Subject: East Timor Press Review Thursday 20 June 2002

East Timor Press Review

Thursday 20 June 2002

· Suara Timor Lorosae reported on its front page the blessing ceremony of Bishop Belo's house in Lecidere, Dili last night. Guests at the event included: Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, Speaker of Parliament, Francisco Guterres, Portuguese ambassador Quartim Santos, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, nuns, priests and Catholics from the diocese of Baucau and Dili.

· Lucia Lobato, Member of Parliament (PSD), raised the issue of Portuguese language during a student conference yesterday in Dili. STL reported that in her view the Timorese are finding it hard to learn the language.

· The deputy of KOTA, Clementino Amaral, says that if the government increases a tax on goods by 20% tax, it will affect the people because many are unemployed and many are working on temporary contracts only.

· In an article the paper said, that 854 former Indonesian government civil servants would receive pension payment benefits on Monday 24 June.

· The paper reported that the former director of the Indonesian bank (Danamon) in East Timor, João Bosco Guterres said the government must have regulations in place and conditions in East Timor to attract foreign investors. Guterres said investors will not focus only in Dili but in the districts as well.

· In a separate article the Speaker of Parliament, Francisco Guterres said that if East Timor takes Australia to the International Tribunal regarding oil and natural gas it would affect the development of the nation’s economy.

· It was reported that Timorese are not feeling safe now that GNR has ended their mission in East Timor. The paper says many Timorese do not trust East Timor Police Service and would like the government to extend GNR services in the country.

· STL reported that some judges are being paid although they stopped working after May 20. The paper said the judges are awaiting the decision from the Minister of Finance and Justice on their contract.

· Timor Post also ran similar stories on Bishop Belo house blessing ceremony and payments to former Indonesian government civil servants.

· Sports t-shirts donated by the Portuguese government two years ago are just being distributed by João Carrascalão to the people in the 13 Districts reported TP.

· TP reported that a cement factory based in Aileu has closed because the business has been very quiet especially since the departure UNTAET. This information was provided by Rogerio Castro the person in charge of the factory.

· TP reported that the University of New South Wales in Australia will hold a conference on 27 June with the theme “Present Challenges and Recipocrate Visions”. The conference is aimed at the academic public of the Australian university.

· A contingent of 69 Brazilian military officers arrived on in Dili on Tuesday to replace the current Brazilian contingent which will leave East Timor on 26 of June, reported TP.

· Aliança de Araújo said rumours in Maliana that her brother Abilio de Araújo and Tommy Soeharto are backing the group that are going around intimidating people are untrue. They are meant only to defame her party.


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