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Subject: Daily Media Review Monday, 23 May
2005
[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
Monday, 23 May 2005
FDTL and PNTL must strive for people's confidence
Timor-Leste's President Xanana Gusmao has asked the FDTL and PNTL to strive
even harder so that the people believe in the two security forces, and trust
in their protection. Speaking at the Independence Day celebrations at Dili's
Municipal Stadium on Friday, President Gusmao requested the two forces
establish cooperation and good relations between each other in order to
guarantee stability. Gusmao said that only with a guarantee on internal
stability can the government focus on economic development. (Timor Post)
20 May celebrations peaceful
Timor-Leste's third anniversary of Independence celebrations ran peacefully.
A flag-raising ceremony was held at the Dili Municipal Stadium, followed by
parades by the F-FDTL, PNTL and the Fire Service.
Twelve districts also took part in a cultural competition held at the Dili
Gymnasium on Thursday and Friday, which was organized by the Ministry for
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport. The cultural presentations included
traditional dancing, tais (traditional cloth) displays and traditional
music. (Timor Post, STL)
Fretilin's anniversary celebrations draw 100,000
Approximately 100,000 Fretilin sympathizers and party members from all
districts of Timor-Leste gathered at the Democracy Field in Dili on Friday
afternoon to celebrate Fretilin's 31st anniversary. In a long speech to
those gathered, Fretilin President, Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo", said that
he believes that Fretilin will win the 2007 elections.
During the celebration, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation,
Jose Ramos-Horta, appealed to the party to open its doors and assist the
poor and vulnerable. He said that Timorese must leave behind their hatred of
others in order to move forward.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Socialist Party of Timor, Avelino
Coelho, said that the 20 May celebrations this year have caused confusion
for much of the population, as they are unsure as to what is being
celebrated - the restoration of independence or the formation of a political
party. Coelho said that this confusion is not the fault of Fretilin and that
in his opinion the decision to hold the transfer of sovereignty in 2002 on
20 May was a bad decision. According to Coelho, a different day would have
been more sensible.
ASDT also held their own anniversary celebrations at Becora, with ASDT
President Francisco Xavier do Amaral saying that Fretilin's "real"
anniversary is on 11 September and not 20 May. (Timor Post, STL)
UN mission ends - security guaranteed
Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri says that even though the mandate of the UN
peacekeeping mission has come to an end, it will not have an impact on
national security. Alkatiri said that in the past year, Timor-Leste has been
responsible for security and not the UN. He said that Timor-Leste's
government requested a one-year extension for a UN peacekeeping mission, but
the UN did not grant the extension and as such, Timor-Leste must accept that
it must now guarantee its own security.
Speaking at the parade for the completion of the mandate of the UN
Peacekeeping Mission in Timor-Leste last Friday, President Xanana Gusmao
said that the end of the mission marks an important historical moment for
Timor-Leste. He said that the UN peacekeepers have played an important role
in the development of this new nation, and that they will always remain in
the hearts of Timorese.
During the ceremony Xanana awarded UN service medals to the UN Force
Commander from Malaysia, Lieutenant General Khairuddin bin Mat Yusof, and
the UNPOL Commander, Saifullah Malik.
At the ceremony, Special Representative of the Secretary General for
Timor-Leste, Sukehiro Hasegawa, said that an important page has closed for
the UN in Timor-Leste as peacekeeping forces prepare to leave the country.
During his speech, Hasegawa congratulated and thanked the men and women who
have participated in UN peacekeeping operations for their contribution to
the stability and security of Timor-Leste. (Timor Post, STL)
Children's playground inaugurated
President Xanana Gusmao inaugurated two new children's playgrounds in Dili
on Saturday. Speaking to journalists after the inauguration, President
Gusmao said that the two playgrounds were built with the assistance of the
Union of Lusophone Capital Cities (UCCLA), which is part of Lisbon City
Council.
The President said that he has asked the Council to also build seats near
the playground so that parents have somewhere to sit and he added that the
Council is also looking to provide assistance to Oecussi. President Gusmao
took this opportunity to ask parents to give their children the opportunity
to take time to play and he planted trees at the two playgrounds as a symbol
of their inauguration. (Timor Post, STL)
President regrets TL decision not to participate in games
President Xanana Gusmao has spoken out against the decision of the President
of the Timor-Leste National Olympic Committee not to allow Timorese athletes
to participate in the Arafura Games. The President of the Timor-Leste
National Olympic Committee withdrew the athletes based on the argument that
the Prime Minister did not receive an invitation to the Games.
President Gusmao said that the argument that the Prime Minister did not
receive an invitation is an excuse and that the real reason is because the
Committee was unprepared. He said that preparation for such an event must
begin long before the event and not just before the event begins, which is
the Committee's current attitude. (Timor Post)
President Xanana Gusmao Gives Amnesty to 18 Prisoners
On the occasion of the third anniversary of the devolution of power to the
legitimate organs of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the
re-establishment of National Independence, H.E President Kay Rala Xanana
Gusmao, in exercising his constitutional competencies, has today authorized
the reduction of sentences with a minimum of six months and a maximum of one
year reduction of the original sentences to 18 prisoners. (Press Release:
President's Office)
MP: independence has not brought significant changes
Timor-Leste has been independent now for three years, but with little
significant change, according to KOTA Member of Parliament Clementino dos
Reis Amaral. He said that in his opinion, the Ministry of Health has made
the most positive advancements when compared to the ministries of Education
and Agriculture, for example. He said the very centralized system in some
departments is restricting the movement and initiative of their Ministers.
According to Amaral, there must be changes made to this centralized system
otherwise there will still be very little future progress. (Timor Post)
Retreat builds MP capacity
The five-day retreat held by Members of Parliament from Commission C at the
Baucau Pousada has built on the capacity of members of the Commission to
approve law. President of Commission C for Economy and Finance, Manuel
Tilman, said that apart from building capacity, the retreat also helped
instil in the MP's the responsibility to approve laws expeditiously. Member
of Commission C, Rui Menezes, also said that the retreat has helped members
of the Commission to better understand petroleum activities in terms of oil
taxes. (Timor Post)
[This message was distributed via the east-timor news list. Write info@etan.org.]
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