[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

Friday, 28 October 2005

National Media Reports

CAVR completes mandate

It is reported that the Truth, Reception and Reconciliation Commission (CAVR), which began its work in 2002 to collect data and promote reconciliation between Timorese, is due to complete its mandate at the end of October. President of the Commission Aniceto Guterres speaking at a press conference on Thursday said that on 31 October CAVR will present its 2,000 page report to President Xanana Gusmao in a handover ceremony to be held in Lahane. According to Guterres, the President will then present the report to the National Parliament, possibly on 28 November. (STL)

Xanana: Three pillars guarantee democracy

It is reported that President Xanana Gusmao has said that there are three pillars that guarantee democracy in Timor-Leste. These are justice, police and the armed forces. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony for the Chief Presidential Military Advisor Lieutenant Colonel Donaciano Gomes alias Pedro Klamar Fuik at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, he said that if these three pillars function properly as enshrined in the Timor-Leste Constitution, the people will live peacefully, with mutual respect. (TP)

Hasegawa counters The Australian report

It is reported that SRSG Hasegawa has countered suggestions that Dili was threatening Jakarta with withdrawing from the Truth and Friendship Commission process. When asked for his clarification on the matter on Thursday, Hasegawa reportedly told journalists that to his knowledge Timor-Leste has a strong commitment to make the TFC process a success. He reportedly said that he also has great hope that the process will be a success and therefore as Head of UNOTIL he does not have any expectation that Timor-Leste withdraw from the process. He confirmed that Indonesia has agreed to work more closely with PNTL along the border to improve communication between the two sides, as well as to make efforts to ensure that Indonesian citizens do not enter Passabe. (TP)

PNTL Commander prepared to answer in Parliament

It is reported that PNTL General Commander Paulo de Fatima Martins has said that he is prepared to appear in the National Parliament to answer questions related to the shooting incident at Bidau Mota Klaran last week. Speaking to journalists yesterday related to the comments of Parliamentary Commission B that they want the Minister of Interior to answer for the incident, Martins said that if the Minister appears in Parliament, then he is also prepared to appear. He said that he is also prepared if the Commission would like to carry out an investigation on the case. President of Commission B for Defence and Security Faustino da Costa said that the Parliament has already formed a small investigation team to go to the site of the incident to hear the victim's complaints, and to then write a report to be presented to the President of the National Parliament. He said that the team will be made up of five MP's, including himself. (TP)

Parliament Supports the Increase of Police Officers in the Border

It is reported that MP Alexandre Corte Real of Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) party bench stated yesterday that he supported the recent statement of Minister of Interior Rogerio Tiago Lobato that there was a need to increase security agents in the border area. "The statement of Minister Lobato shows that our policy of security and defence related to the border is not a way to create problems." Corte Real said. Moreover, Corte Real affirmed that in order to maintain good security in the border, there is a need to provide BPU officers with good and modern equipment. (STL)

Father Gusmão: Government Has No Right to Condemn Prostitution

Speaking to the press on Thursday in relation to the prostitution issue, Director of Baucau Diocese Commission of Justice and Peace, Father Martinho Gusmão reportedly stated that it is the Court and not the Government that has the authority to say that prostitution is a crime since Government has no right to condemn it. Father Gusmão said that it is not right when Government morally condemns prostitution since the Government has not been able yet to reach that stage. This, he said, is due to the fact that the Ministry of Education itself has not managed to include sex education as part of the teaching curriculum. From the traditional and religious views of Timor-Leste, Father Gusmão argued that there has not been any support in favor of legalising the prostitution. (STL)

TVTL News Monitoring

1. UN Special Envoy optimistic about Timor-Leste: The Special Envoy of the United Nations for Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, Ms. Erna Witoelar expressed her optimism that Timor-Leste has the potential to accelerate development to achieve its goals, TVTL reported yesterday. Witoelar was reportedly expressing this optimism during a press conference held at the Dili International Airport prior to her departure. The Special Envoy was further quoted as saying that there are some crucial issues that the government should attend to from now to 2015.

2. NP Commission B: Commission B of the National Parliament, in charged of Defense and Security, has formed a five member team in a meeting to investigate the incident that occurred in Bidau Mota Klaran recently. The President of the Commission, Faustinho da Costa MP, reportedly told journalists after the meeting that in order to find out the right and wrong sides of the parties involved, the people from both sides should be heard.

3. Certificates accreditation: The Minister for Education, Youth and Culture, Armindo Maia, declared that his Ministry and the Ministry for Labor and Community Insertion will present a submission to the Council of Ministers to consider a law of accreditation for training certificates. Minister Maia was reported to have made this declaration after attending the handing over of certificates by the Victoria University of Australia to some training participants who had completed their training at the Dili Institute of Technology on Wednesday.

4. Interior Minister asks for Cars: TVTL reported that in response to the recent transportation problems faced by PNTL, the Minister for Interior Rogerio Lobato has asked the government through the Ministry of Planning and Finance to allocate some fifty UN donated cars to PNTL. The Minister was further reported as stating that his Ministry plans to purchase new vehicles but that PNTL has no adequate resources to manage these facilities.

5. 12 November ceremony: The Secretary of State for Youth and Sport was reported to have established an organizing committee to commemorate the National Day of Youth, 12 November, which has been declared a National Holiday. The organizing Committee has reportedly set the agenda for the celebration, which will include a Mass service on the day at the Motael church followed by a procession to the Santa Cruz cemetery. There will also be a sports competition, which is planned to commence on 4 November.

6. Land Disputes Victims: From the Districts, TVTL reported that two men are seriously injured following a fight due to land dispute in the Village of Raihun, Tilomar sub-district of Covalima.

Regional Media Reports

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

Back to October menu 
September  
World Leaders Contact List
Main Postings Menu