East Timor Press Review

Wednesday 19 June 2002

On its front page Timor Post reported on the farewell ceremony for the end of mission of the (Guarda Nacional Republicana) GNR yesterday in Dili. Timor Post said the Timorese Task Force would replace them. GNR has transferred 16 Land Cruiser cars, 4 trail motor bikes, 1 motorboat and many other assets to the new task force. Minister of Internal Affairs, Rogerio Lobato, the Portuguese ambassador and the commander for the Singapore contingent, Heng Sou Kaw, were present at the ceremony. Members of GNR will depart on 24 May.

Jacob Xavier, Member of Parliament (PPT) walked out of the assembly upset because other members of parliament want district representatives as part of political parties. The paper quoted Xavier as saying that the parliament has to establish a law regarding this matter and not creating conflict among them.

TP quoted Cornelio Da Costa Silva the Ataúro district coordinator as saying that the people of Ataúro need qualified teachers to provide education.

The Floating Resort Boat, The Dolphin, remains closed to the public because is still awaiting an agreement with the government to stay in East Timor reported TP.

Rui Daniel da Costa from the sub-division of the department of cattle breeding told TP that many animals, like dogs, pigs, chickens, horses, buffalo have died from a disease in many districts. In a separate article TP reported that residents from Ataúro Island requested a veterinarian to look into this problem.

TP reported that an officer from the Department of Telecommunication and Transport has inaugurated the irrigation system in Cailako and Halekoe, Maliana sub-district last week.

Australia will soon approve tax exemptions on imported products from East Timor reported Timor Post.

TP also reported that the Australian government is willing to maintain direct support to the new nation. In a separate article the paper reported that Canada and Singapore would provide English language training for Timorese to be able to participate in international forums.

Suara Timor LoroSae (STL) quoted the Vice-Speaker of the Parliament, Arlindo Marçal as saying that the Minister of Justice went through a process of approval for her long leave.

STL publishes 2 pages (A3) of the names of Timorese former Indonesian pensioners entitled to payments from TASPEN.

East Timor will claim the wealthiest reserves of Timor Sea. STL quoted Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri speech on a conference in Darwin, Australia on natural resources. Alkatiri said, “The Timorese claim is perfectly clear based on international norms”.

STL quoted Eusebio Guterres, a Member of Parliament (PD) as saying that one must reflect on the agreement signed between East Timor and Australia because it is not benefiting the country.

STL reported that Xanana Gusmão and Ramos-Horta raised the issued of maritime boundaries demarcation which is still unclear. The paper said the government would raise the same issue with Indonesia.

Parliament president, Francisco Guterres said the request by the former head of the pro-integration group, João Tavares to settle all the returnees from West Timor in Maliana District would be discriminating against other former members of the militias groups.

STL quoted Fr. Agostinho Vasconcelhos who participated in the reconciliation meeting in Atambua last Friday as saying that the meeting was positive and a step forward in the reconciliation process.

Longuinhos Monteiro, the prosecutor general said a meeting would take place sometime next Monday either in Bobonaro or Maliana to look into the requests made by the head of former pro-Indonesia group, João Tavares.

In a separate article STL reported that a group from the Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation Commission paid a visit to Francisco “Lu’olo” Guterres in the Parliament to discuss amnesty for those people who committed crimes in 1999.

[Drafted by: Ceu Brites UNMISET spokesperson’s office]

Back to June menu
May
World Leaders Contact List
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu