Wednesday, 01 June 2005

CAQR accused of manipulation

The work of the Commission for the Reception of ex-Resistance Fighters has begun to be criticized by the people, via their Members of Parliament. Independent Oecussi MP Antonio da Costa Lelan said that some members of the Commission in Oecussi have not been neutral in their work, and that there have been signs of manipulation. Fretilin MP Costancia de Jesus, who said that a similar situation had occurred in Covalima District, affirmed Lelan's comments. (STL, Timor Post)

Timorese children in crisis

Timorese children, especially those in the Districts, are in crisis, suffering from poor health, and lack of education, having been forced to leave school to help their parents at work and at home. Social Democrat Party Member of Parliament Lucia Lobato, speaking to journalists yesterday on the eve of World Children's Day, said that as children are the future of Timor-Leste, it is important that there be concrete measures developed to address the problems of poor health and educational opportunities for children in Timor-Leste. (Timor Post)

The Provedor for Human Rights and Justice Sebastiao Dias Ximenes said that he will have difficulty in investigating officials' wealth, as there is as yet no law to regulate this. Speaking to the media after a workshop on Collusion, Corruption and Nepotism organized by NGO LABEH yesterday, Ximenes said that the absence of such a law means that he can take no action on any complaints filed with his office regarding officials' wealth. He said that under such a law, all government officials could be obliged to submit a list of their assets to the Provedor for examination, but that this is not possible until the Parliament formulates the law. (STL)

Parliament demands explanation on TG agreement

Member of the National Parliament from the Social Democratic Party Joao Goncalves has appealed to the government to immediately provide an explanation on the agreement signed between Australia and Timor-Leste regarding the Timor Gap. Speaking in Parliament's Plenary Session yesterday, Goncalves said that Australia has for some time now been claiming that an agreement has been signed, and that Australia's Parliament is ready to ratify the agreement. However the Timor-Leste government has not yet appeared in the Parliament to explain what is happening. Goncalves cited the Prime Minister's weekly meetings with the President to report on both internal and external political matters, and that this is in contrast to the failure of the government to report to the Parliament on such matters, in this case the Timor Gap. (STL, Timor Post)

President Xanana Gusmao will today leave for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a medical consultation. President Xanana sent a letter to the National Parliament informing them of his absence for the next few days while he is in Malaysia, accompanied by the F-FDTL Commander, Taur Matan Ruak. Although the President underwent a check-up at the National Hospital several days ago, as they do not have specialist doctors at the hospital thus they recommended that he undergo further consultations in Malaysia. (Timor Post)