Unmit Newsletter 3 August 2009

UNMIT NEWSLETTER

Núm 95 03 Agostu 2009

Misaun Integradu Nasoins Unidas nian iha Timor-Leste

PNTL resumes primary policing responsibilities in Manatuto

» UNMIT Photo/Martine Perret Police Commissioner Luis Carrilho, PNTL Commander Longuinhos Monteiru and SRSG Atul Khare.

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n 25 July, the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations for Timor-Leste (SRSG) Atul Khare and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão presided over the

ceremony marking the resumption of primary responsibilities for the conduct of police operations by Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) in the District of Manatuto. Manatuto is the third district where the PNTL has resumed primary policing responsibilities since the process started in May 2009 in the district of Lautem. PNTL resumed responsibility in Oecussi in June. Resumption of responsibility by PNTL is a gradual process, taking place district by district, and later unit by unit, only after joint assessments conducted by the UNMIT and the Government. These joint assessments are conducted applying mutually agreed

criteria to determine if PNTL in districts are prepared to resume responsibility. UN Police will maintain their presence in the districts where the PNTL have resumed responsibilities, in order to monitor, advise and support the PNTL, including in the area of human rights protection.

» UNMIT Photo/Martine Perret PNTL officers at the resumption ceremony in Manatuto.

An excess of sun solves Oecussi’s vaccine dilemma Ministry of Health (MoH) and supported by UNICEF, a project is underway to install stand-alone, solar powered photovoltaic refrigerator systems in all Community Health Centres and Health Posts. Training has also been given to staff on how to operate and maintain the refrigerators.

» UNMIT Photo/Hipolito da Cruz Solar panel in Oecussi.

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ital vaccines must be kept cold at all times if they are to maintain their full potency. For this reason, health clinics need reliable refrigerators. However it is an almost impossible task to maintain refrigerators in most of the country where electricity is scarce and erratic. In the enclave of Oecussi, the abundance of sun has inspired a solar solution to this electricity problem. Led by the

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This potentially life-saving equipment consists of solar panel, batteries and charge regulators with a vaccine storage capacity of 37.5 litres. The equipment is powerful enough to maintain vaccines at the correct temperature for five consecutive days without any sunshine at all. “This is part of UNICEF’s support to the MoH’s National Immunization Programme and restoration of the immunization structure and cold chain system,” said UNICEF Health Specialist Yin Yin Aung. “The goal is to reach at least 80 per cent immunization coverage of all children under one with DTP-Hepatitis B,

OPV, Measles and BCG vaccines Tetanus Toxoid vaccines for pregnant women.” A total of five solar-powered fridges have been installed in Oecussi, one in each sub-district plus one at the District Health Department Office in the Oecussi capital. “The refrigerators are expected to have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years and will make it possible for us to provide children and mothers with the immunizations they need at the right time,” explained Lucia Taeki, District Officer of the UNICEFsponsored Mother and Child Health Programme. “We should be able to reduce the mortality rate for these target groups.” UNICEF has been supporting the Government-managed Expanded Programme on Immunization since 2002. To improve the lives of children and women, UNICEF provides technical and financial assistance to the MoH.

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UNICEF gives essential medical supplies to MoH

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NICEF has recently provided essential health and nutrition supplies including drugs and nutrients, autoclaves, computers and motorbikes to help strengthen the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition programme of the Government. The supplies will assist

health workers reach and deliver services to remote areas as well as improving supervision and monitoring of health activities. “There is a strong potential that children and women’s health and nutrition can be improved if effective evidencebased interventions are implemented”

said UNICEF Representative Jan Kukita. The supplies were donated to UNICEF by the Government of Japan and Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development.

Community police help reforest Timor-Leste from the UN and PNTL, more than 2,500 native trees have so far been planted in the districts of Ainaro, Dili, Ermera, Liquica, Manatuto, Oecussi and Viqueque. Tree species include tamarind, guava, mango, orange, cloves, cinnamon, coffee, bougainvillea, mahogany and casuarina.

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» UNMIT Photo/Sandra Magno UN and PTNL officers planting trees in Ainaro District.

NMIT is one of 11 UN missions participating in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign. Led by Community Police officers

“This is a lesson for everyone, and especially for people in our village,” said village leader Adelino de Araujo from Ainaro District. “The trees will protect us. They will give shade to people and help avoid erosion.”

Community Police Team Leader Premalal Liyanarachchi believes that not only did the activity promote public awareness of environmental issues, but that it “helped to foster positive public perceptions about the role of community police.” Riding on the success of the tree planting, community police officers have pledged to plant additional trees in Dili District. Worldwide, more than 4 billion trees have so far been planted keeping UNEP on track to reach its 7 billion target by the end of 2009.

Viqueque PNTL police get trained in vital policing techniques

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ommunity members gathered last week in front of the Viqueque District Administration office to witness a ceremony to mark the completion of task force training of PNTL officers by UN Police. Twenty-five PNTL officers from Viqueque District took part in the two-week training. During the ceremony, officers demonstrated their skills in using tactics as well as how they applied force in an appropriate manner – without using excess force - if required to manage mass disturbances. One of the main aims of the training was to show task force officers how to use force as a last resort, to use it in a proportional

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manner, and always in a manner which respects human rights and the rule of law. The officers were also training on how to negotiate with uncooperative and possibly violent perpetrators, how to stop and detain car thieves or looters and how to use handcuffs.

Viqueque District PNTL Commander Justino Menezes explained that the objective of the training was to improve the capacity of the task force, and to strengthen the ability of the task force to serve and protect all community members. The Viqueque District Administrator Francisco da Silva was very pleased with the training and said that it would serve the district well ahead of upcoming village and municipal elections.

» UNMIT Photo/Jamie dos Ries PNTL officers getting task force training.

Not official document – for information only.