| Subject: UNMISET Daily Media Review 30
March 2005
UNMISET Daily Press Review
Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and
international sources
Daily Media Review Wednesday, 30 March 2005
Indonesia's President postpones trip to Timor-Leste
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has postponed his planned
state visits to Timor-Leste, Australia and New Zealand following the
powerful earthquake that struck Nias in north Sumatra on Monday night.
Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayudha told reporters that the decision
to postpone the trips has been conveyed to the heads of government in the
three countries. However, he did not confirm when the President would pay
a visit to each of the countries. The President was originally scheduled
to visit Timor-Leste on April 4. (ANTARA News)
Dengue epidemic kills more than 40 in Timor-Leste
An epidemic of dengue fever has killed more than 40 people in Timor-Leste
since the beginning of the year. In response, the government has called
for a major clean-up campaign to eliminate mosquitoes that spread the
disease. Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri called a special cabinet meeting
this week to debate Timor-Leste's dengue fever outbreak, resulting in the
creation of a special taskforce comprising various ministers.
Timor-Leste is one of several areas in the region, including Jakarta,
to have been affected by the disease, which is endemic in the Asia-Pacific
region. (AFP, Lusa)
USS Mercy strengthens TL-US friendship
The hospital steamship USS Mercy from the United States will strengthen
the friendship between Timor-Leste and the United States, according to US
Ambassador to Timor-Leste Joseph Rees. Rees visited the ship yesterday
together with members of Timor-Leste's government, including Minister for
Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Ramos-Horta, Minister of State Ana
Pessoa and Minister for Health Rui de Araujo. US marines and nurses based
on the ship are providing medical assistance to Timorese at the National
Hospital and will remain in the country until Friday. (Timor Post)
Provedor for Human Rights and Justice elected
The sole candidate for the Provedor position, Head of Dili University,
Sebastiao Diaz Ximenes, has won the election for the Provedor position,
with 46 votes in favour and 23 against. Despite being known as a
pro-autonomy supporter, Ximenes, whose name was put forward by Fretilin,
still received the backing of the major pro-independence party.
However, during the voting, MP Maria Paixao from the Social Democratic
Party (PSD) intervened, saying that because Ximenes has been chosen by
Fretilin, the majority party, and therefore it would be difficult for him
to maintain his impartiality in the Provedor position. She said that they
would have to wait and see whether he is able to handle cases of
corruption and human rights violations in an impartial manner. (Timor
Post, STL)
Squabble over nomination of candidates to State Council
The National Parliament yesterday presented five candidates to sit on
the State Council - three from Fretilin, one from the Democratic Party,
and one from the Social-Democratic Party (PSD). PSD and the Social
Democratic Association of Timor (ASDT) found themselves in a squabble over
who should have the right to present the final candidate, as they each
have the same number of seats in parliament. Maria Paixao from PSD said
that even though PSD and ASDT have the same number of seats, PSD's
electoral votes were more than those of ASDT and therefore according to
the Constitution it should be PSD who has the right to present the final
candidate. (Timor Post, STL)
West Timor Association requests re-negotiations on Timor Sea
The Association for the Care of West Timor based in Kupang, Indonesia,
has once again raised its demands for a renegotiation of the Timor Gap.
The group has raised the issue in relation to planned visits to Australia
and Timor-Leste by the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The
Association recently issued a press release requesting that the Indonesian
President and Australian Prime Minister pay attention to the needs of the
people of West Timor and called for trilateral negotiations on the Timor
Gap between Australia, Indonesia and Timor-Leste. (Timor Post)
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