Timor-Leste International and Local Media Monitoring April 28, 2004

STL

Delegation from Kuwait to visit TL, says PM

Returning from an official visit to Kuwait the Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that a delegation from Kuwait will visit Timor-Leste and to participate in the Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting (TLDPM) on May 17-19. The Prime Minister said that members of the Government of Kuwait from the development area and petrol company will visit the territory. Dr Alkatiri said that the Government of Kuwait wants to support the Government of Timor-Leste with its National Development Plan in the areas of education, agriculture and health.

L-7 threatened Police

The Minister of Interior, Rogerio Tiago Lobato, said that Cornelio Gama, known as L-7 (ex-Falintil fighter), does not have the right to threaten the National Police, just because he fought in the liberation war. The Minister said otherwise he will be arrested in accordance to the law of this country. Mr Lobato said that L-7 used a Government vehicle for a weekend outing to Same, without the proper documentation required to travel. The Minister said that L-7, who used to be the Police adviser, no longer holds the portfolio, because the only thing he did was to worry about his salary and never presented an internal report.

Illegal border crossers cause rifts between TL and TNI

The National Police Commissioner, Paulo de Fatima Martins, said that the recent violence that constantly occurs on the border between Timor-Leste and Indonesia is because of the constant people crossing from Timor-Leste. The Police Commissioner gave an example of recent events citing the four Timorese who were detained by TNI not long ago for not having the proper travel documents from the police, and were later released. Mr Martins said that 20 Indonesians were arrested for crossing the border to TL without official documents when they were attending the funeral of a family member. The Commissioner said that only one crossing point gate is operating at the moment on the border while the other check points are under police patrol by both countries.

Tilman wants clarification from PM

The Vice-president of the Commission C responsible for the economy and finance at the National Parliament, Manuel Tilman, said that he wants to know the purpose of the Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri?s visit to Kuwait. Mr Tilman said that according to the information he has received from Portugal the Prime Minister is seeking support from Kuwait to invest in the Timor Sea.

Timor Post

Police do not act brutally, says Lobato

The Minister of Interior, Rogerio Tiago Lobato, said that the National Police Force (PNTL) did not beat people indiscriminately in a recent operation. The Police action is to give security and stability to the population.

Drunken Police beat population of Batugade

A Member of the National Parliament, Maria de Fatima Vaz, said during a plenary session said that drunk Police members of the Border Patrol Unit (BPU) stationed in Batugade, beat indiscriminately the population in Batugade. She said that the Police have shown a bad attitude towards the population, when people put their trust on them to maintain security throughout the country. Ms Vaz said that members of the Border Patrol Unit also used mace spray gas, which caused some members of the population to have a rash in their eyes.

TL will open an embassy in Kuwait

The Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said after his arrival from an Official visit to Kuwait that the Government of Timor-Leste has plans to open an Embassy in Kuwait. The Prime Minister said that it's important for the Government of Timor-Leste to open an Embassy in the Middle East.

Population suspects leaders involvement in "Ninja" activities

A Member of the National Parliament, Rui Menezes, said that residents from the suburbs of Dili have been saying that every night they chase the "ninjas" only to find that they seem to disappear mainly in cars like the Tatasumo. Mr Menezes said that the Tatasumo are cars owned by the government. He also said that the Parliament had already requested the Minister of Interior, Rogerio Tiago Lobato, to address the issue of "ninjas" in the National Parliament in order to clarify this issue once and for all since he had all the information, but he has not been available. Mr Menezes said that statements made by Lobato have been controversial and leaves one in doubt, noting that the Minister first appealed for the people to work with the police, then he asked the population not to worry about the security in their communities.

Jose Filipe External Affairs World Bank, Dili Office Ph: 723 0554 Tel: 332 4649

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