UN official seeks information on E. Timor
JAKARTA (JP): A United Nations official met some members of the National Commission on Human Rights yesterday to gather information on conditions in East Timor.
Commission deputy chairperson Miriam Budiardjo said that the UN official Tamrat Samuel had been sent to the province by UN special envoy on East Timor Jamsheed Marker to gain more information.
"Marker wants to get information on East Timor routinely. He is dissatisfied with getting reports on East Timor through the Internet and other sources, so he has asked Mr. Samuel to come here to discuss the East Timor situation," Miriam said.
She declined to comment on the content of the meeting, "Mr. Samuel did not want me to reveal the results of the meeting," she said.
"We discussed the latest developments in East Timor. He asked us what has been happening there and he also spoke of his own evaluation of East Timor," she said.
Before coming to Jakarta, Samuel visited East Timor where he met provincial governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares and other officials.
Other commission members taking part in yesterday's meeting were Charles Himawan, Syamsuddin and H.A.A. Baramuli.
The United Nations has been mediating talks between the foreign ministers of Indonesia and Portugal to resolve the international status of East Timor.
The territory, a former Portuguese colony, became part of Indonesia in 1976. The United Nations however has not recognized this and continues to regard Lisbon as the territory's administering power.
The last round of talks was held in New York last month.
Human rights issues have featured prominently in discussions on East Timor.
During yesterday's meeting, Samuel was also informed about the commission's activities, including its efforts to have the government ratify the economic rights covenant.
Deliberation on the covenant would be completed this month, Miriam said.
The commission had recommended that the government also ratify the covenants on abuse and on race discrimination.
"Next year we will recommend that the government ratify the covenant on political rights," she said. (05)