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Timor-Leste International and Local Media Monitoring June 10, 2004

Timor Post

Jail if tried to boycott voter registration

The Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that if groups operating illegally in Timor-Leste try to impede voter registration, they will end up in jail. The Prime Minister said that no one is above the law and it doesn't matter if they are foreigners or nationals.

Only PM has the right to convene Minister to NP

The Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that only he can convene a Minister to go to the National Parliament to respond to Parliamentarians. The Minister said that if the Parliament wants a Minister then the President of the Parliament writes an official letter of request, because Government and Parliament are two independent institutions.

Portuguese and Tetum in courts by September

The Minister of Justice, Domingos Maria Sarmento, said that whether we like or not the National Parliament has decided the official languages for Timor-Leste, are Portuguese and Tetum. Thus from September onwards Portuguese and Tetum will be used in court proceedings. The Minister said that this requires all the judges in courts to implement the official language.

30 new members to join Rapid Response Unit, says Martins

The National Police Force Superintendent, Paulo de Fatima Martins, said that his Department has started selecting 30 new recruits for Rapid Response Unit to make a total of 200. Mr Martins said that at the moment the Rapid Response unit has 42 members stationed in the District of Baucau, and 112 in Dili. Mr Martins said that he is waiting for the arrival of the professional trainer from Malaysia to start conducting the training. Meanwhile the Ministry of Interior said that in July the Ministry will start organizing and improve the capacity of the National Police Force of Timor-Leste, in areas like criminal investigation, intelligence, immigration, border and traffic control.

Suara Timor Loro Sa?e (STL)

Define first the maritime border, says Menezes

A Member of the National Parliament for Democratic Party (PD), Rui Menezes, said that the maritime border needs to be defined first before venturing into the exploration of oil and gas in the Timor Sea. He said that Timor-Leste has to stick to this policy and define the maritime before discussing the technical side of it.

CAVR has not done enough, says Paixão

A Member of the National Parliament for Social Democratic Party (PSD), Maria Paixão, said that the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (CAVR) has not done enough yet, and needs to extend their mandate for them to be able to continue with the reconciliation process. She said reconciliation is not only with the militias but also amongst ourselves.

Dili capital of orphans

Today's edition of the newspaper reports that lately more and more orphans are turning up and begging in the streets of Dili. The paper says that this is the new social trend in the capital due to the economy that is not on the right track. The newspaper says that the Government needs to pay attention to this new insurgency of orphans. An orphan, Carolino Monteiro, said that he has no family and wants to attend school, but, the question is who will pay for it. He says that for him the future is grim and dark because there?s no other solution.

Market rehabilitation depends on funds, says Carvalho

The District Administrator of Dili, Ruben Braz de Carvalho, said that the Government has plans to rehabilitate the markets in Dili, (Comoro, Becora and Taibessi) but lacks financial support. He said if donors or national developers (business men) give their support financially then the markets will be rehabilitated in no time at all. Mr de Carvalho said that he?s waiting for the outcome of the proposal submitted to the Government, and as soon he gets it the markets will be rehabilitated and the vendors will stop screaming for better conditions in the markets.

Civic campaign needed for voter registration

The Sub-District Administrator in Railaco, Francisco Xavier Viegas, said that before any election can take place to elect a new Chefe do Suco, a civic campaign is needed to inform people of its importance. He said that it?s important for the voters to know before the ballot takes place.

Woodside warns on Timor delay

Woodside Petroleum might have to defer its Sunrise gas project for at least five years - costing it billions in delayed revenue - if the impasse over Timor Sea production rights was not resolved by Christmas, the company warned yesterday. Woodside said it had to start detailed design for the $ 7 billion Sunrise project by the end of the year if it was to capitalise on a window in the gas market it believed would open in 2010. Such a postponement would have a big effect on Woodside's long-term profit projections, based on the Greater Sunrise fields? expected output of 5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas a year, and substantial quantities of condensate.

Big welcome from toddlers of Ainaro

Tiny hands and big voices gave a Ballarat delegation to Ainaro an enchanting welcome in East Timor this week. Toddlers from the Ainaro Community Centre Kindergarten sang their hearts out, before helping to paint a mural for a Ballarat friendship school. The children had every reason to be excited. They were helping to make history. Eight schools each from Ballarat and Ainaro will be joined in a special friendship bond during the delegation?s visit. The delegation includes representatives from local schools and hospitals, as well as a reporter and photographer. The painting of their own mural created much interest amongst the Ainaro townsfolk as parents, students and older children chipped in on the open air balcony of the community centre.

Jose Filipe
External Affairs
World Bank, Dili Office

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