From UNMISET July 8, 2003

LOCAL MEDIA MONITORING

STL

1. A member of the National Parliament from the Democratic Party, Mr Rui Menezes, yesterday told reporters that according to information he received the organizing committee which selected the candidates for the Cuban medicine scholarship was practicing nepotism in the selection process. Mr Menezes explained the process in detail, beginning with the number of participants who attended the initial selection test. According to Mr Menezes, 200 participants followed the written test. However, only 67 participants passed the written test. The 67 participants were reduced to 20 participants as the definitive recipient list for the scholarship after another written test. However someone changed the definitive list by inserting a strange testing number 38/MED Sch/VI 2003 on behalf of FDSM (acronym of someone's name), which was not included in the initial list. Mr Menezes said that based on this evidence the organizing committee for the selection allegedly had practiced nepotism by putting a non selected person in the list.

2. President Xanana Gusmao yesterday received the credentials of the Thailand's Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Mr Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya at the Palace of Ashes - Dili. Also presented at the ceremony were the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Jose Ramos Horta and President's Chief of Staff, Mr Agio Pereira. President Xanana said that Thailand has contributed through the UN Peace Keeping Force and has given development assistance in many areas. Ambassador Ayudhaya told reporters that his country has given contributions in the areas of defense through the UN PKF and capacity building in education, health and agriculture.

3. Members of the Veterans' Association yesterday attended training on "business management" organized by the East Timor Study Group in Becora-Dili. The article said that the training is aimed at enhancing the skills of the veterans in business management. The President of the Veterans of Resistance Association, Mr Paulo A. Belo, said that by attending this training he hopes that the veterans can improve their skills in running small and large businesses and by doing so they could improve their lives in the future.

TIMOR POST

1. The Speaker of the National Parliament, Mr Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, yesterday said that the National Parliament has three options in regard to the veto undertaken by RDTL's President on the Immigration and Asylum Law. Mr Lu-Olo said that the first option is that the National Parliament could review the bill and it needs 2/3 in the final vote. The second option is that the National Parliament stays quiet and does nothing and lets the foreigners come in and do whatever they want and we will accept the consequences. Mr Lu-Olo said that the third option is in line with his views that geographically Timor-Leste lies between Indonesia and Australia, therefore its needs regulations to safeguard the national interests.

2. President Xanana Gusmao yesterday held a press conference to explain his decision in sending the Immigration and Asylum Law to the Appeals Court as the highest judicial system in the country for examination. President Xanana said "I have heard many comments regarding this matter such as the Constituent Assembly created the Constitution, and the laws generated by the National Parliament serve the people. But I would like to say that our constitution was not created by us, but it was a copy of the Portuguese Constitution". President Xanana said that there were no constitutional experts involved in formulating Timor-Leste's Constitution.

3. Timor Post also reported allegations of nepotism in the Cuban Medicine Scholarship selection as per STL report.

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