| Subject: UNMISET Daily Media Review 23
February 2005
[Poster's note: Long repeats of international articles already sent out
to the east-timor list have been removed.]
UNMISET Daily Press Review
Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and
international sources
Daily Media Review Wednesday, 23 February 2005
PNTL Commander of Lautem allegedly involved in murder of officer
The PNTL Commander of Lautem District, Sub-Inspector AFDC, together
with five of his agents, are believed to have been involved in the murder
of police officer Thomas da Costa, who died in Baucau Hospital on 4
February 2005. PNTL Commander, Superintendent Paulo de Fatima Martins,
said in a press conference yesterday that based on investigations, the
judge will be issuing an arrest warrant for the suspects.
In early December, da Costa and his wife tried to locate a nurse to
assist their sick child, who was spending the night in Los Palos Hospital.
When no nurse arrived, Thomas stood on a chair to look into the nurse’s
quarters, to see if there was a nurse available to come and assist. Da
Costa was accused of spying on the nurses and later that evening several
PNTL officers arrived at the hospital and severely beat him, allegedly on
an order from their Commander. Not long after that da Costa fell sick and
died. Autopsy results showed that he had died from malaria and head
injuries. The final outcome of the case will now rest with the courts. (STL)
PNTL officers involved in smuggling activities arrested
The Minister of Interior Rogério Tiago Lobato yesterday announced that
some members of PNTL’s Border Patrol Unit, involved in smuggling
activities, have been arrested. Lobato said that PNTL’s Superior Council
for Disciplinary Actions will take appropriate disciplinary measures, with
the mostly likely action being the dismissal of the officers found guilty.
“Such crimes are the most serious abuse of power. Police should protect
the community, but instead these officers were found to abuse power and
protect smugglers,” Lobato said. (Timor Post)
Ramos Horta: “Parties not agreeing with establishment of Truth
Commission can dismantle foreign Policy if they win 2007 elections”
In response to criticism levelled at the Government’s decision to
establish the Truth and Friendship Commission by some political parties,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Ramos-Horta, stated yesterday that
if they are successful in their bid to win power in the 2007 election,
they can then dismantle current foreign policies. Ramos-Horta said those
parties who may win in the upcoming elections can also go to New York and
address the Security Council by demanding the establishment of
International Tribunal, but they should bear in mind that they should also
accept the consequences of their demands.
Ramos-Horta further argued that the Commission will have a positive
impact because the UN has called for its body, the Commission of Experts,
to assist the Truth and Friendship Commission. (Timor Post)
Agitators to be chased by police
The Minister for Internal Affairs, Rogerio Tiago Lobato, stressed that
Timor-Leste’s national police will continue to pursue groups who disturb
the community. In order to maintain calm and peace in the community,
Rogerio said all PNTL’s resources, including reserve and other units
would be deployed to locate armed groups currently in Timor-Leste. (STL)
Bad management, power continues to go out
A Member of Parliament from the Social Democrat Party, Joao Goncalves,
said that the consistent cuts in power occurring in Dili and some other
parts of the country are a result of bad management within the electricity
company. Apart from management issues, he also added that the system used
to control fuel supplies is also inefficient, resulting in the illegal
trading of fuel. Additionally, Goncalves accused the company, which sells
fuel to Electricity East Timor (EDTL), of selling it at a much higher
price than the current market price. (STL)
Plea for expired medicines to be acted upon by DOH
Several residents of Taibessi, Dili, have requested the Department of
Health to take action against those selling expired medicine in the
Taibessi market and kiosks in the area. The residents are concerned that
in a time when many people are falling ill, the expired medication will
only aggravate their sickness even further. Although the Department of
Health has investigated this issue several times before, the residents
have requested them to once again issue a firm warning to those selling
out-of-date medicines. (STL)
Clean water sourced from solar power in Atabae
The Secretary of State for Electricity and Water, Egidio de Jesus,
yesterday inaugurated two new solar power water sources in Atabae,
Bobonaro District. The new water sources are located in two different
villages and it is hoped that the infrastructure used to build the new
water facility will remain in good condition for at least 20 years. (STL)
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