East Timor Press Review

6 November 2002

· Attorney General, Longuinhos Monteiro said the law should decide Uatu-lari case He said “the government can make a decision and conclusion that this is a political issue therefore it should be resolved politically. But in my view, law must deal all crime cases. If it is resolved politically the issue will rise again”, reported Suara Timor Lorosae.

· Member of Parliament, Leandro Isac (PSD party) has been quoted as saying that the reconciliation process promoted by President Gusmão in West Timor has been successful but the majority of Timorese in the country are facing various internal problems, “therefore internal reconciliation among national leaders should be focused first.”

· STL reported that the team sent today by the government to Uatu-Lari sub-district, Viqueque district includes 5 members of the Parliament.

· National Parliament President Francisco “Lu-Olo” Guterres stated that during his four- day visit with president Xanana Gusmão and an official delegation to West Timor, he noticed that Timorese people there are enthusiastic to return to their homeland.

· In an interview with journalist in Mota Ain, former pro-integration leader João Tavares praised the leadership of Timor-Leste’s President. “With only 6 months in power, the President thought of those Timorese still living in West Timor and came to visit them. He must first focus on his task in Timor-Leste. I will help the refugees return”, said João Tavares.

· Suara Timor Lorosae’s front page reported on yesterday’s appointment of Alcino de Araújo Barros as Vice-Minister of Internal Administration. Prime Minister Alkatiri and President Gusmão nominated him.

· Director of Dili Hospital, Benjamin Piedade yesterday told journalist that the hospital does not have a car to specifically transport the dead ones back to their districts. Mr. Piedade said there has been lots of criticism from the public in regards to this matter.

· STL reported that two pediatrics specializing in heart diseases from Australia, Charles Kilburn and Lance Fong arrived in Dili last Thursday to provide free medical consultaion to children between 0-18 years of age at the national hospital.

· It is reported that in the opening ceremony of Lospalos bridge - named Obrigado Bridge - Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri noted that when the Japan Engineer Group first arrived in the country they were encountered with a protest by “many of our friends from various NGO’s about the presence of Japanese soldiers due to sins committed by their grandfather during WWII in this nation.” “But I appeal to these NGO’s to focus on the positive things that the Japanese soldiers are currently doing good for the country,” added Mr. Alkatiri.

· Timor Post’s front page carried a photo of former combatants protesting in front of UN Police building in Caicoli about the selection criteria for police officers. Below the photo it reads: Rogerio Lobato: “To be a police officer one must be tall and strong.” Minister Lobato said it would be ideal to have tall and strong police officers because they are the ones to serve the communities. This should be the criteria for the recruitment of police officers. In a dispatch, Minister Lobato stated that if 340 former Indonesia police were recruited then the same number should apply for the recruitment of former clandestine and Falintil. The Minister added that the test for the 300 former clandestine should apply to all the recruits in order for one to say it is a balanced process but UN has the last say on the security. The government must coordinate with UN police but the decision on this issue comes from UN, said the Minister. Questioned whether the numbers of former clandestine and Falintil reached 300, the Minister said, “I have submitted this proposal to UN Police Commissioner, Peter Miller in which I stated that the criteria for former Indonesian police, then to the clandestine and armed forces must be treated equally.” Mr. Lobato added that although many former combatants do not have education they can still be recruited as police officers to maintain law and order based on whatever capacities they have.

· Also on it’s front page Timor Post reported that President Xanana Gusmão and Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri officially nominated Alcino Araujo Barros as Vice Minister of Internal Administration yesterday. In the same article Prime Minister Alkatiri informed that a travel budget of US$300,000 approved on 20 May for government officials is not enough.

· The Chairman of Dili District Court, Aderito Tilman said the vacancy left by the District Court Attorney, Alcino Araújo Barros should be replaced immediately in order to maintain the workflow.

· Baucau District Administrator, Micaela Ximenes told Timor Post that a cement and zinc factory would soon open in Cairabela-Vemasse sub-district of Baucau.

· Member of National Parliament, João Gonzalves of PSD party said that if Internationals NGO’s refuse to follow the country’s regulations, they should be sent out of Timor-Leste.

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