UNOTIL

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Daily Media Review

Saturday & Monday, 10-12 December 2005

National Media Reports

NGO signs accord with Government on credit for women

The Minister for Labour and Community Reinsertion, the Microfinance Institution, Training Centres from four regions and other organizations on Friday signed an accord regarding credit assistance for Timor-Leste women's groups. The NGO Tuba Rai Metin, which runs microfinance programmes for women in several districts, will work together with the Ministry of Labour and Community Reinsertion and the ILO in Timor-Leste to strengthen Timorese women's capacity for the future. Speaking after signing the accord, Tuba Rai Metin Executive Director Jose Adriano Gusmao explained that the micro-credit programme is important in enabling women to work on their own in establishing their every day livelihoods. (TP)

Debate over reason for Koni Santana's death

Resistance leader Nino Koni Santana died because he was ill, according to ex-Secretary of Region IV, Riak Leman. Speaking in the National Parliament on Friday, Leman said that Santana was not killed, but died due to an illness. He said that many people are now interested in knowing the cause of death of some of the former resistance leaders.

Speaking at the Resistance Museum after its inauguration by President Gusmao last Wednesday, former Region Secretary Jose Agostinho Sequeira, also known as Somoco, said that a discussion on the reason for Santana's death should not be made public, as it could cause a civil war. He said that such a discussion was best left to leaders like President Xanana Gusmao. (DT, STL)

MP Paixão: Veterans' bill should be socialized

Speaking to the press last Tuesday, MP Maria Paixão of the Social Democratic Party had been reportedly quoted as saying that the Veterans' bill should be socialized among the communities in the districts, adding that this is due to the fact many community members are not aware of the information on the bill, and arguing that her party does not want any bad precedent from the resistance members to happen because they feel that there are so many items that are not incorporated in the bill. "I find it pertinent to have public hearings in the districts on the bill. This will show that we really uphold our democratic principles," Paixão said. (TP)

MP Buras :Timor-Leste and Indonesia have no will to solve the problem of former Timorese public servants

Speaking to the media last Friday, MP José Buras of Democratic Party noted that both Timor-Leste and Indonesian governments have no good political will to solve the problem of former Timorese public servants who had been abandoned after the 30 August 1999 referendum. Moreover, Buras argued that the two governments should have resolved the matter because the former public servants are part of the Timorese community who still have the working relationship with Indonesian government, adding that during the Indonesian period they had served the Indonesian government. Therefore, he said, the Indonesian government should have had the great desire to keep paying the salaries of its former employees even though now they are no longer Indonesian citizens. In addition, Buras said that if both governments manage to solve the problems of refugees and the former public servants, Timorese citizens who are now in West Timor will come back to Timor-Leste, and they will not become the burden for the people and the government of Indonesia. (STL, DT)

TVTL News Headlines (10-12-2005)

v Alkatiri officially announced the agreement reached on the Timor Sea.

Speaking at a press conference at the Dili International Airport on Friday, the Prime Minister of Timor Leste, Mari Alkatiri, stated that a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed on 12 January 2006 by Timor-Leste and Australian Foreign Ministers in the presence of their respective Prime Ministers. Alkatiri emphasised that the agreement does not affect the position and claims of the two parties in respect to maritime boundaries.

v The Prime Minister leaves for Cuba on an official visit

At the Press Conference, prior to his departure, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri stated that the objective of his visit to Cuba is to strengthen the existing cooperation between Cuba and Timor-Leste. The visit, he added, will also try to explore other possibilities of cooperation, such as in agriculture and alternative energy. During the visit, the PM is scheduled to meet the Timorese students who study in Cuba. Meanwhile, commenting on the dispatch of 10 PNTL members to join the UN mission in Kosovo, Alkatiri reportedly stated that it was an indication that the International community recognises the capacity of Timor Leste's Police Force.

v Land Dispute Problems in Baucau.

TVTL reported on Friday that some 25 students have temporarily stopped going to their schools and moved to the military camp in Baucau, due to a land dispute problem between the villages of Bahu and Buibau, in Baucau. These students originally come from Bahu village and are unable to attend school because they were reportedly being threatened by the people from the village of Buibau. Raimundo Xavier Lakuani, spokesperson for the Internal Displaced People, at the military camp in Baucau reportedly told journalists that PNTL Baucau District Commander was not neutral in this issue because he was alleged to have backed the villagers from Buibau. Lakuani further alleged that Baucau District Coordinator of FRETILIN party, João Capristão (Ajino) also involved. He appealed to the leaders to find the solution to enable their return to their homes.

v Democratic Party (PD) held its first District Congress.

TVTL also reported on Friday that the Democratic Party, PD, held its first District Congress in Lospalos, Lautem District. Speaking during the Congress, the party's Secretary General, Mariano Sabino Lopes, reportedly told participants that the Congress in Lospalos was to consolidate the party by restructuring it at the district level and to legalize the structure. It was also held to prepare the district representatives to participate in the PD National Congress which is expected to be held in 2006.

v MoU between the Government and the Micro Finance

The Government of Timor-Leste and Micro Finance Institutions have reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the provision of credit for women. After signing the MoU, the Minister of Labour and Community Reinsertion Arsenio Paixao Bano stated that the objective of the agreement, which is expected to provide a credit amount of US $50.000, was to reduce poverty and to improve the lives of families.

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

These Items Do Not Reflect the Position or Views of the United Nations. UNOTIL Public Information Office