[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 Thursday, 19 May 2005

Fretilin sympathizers participate in independence celebrations

Fretilin will celebrate tomorrow's Independence Day also with a celebration of the anniversary of Fretilin's transformation from ASDT in 1975. For this commemoration, Fretilin militants and sympathizers have been arriving in Dili from the 13 districts in the past few days. The commemoration will be held on the afternoon of 20 May at the Democracy Field.

According to Francisco Branco, head of the Fretilin faction in the National Parliament, the movement of such a large number of Fretilin sympathizers is not intended as a provocation or a show of force. He added that there is no connection with the large Church demonstration, which finished some weeks ago. (Timor Post, STL)

20 May celebrations to be held tomorrow

Timor-Leste's Independence Day celebrations tomorrow will begin with a flag raising ceremony, led by President Xanana Gusmao at the National Stadium, followed by F-FDTL and PNTL parades. Fretilin will then hold a ceremony to commemorate its anniversary in Democracy Field in the afternoon. There will also be an Arts and Culture Festival sponsored by the Department of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports at the Dili GMT Gymnasium. The festival will include music, dance and displays of traditional dress and will present 160 artists from Timor-Leste's 13 districts.

In an interview with Timor Post, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Jose Ramos-Horta said that the government prefers to commemorate this year's Independence Day in a simple manner so as not to outlay a great deal of money. He said that the government has plans for big celebrations in the near future, such as for the 30th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this coming 28 November as well as a larger program for next years 20 May Independence Day celebrations. Ramos-Horta said that the United Nations will definitely be departing Timor-Leste in 2006 and the government will then want to convey its appreciation to all nations that have assisted Timor-Leste since 1999. (Timor Post)

Indonesian fishing boats found in Timor waters

Nine boats flying Indonesian flags have been found engaged in illegal fishing off the south coast waters of Timor-Leste. A group of Thai researchers and some Timorese came across the illegal fishermen while carrying out research into fish stocks on the southern coast. Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Estanislau da Silva, said that he has spoken to the Minister of Interior and requested him to lodge a formal complaint with the country whose fishermen were found fishing illegally in Timor-Leste's waters. Da Silva lamented that Timor-Leste does not have naval and marine police to patrol Timor-Leste's waters. (STL)