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

UNOTIL

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Daily Media Review

Tuesday, 08 November 2005

National Media Reports

Indonesia recognizes border error

The Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Adalgiza Magno has said that Indonesia has recognized its errors regarding the problems between the people of Timor-Leste and Indonesia in the border area, in particular the blocking of the Mota Ain river. Speaking to journalists after meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday to discuss the issue, Magno said that the barricades which had been used to block the river on the Timor-Leste side of the border have now been removed by Indonesia, and the river area will be returned to its original state. She added that the current border situation is normal. (TP, Diario)

West Timor Population Continues to Destroy Crops

The Village Chief of Bobo Meta, Oecussi Sub-District, said the population from West Timor continues to destroy their neighbours' crops along the border, reported the media on Tuesday. According to Batista, this practice has been occurring whenever the Timorese population sow their corn seeds now that the wet season has arrived. He said the population of Oecussi have made a request to the Indonesian National Forces (TNI) to control and stop their population from carrying out such practices, adding that the population living along the border have their crops planted along the border already established by the governments of Timor-Leste and Indonesia. The Village Chief appealed to the "Timorese leaders especially UNOTIL to keep an eye on the problems in the border as the UN still has responsibility over TL even though the country already gained its independence. In a separate article, Diario newspaper reported that the situation in Oecussi has improved since the appointment of the Secretary of State, Albano Salem for that region. It is reported that the town is much cleaner now and that Salem has nominated every Friday as the clean up day. (Diario, TP)

Re-elections in six districts: Cabral

The Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) has confirmed that beginning on 18 November re-elections will be held at the community level in nine districts. Speaking to journalists on Monday, STAE Director Tomas do Rosario Cabral said that the nine districts where village-level re-elections will be held include Ermera, Baucau, Lautem, Manufahi, Viqueque, Aileu, Ainaro, Liquica and Dili. (TP)

SRSG Hasegawa Should Discipline International Staff Who Only Try to Make Money

Speaking at the Parliamentary plenary session on Monday, MP Leandro Isaac reportedly stated that SRSG Sukehiro Hasegawa should discipline all international staff who work as advisers, judges, prosecutors and public defenders in Timor-Leste. Leandro appealed to SRSG Hasegawa in relation to the case of the international staff, Alda Pereira who was recently alleged to have confiscated the camera of a Timorese journalist. He considered such action as anarchism, and a violation of freedom of the press and Timor-Leste's Constitution.

Leandro added that the case was handled by a national prosecutor but according to the views of [international public] defenders that the national prosecutor had no impartiality to do so, therefore they threatened, and requested the General Prosecutor to hand over the case to them. "I have no idea why the internationals should grab the case from the hands of Timorese so that they could defend each other, and it will make Timorese continue to be under their power", Isaac argued.

According to Isaac, the colonialism has long disappeared, but now there is UN colonialism of advisers. "I therefore would like to appeal to Hasegawa that Timor-Leste does not need advisers who only want to make money. Timor needs professional advisers in order to enhance the capacity of Timorese," Isaac said, adding that SRSG Hasegawa should pay a major attention to the problem since it has hurt the feelings of each Timorese. Moreover, Isaac said that if Alda Pereira is later found guilty, she should be expelled out of Timor-Leste since she has violated the fundamental freedom of Timor-Leste. (Timor Post, Diario Nacional)

TVTL News Monitoring

1. Cabo Verde and Timor-Leste: The government of Cabo Verde is reportedly ready to continue cooperating with Timor-Leste in the areas of politics and development. The Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, Jose Maria Pereira Neves, made this announcement following a meeting with his Timorese counterpart, Mari Alkatiri. During the meeting, Alkatiri reportedly thanked the government and the people of Cabo Verde for their support during the Timorese struggle for Independence and after independence.

2. Dengue Information: TVTL reported that the First Lady, Kirsty Sword Gusmao took the initiative to spread information about dengue in the area of Laulara, which was aimed at enhancement of the community's knowledge of the disease.

3. Education and Orphans: At the Plenary Session of the National Parliament, Osorio Florindo MP, from FRETILIN urged the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture to improve the system that elaborates the Decree Law on UNTL students' graduation so as not to cause any graduation delays. Meanwhile, Jacinto Maia MP, also from FRETILIN, asked all the competent bodies to pay attention to the orphans of Timor-Leste, whose fathers are unknown.

4. Young Women and Development: UNICEF and Radio Televisaun Timor-Leste (RTTL) conducted a five days workshop at the Centro Juvenil Taibessi Dili to discuss how to involve young women in the process of development in Timor-Leste.

5. Arrest in Baucau: PNTL in Baucau arrested two men in Baucau for their alleged involvement in an assault on the Baucau Police Station. It was further reported that at the homes of the two arrested, police found some homemade bombs, radio and Indonesian Military uniforms. The two are reported to be in police custody.

National News Sources

Timor Post (TP)
Radio Timor-Leste (RTL)
Suara Timor Lorosae (STL)
Diario Tempo (DT)
Diario Nacional Seminario Lia Foun (LF)
Televisaun Timor-Leste [TVTL]

These Items Do Not Reflect the Position or Views of the United Nations. UNOTIL Public Information Office

-END-

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