United Nations Development Programme
For Immediate Release
UNDP presents rebuilt Suai Courthouse to Justice Ministry
East Timor's Ministry of Justice today took formal possession of Suai's
newly rehabilitated Courthouse, which after nine months of UNDP-organised
reconstruction is now ready for use.
The keys for the Courthouse, which includes detention cells and
accommodation for judges and prosecutors, were symbolically handed to
the
Minister for Justice, Ana Pessoa, by the UNDP's Resident Representative
Finn Reske-Nielsen .
The original Courthouse was badly vandalized in the militia violence
following East Timor's vote for independence in August 1999. It was rebuilt
under the UNDP's project to support the judicial system in East Timor,
and
cost approximately $115,000 (US dollars).
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Reske Nielsen said the rebuilding of the
Suai
Courthouse was especially symbolic because of the terrible massacre that
took place in Suai in the postreferendum period. Over two hundred people
were killed while sheltering in a church, when the local militia set fire
to the building.
"The UNDP is delighted to hand over this courthouse, which is not
just a
new building but symbolizes a new start for the people of Suai and East
Timor as a whole, who now have access to a free and fair judicial system
for the first time in their lives."
Receiving the key to the Courthouse, the Minister for Justice thanked
the
UNDP for their support, not just to this project but to the East Timorese
judicial system as a whole.
The UNDP's judicial programme is a $1,000,000 (US dollars) project which
is
funding the rebuilding of courts, training for East Timorese judges,
prosecutors and lawyers, equipment and internet access for judicial system
workers and court administration training. NOTES TO EDITORS The Suai
courthouse is one of four district courts in East Timor and will serve
Suai
and surrounding areas of the South Western Timor, including crucial areas
with Indonesian borders. The renovation of the courthouse was supported
mainly by funds from the Government of Belgium with additional money from
the UNDP. The building was constructed using local labour, thus
contributing to the local economy and employment.
For Further Information please contact: Imogen Wall or Rita Pires
Email:imogen.wall@undp.org or rita.pires@undp.org Phone: (61) 0417
-827-041, Website:
www.undp.east-timor.org.
MEDIA RELEASE 18 th 2002 April