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Timor-Leste International and Local Media Monitoring July 7, 2004

Timor Post

Government should compensate squatters, says Cardoso

A Member of the National Parliament for Fretilin, Antonio Cardoso, said that the Government of Timor-Leste should compensate or provide assistance to move people currently occupying Government property. Mr Cardoso said that people moved into state property due to the destruction of their own houses in 1999. Mr Cardoso said that the Government should disseminate information, and find the reasons for people occupying state property before throwing them out.

Two German doctors were seriously hurt

According to a report in the local newspaper two German doctors who are volunteering in Dili were seriously injured recently in Audian when they were returning to their hotel. The newspaper says that the incident occurred when they were walking a short distance from the Golden Star restaurant to Sakura Tower Hotel. A Member of the National Parliament for the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Antonio Ximenes, appealed to the National Police to place police officers in neighborhoods like the one where the incident occurred in order to guarantee the safety, not only of foreigners, but of the Timorese as well. Mr Ximenes said that the doctors were stoned in the head when they ignored the demands for money by an unidentified group. He also said that the number of such assaults is on the increase.

Indonesian voters participate in presidential election in Timor-Leste

According to the newspaper 1348 Indonesian citizens cast their votes for the Indonesian presidential election at the polling station in the Indonesian mission in Dili. The Indonesian Mission Charge d' Affairs, Fauzi Bustami, said that the presidential election was a historic one for Indonesian's journey to democracy. According to the newspaper report the Indonesian voters are those presently working in Timor-Leste, as UNMISET staff, NGO workers as well as business investors.

16 members of F-FDTL operated on for bullet removal

The Minister of Health, Dr Rui Maria de Araujo, said that 7 members of the Falintil-National Defense Force of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) are going to be operated on and nine have already been operated in the National Hospital in Dili. The Minister said that the operation was conducted by an specialist from China with a support team from the Hospital. The Minister said that three more members of the Defense Force were operated on yesterday (nine so far) and their condition was stable. The other seven veterans will be operated on shortly.

Government is paying attention to the Veterans, says PM

The Prime minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that the Government has given all the support and the attention to the veterans to have operations and remove bullets from their bodies. The Prime Minister said that he had asked the veterans before to wait until the arrival of specialist doctors from China, and to give them all the support and attention they need.

Government needs to make dialogue with L7, says Viana

The Coordinator of the Comissão para os Assuntos dos Antigos Combatentes ?Comissão para os Assuntos dos Veteranos das Falintil (CAAC-CAVF), Duarte Viana, said that the Government has to find a way to make dialogue with Cornelio Gama (L7). He said that the Government needs to make dialogue before any problems arise. Meanwhile the President of the Democratic Party (PD), Fernando Araujo (La Sama), said that people have forgotten L7?s contribution to the independence of Timor-Leste. He said that as President of the Party he is sad about the current situation in Timor-Leste, and also with thethat there is no recognition of L7.

Court procedure functions as projects only

A Member of the Truth and reconciliation committee (CAVR), Father Jovito do Rego, said that by his observations the court as an institution functions like ?a project? in Timor-Leste. Father do Rego said that those who work for the courts use the system as their own project and for their economic benefits. Father do Rego questioned how the system can function or expected justice to prevail. Father do Rego said that judicial cases are very contradictory, and that is why it does not help many cases of crime committed in 1999 or prior to that.

Difference of opinion delays establishment of commission

Members of the National Parliament during a plenary session presented different points of view on how to establish a Commission to study and analyze the Veterans and Combatants document that was sent to the Parliament. A Member of the National Parliament for Klibur Oan Timor Asu?uwain (KOTA), Manuel Tilman, argued that the before establishing the Commission, one needs to know how long it will last, the number of participants and the composition of it. Mr Tilman stated that since there are 12 political parties at the National Parliament each should appoint one member to sit at the Commission. A Member of Fretilin in the National Parliament, Joaquim dos Santos, said that the Commission should not be such a large number and should be reduced to ten, and that the majority were ready for the vote.

Candidates should be nominated by members of NP

The President of the National Parliament, Francisco Guterres (Lu-Olo), said at the plenary session this week that the law for Provedoria dos Direitos Humanos e Justica (PDHJ) has been approved by the Parliament, it is time now for political Parties to nominate a member for the position. Meanwhile the Party with the majority in the National Parliament requested to extend the deadline imposed by the President of the National Parliament (last Monday).

Suara Timor Loro Sa'e (STL)

Government needs to explain its foreign policy, says Gonçalves

A Member of the National Parliament for Social Democratic Party (PSD), João Gonçalves, said during a plenary session that the Government is obliged to explain to the Parliament its Foreign Policy on the Timor Sea issue. Mr Gonçalves said that it is important that the government explains is not only vital for the economy but also because the population needs to know.

Jose Filipe External Affairs World Bank, Dili Office