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Dili, 29 October 2003 Daily Media Review

CAVR Cancelled 1974 ­ 76 Political Conflict Hearings

CAVR has announced that the public hearing on the theme "Political Conflict 1974 ­ 76", originally scheduled for 3 ­ 6 November, had been postponed sine die time due difficulties in coordinating the agenda of the main political leaders. "Contrary to other public hearings, this is about Political Conflict and requires the participation of many of our national leaders", said CAVR responsible, Aniceto Guterres, adding "hopefully it will take place before Christmas". The participation of all the Timorese leaders is expected on this hearing. Responsibles for CAVR have traveled to Portugal and Indonesia in the last weeks in order to contact individuals connected to most perturbed period of Timor-Leste history, between April 25 1974 and the annexation by Indonesia in 1976. (Lusa)

Timor Crop Trials Prove a Success

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research has reported excellent results from a three-year crop trial in Timor-Leste. The project Seeds for Life trialled new maize, rice, peanut, potato and cassava varieties from major research institutes around the world. ACIAR's Collin Piggin says the results are tremendous and the project will be extended to help increase food production in Timor-Leste. "A lot of the materials are yielding two or three times, sometimes up to 10 times more than the local farmer varieties. "Both the local agriculture department and the farmers themselves I guess didn't really know what to expect, but when they saw the introduced varieties being harvested and they had up to eight, nine, 10 times more tubors than the local varieties you could see that they were very excited... couldn't quite believe what they were seeing." (ABC News)

Shortage of Food in Baguia

The population of Baguia, Baucau District is in desperate need of food, the Administrator of sub-district of Baguia, Armando Ximenes told Suara Timor Lorosae. He said that some of the families in the area have hardly anything to eat. He added that most of the crops failed due to the shortage of rain this year. Ximenes said that the famine has mostly affected remote areas where there is no access by car. (STL)

Timor-Leste to Open Memorial for Australian Journalists

Shirley Shackelton, the wife of an Australian journalist killed in East Timor in 1975, is returning to the scene of her husband's death for the official opening of the rebuilt Balibo Flag House. Greg Shackleton was one of five Australian journalists who spent their last night alive in the house, where he had painted an Australian flag, before being allegedly killed by Indonesian soldiers. The Victorian Government has contributed $50,000 to rebuild the house, to be officially opened on Friday. (ABC News)

Ninjas Operating in Baucau

Member of Parliament, Carlos Sarmento (PL) said in the Parliament on Monday that a group of "ninjas" has been stopping public transport vehicles on the roads which connect Dili to Baucau to Viqueque and robbing the passengers. He added that the Police of Baucau has been investigating the case. (STL)

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