UN Police Help Timorese Combat Youth Unrest in Capital
New York, Aug 2 2011 - United Nations Police (UNPOL) and their Timorese counterparts have begun a new community-based
initiative that aims to curb the persistent problem of rock throwing by youths in Dili, the national capital.
Representatives of UNPOL and the national police service (PNTL), as well as town chiefs, village chiefs and a local
administrator, met yesterday at a police station in Comoro, a neighbourhood of Dili, to discuss possible joint actions
they can take to combat rock throwing.
Fights between martial arts groups in Comoro have caused problems within the local community, according to a press
release issued today by the UN Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).
UNPOL and PNTL decided to try a new initiative after local police and community leaders recognized that dispersing and
arresting youths has not solved the problem.
Luis Carrilho, UNPOL Commissioner, stressed that policing efforts can only be successful when they have the cooperation
of the community.
“Police and citizens should work together as partners to make the community safer,” he said. “This was recognized by Timor-Leste’s Government when it passed the Organic Law of the PNTL.”
For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
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