From UNMISET

Dili, September 03 2003

Daily Media Review

Future UN Presence Generates Debate

The UN presence in Timor-Leste after UNMISET withdraws from the country in 2004 has been generating some debate in the media. Lucas da Costa, the Dean of Dili University, said on Tuesday that the ongoing political frictions between Timorese political leaders, on one side, and the dichotomy between diaspora and resistance groups, on the other side, could force the UN to maintain its presence in Timor-Leste, and play a mediator role. In statements reproduced by "Suara Timor Lorosae", he said there are three political factors to be solved in Timor-Leste: the concretization of a national consensus which would avoid political clashes; the "negative dichotomy" between diaspora and local resistance groups; and the creation of a more effective way of cooperation between bureaucracy and technocracy. "Timor Post" reproduces statements made by Estanislau da Silva, from the Institute of Technology of Dili, who argues that the departure of UNMISET would have a negative impact on the development of Timor-Leste's economy. Foreign capital will not be interested in investing in Timor-Leste, for lack of security and stability, he is reported as saying by the newspaper. The Secretary General of the Socialist Party, Avelino Coelho, on the other hand told STL that UNMISET needs to prolong its mission because there is a complex political process going on in Timor-Leste. In the same newspaper, political analyst Julio Tomas Pinto (Dili University) said that defense and security should be put into consideration before the end of UNMISET is decided, for they are the main reasons for the presence of the UN in the country. (STL, TP)

Bishop Belo: Authorities Should Pay Attention to People's Aspirations

In statements reproduced on Wednesday by 'Suara Timor Lorosae' former Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo said that the 'open governance' is a positive step taken by the government in relation to the rural area, but the most important thing is not to dismiss the aspirations of the populations.

Belo also criticized the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, for not treating "seriously" the disease that is attacking the coconut plantations in Baucau, reported the newspaper. (STL)

Lobato: Special Police Will Have 300 Agents

Minister of Interior, Rogerio Tiago Lobato told to media on Tuesday, after holding a meeting with Prime-Minister Mari Alkatiri, that the Special Police, which was planned to have 500 agents, will not have more than 300. He further said that the government would be giving priority to the Border Police, which currently has 180 members, a member considered insufficient, taken in consideration the extension of the border. (STL)

Australian PMs in Dili

Eight members of the Australian Parliament are visiting Timor-Leste. The main objective of the visit is to get acquainted with the activities that have been undertaken by the National Parliament of Timor-Leste since the transferring of power from UNTAET last year. On Wednesday afternoon, the group was received by SRSG Kamalesh Sharma. (TP)

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