East Timor Press Review 27 September 2002

· Suara Timor Lorosae’s front page carried a photo of the Foreign Affairs Minister, José Ramos-Horta speaking at the Asia Society in New York. In his speech Mr. Horta stated that East Timor would never support the Aceh and West Papuan freedom movement. But according to Mr. Horta, Aceh’s and West Papua’s special economy status is a good choice.

· East Timor’s flag will be hoisted today in the UN headquarters, New York.

· A number of women from West Timor have illegally entered the country to practice prostitution reported STL. A supervisor in the immigrant unit of East Timor, Maria do Ceu da Conceicao reported that at least 300 women were sent back to their country.

· ETPS Commissioner Paulo Martins stressed that people have illegally entered East Timor because there is no law of immigration at the moment in East Timor.

· The STL carried a photo of the Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, Minister of Finance, Madalena Boavida Brites, President of Philips Petroleum, Dr. Stephen Brand, Minister of Transport, Communication and Public Works, Ovidio Amaral and the Timor Sea workers at Bayu-Undan few days ago.

· In response to a comment made by Bishop Belo and reported by Lusa that there is no security in East Timor, FDTL Chief of Staff, Colonel Lere Anan said FDTL has always provided security for the country. Mr. Anan said he would like to know which security forces the Bishop is referring to as reported in the STL.

· STL carried a photo of Chief of UNMISET, Kamalesh Sharma, Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri and the Minister of Internal together with the UN Civil Police.

· Vice-Minister of Health, Luis Lobato reported that in his department there is money amounting to US$ 16,2million for rehabilitation of hospitals in all five district, Oecussi, Maliana, Maubisse, Suai and Baucau.

· Timor Post’s front page carried a photo of President Xanana Gusmão and the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan embracing.

· TP also covered the story on those that illegally entered East Timor.

· The paper reported that PSD and PD walked out when the Law of Property was being put to vote in national parliament. Lucia Lobato (PSD) was quoted as saying that the walk out is because of two reasons which is that the agenda is not in the schedule and there are no delegates for the voting.

[Drafted by the UNMISET Spokesperson office]