Unmit Newsletter 30 August 2009

UNMIT NEWSLETTER

Issue No 97 30 August 2009

United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste

Tour-de-Timor race starts for 330 cyclists

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» UNMIT Photo/Antoninho Bernardino People watching the cyclists at the starting line in Dili.

We hope that everyone will be a winner in this race for peace,” said President José Ramos-Horta at the opening of the Tourde-Timor, a multi-stage bicycle race open to Timorese and international cyclists. The inaugural 5-day race is between 24-28 August. Promoting Timor-Leste as a place of peace, the race coincides with the lead-up to the celebrations for the 10-year anniversary of the 30 August 1999 UN-organised and conducted Popular Consultation, in which the people of Timor-Leste voted to determine their future.

» UNMIT Photo/Antoninho Bernardino Cyclist passing the finish line in Baucau District.

“The Tour-de-Timor will be a showcase for the friendliness and energy of the Timorese people, and the beauty of this island nation,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Timor-Leste, Atul Khare. “I am delighted, too, that the cooperation between the United Nations and the Timorese authorities demonstrates our shared objectives in achieving peace, security, and development as Timor-Leste continues on the road to consolidating itself as a democratic society founded on human rights and the rule of law.”

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Blood transfusions began after World War II. Since then, blood transfusions have become an integral part of medical practice. If not for the ready availability of blood, life-saving medical treatments such as the treatment of serious injuries, organ transplants, complicated surgical procedures and cancer treatment would not be possible. The lives of millions of people around the world are saved each year because of access to healthy blood.

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Day-long festivals of peace including concerts, art work, theatre and sporting activities are being held in the district towns where each leg of the race ends, highlighting the Tour-de-Timor as a celebration of peace and national unity.

Traffic control booths set up in Dili

UN Police donate blood at Dili Hospital esponding to the needs of the Dili National Hospital, UN Police officers are donating blood to resupply existing blood reserves which have seriously diminished - the hospital was left with only one pint of 0+ blood. While it is common practice in Timor-Leste for relatives to donate blood when patients are in need of a transfusion, this practice leaves the hospital short of critically needed blood supplies.

Covering approximately 400km (to a height of about 2,000 metres above sea level), the race course covers 5 of the nation’s 13 districts. The course has been designed to take riders through the most spectacular terrains of Timor-Leste: from high mountain ranges to tropical jungle, through to the cool highaltitude coffee country and along the picturesque undulating coastlines. Representing 9 countries, 330 cyclists, including 25 Timorese, are participating in event. The United Nations is fielding 6 teams, comprising 24 cyclists, with one all-female team. Race finalists will take home prize money totaling USD75,000, in which USD15,000 will be awarded for the first prize. UN Police, who have authority for policing under the peacekeeping mandate, will work with the national police to maintain security across the race course.

Unlike medications that are manufactured, blood components can only be collected from healthy volunteer donors. Thus, to ensure an adequate blood supply to meet patient need, it is important that all healthy, eligible people donate blood regularly. So

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» UNMIT Photo/Antoninho Bernardino UN Police officers donating blood at Dili National Hospital.

far, 40 UN police officers have donated blood. Another phase of donations will begin in October.

» UNMIT Photo/Antoninho Bernardino SRSG Atul Khare and Prime Minister Xanana Gumão at the inauguration of the traffic booths.

wenty-three traffic control booths have been set up around Dili to help police control traffic. Set up at junctures were there are no traffic lights, the booths provide shelter for the police officers who are stationed there to guide traffic during peak times. “These traffic posts are an asset as they will help to improve the flow of traffic and help the traffic police establish a daily presence,” said Police Commsisioner Luis Carrliho. The clasping of hands between a national and UN police officer painted on the front of each booth symbolizes the close cooperation between the UN and the national police.

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Council of Ministers approves Law on Domestic Violence

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he Law Against Domestic Violence was approved by the Council of Ministers on 19 August and is now ready for debate in the National Parliament. The Law consists of three parts: a main law on domestic violence, maintenance for survivors and their families and shelters, and applies in conjunction with the Criminal Code. The Secretary of State for the Promotion of

Equality, with the support of UNFPA and UNMIT, is in charge of bringing this law forward and will submit it to Parliament. The rate of violence in the home in TimorLeste is very high and survivors rarely have any support. It is only recently that domestic violence has been categorised in the Criminal Code as a public crime, which, for

Timor-Leste commemorates anniversary of FALINTIL

Nominations begin for candidates in Suku elections

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n 20 August, Timor-Leste commemorated the 34th anniversary of the formation of the Forças Armadas da Libertação Nacional de TimorLeste (FALINTIL) - translated in English as The Armed Forces for the National Liberation of East Timor. Established on 20 August 1975, FALINTIL was officially dissolved on 1 February 2001. At the resumption of independence in 2002 the official armed force of the newly independent TimorLeste was named FALINTIL– Força de Defesa de Timor Leste (F-FDTL).

the first time, places the responsibility of investigating and prosecuting these crimes on the State. If the Law Against Domestic Violence is passed by Parliament, it will signify an important step towards establishing a legal framework in which survivors of domestic violence can seek protection and justice.

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» UNMIT Photo/Antoninho Bernardino President José Ramos-Horta at the FALINTIL Day celebrations.

To commemorate the anniversary, the Government of Timor-Leste held activities in the nation’s capital city, Dili. Another important event will take place on 29 August when the remains of deceased FALINTIL soldiers will

be in reinterred in the Dili district of Metinaro, the site of the Hero’s Cemetery. Part of UNMIT’s mandate is to assist the Government to conduct a comprehensive review of the future role and needs of the security sector, including F-FDTL, the Ministry of Defence, the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) and the Ministry of Interior.

n 23 August, the candidate nomination process for the upcoming Suku elections began in all 442 Sukus (villages) in Timor-Leste. The nomination process will officially end on 27 August. The process was conducted by STAE brigades, monitored by CNE Commissioners and supported by The UN Electoral Support Team which provided assistance to both STAE and CNE. The Government is strongly encouraging the participation of women in these elections which will be held on 9 October.

First UN World Humanitarian Day celebrated

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Humanitarian personnel venture to troubled regions to help others. For them, there can be no such thing as a forgotten conflict,”said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a message to mark the first UN World Humanitarian Day celebrated on 19 August. World Humanitarian Day is meant to shine a spotlight on the vital work

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carried out by thousands of aid workers all around the world. The humanitarian community’s ability to respond rapidly, effectively and predictably to crises, natural or man-made, has tremendously improved in the last 20 years. This is due largely to the dedication of the

many thousands of aid workers who have devoted their lives to humanitarian work. This inaugural World Humanitarian Day is in part dedicated to the memory of all those aid workers who have lost their lives while bringing assistance to others, the majority of them from the communities they are trying to help.

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