From UNMISET

LOCAL MEDIA MONITORING

LOCAL MEDIA

STL

1. During his official visit (July1-3) to the District of Bobonaro, President Xanana Gusmao held a meeting with the community of Coeliman. The community expressed their concerns about the negative attitudes of the National Police and Falintil-FDTL representatives. Members of the Coeliman's community, Mr Aniceto Lopez and Felicita said that members from those defense and security institutions arrested and beat them without holding a warrant. They said " we were involved in the resistance to free our country, but now we have become victims in the era of freedom". President Xanana promised that he will reprimand the FDTL and the Police. (This is another report in the continuing series regarding President Xanana's visit to the District of Bobonaro).

2. The celebration of the United States of America's 227th Independence Day on Friday at the Unites States Ambassador's residence in Lecidere-Dili was interrupted by a demonstration organized by the Timor-Leste Alliance for the International tribunal. The demonstrators carried banners and placards saying "Establish The International Tribunal, Stop the War within the Country, Victims of 1975 and 1999 ask the United States Government to support the establishment of the International Tribunal". The Coordinator of the group, Mr Thomas Freitas from NGO La'o Hamutuk, said that the objective of the demonstration was to congratulate and also to convey the message to the US Government and the nation to uphold the basic values of the nation, support the establishment of the International Tribunal for Timor-Leste, stop military aid to the Indonesian Armed Forces and urge the Indonesian Government to uphold human rights, find a peaceful settlement of the Aceh and West Papua conflict and stop the military presence in Iraq.

3. The United Nations Police (UNPOL) on Saturday handed over its responsibility in the Suai District to the National Police. Those presented at the ceremony were the Interior Minister, Mr Rogerio Tiago Lobato, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ambassador Kamalesh Sharma, The Commander of the Peace Keeping Force, Gen Tam Kim Guek, the Commander of UNPOL, Ms Sandra Peisley, the Commander of the National Police, Mr Paulo de Fatima Martins, the Vice President of the National Parliament, Mr Jacob Fernandes, representative of the Falintil-FDTL and the Suai District Administrator, Mr Abel dos Santos.

TIMOR POST

1. Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri today has resumed his "Open Government" visits, this time going to the District of Lautem (July 7-12). Mr Alkatiri and his cabinet members will visit every sub-district to hear the concerns and problems faced by the community. According to the schedule, today the Prime Minister will visit the Sub-District of Luro and hold a meeting with the community. In the afternoon the Prime Minister will inspect the community health center and an agriculture husking machine.

2. Timor Post has sought opinions from the members of the National Parliament regarding the meeting between the Government, the Falintil-FDTL and the National Police. The spokesperson for the Fretilin Party in the Parliament, Mr Francisco Branco, said that the meeting between the Government, the Falintil-FDTL and the National police was a positive step taken by the Government towards nurturing dialogue at the supra structure level. Mr Branco said that because there is a problem, the leaders must sit together to solve it in a delicate manner. The spokesperson for the Social Democratic Party in the Parliament, Mrs Maria Paixao, said that the Opposition Parties welcomed this meeting and she is very optimistic about the result of the meeting. According to the spokesperson for the Democratic Party, Mr Rui Menezes, the meeting between the Government, Falintil-FDTL and PNTL was an effort to reduce the tension between the Government and the Veterans and Former Combatants. At another press opportunity, the spokesperson for the ASDT Party, Mr Feliciano C. Fatima, said that the meeting between the Government, FDTL and PNTL was a reminder to the leaders responsible for the security of the nation to solve the problems according to the capabilities of each institution.

Back to July menu
June
World Leaders Contact List
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu