from UNMISET

Dili, 15 May 2003

Daily Media Review

Lere Anan: Border Security Under UNPKF Responsibility (TP)

F-FDTL Chief of Staff, Coronal Lere Anan Timor told Timor Post that it is difficult to determine the number of militias which have entered the country because the border between Timor-Leste and Indonesia is vast. He stressed that although the security is under the UNPKF it is not easy for the peacekeepers to cover all the areas. Lere Anan Timor said that the situation gets more complex because the militias are not Indonesians but Timorese people who know the ground very well. He added that F-FDTL received information recently on an armed group of six to seven men in Lospalos. Members of the Armed Forces went to the place but only found footprints. Lere Anan Timor added that the information has been passed on to the PKF. He is certain that are militias in Timor-Leste, he said. (TP)

TL Needs To Strengthen Relationship With Indonesian To Tackle Militias

"There is no other way to tackle ex-militia groups that are infiltrating into Timor-Leste than strengthened the relationship and cooperation with Indonesia. Therefore, the government needs to take concrete steps to handle the militia groups as well as the remaining refugees in Indonesia," the President of the National Parliament Francisco Guterres was quoted as saying after meeting with the President Gusmão on Tuesday, May 14. The meeting was attended by representatives of all political parties. Three points were discussed in the meeting: national security, conflict between opposition parties and the government of Fretilin and national reconciliation. It is reported that suggestion for a national dialogue between political parties' leaders to end conflict among them was also discussed. According to Armando Silva (PL) the conflict between political parties can contribute to national instability and is becoming a concern among the population, reported Suara Timor Lorosae. President Xanana warmly welcomed the suggestion for a national dialogue, but the three points mentioned earlier were the focus of discussion as well as internal problem in the political parties which have become a national concern, reported the newspaper. (STL)

END

From UNMISET

LOCAL MEDIA MONITORING

LOCAL MEDIA

STL

1. The Speaker of the National Parliament, Mr. Lu-Olo said "the only way to overcome militia's infiltration into Timor-Leste is to enhance the cooperation and a close relationship with Indonesia". Mr. Lu-Olo met with President Xanana Gusmao at Palacio das Cinzas yesterday as part of regular meeting schedule. Mr. Lu-Olo asked the Government to enhance mutual cooperation with Indonesia to resolve two major problems that Timor-Leste is facing: the militia's infiltration and the refugees in West Timor.

2. Two vibrant Australians, Luke and Dan Gosling are taking part in the commemorations for the Independence Day. Their project is a 700 km awareness and fundraising adventure race, between two brothers. Luke and Dan Gosling are pitted against each other and the elements in a fundraising project that is about brotherhood between nations. At noon on 10 May, Luke started sea-kayaking and sailing from Cullen Bay in Darwin, 600 km across the Timor Sea. Dan will start his 300km 'cross country' run from Tutuala to Dili. Then it is brother against brother until the finish at Dili Harbour on 20th May 2003- the first birthday of the now free - East Timor. Dan says, "Our plan is to promote East Timor's 'next step' towards true Independence. We'll be supporting vulnerable women and children as well as promoting the beauty and the opportunities available in the world's newest nation." The project aims to contribute to rebuilding the country by donating funds raised to the following organizations: The Alola Foundation - This project has already raised $8,000 for victims of Gender Based Violence and Timorese women widowed during East Timor's violent history. East Timor National Hospital - Midwifery Services. The project will raise funds for desperately needed equipment in Dili National Hospital's Maternity Ward. Balibo House.

3. The Vice Minister of Health, Mr Luis Lobato yesterday officially opened the "Districts Health Chiefs and Hospital Directors' Evaluation Workshop" at Dili National Hospital. The workshop is aimed at evaluating last year's programme said Mr Lobato.

4. The Speaker of the Parliament, Mr Lu-Olo said yesterday that the Democratic Christian Party is not Fretilin's stepson. According to Mr Lu-Olo, he was asked to mediate in that party's internal conflict. Mr Lu-Olo said "As the Speaker of the Parliament I have the moral responsibility to accept the request". (The DCP's conflict arose because of the discordance between the President and the Vice President's stand on the Opposition Parties National Platform signed by 8 Opposition Parties).

TIMOR POST

1. The President of Fretilin and National Parliament, Mr Lu-Olo said that parties' internal problems should not be a threat for the national stability. Mr Lu-Olo underlined the current internal problems facing by the Democratic Christian Party and the Social Democratic Party by saying "no one party could create a threat for the destabilization of this country".

2. East Timor formally joined the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of nations on Tuesday and Timor-Leste's Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, said the move will increase European investment into Timor's fragile economy. "Timor's businessmen want ACP membership to benefit from development aid and to find partners to create small to medium-sized firms", said Alkatiri in Brussels after signing the accord to make Timor the ACP's 79th member state. An ACP-EU ministerial meeting on Friday will approve Timor-Leste's accession to the Contonu Accord. This Accord controls cooperation between the two regional blocs. Alkatiri said that the sectors of Timor's economy that would gain most from EU development aid would be textiles and clothing. Alkatiri remains in Brussels until Friday to attend the ACP-EU meeting. Before then, he will hold talks with a number of senior EU officials, including Foreign Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten and Justice Commissioner António Vitorino.

3. The FDTL Chief of Staff, Colonel Lere Anan Timor told Timor Post that it is difficult to determine the number of militia which have entered the country because the border between Timor-Leste and Indonesia is vast. He stressed that although the security is under the UNPKF it is not easy for the peacekeepers to cover all the areas. Lere Anan Timor said that the situation gets more complex because the militia are not Indonesians but Timorese people who know the ground very well. He added that FDTL received information recently on an armed group of six to seven men in Lospalos. Members of the Armed Forces went to investigate but only found footprints. Lere Anan Timor added that the information has been passed on to the PKF. He is certain that there are militia in Timor-Leste, he said. Timor-Leste needs to strengthen the relationship with Indonesia to tackle militia activities. "There is no other way to tackle ex-militia groups that are infiltrating into Timor-Leste than strengthened the relationship and cooperation with Indonesia. Therefore, the government needs to take concrete steps to handle the militia groups as well as the remaining refugees in Indonesia," the President of the National Parliament Francisco Guterres was quoted as saying after a meeting with President Gusmão on Tuesday, May 14. The meeting was attended by representatives of all political parties. Three points were discussed in the meeting: national security, conflict between opposition parties and the government of Fretilin and national reconciliation. It is reported that suggestion for a national dialogue between political parties' leaders to end conflict among them was also discussed. According to Armando Silva (PL) the conflict between political parties can contribute to national instability and is becoming a concern among the population, reported Timor Post. President Xanana warmly welcomed the suggestion for a national dialogue, but the three points mentioned earlier were the focus of discussion as well as internal problem in the political parties which have become a national concern, reported the Timor Post.

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