Rival youth groups clash in Dili

Nine people were arrested and dozens of weapons confiscated late Wednesday in the East Timorese capital Dili, after UN police intervened in clashes between two rival youth groups near the central hospital. Eyewitnesses and local residents contacted at the site by Lusa said the problem had existed for several days and involved members of two groups, one from the eastern town of Lospalos and the other from Laga in the Baucau area. The latter is reportedly linked to the Holy Family group, a religious sect led by an East Timorese known as L-7, some of whose members are former Falintil guerrillas. The Wednesday events took place near L-7's house in Dili. Major Oliveira of the Portuguese National Republican Guard said such disturbances were increasingly normal in East Timor, adding that police would remain in the neighborhood for several more hours. "The situation is now calm. We know another group attacked and we intend to keep careful watch so that people can stay calm", he said.

Refugees invloved illigal trade

ADMIST tight security by Indonesian military personnel, illegal trade in the border area of East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor continued to flourish and has now even also involved East Timorese refugees. Commander of the Braja Sakti infantry battalion task force Lt Col Agung Rijdhianto said here on Wednesday the unfavourable economic condition of the population and the chance to get large profits in the border region had motivated the local people and refugees to engage in illegitimate trading activities in many different ways. "We have warned them many times to stop their illegal trade, and we have even asked the local village authorities to take active part in putting a halt to the illegitimate trade activities, but everything had been to no avail as certain people continued their activities by any means available, while trying to bribe the security personnel on duty," he said. As battalion commander in charge of maintaining security in the northern border region, he said he and his men will continue curbing the smuggling of goods to East Timor.

Aussie paramedics train Timorese

SEVEN Australian paramedics have taken long service and extended leave to train East Timorese in basic life support skills and continuing voluntary service work throughout Dili and its surrounding districts. The major problem the Australian paramedics are faced with is trying to fit into East Timor's health system, and adjust to the different problems in East Timor. "The majority of cases we are dealing with over here are preventable. Over 40 per cent of the workload is in obstetrics, basic childbirth, where problems could have been detected by a simple ultra-sound. The luxury of such equipment is not available in East Timor," said paramedic Alan Eade who is currently based in Dili. Australia's paramedic involvement began in October 1999 with one man, Toowoomba based Vince Little, who was alone for the first five months. Since then numbers have grown. East Timor is now witnessing its largest contingent of paramedics yet, with seven qualified paramedics and five ambulances.

UN mandate extended in East Timor

THE United Nations Security Council has extended the UN's administration of East Timor for another year, while noting that the former Indonesian territory might become independent before then. The council stressed the need for a substantial international presence in East Timor after independence, and asked the Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to report back within six months. The UN administration in the territory was established in 1999 after Indonesia relinquished control following a referendum which resulted in a big majority for independence. Widespread violence followed the vote, and some three-hundred-thousand East Timorese were forced to flee into neighbouring West Timor, which is controlled by Indonesia.

Clash with Portuguese underlines resentment

AN argument over a traffic infringement sparked an ugly brawl between East Timorese university students and Portuguese riot police, underscoring growing resentment at the United Nations mission and heavy-handed police tactics.

Witnesses said the fight began when Portuguese riot police tried to arrest an East Timorese taxi driver who had entered a one-way street behind the headquarters of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). The riot police, known as GNR, smashed the taxi's windows as they tried to remove the driver from the car.

- Compiled by Ekram Kabir