[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
Saturday- Monday, 3-5 September 2005
National Media Reports
Indonesia Protests Horta's Visit to Kisar
The main headlines of Diario Tempo and Timor Post reported on the response
of FM Horta to an alleged protest by Yudhi Krisnandi, member of Indonesian
National Parliament Commission I, about the trip of Minister of Foreign
Affairs to Kisar island. Dr. Jos?Ramos Horta clarified that his trip to
Kisar island, in Maluku province, along with other diplomats, was not
secret as Indonesian Foreign Ministry and Embassy officials had approved
the trip. A spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Crisogno
Araujo, confirmed that the trip of Minister Horta and other diplomats was
not illegal or secretive as they had visas. He also added that the local
authorities at the destination welcomed and treated the delegation well.
Araujo confirmed that Minister Horta was on an unofficial trip. (Timor
Post, Diario Tempo)
Bianco: The Prime Minister Had Raised the Corruption Issue
Spokesman for Timor-Leste Government, Antonino Bianco, is reported to have
said that it was the Prime Minister who raised the issue of corruption
through the Office of the Prosecutor-General. He added that the whole
process commenced with the presentation of a report of the
Inspector-General on corruption, which the Prime Minister then forwarded to
the Office of the Prosecutor General for criminal investigation. He also
stressed that the Government of Timor-Leste does not tolerate corruption as
it has negative effects for the national image in the eyes of the
international community. (Timor Post, Diario Tempo)
Baptista: UNOTIL Is Ready to Assist the Office of the Provedor
Deputy Provedor Human Rights and Justice, Silvero Pinto Batista has told
the media that the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) is ready
to provide assistance to the Office of the Provedor, particularly in the
area of human resources. According to Diario Tempo, Provedor Sebastiao
Ximenes has participated in seminars in Mongolia and China and taken steps
for Timor-Leste to be part of the Asia Pacific Forum. Batista said that
his office has also requested UNOTIL to assist on the best measures to
improve knowledge of human rights and good governance. (Timor Post, Diario
Tempo)
National Election Commissioner, Gomes: Political Parties Violate Electoral
Law
In response to the protests and claims by Democratic Party (PD) and Social
Democratic Party (PSD) that the Technical Secretariat and Administration
for Elections (STAE) has manipulated facts and violated laws, National
Election Commissioner (CNE) Faustino Cardoso Gomes is reported to have told
the press that political parties have not so far respected the rules and
laws on the village elections. This, he said, was due to the fact that
whenever there was any problem related to the elections, political parties
immediately announced the problem without confirming with institutions in
charge of the electoral process. Gomes further said that political parties
should not have either presented their protests and claims to the National
Parliament but to the institutions in charge of the electoral process such
as STAE, CNE and the Court of Appeal. Gomes reminded everyone including
political parties involved in the elections to understand the electoral law
(No. 2/2004) on village elections and and appealed to everyone to respect
that law in order to make the electoral process run smoothly. (Diario
Tempo)
Menezes: Investment Law Has Not Being Applied
Opposition MP Rui Menezes said that the investment law which is important
to attract investors has not yet been enforced. Menezes noted that the
steps taken by the Minister for Development Abel Ximenes to review the law
shows that the Government does not have the capacity to produce a
fundamental law to attract investors. He said that the laws were passed and
promulgated by the President only a year ago and the Minister is
considering changes as the present laws are not of interest to foreign
investors. (Timor Post)
PNTL Cmdr Paulo Martins on CPD-RDTL
PNTL Commander-General Paulo Martins congratulated the newly established
political party UNDERTIM for holding a successful congress without
disturbances. Martins said that PNTL provided security during the party's
congress in Dili. Paulo Martins also reportedly said that members of
CPD-RDTL have the right to take PNTL officers to court for lowering the
RDTL flag in Atauro sub-district provided such accusations are based on
facts. "We have taken measures against CPD-RDTL activities as they do not
comply with our Constitution. PNTL is prepared to go to court if when
CPD-RDTL pursues the case" he is reported to have said. On Monday, Timor
Post also reported the PNTL Commander-General as saying that a total of 12
police have been dismissed from duties this year due to problems including
physical assault, PNTL officers travelling to the border without
authorization and involvement in smuggling goods. (Timor Post, Diario
Tempo, Suara Timor Lorosa'e)
Police Training Insufficient: Paulo Martins
Diaro Tempo quoted Paulo Martins as saying that the behaviour of PNTL
officers who have physically assaulted people is the result of the training
system established during the UNTAET period. "It is because the training
had not been sufficient as we all know and there is a need to have police
and the body responsible for the training is the United Nations. It is not
long before the United Naitons will leave Timor, therefore they must leave
a professional Police service. In this situation we will have to improve so
that in the long-term the community will trust the police," Martins is
reported to have said.
Media Must Be Responsible
Speaking to the media on Friday, PNTL Superintendent Paulo Martins said
that the media must be responsible in reporting the truth as they can
otherwise create significant problems. (Diario Tempo, Saturday)
Regional Media Reports
Norwegian aid programmes to promote investment of oil profits
Norway's experience of investing its oil and gas profits into projects that
benefit future generations will be part of its future development aid
programme, the government said Friday.
During the coming five-year period, 50 million kroner (8 million dollars)
will be spend on promoting good governance and combating corruption in oil
rich developing countries.
``We want to contribute so that large oil incomes will be used to reduce
poverty in Africa and elsewhere,'' said Norway's Minister of International
Development, Hilde Frafjord Johnson. ``That the oil will be a blessing and
not - as has often been the case - a curse.''
Frafjord Johnson did not specify which countries may benefit from the
programme, but indicated several were in West Africa. To receive support,
the country must approach Norway of its own accord, she said.
Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Thorhild Widvey, said the programme could
also benefit the Norwegian oil industry, and would be good for global
markets with ``a more stable and predictable oil production in developing
countries''.
The Norwegian central bank manages the Norwegian Petroleum Fund that was
approved in 1990 by parliament. It was created to pay for Norway's future
health and pension expenditures through investments outside the Norwegian
economy.
At the end of the second quarter the fund was worth 1.18 trillion kroner
(180 billion dollars), having passed the 1 trillion mark at the end of
2004.
Earlier this year, leaders from East Timor visited Norway to study the
Norwegian experience. Norway also allocated 30 million kroner (4.6 million
dollars) to assist East Timor to build up an administration for the oil and
gas sector. The project is due to end 2008 and partners include the
Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. (DPA)
-END-
National News Sources
Timor Post (TP)
Suara Timor Lorosae (STL)
Diario Tempo (DT)
Diario Nacional
Seminario
Lia Foun (LF)
Televisaun Timor-Leste [TVTL]
RTL Radio Timor-Leste [RTL]
These items do not reflect the positions or views of the United Nations.
UNOTIL Public Information Office
-End-
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