From UNMISET

LOCAL MEDIA MONITORING

August 7, 2003

STL

OPPOSITION SAYS:"THERE IS A HIDDEN AGENDA TO END UP DEMOCRACY

Opposition Parties in the National Parliament have said that the political statement of the President of Fretilin, Mr Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, could raise suspicion of a systematic hidden agenda to avoid implementing true democracy in Timor-Leste, yesterday Lu-Olo said that there are people who are politically ambitious and will stop at nothing to bring down the Government.. The Secretary General of the Democratic Party, Mr Mariano Sabino said "The political statement of the President of Fretilin is a serious threat to the democracy in Timor-Leste. The threat is aimed at keeping the people from criticizing if the Government's performance is not good. It means that there is a hidden plan to avoid democracy". The spokesperson for the KOTA Party, Mr Clemetino dos Reis Amaral, warned political leaders not to let the people suffer again as they had in 1975. "If there are political leaders who warn against coup d'etat through the media, it could be a suspicion that the leader who made the statement in fact wants to undertake coup d'etat. I conclude by saying there is no group in this country that wants to remove the current Government" said Mr Amaral.

PRESIDENT GUSMAO CONDEMNS JAKARTA TERROR BOMBING

East Timor's President, Xanana Gusmão, wrote to his Indonesian counterpart on Wednesday, expressing his condemnation of the terrorist bombing in Jakarta on Tuesday that killed at least 14 people, injuring about 150. In his message to President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Gusmão described the hotel bombing as "an attack against peace in Indonesia, the region and the world". He underlined East Timor's commitment to working with Jakarta to prevent such "cowardly actions" in future. Mr Gusmao also sent his Indonesian counterpart a message of "sympathy" and "condolence", to the families of the victims and Timor-Leste's solidarity with the people of Indonesia. The Jakarta bombing has been claimed by a radical Indonesian Islamic organization, Jemaah Islamiya.

THE WORLD BANK AND GTZ SUPPORT TRAINING TO GOVT OFFICERS

The Team Leader of the German Technical Cooperation, (GTZ) Mr Joachim Metzner, said that the World Bank's Dili Distant Learning Center (DDLC) in Timor-Leste, in cooperation with the Government of Germany, will hold training in the center as a part of capacity building to the Directorate of Land and Property. He said that the training will focus on the other post-conflict countries experiences in land ownership, land models, and structure of the ownership. The training will be held in December will involve four countries: Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Laos and Timor-Leste. Mr Metzner said that the GTZ and the World Bank will provide support for the planned video conference. In a separate interview, the Manager of Dili Distant Learning Center, Mr Joao Loucao, said that the DDLC is helping to contribute to the new nation Timor-Leste by facilitating training through the DDLC for the capacity-building of the East Timorese.

TIMOR POST

PRESIDENT XANANA SAYS:"NATIONALITY ISSUE IS NOT PRIORITY"

President Xanana Gusmao, yesterday said that the argument over the nationality of politicians raised in the National Parliament was not a priority issue for the well being of the people. President Xanana said that what is important is how to address the people's basic necessities such as food, shelter, health and education. President Xanana said this in response to reporters' questions regarding the nationality status of the Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and the Secretary of Defense, Mr Roque Rodrigues, at Hotel Timor during the launch of a book entitled "Women face War and Peace" by UNIFEM.

GEN TAUR SAYS:"NO COUP D'ETAT"

The Commander of the Falintil-FDTL, Gen Taur Matan Ruak, yesterday vowed there would be no coup d'etat. "Be assured that there will be no coup d'etat. It is rumor, don't believe it. If someone wants to carry out a coup d'etat - just do it and we will see" said Gen Ruak. Gen Ruak said that the commemoration of the Falintil anniversary on August 20, 2003 will be held at Waimori historic cantonment as per the schedule. Gen Ruak said that the Armed Forces will be split. Some will attend the ceremony and some will stay in Dili.

OPPOSITION ACCUSES RULING PARTY OF UNDERTAKING TERROR CAMPAIGN

The Opposition Parties have accused the ruling party of undertaking a terror campaign. The Opposition said that the ruling party (the Government) was starting rumors to create instability in Timor-Leste. The president of the Political Platform of the National Unity, Mr Fernando Lasama, told reporters that the political statement of the President of Fretilin was irresponsible.

OPEN GOVT IN OECUSSE

During the "Open Government" visit to the District of Oecusse, the community has complained about the lack of clean water and electricity in their villages. The community asked the Government to provide them with solar power. According to the community, solar power is cheaper than the diesel power. In response, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said that the Open Government objective is to identify problems. Prime Minister said that the problems identified will be discussed by the Council of Ministers in three months.

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