East Timor Press Review Friday 12 July 2002

· Timor Post front page reported on the attack on police officers in Suai by allegedly former Falintil members. MP José Manuel said only PKF, FDTL and the Police could act on it not the Parliament.

· TP reported that former East Timor governor Abilio Soares has been sentenced to ten years and six months in the prison by the Prosecutor-General I Ketut Murdika in Jakarta Ad Hoc Tribunal.

· Minister of Internal Affairs, Rogerio Lobato said that new elections must be held for the district administrators.

· ASDT and FRETILIN will have to work together to decide on the head of Aileu district administrator because the majority of August 30 2001 voters of that district are from ASDT.

· A student has reportedly said that pupils in the district do not have access to media information but she hopes the government is aware of it and will do something about it.

· The head of the Dili District Court, Aderito Tilman was quoted as saying that the decree letter addressed to the government on the judges and prosecutors contract has been signed by President Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri and the Minister of Justice, Anna Pessoa.

· The paper ran a story on the Sea Emperor ferryboat that it has not been operating between Dili, Atauro and Oecusse because it ran into corals and has a leakage.

· TP reported that misunderstanding led to demonstrations by many Ermera residents against a police officer of that district.

· The 2 trucks carrying 30 tones each of sandalwood has been detained by police officers in Hera and the case is under investigation by the forestry department.

· Egidio de Jesus, the Secretary of State for Electricity and water supply said after the installments of the 3000 board meters in the 13-Districts, bills will be charged monthly in order to sustain the electricity. In a related story, the residents of Baucau have agreed to pay their electricity bill.

· Many journalists are reportedly disappointed with police officers because they could not interview an officer regarding a recent incident in Gleno, Ermera district. They were told only the Police spokesperson can be interviewed.

· MP João Gonçalves (PSD) has reportedly said the Economy and Finance Ministry announced cuts to allowances although the budget allocated to members of parliament is yet to be used.

· Another MP Clementino Amaral (KOTA) stated that if a solution is not found on the sea boundaries between Australia and East Timor the only option is to appeal to the International Tribunal.

· It was reported that many Timorese are working overtime in their maze field to produce more crops for commercial sale but they do not know who to it sell to.

· Xanana Gusmão proposes a Foreigners Investment Committee to encourage trade with the East Timor economy. The announcement was made yesterday during the International Economy Forum in Darwin, reported TP.

· The Minister of Internal Affairs, Rogerio Lobato says the government has clear information about the Kolimau Group 2000 and says there are a few people who are trying to provoke instability in the country.

· Suara Timor Lorosae’s front page reported on the head of UNMISET Kamalesh Sharma addressing the World Population Day commemoration in Dili as saying that the young generation of East Timor have to work hard to develop the country because the future of the nation lies in their hand. Mr. Sharma presented the awards and certificates from UNFPA to the winners of the World Population Day Poster Contest

· The vice minister of the Minister of Justice, Domingos Maria Sarmentos informed that the Suai court will soon begin its services but cases under process from that district in Dili will not be moved.

· STL reported that about 300 Oecussi residents have waited for almost a week- for the ferry that stopped operating due to technical problems- to return home.

· It is reportedly that AIDS has spread in East Timor mainly through young people who have engaged in relationship with foreigners infected with this ailment.

· The Malaysian Olympic Committee is currently in East Timor to meet with the local Sport Confederations representatives and learn more about the country’s sport facilities.

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

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