MEDIA RELEASE, 4 February 2002
The
first meeting of the National Commissioners of the Commission for Reception,
Truth and Reconciliation took place today. The meeting follows the swearing-in
of the Commissioners on 21 January, and was chaired by the Deputy Transitional
Administrator, Dennis McNamara. At the meeting, Aniceto Guterres Lopes was
elected to serve as Chair of the Commission and Father Jovito Araujo was elected
as Vice-Chair.
Responding
to their appointments, both men stressed the heavy responsibility entailed in
their future task, as well as the need to work as a team with their colleagues
and to have courage and confidence in themselves and the mission they have been
given. “When the Selection Panel put forward my nomination, I was fully
committed to the process - now I am happy to accept this significant
responsibility. We are all now ready to move forward with the work of the
Commission together, as a team,” Aniceto stated.
The Commissioners adopted a strong vote of thanks to all who have contributed to
the development of the Commission until now. Those singled out for thanks
included the Steering Committee, which designed the Commission, the Selection
Panel, the UNTAET Human Rights Unit and donors. “We owe a special debt of
gratitude to the staff of the Interim Office for their excellent preparatory
work over the last six months”, said Aniceto.
Additionally, the Commissioners decided to establish a small advisory body of
respected East Timorese figures to serve as an independent source of wisdom and
guidance. Consideration will be given to inviting a pro-autonomy representative
and one or two international figures to join this body. Mr. Pat Walsh, currently
Project Coordinator for the Commission, was appointed Special Adviser to the
National Commissioners. The Commissioners appointed a panel to finalise the
appointment of an Executive Director.
WEB
SITE LAUNCH - www.easttimor-reconciliation.org
Following the meeting, the new Commission Chair Aniceto Guterres launched the
Commission’s web site, which contains comprehensive information on the
background and functions of the Commission. It includes up-to-date news reports,
profiles of the National Commissioners, and articles relating to the views of
prominent East Timorese on reconciliation and justice issues.
In the coming weeks, the National Commissioners will conduct a number of visits.
A delegation will visit Oecussi on 6 February, and a Commission representative
will also travel to Kupang, West Timor on 25 February to participate in an NGO
seminar on reconciliation.
For further information, or to
arrange interviews, please contact Lamartinho de Oliveira (Mobile: 0408 731 103)
or Jane Alexander (Mobile: 0407 976 935) at the National Office of the
Commission in Balide, Dili.