Bahasa Indonesia Headlines ­ Tuesday 10 July 2001

1. Special investigation team into NZ PKF killing arrives in Dili 
2. Horta regrets two political parties did not sign National Unity Pact 
3. Fr Martinho Gusmao: No figure more central than Xanana

1. Special investigation team into NZ PKF killing arrives in Dili (Timor Post, front page headline)

An Indonesian team investigating last year’s killing of a New Zealand PKF member, at the border with West Timor, arrived in Dili yesterday. The seven-member team was led by the Deputy Police Chief of West Timor Colonel Gorys M.

In July last year, Private Leonard Manning ­ a New Zealand PKF member ­ was shot dead at the border between Covalima and Betun in Indonesia-controlled West Timor. Manning’s killer, a militia member, is still at large.

The Indonesian team’s arrival coincides with the visit of the UN Security Council team to West Timor to assess the security situation there.

At a press conference at the Prosecutor General’s Office, Colonel Gorys said the investigation team came about as a result of cooperation between UNTAET and the West Timor Police. He said it was decided on 26 June to set up this team.

The main aim of the team, said Colonel Gorys, was to look into the Manning’s killing by a militia member operating in West Timor.

“We intend to question several witnesses who were at the scene of the killing,” said Colonel Gorys.

But Colonel Gorys said there could be problems.

“Most of the witnesses were New Zealand PKF members and many of them have already returned back home after their tour of duty.”

“We hope to have finished most of the interviews by Thursday,” added the Deputy Police Chief.

2. Horta regrets two political parties did not sign National Unity Pact (Suara Timor Lorosae, front page second lead)

The Transitional Minister for Foreign Affairs Jose Ramso-Horta said yesterday he regretted that two political parties, out of the 16 registered parties, refused to sign the National Unity Pact on Sunday.

The two political parties which wanted to be out of the pact were the Timor National Party (PNT) and National Republic Party of Timor Leste (Parentil).

Ramos-Horta was speaking to reporters at the inauguration of the new BNU office in the heart of Dili.

Ramos-Horta said that by not signing the National Unity Pact, the two parties indicated they were not interested in developing the country.

“The National Unity Pact is not for individual party self-interests but for the overall success of the 30 August election,” said the Foreign Minister.

“Let’s not have a situation where those who did not sign the Unity Pact will also not respect the results of the 30 August election,” stressed Ramos-Horta.

“At the end of the day, however, it is the people who will decide which parties are for national unity,” he added.

3. Fr Martinho Gusmao: No figure more central than Xanana (Suara Timor Lorosae, front page third lead)

The President of the Baucau Diocese Youth Commission Father Martinho Gusmao said there were three interesting aspects in Sunday’s signing of the National Unity Pact.

“The first aspect is the support of the people. The second is the configuration of political parties to face the future and the third is the redefinition of the role of moral politics,” he said in an interview with STL.

He said the support of the people for the National Unity Pact could be seen at the huge turnout on Sunday at the Democracy Field in Dili.

“When Fretilin signed theNational Unity Pact, the crowd just applauded. And they gave the same applause to PSD and all other minor parties. Whether they necessarily understood the full pact or not is another matter,” said Father Martinho.

He said the enthusiasm of the people, seen in Dili on Sunday, was a clear indication that they were no longer afraid of party politics. But the people, he said, were now observing political parties to see whether they could deliver the goods.

“Though they applauded loudly when Fretilin signed the pact, there was still doubt on whether the party could fulfill its future role. The emotion was because Fretilin was the party that fought to free Timor Lorosae in the former CNRT,” added Father Martinho.

On the redefinition of moral roles, Father Martinho said the roles played by Dili Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo and independence leader Xanana Gusmao was at times entertaining and funny.

“Bishop Belo is behaving like a political figure, while Xanana is taking more of a moral stance,” he said.

“How can a man of robes speak politics? And how can a man not ordained as a priest speak on morals? This is a really interesting development.”

But at the moment, said Father Martinho, Xanana Gusmao is still the central figure in Timor Lorosae.

“In our society we can go on talking about democracy. But for democracy in Timor Lorosae, I will choose Xanana Gusmao.”

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