Bahasa Indonesia headlines ­ Monday 26 March 2001

1. UNTAET Must Be Fair In Passing Regulations (Suara Timor Lorosae Front Page headline)

2. Bishop Basilio: People Beginning To be Frustrated With UNTAET (Suara Timor Lorosae Front Page second lead)

3. Horta: Timor Lorosae Will Be In ASEAN (Timor Post Front Page second lead)

1. UNTAET Must Be Fair In Passing Regulations (Suara Timor Lorosae Front Page headline)

Regulations that are passed by UNTAET affecting investors, both local and foreign, must be firm and clear. The regulations must not confuse foreign investors who are keen to invest in the country.

This was stated by the executive director of the East Timor Study Group, Joao Mariano Saldanha, who commented on the forced closure of the Hotel Dili 2001.

He said if there was inadequate information given by the authorities, foreign investors will be confused.

“For instance, if foreign investors want to pump in capital in this country they must be clear on which agency they are to approach; they have to be clear on who to speak to,” said Joao.

“If not,” he added, “ we might see the same fiasco as Hotel Dili 2001.”

“I myself don’t really know what happened, to such an extent that the hotel had to be closed,” he said.

According to Joao, the private sector could be moving too fast in the country.

“But if that was the case, then regulations [UNTAET] must be promulgated just as fast to attract investors,” he added.

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2. Bishop Basilio: People Beginning To be Frustrated With UNTAET (Suara Timor Lorosae Front Page second lead)

The Bishop of Baucau diocese, Basilio do Nascimento, said Timorese people did not feel comfortable with UNTAET and the level of frustration with the UN was abnornal

“When UNTAET came here, initially there was a feeling of euphoria. But now it seems the level of frustration among the people is exceptionally high,” he added.

He said there were gross inadequacies in infrastructure aid to the people.

Bishop Basilio acknowledged that though Timor Lorosae was receiving overseas aid, the biggest challenge, however, was how the Timorese people were going to utilize this assistance.

“That, now, is a big problem for us,” he added.

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3. Horta: Timor Lorosae Will Be In ASEAN (Timor Post Front Page second lead)

Timor Lorosae will fight to be a member of ASEAN because of the country’s geographical location, said the Foreign Minister of the Transitional Cabinet Jose Ramos Horta.

Horta was responding to the comments of an Indonesian diplomat who said Timor Lorosae cannot be accepted as a member of ASEAN if it also wants to be a member of the South Pacific Forum.

“Our intention to join ASEAN has not changed. I have met with the ASEAN foreign ministers to let them know of our intention to join the grouping. All of them agreed, and we are just waiting for the right time,” said Horta.

To accelerate the process, said Horta, Timor Lorosae is ready to place three diplomats in Jakarta. The diplomats will facilitate communication between the Indonesian government and Timor Lorosae.

“We have a great task ahead of us. The young diplomats will work together with Indonesia and hopefully in due time they will pave the way for an embassy,” added Horta.

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