Daily Media Review

Thursday, 27 October 2005

National Media Reports

Ambassador Witoelar: TL progresses with sound principles

It is reported that the United Nations Ambassador for the Promotion of the Millennium Development Goals in the Asia-Pacific region, Erna Witoelar, on Wednesday met with President Xanana Gusmão to discuss general development issues as well as Timor-Leste-Indonesia bilateral relations. "As an Indonesian myself, I know that the new democratic Indonesia very much respects Timor-Leste as an independent country, and there is still much development cooperation that can be done", said Witoelar, accompanied by SRSG Hasegawa. She said that she felt very proud and moved to witness Timor-Leste under the leadership of President Gusmão, and she considers that the country is progressing well with some very sound principles. She praised the President's willingness to convey both his positive and negative opinions of the United Nations. (TP)

CTF Commissioners working as volunteers

It is reported that although the members of the Truth and Friendship Commission (CTF) have been working for some time now, they have not yet received a salary, because the two concerned countries have not yet approved the joint budget. "The proposed budget is still being studied", said CTF President Dionisio Babo, speaking to journalists from his office in Balide on Tuesday. He said that in the interim, the Commissioners have been pooling their money to allow the work of the Commission to go ahead. Speaking about other difficulties that the Commissioners have experienced apart from the funding problem, Babo said that the Commissioners often have different perspectives on political and ideological issues, and their standpoint on what occurred in 1999, and therefore they have been engaging in a lot of discussion. (TP)

97% of children participate in national immunization

It is reported that 97% of Timorese children participated in the National Polio Immunization Campaign held in August and September. According to Minister of Health Dr. Rui de Araujo, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the results from the first and second rounds of the immunization campaign showed that over 172 000 or 97% of children were immunized. The Minister related a breakdown of the results per district, and confirmed that such a high overall percentage is enough to dramatically reduce the risk of a polio outbreak in Timor-Leste. However he warned that immunization does not 100% guarantee that the virus will not affect anyone, and for this reason it is important to carry out routine vaccinations of children born from August onward. (TP)

People's Republic to send rice and oil to TL

It is reported that the People's Republic of China has confirmed that in the next couple of months it will assist the Timor-Leste government with a donation of 4000 tons of rice and 500 tons of cooking oil, to be distributed to those communities suffering from a lack of food. Minister of Labour and Community Reinsertion Arsenio Bano told TP on Tuesday that his Ministry has identified 139 villages to receive the assistance and that the majority of these villages are coastal villages. He said that the Ministry is still considering on how best to distribute the assistance. He said that Oecussi will not be receiving any of the assistance as Oxfam Australia and WFP are already assisting Oecussi in this respect. (TP)

Parliament Soon To Set Up Investigation Team to Assess Bidau Mota Klaran Case

Speaking to the press on Wednesday , President of National Parliament's Commission B in charge of Security and Foreign Affairs Faustino da Costa was reported as saying that his Commission would soon set up an investigation team in order to investigate the recent case of fighting which occurred in Bidau Mota Klaran village of Dili District last Saturday, involving a PNTL officer allegedly firing a gun as a threat to the local population, which reportedly left them traumatized. " We would like to find out the case directly from the victims even though PNTL had stated that the incident took place because there was an attack towards PNTL officer launched by the local population. We would like to know the reason why the officer was attacked," Da Costa added. Da Costa further stated that some of the members of Commission B even demanded both PNTL General Commander Paulo Fatima Martins and Minister of Interior Rogerio Tiago Lobato come to the Parliament in order to explain the situation. (STL)

Lieutenant Cornel Gomes Becomes Chief of Military Advisers for President Gusmão

STL reported that F-FDTL's Lieutenant Colonel Donaciano Gomes a.k.a Pedro Klamar Fuik was sworn-in on Wednesday by President Xanana Gusmão as the President's Chief of Military Advisers. Speaking after the swear-in ceremony, President Gusmào stated that he believes Lt. Col. Cornel Gomes would [properly] carry out his duty as the Chief of Military Advisers in accordance with the mandate of the Constitution. "I know that the task [as Chief of Military Advisers] is a heavy one since we have just scratched everything from zero, and we are not quite sure yet of what we can and cannot do in achieving what we aspire," President Gusmão added.

In his speech, Lieutenant Colonel Gomes who has acted as the Head of F-FDTL's Training Centre in Metinaro since 2003, said that it was an honour for him to be in the new post, adding that this would make him ready to respond to concerns of his colleagues in F-FDTL in regards to military matters. (STL).

TVTL News Monitoring

1. UN pledges continue support: The United Nations remains committed to support the process of development in Timor-Leste, TVTL reported yesterday. This commitment was reportedly announced by the UN Special Envoy for MDGs for the Asia and Pacific region, Ms. Erna Witoelar, on Wednesday at the Palace of the Ashes following a one hour meeting with President Xanana Gusmao accompanied by the SRSG, Sukehiro Hasegawa, to discuss development process in Timor-Leste. In her speech marking the 60th anniversary of the UN, meanwhile, the Special Envoy was quoted as stating that Timor-Leste should not lose hope in the UN.

2. Military Advisor appointed: Meanwhile, at the same place, TVTL reported that President Xanana Gusmao sworn in Lieutenant Colonel Pedro Clamar Fuik as the Military Advisor to the President of the Republic. During the ceremony, Gusmao reportedly stating that the appointment would further strengthen the relationship between the military and the state to ensure security and stability and state consolidation.

3. Church's Position on Prostitution: The Catholic Church disagrees with Prostitution, TVTL reported on Wednesday. He Episcopal Vicaris for Re-Evangelization of the Diocese of Dili, Fr Dominggos Soares, reportedly told journalists that the Church considers prostitutes as criminals and hence legalising them means paving the way for crime. Meanwhile, Maria Paixao MP, was reportedly stating that there is currently no law to regulate prostitution.

4. Lobato appeals for Security Investment: The Minister for Interior Regerio Lobato, TVTL reported, has appealed to the government to consider investment in the area of security to intensify security efforts along the border area. Lobato was reportedly making the appeal in relation to the recent security tensions in the border area of Oeccusse.

Regional Media Reports

MDG AMBASSADOR POSITIVE ABOUT TIMOR-LESTE'S PROGRESS

United Nations Special Ambassador for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Ms Erna Witoelar will today depart Timor-Leste after a successful visit, during which she met with President Xanana, Ministers, Civil Society and development partners. The MDGs agree that we should all work together to fight income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion - while promoting gender equality, education, & environmental sustainability.

Since Timor-Leste regained its independence significant progress has been made in improving the living conditions for the people of Timor-Leste. Yet it is also recognized that further concerted efforts are needed to sustain the progress that has been made in poverty reduction and improvement of health and education conditions if the MDG targets are to be reached by 2015.

Ms Witoelar was positive in describing how Timor-Leste is doing in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. "Timor-Leste has the support of the many multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies and together they have identified where gaps exist and are working hard on making progress in those areas.The country started with so little when they won their freedom, so they have had to catch up in a lot of things. I am quite confident that Timor-Leste will be able to achieve the MDGs. Maybe not by 2015, maybe a little later, but if they continue in this direction, there is potential to accelerate the progress over time."

During her visit, Ms Witolear also took part in UN day celebrations, which included a visit to an exhibition displaying the work of the UN agencies in working towards the Millennium Development Goals and attending a concert at the Peace Park with President Xanana Gusmao and the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Dr Sukehiro Hasegawa. Dr. Hasegawa thanked the Special Ambassador for her efforts in raising the profile of the Millennium Development Goals in Timor-Leste. "The Government has made significant progress towards achieving these goals, increasing the national budget in the areas of education and health and working to fight poverty in this new nation. I thank Ms Erna Witoelar for taking the time to visit Timor-Leste."

(UN Resident Coordinator Press Release)

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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