Subject: Timor-Leste Local Media Monitoring March 23, 2004
Timor-Leste international and Local Media Monitoring March 23, 2004
Timor Post
Water will be the source of war in future, says PM
The Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said it is not only oil that is causing
war in many countries, but water too is causing also fighting amongst people. He
said that many countries have no access to water, and Timor-Leste will have to
be careful and avoid environmental degradation like cutting down trees that can
reduce water. Dr Alkatiri said that if Timor is not careful it could one day be
just dry as other countries around the world. The Prime Minister made an appeal
to the population not to waste water and to start rationing water use.
Talk about corruption when have prove, says PM
The Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that if this Government is engaged
in corruption, then where is the evidence to prove it? He said that many people
are talking about civil servants taking money out of the Government for their
own purpose, but no one is presenting the evidence. Dr Alkatiri said that Timor-Leste
is the only country in the world that has an Inspector General, and is the only
country that has taken this initiative.
Australia's double betrayal (Source from Green Left Weekly)
Since the East Timor independence referendum in 1999, the Australian
government has received approximately $1 billion dollars in taxes on oil taken
from Laminaria Coralima field, which is fully situated in East Timorese
territory. During the same period, East Timor has received absolutely nothing
from this oil field. One billion dollars is four times the amount of
"aid" that has been "given" to East Timor through AUSAID
since 1999. In Melbourne, the Timor Sea Campaign has been established and other
groups are screening the documentary Timor Gap Oil and Gas: Don't Rob Their
Future to raise awareness about this rip-off. Clearly there is a massive
challenge to reawaken and mobilize the Australian people's solidarity with East
Timor against the Australian Government's robbery. It should concern us all that
the campaign to give East Timor its resources back is stronger in the united
States than in Australia.
Medicine for people in Ainaro and Same, says Lobato
The Vice-Minister of Health, Luis Lobato, has promised medical support and
medicine for people in the District of Ainaro, an area that has been affected by
natural disasters. The Vice-Minister said that people in the area are at risk of
contracting diseases. Mr Lobato said that a medical team will be sent to the
District for an evaluation before medical can be provided by the Health
Department.
STL
Medicine shortage in Aileu hospital
The Director of the Health centre in the District of Aileu, Rogerio da
Conceicao, said that in March ran out of medicines to administer to patients
with malaria and flu. He said luckily, the hospital has been able to continue
with the support from a catholic clinic that has provided much needed
paracetamol and chloroquine to the health centre.
RESPECT program to repair roads
The District Administrator for the Sub-District of Venilale, Julio Tome da
Silva, said that RESPECT has established a program to repair the badly damaged
main road that leads to Watulea, Waioli and Badumori. He said that the people
have repaired the road themselves many times just to allow microlets in and out
so products can be taken to the local market.
Agriculture school in Betano
The Coordinator for the Agriculture Practice School in Suco Manico, District
of Same, Justo Francisco da Silva, said that the school had started planting
beans, peanuts, coffee and vanilla tress. He said that students are also
planting watermelons that are growing nicely. Mr Da Silva said that the people
in the suco are delighted with the agricultural activities that are stting a
good example for farmers to follow.
District of Dili has 6.021 teachers
The Head for the Teachers Department, Dr Joao dos Santos, said that the
District of Dili has 6,021 teachers who are teaching in primary, pre-secondary
and secondary schools around Dili. He said that the teachers have started
implementing the Portuguese language at school.
Jose Filipe External Affairs World Bank, Dili Office Ph: 723 0554 Tel: 332
4649 Email: ffilipe@worldbank.org
