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

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Daily Media Review

Tuesday, 05 October 2005

National Media Reports

PM Alkatiri not to interfere in Regional Secretary recruitment

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri will not interfere in the recruitment of staff that will work with the Regional Secretaries of State. Speaking to journalists after participating in the congress of the Timor-Leste Nurses Association, Alkatiri told journalists that these new civil servants would not be recruited via the normal recruitment procedures, but by a process of nominations. He said that the Secretaries of State would have the freedom to choose those people who they feel they can work well with. “As the Prime Minister I cannot tell the Secretaries of State to choose or not choose certain people, with the possibility that then the work will not get done properly”, said Alkatiri. He explained further that these nominated staff members would leave their positions if the Secretary of State were to be removed due to incompetence. (TP)

MP Leandro Isaac: Timor Telecom exploits Timorese

Member of Parliament Leandro Isaac has criticized Timor Telecom’s monopoly on telephone services in Timor-Leste. MP Isaac raised the issue in Parliament’s Plenary Session yesterday, saying that most Timorese are not aware of this monopoly and if they were, they would be holding protests toward Timor Telecom. Isaac explained that according to a recent World Bank report the cost of their mobile phone recharge cards, Internet and home landline telephone charges are amongst the most expensive in the world. Speaking to journalists after the Plenary, Isaac said that Timor Telecom is taking advantage of the Timorese people, and highlighted the contradiction of one of the most expensive telephone services for the people of one of the poorest countries in the world. (TP)

Minibus drivers hold strike due to hike in fuel price

The fuel crisis currently being witnessed in Indonesia is affecting Timor-Leste also, with minibus drivers yesterday striking due to the sharp hike in the fuel price from 77 cents per litre a few days ago, to as high as 90 cents per litre yesterday. Concentrated at the main Dili terminal, the strikers were yesterday evicted from the area by the police because they had not notified police of their action. According to Police Operational Commander Damiao da Silva, people have the right to hold strikes or demonstrations as long as they inform the police of their intentions. Strike Coordinator Agustino Mendes said that the strike was held not against the Government or the National Parliament, but simply to demonstrate the dissatisfaction of the drivers with the sharp rise in the price of fuel. He did ask the government to determine a set transport tariff, as well as to try and lower the fuel price a little. (TP)

MP Amaral: Border agreement should be communicated to people

The border agreement between Timor-Leste and Indonesia signed some months ago should be communicated and explained to the people of the two countries living in the border regions. Vice-President of Commission B for Defence and Security in the National Parliament Clementino Amaral told journalists that it is important for the border communities to know exactly the location of the border so that further border incidents, like the recent ones in the enclave of Oecussi, do not recur. He said that it is important for the two governments to resolve these problems on a bilateral basis so that there is no need for the issue to be taken to the United Nations. (TP)

Cancio: Educate Timorese should be the first Government's policy

The Director of Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) João Cancio said in order for the Timorese to be in charge of the development of Timor Sea natural resources, the government should be given priority to have qualified Timorese through education and intensive training. Cancio said the development of the Timor Sea potentially does not depend solemnly on qualified people but on experienced and skilled capacity of personnel. He added that although he is aware that the Timorese are still not able to develop the oil and natural gas of Timor Sea due to the country being a new nation currently undergoing training, the government should find ways for the Timorese people to be responsible for the oil and gas reserves of the Timor Sea. Joao Cancio made these comments during the orientation day on Monday. (TP)

The National Parliament disagree on the figure to be the Timorese consulate in Bali

Speaking during the plenary session at the National Parliament, FRETILIN’s member of the National Parliament, Elizario Ferreira contested the nominations for Timor-Leste’s consulate in Bali, Indonesia. MP Ferreira argued, saying that he rejected the first candidate João Meko who has Indonesian citizenship and has lived there ever since the independence of Timor-Leste. He further questioned why Timor-Leste should choose someone from Indonesia to represent the country in Bali. Despite disagreement raised by other FRETILIN’s members of the National Parliament, MP Ferreira made a firm appeal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to re-evaluate the nomination. (STL)

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]