[Poster's note: Long repeats of international articles already sent out to the east-timor list have been removed.]

UNOTIL

Daily Press Review

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Daily Media Review Friday, 17 June 2005

Provedor inaugurated

The Provedor for Human Rights and Justice, Sebastiao Dias Ximenes, was yesterday inaugurated into his position in a ceremony at the National Parliament. Speaking after the ceremony, Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said that he believes that the Provedor is a person of integrity and that he will act independently. Ramos-Horta said that it is important that the Provedor demonstrate these qualities so that the people and institutions such as the Parliament, have trust in the position.

Members of Parliament congratulated the Provedor on his inauguration. MP Rui Menezes of the Democrat Party said that he hopes that the position does not become just a symbol, but that he must deal with high-level cases of corruption, abuse of power, and abuse of state facilities for party interests.

The Provedor himself thanked the National Parliament for their confidence in him and requested that the Parliament not interfere in his upcoming work as the Provedor post is an independent and impartial one. (Timor Post, STL)

Accused in slander case granted conditional release

Joao Mintha, accused of slandering Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, was yesterday granted conditional release. Mintha is required to report regularly to police while waiting for his case to be heard in court. Alkatiri's daughter, Nurima Alkatiri, took Mintha, an assistant cameraman for Portuguese Radio and Television as well as a manager of the Timor-Leste's Football Federation, to court on an accusation of slander against her father at Sagres Bar in Dili on 10 June. (Timor Post)

Xanana: Some police act like cowboys

President Xanana Gusmao says that some police officers are striving to improve their performance, while others continue to behave like cowboys. At a press conference at Dili airport on Thursday, Xanana spoke about a recent fight in Taibessi, Dili, which involved police. He asked that the police make efforts to control themselves, and also asked that PNTL commanders exercise greater control over police officers' carrying of weapons, in particular, that they must not take them home or out when they are not on duty.

Meanwhile, President Xanana has also requested the government, Parliament and youth organizations to find a means for youth to find work. Referring to another fight between youths that occurred at Becora on Wednesday afternoon and resulted in one death and one person being seriously injured, the President said that the answer to such problems is not to throw the perpetrators in prison, but to find them jobs. He said that the problem is that these youths do not have anything to do and thus find themselves caught up in problems. The President asked that the relevant entities to continue with efforts to send youths to Malaysia and Korea to work in order to solve this problem. (Timor Post, STL)

Appeals court reduces militia sentences

The Appeals Court on Thursday reduced the prison sentences of eight Aitarak (Thorn) militia members. Three international judges reduced four of the accused prison sentences from six, to five and a half years, and the other four from five, to four and a half years. In reducing the sentences, the Court took into account the time that the accused have spent in prison as well as factors such as the responsibilities that the accused have toward their wives and children, the fact that their crimes were committed under orders from other militia, and their good behaviour. (Timor Post)