UNOTIL

Daily Media Review

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Wednesday 24 August 2005

National Media Reports

Vice Minister Conceição: Ministry of State Administration Is Not the Cause of Corruption in Other Ministries

In response to recent comments by members of opposition parties that there corruption may be corruption in the Government due to the very weak system within the Ministry of State Administration, Vice Minister of State Adminstration Ilda da Conceição stated on Tuesday that her Ministry was not the cause of corruption. She explained that the public servants now being employed in other ministries were not recruited by the Ministry of State Administration but by each respected Ministry. Conceição further said that during the UNTAET period it was the Ministry of State Administration that was in charge of all recruitment in the public service. She said however that the system negative side effected due to the fact that the Ministry had no information on the skills of those employed for other ministries. In addition, Conceição said that if there was any corruption cases within her Ministry, there would be an immediate investigation. She argued if there was corruption in any other ministry, there should not be any blame towards her Ministry, as there is no control over employees of other ministries. (Timor Post)

Minister Horta on Timor Gap Negotiations

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Ramos-Horta is reported to have said that the governments of Timor-Leste and Australia continue to work to find a solution to the Timor Sea negotiations. Ramos-Horta said that the Vice-Minister for Natural Resources, Minerals and Energy Jose Teixeira is currently in contact with the Australian negotiators, particularly Doug Chester, to examine a number of points where there remain difficulties in reaching an agreement. "Our government, through the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has the capacity to soon reach an agreement," Ramos-Horta said. The Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste Margaret Twomey also stressed that her country has the capacity and goodwill for the negotiations to move forward and to reach an agreement. Diario quoted Twomey as saying the both governments are working at all levels to reach an agreement. (Timor Post, TVTL, Diario, STL )

Ximenes and L7 on the Right to be a Veteran

Secretary of State (for Veterans and Former Combatants), David Ximenes, told the media that anyone has the right to be a veteran but there will legal criteria that the National Parliament will release reported Diario. Ximenes made the above statement after he was asked about the demand of women's organizations to be classified as veterans. He added that all the people of Timor-Leste who participated in the resistance have the right to be considered as veterans. However, a law remains pending approval by the National Parliament in order to regulate the matter. Therefore, the members of the Timorese women's organisation, OMT, still have the opportunity to be female veterans based on the criteria that corresponds to the law. Diario Tempo also quoted a former Falintil commandant, L7, who questioned why the leadership of Timor-Leste should ban certain groups or small organisations to commemorate the historical Falintil day. L7 was quoted as making the statement after commemorating the Falintil historical day at 'Rumah Merah', Vila Nova in Baucau District. He added that by banning the population from commemorating the ocassion would mean that the Government has forgotten the struggle and history of Falintil. The report highlights that L7 and others were only trying to commemorate the day without alterior motives to emphasise the reason for the government restriction . [Diario Tempo, Timor Post]

Lu Olo: "It is Better for the Dili Administrator to Stop Work"

President of the National Parliament, Francisco Guterres is reported to have said that Dili District Administrator, Ruben Braz should be responsible for the goods of street vendors lost during their removal by Police from the Lita Store area. Guterres stressed that Braz should resolve the problem and not leave the issue to the President of the Parliament, adding that "the Dili Administrator should stop working if he does not know how to govern and resolve the problems that emerge under his responsibility". He explained that Administrator Ruben Braz had the obligation to resolve the problem as he personally had picked up fruit from street stalls which he had offered to the Police and F-FDTL. The President of the Parliament said that a report on the case had already been submitted to the Prime Minister. Guterres added that if the street vendors continue to approach the Parliament then they will be told to speak directly to the Dili District Administrator to resolve the case. He noted that Ruben Braz has constantly been absent away from his office in an effort to avoid speaking to the vendors to resolve the situation. (Timor Post, Diario Tempo, Diario, STL)

Corte-Real: "There Is No Law to Remove the Population"

Member of Parliament for Commission A (Human Rights), Alexander Corte-Real told the media that there is no legal basis or law to remove the population when occupying private property, Timor Post reported. MP Corte-Real made the statement in response to questions on the removal of the population in areas, such as, Aitarak Laran, Kampung Alor and other areas. He added that the Timor-Leste government needs to legislate on this issue as well as urban planning otherwise the acts of the government would only create confusion among the population. He argued that from a legal perspective , Delta Comoro has always belonged to the population which is why they would be reluctant to move to another place. He added that currently the population are using the Delta area due to lack of space, therefore the issue of legality is a different matter. [Timor Post]

Gusmão to Visit Guerrilla Sites

President Gusmao began an eight-day visit to areas used by the Timorese guerrillas during the Indonesian occupation. According to the media officer of the President, Xanana Gusmao will visit areas in Baucau, Viqueque and Lospalos including Mount Matebian. During the visit, he is also scheduled to visit former 'estafetas' or couriers as well as those involved in the resistance. (Diario Tempo)

Tasi Fuik: CTF Undermines Victims' Rights

Diario Tempo reports a quotation from Tasi Fuik, a representative for the victims of the war in Timor-Leste's, as arguing that the establishment of the CTF would only undermine demands for an International Tribunal as well as diminish the core values of victims during the war in Timor-Leste. He also argues that the establishment of the CTF contradicts the democratic principles of the state. Therefore, he is reported as saying that the executive section of the OPVG (Organizaçao Para Vitíma de Guerra - Organisation for the Victims of War) strongly appeals to the UN Security Council and Secretary-General, Kofi Annan to explain the reasons for the United Nations Security Council not to discuss Resolutions 1272, 1410, 1543 and 1599 regarding an International Tribunal for Timor-Leste. Tasi Fuik, on behalf of the OPVG, demands that the United Nations establish an International Tribunal in Timor-Leste or alternatively, the United Nations and the governments of Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Portuguese should pay compensation for the 350,000 people killed by Indonesians during the occupation of Timor-Leste. Tasi Fuik made the above statement at the Headquarters of CPD-RDTL in Balide, Dili.

MP Rui Menezes told Diario Tempo that the "United Nations should establish an international tribunal rather than using the International Tribunal as merely political rhetoric to save face and make Timor-Leste the victim". ,

On the issue, Timor-Leste Prosecutor General, Longuinhos Monteiro made no comment and said that "it is the political decision of Timor-Leste Government, and it should be known that it is the state that defines the criminal policies after assessing the circumstances." Longuinhos continued by saying that it is his duty to comply with the criminal policies as decided by the Government. [Diario Tempo]

Matak Will Take the Case of Police Lowering the National Flag to Court

Commenting on the recent actions by PNTL members who lowered the national flag at the CPD-RDTL Headquarters and the arrest of 8 CPD-RDTL members in Atauro island, General Coordinator of CPD-RDTL Antonio Aitahan Matak told the media on Tuesday that he will take the case to court. Matak confirmed that all his members arrested by the police were not wrong, but it was the police officers who violated human rights by doing so. According to him, the flag raising activities were based on the legal and historical basis of the restoration of independence of RDTL. Matak further informed that a total of 230 members of CPD-RDTL have been arrested since 22 July, adding that some of them have been detained and some have been injured. In related news, 16 PNTL officers lowered the national flag raised by CPD-RDTL in Oplegul hamlet, Maliana Sub-district on Friday, 19 August, without resistance from CPD-RDTL's members in the area. (Timor Post)

National News Sources

Timor Post (TP) Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) Diario Tempo (DT) Diario Nacional Seminario Lia Foun (LF) Televisaun Timor-Leste [TVTL] RTL Radio Timor-Leste [RTL]