Source:
Government of Australia
Date: 25 Aug 2003
Australia launches East Timor policing initiative
MINISTER
FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ALEXANDER DOWNER
MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND CUSTOMS, SENATOR CHRIS ELLISON
FA 104 25 August 2003
We are pleased
to announce a major new initiative to provide training and
management development for East Timor's national police force.
Australia
will work in partnership with East Timor as it continues to build
an effective, professional and accountable police force. This $40 million
initiative will be delivered over four years.
The maintenance
of law and order will be critical for East Timor's
stability and prosperity, particularly in the period following the
departure of the international peacekeeping force.
The new
initiative will complement and reinforce considerable Australian
assistance already being provided to the East Timor police force through
the participation of Australian Federal Police officers in the United
Nations Police Force in East Timor.
Australian
assistance will be delivered by AusAID and the Australian
Federal Police. AusAID will provide training and expertise in policy
development, planning and management - areas that are vital to supporting
an effective police force. Targeted support will also be provided to
related law and justice institutions.
The Australian
Federal Police will provide training to East Timorese police
officers at college facilities in Dili and in the field through the 13
districts. The AFP will work with the East Timorese police to determine
high priority training needs. Priority will be given to developing the
basic skills needed by police officers to deliver community policing services.
Australia
will work closely with other development partners in the planning
and delivery of this assistance. The United Kingdom has already agreed
to
provide assistance of around $700,000 this year in close coordination
with
this important policing initiative.