Drug Abuse – Family Law – East Timor: Refugees, Falantil – Chechnya – Nelson Marine Reserve

DRUG ABUSE: Ministry of Health officials fear an escalation in drug related crime. A 15% increase in drug addiction is expected each year. Many of these are expected to turn to crime to finance their habits. Police Association is also concerned.

FAMILY LAW: Family law section of Law Society is concerned at the impact of legal aid changes on domestic violence. Annis Sommerville says there is a danger some will not be able to afford representation.

EAST TIMOR – REFUGEES: Indonesian government says that it will comply fully with UN requests to return West Timor based refugees to East Timor. Indonesia will provide the transport and security. First refugees expected to leave soon.

EAST TIMOR – FALANTIL: Xanana Gusmao says Falantil guerillas will not allow peacekeepers to disarm them. Mgen Peter Cosgrove has asked them to disarm.

CHECHNYA: Russian troops have launched an attack on a village 20kms away from the Chechen capital Grozny.

NELSON MARINE RESERVE: A marine reserve has been approved in the Nelson Region.

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Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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