Subject: Timor-Leste Local Media Monitoring March 22, 2004
Timor-Leste International and Local Media Monitoring March 22, 2004
STL
I will take some newspapers to court, says PM
The Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that he will take some newspapers
to court over the allegations of bribery by ConocoPhillips. He cited articles
published in Portuguese and local newspapers that diminished his image. The
Prime Minister added that he has hired a lawyer in Dili to bring action against
local newspapers as well as some members of the National Parliament who he says
defamed him. Dr Alkatiri said that he has appointed lawyers from Portugal,
United States, Australia and Timor-Leste who are now working together to take
action. The Prime Minister said that he will not reveal the lawyers names to
protect them from being disturbed by journalists. Asked what the he will do with
the money won from a successful court case the Prime Minister said that he will
use the money to repair the national radio and television. (the building and the
equipment)
The intention is to oust [destabilise] Fretilin, says Lu Olo
The President of the National Parliament, Lu Olo, said that the political
situation in Timor-Leste has heated during the last two weeks, starting with the
accusations of bribery against the Prime Minister, and members of the National
Parliament. He also talked about IRI's book with monkey characters that upset
many members of the National Parliament.
Justice denied in East Timor Church massacre
The acquittal of five Indonesian officials implicated in the 1999 massacre of
civilians in an East Timor church underscores the need for a United Nations
mechanisms to bring to justice those responsible for atrocities in East Timor,
Human Rights Watch said. They said that the Indonesian judicial system has
failed to prosecute the final coat of whitewash.
Last week, the Supreme Court upheld the August 2002 decision by Indonesia's
ad hoc court on East Timor to acquit the five defendants. The five were accused
of involvement in the September 6, 1999, Suai church massacre, during which up
to 200 civilians, including three priests, were killed.
CEP closes in Ermera
The District Administrator of Ermera, Victor dos Santos, said that the
Community Empowerment Project (CEP) has closed down all of its works in the
District. He said that CEP gave support and help the community in capacity
building. Mr Dos Santos said that the Government needed to continue and
implement a similar program within the community. He said CEP was able to make a
direct link with the community and had achieved good results.
District of Bobonaro owns CEP USD$ 164,697.43
The Community Empowerment Project Coordinator in the District of Bobonaro,
Julio Caieiro, said that in four years CEP was able to implement lots of
projects in the District and gave support through the church to vulnerable
groups and poor people. Mr Caieiro said that one of the difficulties that CEP
had to face was the credit line that people had never fully repaid. He said that
people that had borrowed could now cannot pay back the USD$ 14,081 in the
Sub-District of Lolotoe, USD$25,364 in Atabae, USD$25,364 in Balibo, USD$ 8,616
in Bobonaro, USD $ 18, 500, in Maliana USD 55.644.43 and USD$42,492 in Cailaco.
Mr Caieiro said that he has handed credit documentation to the local Government
and the District Administrator to take over responsibility and solve the issue.
Manufahe without power in a year
A Member of the National Parliament, Arão da Costa Amaral, said that it has
been a year since the Districts of Manufahe and the sub-District of Same,
Fatuberliu, Turiscai, Alas, Betano and Otorita have had power. Mr Amaral said
that the EDTL knows about this issue but they are still waiting for the finance
department to allocate money to repair the generator.
No relevant story's on Timor Post today
Jose Filipe External Affairs World Bank, Dili Office Ph: 723 0554 Tel: 332
4649 Email: ffilipe@worldbank.org
