Subject: UNMISET Daily Media Review 2 May 2005

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

UNMISET

Daily Media Review Monday, 2 May 2005

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

United States ready to assist in new mission

United States' Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Grover Joseph Rees, said that as an international friend and one of the donor countries to Timor-Leste, the US is very pleased with the decision of the United Nations to extend its presence in Timor-Leste for another year. Speaking to journalists at UNMISET's headquarters in Dili on Friday, Rees said that the Timorese people have made good progress, but there is not yet a fully sustainable system, thus assistance from UN advisors is still required. He added that in one more year the United States would congratulate the United Nations and the Timorese people upon the completion of the mission. (Timor Post)

Fretilin continues support for PM

Fretilin held an all-inclusive meeting of the Fretilin Central Committee on Saturday, resulting in a statement reaffirming Fretilin's support for the Constitutional Government headed by Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri as well as calling for a dialogue to be held to resolve the current concerns.

The meeting was held to confront the political situation that has arisen in the country and was attended by members of Fretilin's central and district bodies, representatives of people's organizations and militants. The President of the National Parliament Francisco Guterres said in the statement that the number of people attending the demonstration, approximately 2000, is not representative of the aspirations of all the people of Timor-Leste. He added that forcing the Prime Minister to resign via a demonstration is not a good precedent for this new nation. (Timor Post, STL)

Portuguese citizens under the influence

The Dili Diocese Vicar-General, Apolinario Aparicio, has told journalists that the two Portuguese citizens, who suffered injuries on Friday evening, were drunk. Their car was zigzagging on the road heading in the direction of the demonstrators who were praying at the time and some religious statues placed in the area when they were stopped by the demonstrators and accompanied to the Bishop's residence. The two suffered minor injuries. Timor Post cites the Portuguese Ambassador as being informed of the incident, and he has requested Portuguese citizens to stay clear of the area of the demonstration. (Timor Post)

TL Defense policy must be better defined

According to the Commander of the F-FDTL Taur Matan Ruak, Timor-Leste's defense policy is very important, as the UN's peacekeeping operation in Timor-Leste will soon end. Speaking at the international symposium held last week to evaluate the work of the UN in the past six years, Ruak said that there needs to be a thorough analysis of financial and human resources available to the F-FDTL as well as an effort made to define priorities and capabilities in terms of sustainability. (STL)


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