[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

Thursday, 10 November 2005

National Media Reports

UNDERTIM are not terrorists: Costa

In response to the reported statement of the Minister of Interior that the attack on PNTL headquarters in Baucau was likely to be carried out by a newly-established political party, Cristiano Costa, UNDERTIM Secretary General reportedly said the statement is false and manipulative, reported Timor Post on Thursday. According to Cristiano the statement was made before an investigation, adding that his party was established legally and it is not a terrorist party. "Stating that the new political party threw a bomb to the police headquarters is a lie and manipulation," Cristiano Costa told Timor Post following Wednesday's workshop in Dili. He appealed to the authorities in the government to first investigate before making any comments. " I believe that this is a political conspiracy, we must investigate it properly to see who has been involved in it. If there is no investigation one does not have the right to speak," added Da Costa. He said he also denies such actions. In a separate article in STL, Cristiano da Costa said that the Prime Minister's response to Bucoli's case does not reflect the reality, noting that the statement by Prime Minister Alkatiri does satisfy the public because he repeats the information received from Fretilin's members. Da Costa said 20% of the population in Bucoli has now joined UNDERTIM, adding that Alkatiri's statement is false because the police did not lower the party flag because it is not the party in power. (TP, STL)

Report on Participative Democracy Workshop

President Xanana Gusmao on Wednesday presided over the opening day of a workshop on Participative Democracy. The workshop, organized by the International Republican Institute and held at the Dili Gymnasium, involved the President himself along with the Prime Minister, political party leaders, and Timor-Leste civil society. Speaking at the opening forum of the workshop, President Xanana said that democracy in Timor-Leste is still like a small child, and thus all parties must strive to strengthen democracy in this country. Speaking to journalists at the workshop, President of the Democratic Millennium Party Ermenegildo Lopes alias Kupu said that democracy in Timor-Leste is not yet perfect and that it needs to be developed further before it will be ideal, while spokesperson for the UNDERTIM party Cristiano da Costa said that the forum is a sharing of democratic ideas so that all people will understand how to develop democracy in Timor-Leste.

Also speaking to reporters, political commentator Julio Tomas Pinto said that even though Timor-Leste is the youngest country in the world, democracy and the freedom to engage in certain activities in this country is much better compared to some other Asian countries. He said that the workshop is very important approaching the 2007 general elections, as via such a seminar the people can obtain information on civic education.

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri expressed his disappointment that many people still do not understand the concept of participative democracy. He said that not as many participants as expected attended the workshop, and that those who did attend did not follow the structure of the workshop as proposed by the organizing committee. "We were supposed to discuss the concept of participative democracy but ended up talking about the price of goods. If we continue like this we will never get anywhere", said the Prime Minister.

The Dili workshop will continue today, and will be followed by district workshops on the same topic between 11 November and 7 December. (TP, Diario, STL)

PM Alkatiri Has Not Established A Bridge with the Population

Speaking at the Participative Democratic Workshop on Wednesday, Fr. Martinho said one of the big losses for the population up until now is the establishment of a bridge between father and son which the Prime Minister is yet to touch upon. "What the Prime Minister has talked about is modern theory, it is not participative democracy, but constitutional democracy. The small and big things PM talked about refers to the constitution, as if constitution is obligatio," Fr. Martinho said adding that he is of the opinion that the changes come from cultural democracy but it is better to first build a bridge. (STL)

TVTL News Monitoring

1. President Summoned PNTL Commander: The President of Republic, Xanana Gusmao, has summoned the General Commander of PNTL, Paulo Fatima Martins to clarify Police action in inspecting a family house in Baucau. The owners of the house met with the President and as the result, PNTL Commander was summoned. Commander Martins, meanwhile, stated that he would call PNTL District Commander of Baucau for clarification.

2. PM unsatisfied about understanding of Democracy: The Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri reportedly told journalists, after attending a workshop on participative democracy at the Dili Gymnasium, that he was a bit unhappy that some people have not yet understood participative democracy. Alkatiri added that in any democratic country, it is normal for opposition to be critical of the government and that participative means it should include participation from all level. However, it is winner party at the election that should from government.

3. Truck Drivers Complain about Interior Minister: Two assistants of a truck with the Plate number 50-285, Manuel Soares and Carlito de Jesus, were reported to be unsatisfied with the attitude of the Interior Minister who allegedly beat them following the occurrence of a traffic accident in the Delta area, in Dili on Monday night. One of the victims reportedly told journalists that the Minister hit another man with a gun on his back head and smashed their heads against the road when they were on the ground. The two men will bring the matter forward through judicial process. Interior Minister, Rogerio Lobato, meanwhile, stated that he took the direct action because the truck's driver was heavily drunk and uncontrollable. The Minister conceded that he did push the two men but that they had to do this to restore order. He also added that he is ready to answer if the two want to bring the case forward. 4. Antonio Ximenes gives ultimatum to Interior Minister: The President of PDC, Antonio Ximenes, has reportedly issued an ultimatum to the Minister of Interior, Rogerio Lobato, to improve the quality of PNTL institution within three weeks. Ximenes further claimed that if nothing happened within this timeframe, the people will take action against the Minister. He also appealed to the population to stand-up.

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

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