Portugal is likely to fund construction of new secondary schools while pushing for the language of instruction to be Portuguese - not a popular decision among all the territory's students. Law enforcement is becoming a popular profession. More than 12,000 applications were received from East Timorese who wanted to join the new police service, although only 150 were selected for the first training class. The UN plans to train 3,000 East Timorese police officers within three years. They will have their work cut out.
Crime is rife, from knife attacks, muggings and public disorder to petty theft and extortion.
Jails are filled to capacity with murderers while East Timor's new courts have yet to hold a single trial. A new Canadian deputy police chief, fresh from Bosnia, promises change for the better. The telephone system is working again, and East Timor has an international dialling code. Privacy Policy Copyright 2000. The Sydney Morning Herald.