14 February 2010

UNMIT: Baucau and Ainaro next districts for police resumption

Press Releases and Featured News Baucau and Ainaro next districts for police resumption. Dili, 29 January 2010 - SRSG Ameerah Haq and Police Commissioner Luís Carrilho visit Baucau ahead of PNTL resumption.

The chief of UNMIT, SpecialRepresentative of the Secretary-General Ameerah Haq, made herfirst district visits on 26-27 January to see first-hand the progress of police work in Lautem and Baucau. Travelling with Police Commissioner Luís Carrilho and PNTL Commander of Operations Command, Inspector Mateus Fernandes, the main purpose of the visit was to see progress in the first district in which PNTL resumed primary policing responsibility, Lautem, and to see preparations underway in Baucau which is due for resumption in the coming weeks.

Late last year, the Government-UNMIT joint assessment teams recommended Baucau and Ainaro districts for resumption, after each district met the mutually agreed criteria. Resumption is expected to take place in the near future, pending final preparations by the Government.

SRSG Haq travelled first to Lautem district, where she visited the District Police station as well as the Los Palos sub-district station.

“I am impressed by the level of organization and professionalism displayed by PNTL officers in Lautem district,” said Haq, “as well as the continuing working relationship with UNPOL officers who now focus on monitoring and mentoring their PNTL colleagues in that district.”

In Baucau, Ameerah Haq met with the Acting District Administrator, Mr Antonio Guterres, visited the district police headquarters, as well as the District Court where she met with a District Judge, lawyers and court officials, and later with the District Prosecutor.

“The courts and police are part of one justice system,” said Haq. “For citizens to have confidence in the rule of law, both aspects of the justice system need to function well and be responsive to the needs of communities.”

SRSG Haq also visited the Baucau District Hospital, the Villa Nova 11 Primary School where she met hundreds of the 1,443 students and many of the 38 teachers and learned about the World Food Programme School Feeding Programme, met with district NGOs and held a short media conference.

http://unmit.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=156&ctl=Details&mid=2149&ItemID=7529

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