ICRC News 09 / 16-Mar-00

** SHORT MENU....
Indonesia / East Timor: First family reunification from East to West Timor:

After a wait of several weeks, the first family reunification organized by
the ICRC from East to West Timor took place at the beginning of March when
an East Timorese woman and her baby were reunited with their husband and
father at Kefamenanu (West Timor).

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Combatants learn the law:
A presentation on international humanitarian law was given by the ICRC on 9
March in Kalemie, in territory controlled by the armed opposition to
President Kabila.


** STORIES IN FULL...

Indonesia / East Timor
First family reunification from East to West Timor

After a wait of several weeks, the first family reunification organized by
the ICRC from East to West Timor took place at the beginning of March when
an East Timorese woman and her baby were reunited with their husband and
father at Kefamenanu (West Timor). Three other requests for family
reunification have been received by the ICRC from persons wishing to leave
East Timor for West Timor.

Since 24 January the ICRC has already transported 26 people, including 14
unaccompanied children, by land in the other direction, from West to East
Timor, as part of its family reunification programme. The crossings from
the western to the eastern part of the island take place at Batugade.

The ICRC is also arranging for the reunification of families between East
Timor and other islands of the Indonesian archipelago. By 6 March, a total
of 270 families had been reunited by the ICRC.

Further information: Corinne Adam, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++41 22 730 22 24



Democratic Republic of the Congo
Combatants learn the law

A presentation on international humanitarian law was given by the ICRC on 9
March in Kalemie, in territory controlled by the armed opposition to
President Kabila. The participants were officers and non-commissioned
officers on the staff of the Goma branch of the Rassemblement congolais
pour la democratie (RCD).

This was the first such presentation for RCD combatants in eastern Congo
since July 1998, just before the outbreak of the country's current internal
conflict. Subjects discussed included the conduct of combatants, the
mandate, activities and working principles of the ICRC and the Red Cross in
general, and the protective value of the red cross emblem.

The 62 participants - who included a dozen police officials - asked
questions about a number of subjects such as preventing war, ICRC work in
prisons, and armed forces medical services. Their keen interest
demonstrated that there is a need for instruction in international
humanitarian law, particularly in this unstable part of northern Katanga
province.

Further information: Juan Martinez, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++41 22 730 22 81, or
mobile ++41 79 217 32 17



During the weekend of
18 - 19 March 2000, for all information please call the press officer on
duty
Chris Bowers, on ++ 41 22 779 33 22
or
++ 41 79 217 32 31