supply his unit with desperately
needed resources. (06:12:18 AEST)
Oivind Olsen heads 30 investigators in the UN's Special Crimes Unit in
Dili, gathering evidence on crimes committed during East Timor's
independence-ballot violence last year.
An official says Mr Olsen tendered his resignation late last week out of
frustration at chronic under-resourcing of the unit, which was crippling
its capacity to prosecute and undermining efforts at reconciliation.
Indonesian military issues warning over Wiranto allegations
The Indonesian military has
warned Australian officials against suggesting that former armed forces
chief General Wiranto was implicated in last year's East Timor violence. (00:56:21 AEST)
Senior military spokesman Air-Vice Marshal Graito Usodo described such
suggestions as 'not conducive' to healing the two countries' strained
bilateral relationship.
He was responding to reported comments by outgoing Australian Ambassador
to Jakarta John McCarthy that there was increasing circumstantial evidence
of General Wiranto's knowledge.
General Wiranto was armed forces commander during the campaign of violence
in East Timor by gangs of militia opposed to the independence ballot
outcome.
| Wiranto named over violence in E Timor |
By LINDSAY MURDOCH
INDONESIA CORRESPONDENT
JAKARTA
Monday 20 November 2000
|
Australia's ambassador to Jakarta, John McCarthy, has accused Indonesia's former military chief General Wiranto of having "broad knowledge" of the violence and destruction in East Timor last year.
Speaking as he prepared to end his four-year posting, Mr McCarthy said it was "totally ingenuous" of General Wiranto to claim he was unaware of an orchestrated campaign of violence and intimidation by his forces.
Asked in an interview whether it was lucky that no Australians were killed in East Timor at the height of the violence, Mr McCarthy said: "What Timor showed was a very carefully calculated exercise ... intimidating the foreigners and driving them out straight after the ballot."
"I think it was lucky ... they were trying to frighten people, injure people without killing them, so in that sense we were lucky that a mistake wasn't made."
Mr McCarthy's comments will increase pressure on Indonesian authorities to charge General Wiranto, who they have so far failed formally to name as a suspect in the violence.
The government in Jakarta, wanting to head off the setting-up of an international war crimes tribunal, will in January put on trial 22 named suspects, including several senior military and police commanders who served in East Timor.
Until now Australian ministers and officials have avoided blaming General Wiranto directly for the violence, saying publicly they believed "rogue" elements of the armed forces were responsible.
Mr McCarthy was the highest-ranking foreign diplomat who remained in East Timor as pro-Jakarta militia, soldiers and police rampaged through the former Indonesian province.
His comments are likely to prompt renewed criticism of Australia from nationalistic politicians in Jakarta, who often accuse Australia of interfering in Indonesia's internal affairs, and oppose President Abdurrahman Wahid making a trip to Australia to help repair relations that collapsed over East Timor last year.
Mr McCarthy told The Age he was not sure evidence against General Wiranto would stand up in court. "But I think there is more and more circumstantial evidence that Wiranto was very knowledgeable," he said.
Mr McCarthy said the Indonesian military was not a "totally incompetent" organisation. "I do not believe that the sort of activity that was taking place in East Timor in the lead-up to the ballot could have taken place without the broad knowledge of the senior commanders in that organisation," he said.
"They might not have known the details or (might not have been) kept up to date on everything that was being done."
Mr McCarthy said the inter-national community would be unhappy if General Wiranto went unpunished. But he said Mr Wahid's government was facing many problems, including maintaining the country's stability, and that bringing people to justice over the East Timor violence was just one issue.
Mr McCarthy said Indonesia came close to breaking off diplomatic relations with Canberra when Australian troops led international forces into East Timor to stop the violence. He said that while high-ranking people in Jakarta did not like seeing the arrival of the Australian troops, the operation was conducted with considerable efficiency and discipline.
"The sense of real danger diminished very quickly," he said. But Mr McCarthy said that if a large number of militia or Indonesian soldiers had been shot, the atmosphere in Jakarta would have gone "very sour" indeed. "We were only a few degrees away," he said. "I think you would have found they would have taken action. They would have expelled members of the embassy. There was a risk for a day or so that diplomatic relations would be cut off."
Mr McCarthy strongly defended Mr Wahid amid growing calls for his resignation by many of Indonesia's political elite. "Although his style is unusual, the basic objectives he has for Indonesia are the right ones," he said.
Mr McCarthy said he believed Indonesia would "muddle through" five or six years of dramatic change and become a "very different" sort of country. "In my view, the force of Islam might be slightly more pronounced," he said. "I don't think it will become an Islamic state. There will be a parliament that works. Forces for a civil society will exist."
This is a young Timorese holding a stuff toy given her during a round of humanitarian action in East Timor. This is just one of the beautiful sights evoked in tandem by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force and United States Group in East Timor in helping revive the peoples' confidence in peace and security and humanity after last year's incivility in this part of the world. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Col. D Dawley, USMC)
Two whales were seen over the weekend near Dili waters believed to be a male and a female. Visitors at the statue of Jesus Christ and a nearby beach have also witnessed the beautiful sight. (Photo taken by Lt. Col. Aarnseth from the statue).
|
Digging up the past in bid to solve Balibo killings |
 |
By CATHARINE MUNRO
BALIBO, EAST TIMOR
Saturday 18 November 2000
|
Forensic investigators are looking for the remains of five Western journalists murdered here 25 years ago during Indonesia's occupation of East Timor.
Darwin police investigator Senior Constable Kym Chilton is leading a team of four in the painstaking task of looking for proof that the five men died in this strategic border town while attempting to cover the Indonesian attack on October 16, 1975.
The five who died in Balibo were reporter Greg Shackleton, 27, and soundman Tony Stewart, 21, both of Australia; British reporter Malcolm Rennie, 28, and British cameraman Brian Peters, 29; and New Zealand cameraman Gary Cunningham.
The circumstances of their deaths have created controversy ever since.
A senior Indonesian minister under the Habibie government, Yunus Yosfiah, who led the attack on Balibo as a young Indonesian commander, stands accused of being responsible for the deaths of the Balibo five.
Documents recently released from Australian archives show that Australia knew of the planned attack but did not warn its citizens.
The forensic team's evidence will form part of an investigation by the UN transitional administration in East Timor and could lead to charges being laid against senior members of the Indonesian military.
The UN is administering East Timor after a vote for independence from Indonesia last year.
Senior Constable Chilton is relying on the evidence of East Timorese witnesses who allege the reporters were killed by Indonesian forces and their bodies burnt.
He is working on the possibility that their remains were dumped at the back of a house in Balibo, where the investigators are now working.
"What we are trying to do is just confirm witness stories," he said.
"At this stage what we are looking for is possible minute remains, like bone particles. The best outcome is if they find evidence that they died there but we're also just looking for evidence that they were here."
The team is sifting carefully through soil covering an area of five metres by 20 metres and digging to a depth of up to 30 centimetres.
The house, neighboring one in which Mr Shackleton was famously filmed painting the Australian flag on the wall, is now abandoned.
An old wreath of bougainvillea resting against the wall of a room pays tribute in the East Timorese language of Tetum to "the five murdered Australian journalists".
According to Senior Constable Chilton, it would not be hard to find a 25-year-old skeleton if the killers had not tried to destroy the evidence.
Identifying any remains is also a difficult task: they must first be confirmed as human bones and then the DNA must be matched up with several relatives' DNA.
There is a possibility that the bodies were taken to Jakarta, where a memorial service was later held for the five.
UN investigator Jim Osborne said it would be three to six months before he could submit a file to the UN general prosecutor.
Asked about the chances of bringing charges against the suspected
killers, Mr Osborne said: "Very remote."
-AAP
|
UN may do a deal with militia chiefs |
 |
By MARK DODD
DILI
Saturday 18 November 2000
The United Nations has started talks with senior militia leaders implicated in some of the worst crimes in East Timor last year that may lead to the repatriation of thousands of refugees under their control.
One of the militia leaders said he is ready to face trial in East Timor.
The groundbreaking talks were held at the border town of Batugade on Tuesday with, among others, Cancio Lopes de Carvalho, former leader of the Mahidi (Life or Death Integration) militia.
The Mahidi was one of the most extreme of the pro-Jakarta militias, linked to the Suai Cathedral massacre in which up to 200 people were killed.
"He (de Carvalho) said he was prepared to face the judicial process provided it was fair," said Mr N. Parameswaran, chief of staff to the head of UN operations in East Timor, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Mr Parameswaran, accompanied by senior East Timorese officials and two senior commanders of the pro-independence Falintil force, met Mr de Carvalho and three other former militia leaders who say they fear for their lives and are now negotiating to return.
However, only the Mahidi leader gave an undertaking that he was prepared to face justice.
The talks centred around the return of thousands of East Timorese refugees under the control of the four men.
The three other leaders were Mr de Carvalho's brother, Nemecio Lopes de Carvalho, Domingos Periera and Juanico Cesario, a former Baucau-based militia leader.
Last month the four wrote two letters to the UN Security Council requesting protection from former colleagues and Indonesian authorities.
Two weeks of negotiations culminated in Tuesday's border meeting, conducted out of sight of the Indonesian military at the request of the militia leaders.
"He (Cancio Lopes de Carvalho) told me bluntly, he wanted reconciliation and repatriation. This was very interesting coming from him," Mr Parameswaran said.
"You know one of our primary UN functions here is to promote the return of refugees. There are some 120,000 or 130,000 refugees still there and if we can find any ways or means to get them back then we will."
On an earlier visit to East Timor, Mr Cesario had promised to return, along with 6000 of his followers.
No date has been set for the repatriation of any of the militia leaders although both sides are now involved with internal discussions.
While the rewards are potentially high, the return of any high-profile militia leaders is fraught with risk.
The UN's serious crimes unit has lengthy dossiers implicating most of the militia leaders on war crimes charges, including murder, multiple murder, rape, arson and abduction.
Despite support for negotiations with the four militia leaders by independence leaders such as Jose "Xanana" Gusmao, many East Timorese are still traumatised by last year's violence.
Mr Gusmao's support for the reconciliation process is highly controversial.
The delegation, which includes seven ambassadors and 14 support staff, said addressing the issue of 100,000 East Timorese refugees in camps in West Timor was the most important issue for the mission.
"We want UNHCR [UN High Commissioner for Refugees] and all other humanitarian agencies to get back into the camps so that they can assist the refugees, in particular with the repatriation of refugees to East Timor," the delegation head, Namibia's UN Ambassador Martin Andjaba, said before leaving the East Timorese capital Dili for West Timor.
UN and international agencies withdrew from West Timor after the murder of three UN international staff by East Timorese militia in September.
The delegation, which arrived in the West Timorese capital, Kupang, yesterday, must assess the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1319, which requires Indonesia to restore security in refugee camps in West Timor, bring those responsible for the murders to justice and ensure the voluntary return of refugees back to East Timor.
After meeting government and security officials in Kupang, the delegation will travel to Atambua, where it will visit a camp to talk to refugees and community leaders.
Indonesia maintains it has complied with the resolution by confiscating a significant number of militia weapons and arresting suspects for the UN murders.
But militia leaders in West Timor say they still have automatic weapons and that those arrested for the murders are not the real suspects.
There is some scepticism over whether the delegation will be allowed to see true conditions in the camps or be presented with a sanitised picture by Indonesian authorities.
"Of course I cannot pre-judge what information the Indonesian authorities will give us, but of course it is our hope that we get all the information that is required," Mr Andjaba said.
The Security Council delegation travelled to Kupang after spending two days in East Timor assessing the work of the UN transitional administration, which is preparing the East Timorese for independence, scheduled for late next year. Mr Andjaba said he believed East Timor was ready for independence.
Indonesia denies its soldiers took money from refugees
By ANI
Jakarta, Nov 14 (ANI): Indonesian soldiers are not taking any money from East Timorese refugees who are trying to go back home from camps in Indonesian-controlled West Timor, Defence Minister Mahfud MD told reporters today.
"It is certainly not true. If there is anyone imposing 'levies', I think they are muggers. We want to help them, so it is impossible." he said.
This follows the allegations by Joan Allison, the head of the UN refugee agency in the East Timor border town of Suai, who told a 15 member delegation from the UN Security Council yesterday that Indonesian soldiers were levying registration fees on East Timorese refugees trying to go home.
"In some cases, the refugees are offering them money themselves but one group returning on Saturday were approached by the military and charged 2.70 dollar a family," she said.
This represents a serious burden for the impoverished refugees, who have been living in crowded camps in West Timor for more than a year.
Mahfud welcomes the UN delegation's visit and would meet them on Thursday.
Speaking to a group of East Timorese in Suai, Security Council delegation head Martin Andjaba said he would do his best to pressure Indonesian authorities to allow all East Timor refugees to return home.
The Security Council sent the delegation to visit East and West Timor as well as Jakarta after pro-Jakarta militias operating from the refugee camps butchered three UN aid workers in the West Timor town of Atambua in September.
As a result all foreign aid workers pulled out of West Timor after the killings and have not returned because of security fears. The move has also halted large-scale repatriation of more than 120,000 refugees still there.
Meanwhile, several people are due to go on trial within days over the Atambua murders. (ANI)
13 Nov
Click on the pic to view it big
Not all guns at the
warfront...New Zealand Battalion soldiers play soccer against a loc
al team from Suialoro.
During their 6-month deployment in East Timor, the Kiwis have been playing
regular matches against local teams as well as UNTAET staff in the Suia
area. The Commanding Officer of the New Zealand Battalion Lt. Col.
Nick Dransfield has been a keen team member. (Photo by Cpl Nancy Cox and
Capt. Denise Mackay).
One of the beautiful beaches where anyone can experience all the sunshine lies along the upper shoreline about 10-k east of Dili, capital of East Timor. (Photo courtesy of USGET)
|
Friday 10 November 7:53 AM
East Timor does not hate Indonesia, says Gusmao
|
Speak your mindThe East Timorese do not hate their former oppressors but instead focus on the sacrifices made by Indonesians in the lead-up to the province's independence, East Timor independence leader Xanana Gusmao said last night.
In a speech to accept the Sydney Peace Foundation prize, Mr Gusmao said his people did not want retribution for atrocities committed against them.
However he said those responsible must stand trial.
"A society that is inclusive and just does not feed on retribution or repay destruction with destruction," Mr Gusmao said.
"It has its generosity disciplined by truth. We know ... the majority of the international election monitors who volunteered to protect our peoples' rights to vote freely in last year's referendum did not come from Australia, or America or Europe.
"They came from Indonesia.
"Indonesia is not an object of hatred of the East Timorese. We don't burn their flag and we couldn't care less about their monuments.
"When we speak of justice we are saying that those responsible for the crimes committed on East Timor must face trial," he said.
However reconciliation between the two sides required greater political flexibility to prevent "wounds from continuing to fester for many years to come".
Thousands of East Timorese were killed when Indonesian troops invaded after former colonial power Portugal left in 1975.
The United Nations has been running East Timor since an independence vote last year triggered a violent rampage by pro-Jakarta militias, who killed hundreds and destroyed towns.
Gusmao, tipped to become president of East Timor when it achieves full independence in 2001, said the province needed the full benefit of its oil and gas resources to ensure it did not become a political or economic burden on anyone, particularly Australia.
"If not, peace-building is liable to become an exercise in dependency-building, turning (East Timor) into a protectorate, without the capacity to be viable and to decide freely on its future.
East Timor and Australia were uncovering the historical record of events leading to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975, the former resistance leader said.
"Owning what happened leads us both to examine our consciences.
"But owning the past is not an exercise in apportioning blame. It is an exercise in releasing a truth imprisoned by silence."
Mob Throws Stones At UN Police In E Timor Before UN Visit
DILI, East Timor (AP)--Angry youths pelted U.N. riot police with stones Friday after a mob of 3,000 people chased four alleged prostitutes through the the capital's market and streets.The skirmish came a day before a U.N. delegation from New York was scheduled to arrive to assess the security situation in both East Timor and Indonesian West Timor.
One police officer and a civilian were injured during the clash.
The incident started after a group of residents caught four women they accused of being prostitutes. They women escaped the mob by sheltering in a nearby medical clinic.
There are fears that prostitution is on the rise in the predominantly Roman Catholic East Timor, which broke away from Indonesian rule last year.
More than 10,000 foreigners are now based in the territory to prepare it for self-rule.
The U.N. is responsible for security in the half-island state in the lead-up to local elections next year.
On Saturday, a seven-member team from the U.N. Security Council is due to arrive in East Timor for a three-day visit.
The group will then travel to Indonesian West Timor where three U.N. foreign aid workers were killed in September by an anti-independence militia mob.
All foreign relief workers were evacuated from the territory after the killings and the Security Council called on Indonesia to disarm the militia gangs.
The delegation is expected to check on the Indonesian government's progress in disarming the paramilitaries and inspect the conditions of several refugee camps in the territory.
Report from United Nations:Kofi Annan Praises East Timor Progress
10 Nov 2000 17:54:5 WIB
TEMPO Interaktif, New
York:The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, credited
the quick response and generosity of donors for East Timor’s ongoing
recovery from the violence and destruction that followed the independence
ballot in September 1999. Annan made these comments in a report to the UN
General Assembly in New York released on Wednesday, November 8.
“With help from donors, humanitarian efforts can provide needed assistance to prevent more suffering in East Timor,” Kofi said. Annan also praised the East Timorese for their endurance and persistence in avoiding dependence on outside donations.
Annan predicted that East Timor would still need help from the international community in every sector for the foreseeable future. Foreign aid, he said, would bolster existing programs and lead the world’s newest nation on a path toward full independence and development.
Kofi also recommended that Indonesian authorities find new housing alternatives for the estimated 100,000 East Timorese refugees in West Timor (East Nusa Tenggara). “The recent disputes between the local people and the refugees indicate tension between the two groups. This will worsen the situation and incite further violence if the Indonesian government doesn’t take the necessary measures,” Annan remarked.
Kofi Annan’s report covered developments in East Timor since 1999 when the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) established a transitional authority (UNTAET) to organize the region’s temporary executive and judicial administration.
According to a press release obtained by TEMPO Interaktif, the UNSC delegation that will visit East Timor and Indonesia left New York on Thursday, November 9. The delegation plans to meet East Timor leaders and review the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) operation in Suai, a border area between East Timor and West Timor.
During their stay in Jakarta, the delegation is scheduled to meet an Indonesian government group led by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri. The UNSC delegation consists of seven people including the Namibia Ambassador to the UN and UNSC President, Martin Andjaba. The other members of the delegation come from Argentina, Malaysia, Ukraine, the UK, and the USA.
SLAIN
PEACEKEEPER WEAPON RETURNED
Dili,
East Timor:
The captured weapon of a New Zealand peacekeeper killed by militia in
East Timor was returned to his comrades before noon yesterday about 11:45 a.m.
by the Indonesian Army at Suai in the territory's south-west.
Armed
militia stole the Minimi Light Support Weapon (a 5.56mm light machine gun) from
the body of Private Leonard Manning whom they had just killed during a clash at
Nanu on 24th July.
The
Minimi was recently retrieved by the Indonesian Army (TNI) following the
detention of three suspected militia near Laktutus on the border with East and
West Timor on 27th October.
It
was handed-over
to
Brigadier Ken Gillespie, Commander Sector West by Colonel Budi Heryantu,
TNI Commander West Timor who flew into Headquarters Sector West in Suai earlier
via a Bell 205 TNI helicopter.
Brigadier
Gillespie will be handing back subsequently the recovered weapon to New Zealand
Battalion under his command at Sector West.
The
Acting UN Force Commander, Major General Mike Smith, welcomed the return of
Private Manning’s weapon.
"I
thank Major General (Kiki) Syahnakri (Commander KODAM IX) and the TNI for the
action they have taken to recapture Private Manning's weapon from the militia
and return it to the New Zealand Battalion before their departure from East
Timor," he said.
"It
was the expressed wish of Private Manning's family that his weapon be returned
and not used to kill or injure anyone else".
Following
the detention of the militia suspects at Laktutus, the UN Peacekeeping Force and
the TNI have been involved in regular discussions to identify the origin of the
Minimi and then to arrange for its return.
Tuesday, November 7 1:07 PM SGT
Murdered soldier's gun recovered in West Timor
WELLINGTON, Nov 7 (AFP) -The Indonesian army is to ceremoniously hand over a New Zealand soldier's light machinegun stolen when he was murdered by a militia group in East Timor four months ago.
The weapon, found by the Indonesian Army (TNI) in a cache of militia arms on the West Timor side of the border, will be returned Wednesday to the New Zealand contingent serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force in East Timor.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said the move was encouraging evidence that Indonesian authorities were making an effort to fulfil promises to conduct a thorough investigation, with the UN, into the murder of the soldier, Private Leonard Manning.
"The TNI recently captured a militia member alleged to have killed Private Manning but, unfortunately, he has since escaped," said Goff.
"I hope that it is not long before he is recaptured and, along with his associates, put on trial for this terrible crime.
"The Indonesian authorities appear to be serious about confiscating militia weapons and clamping down on militia activity."
Goff said New Zealand had heard reports the militias were in growing disarray, although they remained a problem with refugees in West Timor camps.
Noting the Indonesian parliament had passed legislation on human rights tribunals on Monday, Goff said the move opened the way for those accused of gross human rights violation, such as those responsible for East Timor abuses last year, to be prosecuted under Indonesian law.
Major General Mike Smith, Deputy Force
Commander of the Peacekeeping Force meets with Philippine Deputy Inspector
General Navy Captain Carlos Pechuela during the c
all of the latter at PKF
Headquarters. The Armed Forces of the Philippines had sent a 3-man
IG Team to include Lt. Col. Enrique Cabos of the Philippine Air Force
and army Staff Sergeant Aromin Babida to visit the
Philippine troops currently deployed for peacekeeping operations
here. Lt. Col. Andes, (in-depth) heads the Force Support Unit which
is providing service support functions to PKF Headquarters and
particularly catering to the messing needs of the Kobe Camp.
November 7
United Nations peacekeepers and Don Bosco scouts on their way to a ship visit of USS O'Brien in Dili waters.
Help for a smooth take-off in Timor
By RICHARD BAKER
RURAL REPORTER
Monday 6 November 2000
|
One of the 63-year-old former Ansett captain's tasks will be to fly
independence leader Jose "Xanana" Gusmao over his country and
advise him on sites for new airfields.
Mr Kaye, of Baringhup, near Bendigo, says airfields will play a vital
role in rebuilding East Timor after 25 years of conflict.
His mission will fulfil a vow he made almost 10 years ago after seeing
footage of Indonesian soldiers killing dozens of East Timorese in Dili's
Santa Cruz cemetery in 1991.
"After seeing that I vowed that one day East Timor would be free
and that I would fly up there and try and help as much as I can,"
said Mr Kaye, who worked as a United Nations electoral officer in Dili in
last year's independence referendum.
Although much of his visit is focused on shaping East Timor's
aeronautical future, Mr Kaye's arrival will have an immediate impact.
On board his aircraft are boxes of urgently needed medical supplies,
including sterile rubber gloves, theatre gowns and clean linen.
"Surgeons were having to wash out rubber gloves so they could
re-use them," he said.
Mr Kaye has taken with him an Australian health worker, Matt Waixell,
who will advise the East Timorese leadership on establishing health
services.
Apart from some help from the Bendigo Rotary Club, Mr Kaye is largely
financing the mission on his own. He secured the medical supplies by
lobbying companies such as Ansell and Johnson & Johnson.
As a former army commando in the 1950s, Mr Kaye remembers how veterans
spoke of the bravery of the East Timorese who helped the Australians fight
the Japanese.
Nov 6, 2000
East Timor: Armed Militiaman Surrenders to Portuguese
Peacekeepers
3
Nov-13:55
Portuguese UN peacekeepers in East
Timor detained an armed
militiaman in the central sector of
Same Friday, after the man turned
himself over to residents of his home
village.
"After a series of contacts with
residents of the area, we got
them to convince the miltiaman to
surrender" with his SKS assault
rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition, a
spokesman for the Portuguese
East Timor: Four Arrested After Incidents with Radical Group in
Bobonaro
3
Nov-21:26
Four people were arrested Friday
after violent confrontations
between youth groups in the Bobonaro
district of East Timor,
following attempts by a radical
leftist group to raise the flag of
the Democratic Republic of East Timor
(RDTL) proclaimed in 1975.
The spokesman of the UN civil police,
Antero Lopes, told media
that a group of about 30 members of
the so-called Popular Defense
Commission (CDP-RDTL) had tried to
replace the UN flag in Bobonaro
The CDP-RDTL insists on recognition
of the independence
proclaimed in 1975 before the
Indonesian invasion and rejects the
current independence process.
"The UN civil police advised
them that they shouldn`t try to
raise the flag, but the group refused
to listen to police and even
threatened the lives of security
personnel, including East Timorese",
Lopes said.
The same group had announced Friday
that they intended to raise
their flag over the Bobonaro church.
However, the parish priest
called the police, who convinced them
to raise it in another
location, near the cemetery.
The four detainees were carrying
machetes and other weapons when
they were arrested, Lopes said, adding
that they had been transferred
to the Dili jail and would be brought
before court "in the next few
days".
The CDP-RDTL is a far-left group
founded in Nov. 1999 and made
up of disgruntled members of Fretilin,
one of the territory`s
traditional pro-independence
movements. The group claims to represent
the true ideals of Fretilin, rejecting
the current "more moderate
stance" of the party that on Nov.
28, 1975, declared the independence
of East Timor. That proclamation was
followed a week later by a
massive Indonesian invasion of this
former Portuguese colony.
The last Indonesian troops left East
Timor last autumn, in the
wake of the Aug. 1999 independence
plebiscite. The half-island has
since been governed by a UN Transition
Administration (UNTAET)
charged with preparing the territory
for full independence.
The Friday incident in Bobonaro, a
town located near the
Indonesian border, is the most recent
of several that have occurred
elsewhere in East Timor. Police have
intervened on at least three
such occasions, arresting three
people.
JBC
-Lusa
Nov 1, 2000
Wednesday, November 1 2:10 PM SGT
Indonesia, UNTAET to meet over Indonesian assets left in East Timor
JAKARTA, Nov 11 (AFP0 - Representatives of the Indonesian government and the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) will meet in November for further discussions on the assets of Indonesian nationals left in East Timor, a report said Wednesday.
"The assets of individuals, state-owned companies and government in East Timor will come up as the main topic of discussion at the fourth meeting," the state Antara news agency quoted Basyiruddin Yusuf, who heads the government's East Timorese refugees problem-solving task force, as saying.
The meeting will take place in Bukit Tinggi, West Sumatra. The two sides have already met three times: in Denpasar on Bali island, Yogyakarta in Central Java and Surabaya in East Java.
Yusuf said the meeting was expected to produce a satisfactory solution for East Timorese who abandoned their homes and fled to West Timor following post-ballot violence in East Timor in September last year and have since opted to retain their Indonesian citizenship.
"The fourth meeting was planned in September and it had to be postponed to October. But it (the meeting) will likely be realized in November, following various preparations the Indonesian government had to make for the visit of UN envoys in October," he said.
Yusuf, who is also director for the national unity department of the home affairs and autonomy ministry, was referring to a UN Security Council mission Jakarta had invited to visit West Timor following the slaughter of three UN relief workers there in September.
The murders by former pro-Indonesian East Timorese militia raised an international outcry and resulted in the hurried exodus of around 400 foreign aid personnel working with the some 130,000 East Timorese refugees remaining in Indonesian-controlled West Timor.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for the immediate disarmament and disbanding of the East Timorese militia in West Timor.
The UN mission will review the situation in East Timor and Jakarta's progress in disarming anti-independence militias based in West Timor.
"All parties should understand that the issue (of assets) is still under discussion. Whether they (UNTAET) want to compensate for it or let the new government in East Timor handle it, or others, is something we have to discuss," Yusuf said.
"Most important, the people who have their assets there (East Timor) should not pin too much hope on possible compensation," he added.
Pro-Jakarta militias went into a frenzy of killings and destruction following the pro-independence results of the August 30 UN-held ballot in East Timor, forcing some 300,000 people into West Timor and more than 100,000 others into hiding in the forests of East Timor.
Wednesday November 1 12:01 AM ETAustralia Investigates Reports of E. Timor Torture
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia is investigating newspaper reports its soldiers serving in a U.N. force in East Timor (news - web sites) allegedly tortured prisoners, Australian army chief Lieutenant-General Peter Cosgrove said on Wednesday.
Cosgrove, who led the U.N. mission to East Timor after it voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999, said similar allegations surfaced last year but investigations had found them baseless.
``Any allegations which go to the behavior of Australian soldiers is of deep concern to me,'' Cosgrove told reporters.
Reports published on Wednesday in several Australian newspapers, such as the Sydney Daily Telegraph and Brisbane's Courier-Mail, said members of Australia's elite Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment may have tortured captured Timor militia members.
The reports alleged that members of the regiment took ''trophy photos'' of themselves standing over the bodies of militiamen killed in a gunfight.
``The allegations made are serious. It looks at this stage that the initial allegations, to some degree, are anecdotal. The investigation continues,'' Cosgrove said.
``If there is any substance to the allegations then, of course, we will deplore that and take appropriate action.''
The Courier-mail did not identify the source of the allegations.
``The Courier-Mail was told bodies of dead militia were used to terrify captured militia members during questioning,'' the newspaper said.
It said the incidents allegedly occurred shortly after a clash between Australian SAS troops and militia fighters, in which two militiamen were killed, near the town of Suai in East Timor on October 6.
Two SAS soldiers were wounded and several militiamen taken prisoner.
``After the firefight, it is alleged that bodies of the dead militia were photographed for trophies and may have been used during interrogations,'' the report said.
Australia led an international peace enforcement team into East Timor in September last year after violence erupted following the territory's vote for independence from Indonesia.
Pro-Jakarta militia went on a rampage of violence, killing and looting in the East Timor capital Dili and the countryside.
About 9,000 troops international, the bulk of them Australian, remain in the U.N.-sponsored mission in East Timor.
Peacekeepers
in hospital following Timor accident
Fifteen
Australian peacekeepers remain in hospital in Dili this morning
after a bus crash on their trip home.
The troops from the 6th Royal Australian Regiment were travelling to
a port near the East Timorese capital, Dili, to get ready to return
home at the end of their tour of duty.
Lieutenant Colonel Pat Green from the Australian Army headquarters
in East Timor says the brakes on the bus failed, and it overturned.
"The soldiers were part of a group of 200 which is the last of
6th battalion which is rotating out of East Timor," he said.
"They're due to go home to Australia on Monday, on the Jervis
Bay. We're waiting for further word from the hospital."
"None of them are in a life threatening condition - two of them
are believed to be seriously injured. But as I say not life
threatening."
The Australian contingent and the UN are investigating the incident.
The troops were part of the UN peacekeeping force sent to East Timor
a year ago in response to anti-independence militia violence.
(www.abc.net.au/news) 29/10/00
MILITIA SUSPECTS SEIZED BY INDONESIAN ARMY
Dili, East Timor: Three suspected militia have been detained by the Indonesian Army (TNI) following an incident near Laktutus on the border with East and West Timor at approximately 1pm yesterday (Friday 27 Oct 00).
A
fourth man, militia leader Jacobus Bere, escaped but was reportedly
injured. The extent of his injuries are unknown. Bere is allegedly
involved in the murder of UN peacekeeper Private Leonard Manning at
Nanu on July 24.
The
TNI a retrieved a ‘Minimi’ Light Support Weapon (a 5.56mm light
machine gun) from the militia members.
At
the time of his death Private Manning was carrying a Minimi but it
was taken by his killers. It is not confirmed that this weapon
belonged to PTE Manning.
Discussions
with the Peacekeeping Force and the TNI are in progress to identify
the origin of the Minimi. The TNI are conducting an investigation
into the incident and are prepared to share information once the
investigation is complete.
Private
Manning, from the New Zealand Battalion (NZBATT) was the first UN
peacekeeper to be killed in action since the deployment of the
UNTAET peacekeeping force in January.
UNITED
NATIONS TROOPS CLASH WITH MILITIA IN EAST TIMOR
DILI,
EAST TIMOR:
United Nations peacekeeping soldiers from New Zealand (NZBATT)
were involved in a clash with Militia
last night (Tues 24 Oct 00) killing one Militia member during a
patrol near the Mota Riketan River seven kilometers north-east of
Suai.
At 815pm three armed militia approached within 20 metres of the New
Zealand patrol position and were engaged by the UN troops firing in
self-defence.
The militia returned fire and withdrew from the scene of the clash.
UN reconnaissance helicopters from Suai supported the New Zealand troops
with the search for the militia.
Another clash took place at 1150pm in the same area.
The UN force suffered no casualties.
Following an initial search of the immediate area, no further contact was established.
At first light the area was secured and the body of one armed militia
member was found.
United Nations peacekeeping troops are continuing to search the area and
are maintaining an active patrolling schedule.
For more information, please contact Lieutenant Colonel Tor Aarnseth at telephone numbers 0418 823 096 or 08 8942 2203 ext 4926
United Nations peacekeepers and Don Bosco scouts on their way to a ship visit of USS O'Brien in Dili waters.
The Peacekeeping Force celebrates UN Day with a parade of medals and colors on October 24, 2000 (Tuesday)
Lieutenant General Boonsrang Niumpradit, PKF Force Commander and Major General Mike Smith in concert pin UN Medals to personnel.
Wednesday, November 1 2:10 PM SGT
The meeting will take place in Bukit Tinggi, West Sumatra. The two sides have already met three times: in Denpasar on Bali island, Yogyakarta in Central Java and Surabaya in East Java.
Yusuf said the meeting was expected to produce a satisfactory solution for East Timorese who abandoned their homes and fled to West Timor following post-ballot violence in East Timor in September last year and have since opted to retain their Indonesian citizenship.
"The fourth meeting was planned in September and it had to be postponed to October. But it (the meeting) will likely be realized in November, following various preparations the Indonesian government had to make for the visit of UN envoys in October," he said.
Yusuf, who is also director for the national unity department of the home affairs and autonomy ministry, was referring to a UN Security Council mission Jakarta had invited to visit West Timor following the slaughter of three UN relief workers there in September.
The murders by former pro-Indonesian East Timorese militia raised an international outcry and resulted in the hurried exodus of around 400 foreign aid personnel working with the some 130,000 East Timorese refugees remaining in Indonesian-controlled West Timor.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for the immediate disarmament and disbanding of the East Timorese militia in West Timor.
The UN mission will review the situation in East Timor and Jakarta's progress in disarming anti-independence militias based in West Timor.
"All parties should understand that the issue (of assets) is still under discussion. Whether they (UNTAET) want to compensate for it or let the new government in East Timor handle it, or others, is something we have to discuss," Yusuf said.
"Most important, the people who have their assets there (East Timor) should not pin too much hope on possible compensation," he added.
Pro-Jakarta militias went into a frenzy of killings and destruction following the pro-independence results of the August 30 UN-held ballot in East Timor, forcing some 300,000 people into West Timor and more than 100,000 others into hiding in the forests of East Timor.
Wednesday November 1 12:01 AM ETAustralia Investigates Reports of E. Timor Torture
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia is investigating newspaper reports its soldiers serving in a U.N. force in East Timor (news - web sites) allegedly tortured prisoners, Australian army chief Lieutenant-General Peter Cosgrove said on Wednesday.
Cosgrove, who led the U.N. mission to East Timor after it voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999, said similar allegations surfaced last year but investigations had found them baseless.
``Any allegations which go to the behavior of Australian soldiers is of deep concern to me,'' Cosgrove told reporters.
Reports published on Wednesday in several Australian newspapers, such as the Sydney Daily Telegraph and Brisbane's Courier-Mail, said members of Australia's elite Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment may have tortured captured Timor militia members.
The reports alleged that members of the regiment took ''trophy photos'' of themselves standing over the bodies of militiamen killed in a gunfight.
``The allegations made are serious. It looks at this stage that the initial allegations, to some degree, are anecdotal. The investigation continues,'' Cosgrove said.
``If there is any substance to the allegations then, of course, we will deplore that and take appropriate action.''
The Courier-mail did not identify the source of the allegations.
``The Courier-Mail was told bodies of dead militia were used to terrify captured militia members during questioning,'' the newspaper said.
It said the incidents allegedly occurred shortly after a clash between Australian SAS troops and militia fighters, in which two militiamen were killed, near the town of Suai in East Timor on October 6.
Two SAS soldiers were wounded and several militiamen taken prisoner.
``After the firefight, it is alleged that bodies of the dead militia were photographed for trophies and may have been used during interrogations,'' the report said.
Australia led an international peace enforcement team into East Timor in September last year after violence erupted following the territory's vote for independence from Indonesia.
Pro-Jakarta militia went on a rampage of violence, killing and looting in the East Timor capital Dili and the countryside.
About 9,000 troops international, the bulk of them Australian, remain in the U.N.-sponsored mission in East Timor.
Peacekeepers
in hospital following Timor accident
Fifteen
Australian peacekeepers remain in hospital in Dili this morning
after a bus crash on their trip home.
The troops from the 6th Royal Australian Regiment were travelling to
a port near the East Timorese capital, Dili, to get ready to return
home at the end of their tour of duty.
Lieutenant Colonel Pat Green from the Australian Army headquarters
in East Timor says the brakes on the bus failed, and it overturned.
"The soldiers were part of a group of 200 which is the last of
6th battalion which is rotating out of East Timor," he said.
"They're due to go home to Australia on Monday, on the Jervis
Bay. We're waiting for further word from the hospital."
"None of them are in a life threatening condition - two of them
are believed to be seriously injured. But as I say not life
threatening."
The Australian contingent and the UN are investigating the incident.
The troops were part of the UN peacekeeping force sent to East Timor
a year ago in response to anti-independence militia violence.
(www.abc.net.au/news) 29/10/00
MILITIA SUSPECTS SEIZED BY INDONESIAN ARMY
Dili, East Timor: Three suspected militia have been detained by the Indonesian Army (TNI) following an incident near Laktutus on the border with East and West Timor at approximately 1pm yesterday (Friday 27 Oct 00).
A
fourth man, militia leader Jacobus Bere, escaped but was reportedly
injured. The extent of his injuries are unknown. Bere is allegedly
involved in the murder of UN peacekeeper Private Leonard Manning at
Nanu on July 24.
The
TNI a retrieved a ‘Minimi’ Light Support Weapon (a 5.56mm light
machine gun) from the militia members.
At
the time of his death Private Manning was carrying a Minimi but it
was taken by his killers. It is not confirmed that this weapon
belonged to PTE Manning.
Discussions
with the Peacekeeping Force and the TNI are in progress to identify
the origin of the Minimi. The TNI are conducting an investigation
into the incident and are prepared to share information once the
investigation is complete.
Private
Manning, from the New Zealand Battalion (NZBATT) was the first UN
peacekeeper to be killed in action since the deployment of the
UNTAET peacekeeping force in January.
UNITED
NATIONS TROOPS CLASH WITH MILITIA IN EAST TIMOR
DILI,
EAST TIMOR:
United Nations peacekeeping soldiers from New Zealand (NZBATT)
were involved in a clash with Militia
last night (Tues 24 Oct 00) killing one Militia member during a
patrol near the Mota Riketan River seven kilometers north-east of
Suai.
At 815pm three armed militia approached within 20 metres of the New
Zealand patrol position and were engaged by the UN troops firing in
self-defence.
The militia returned fire and withdrew from the scene of the clash.
UN reconnaissance helicopters from Suai supported the New Zealand troops
with the search for the militia.
Another clash took place at 1150pm in the same area.
The UN force suffered no casualties.
Following an initial search of the immediate area, no further contact was established.
At first light the area was secured and the body of one armed militia
member was found.
United Nations peacekeeping troops are continuing to search the area and
are maintaining an active patrolling schedule.
For more information, please contact Lieutenant Colonel Tor Aarnseth at telephone numbers 0418 823 096 or 08 8942 2203 ext 4926
Australian
Big Gun and Interfet Cosgrove
visit Dili
The
Chief of the Australian
Defence Force Admiral C.A. Barrie
arrived Tuesday (25 Oct.) afternoon at Comoro
Airfield on board a Royal Australian aicraft
for a two-day official
visit in the mission area here. He
was met by Major
General Mike Smith, the Deputy Force Commander of the Peacekeeping
Force (PKF) in East Timor.
Admiral
Barrie was accompanied
by the Chief of the Australian Army Lieutenant General P.J. Cosgrove
who was the former
Commander of Interfet from September last year up to
February this year.
The
Australian big gun met with the Peacekeeping Force
Commander Lt.Gen. Boonsrang
Niumpradit at the PKF Headquarters later in the afternoon for a
military briefing.
The
itinerary included a visit to the Australian troops at the West
Sector under Brigadier Ken Gillespie in the following day.
Generally,
the official visit covered the Australian missions in East Timor,
according to a communiqué.
"Admiral
Barrie is a four-star, Lieutenant
General Cosgrove is a three-star."
Also arriving with them was Air Vice-Marshal A.G. Houston, a two-star equivalent officer.
UNITED
NATIONS TROOPS CLASH WITH MILITIA IN EAST TIMOR
DILI,
EAST TIMOR:
United Nations peacekeeping soldiers from New Zealand (NZBATT)
were involved in a clash with Militia
last night (Tues 24 Oct 00) killing one Militia member during a
patrol near the Mota Riketan River seven kilometers north-east of
Suai.
At 815pm three armed militia approached within 20 metres of the New
Zealand patrol position and were engaged by the UN troops firing in
self-defence.
The militia returned fire and withdrew from the scene of the clash.
UN reconnaissance helicopters from Suai supported the New Zealand troops
with the search for the militia.
Another clash took place at 1150pm in the same area.
The UN force suffered no casualties.
Following an initial search of the immediate area, no further contact was established.
At first light the area was secured and the body of one armed militia
member was found.
United Nations peacekeeping troops are continuing to search the area and
are maintaining an active patrolling schedule.
For more information, please contact Lieutenant Colonel Tor Aarnseth at telephone numbers 0418 823 096 or 08 8942 2203 ext 4926
Happy
United Nations Day! Kudos to those who serve
Accolades
and laurels await today 22
peacekeeping force personnel during a United Nations Medal Parade in
front of PKF
headquarters at 10 a.m.
Lieutenant
General Boonsrang Niumpradit, PKF Force Commander will be the
Reviewing Officer who will also personally pin the UN Medals to
deserving personnel.
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Colonel Phil Gibbons will be the Parade Commander.
In
the main, the parade provides the proper venue for presenting UN
Medals to PKF Headquarters Staff who have served the mission for a
period of 90 days.
Among the recipients are: Col. Stephen Jones, Lt Col. Mark Webb, Wing Commander Peter Bennett, Lt. Commnder Michael Miller, Lieutenant Wayne Hamilton, Capt. Billan Christophe, WO Trigg David, WO2 Brad Davis, Wing Commander Mc Bride Graeme, Lt. Col. Nielson Joem, Major Hanafi Alaa-Eldin, Major Esbjerg Jens, Lt. Col. A. Buadromo, Major Waka, WO1 J Ramafonoand seven others are still on leave.
|
17-19
Oct |
General
Surayud Chulanont, CINC Royal Thai Army |
Accompanied
by LtGen Pongthep and LtGen Pichai |
Dili,
Suai, Baucau, Viqueque |
|
|
19-22
Oct |
Col
Howard Borum, Commander of United States Military Observer
Group-Washington |
Nil |
TBC |
|
|
24-27
Oct |
Jordanian
Delegation headed by MajGen Yaguob N Haddad |
Nil |
Dili, Oecussi |
News 11 October
East
meets West over militia
situation
PKF Force Commander Lieutenant General Boonsrang Niumpradit departs today for a meeting with TNI Commander Major General Kiki Syahnakri at Denpasser, Bali tomorrow to discuss important matters pertinent to both joint and respective operations on the militia situation in the immediate environment.
The scheduled tomorrow's meeting, dubbed Inter-Commander Meeting will push through as scheduled following a postponement last month due to some unfavorable factors perceived as counterproductive by both sides.
Maj. Gen. Syahnakri is the Commander of KODAM IX whose troops include those operating in West Timor.
Lt. Gen. Boonsrang will be brief by TNI/POLRI on their operations in NTT including their progress report on the current militia crackdown in West Timor.
He is also expected to be brief explaining the relationship between TNI and the militia ,and the response of the Adhoc Committee into the shooting of Pvt Manning in July.
Flying in to Bali with the Force Commander is composed of the Chief CMO, the UNTAET Political Adviser, the Commander Sector West and aide-camp.
The Force Commander's entourage is expected to return to Dili on the 13th of October.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army General Surayud Chulanont is met by another Thai General, PKF Commander Lt. Gen. Boonsrang Niumpradit during the former's visit at the Headquarters on Oct. 17, 2000. The entourage was later led inside for a briefing.
KOBE NEWS
Dengue
Bar:
The Chairman reported on progress and plans for the TV room and Library. It is
intended to retain the current layout of the Dengue Bar, place a sliding door
between the current TV room and the designated library. The designated library
will be divided into a small TV room with coffee making facilities and library.
Plans have been approved but no firm timeframe for the work finalized.
It
was decided by the committee that the Chairman may declare “Discounted
Drinks” when drinks will be substantially reduced in price. The prices for
drinks will be:
a.Beer
- $1.00
b.Pre-mixed
drinks -
$2.00
c.Soft
drinks
- 2 for $1.00
It
was decided that a greater variety of soft drinks are to be made available.
Action:Bar Manager
The Chairman reported that another fridge has been
ordered through the Supply System.
Merchandise
and Sales:
The
Treasurer reported that sample shorts and t-shirts have been given to the
Australian and New Zealand NCE’s for displaying and stock has been forwarded
to representatives in Bacau and Sector West. Negotiations with Frontline on the
sale of shorts are still progressing.
It
was reported that 100 plaques and more stubby coolers have been ordered, it is
intended to forward a box of stubby coolers to Bacau for sale.
Sports:
LtCol Kim has volunteered to chair the Sports sub-committee. A letter is to be
raised by the Secretary outlining terms of reference for the Sports
sub-committee.
Action:Secretary
Social:
No one has come forward to fill the position of chairman of the Social
sub-committee. It was suggested by Major Khaleel that Major Habib be approached
to fill this position. Major Habib has been an active social committee member in
the past. A letter is to be raised by the Secretary outlining terms of reference
for the Social sub-committee.
Action:Secretary
The
Sports and Social sub-committees are to be formed and have met prior to the next
PKF HQ Social Club Meeting on Thursday 7th September.
Action:Chairman
Sports sub-committee, Chairman Social sub-committee
General Business
Committee
members are to canvas personnel on how they wish the profits of the PKF HQ
Social Club spent.
Action:All
Next Meeting:
The next meeting
will be held in the Dengue Bar at 14:30 Thursday 7th September.