[Poster's note: Long repeats of international articles already sent out
to the east-timor list (info@etan.org) have been removed.]
UNOTIL
Daily Media Review
Wednesday, 07 September 2005
National Media Reports
Wiranto Statement to CTF
Radio Timor-Leste News reports that the Commission for Truth and Friendship
will ask former Indonesian military general Wiranto to give his statement
in relation to serious crimes against humanity during the popular
consultation in 1999 in TL. Tempo Newsagency Jakarta reported that former
General Wiranto is included in the list presented by members of the Truth
and Friendship Commission. The Head of the Commission Secretariat, Christio
Wahiyono said in Bali, Denpassar Monday that the Timor-Leste side would
focus more on the information from the Serious Crimes Unit established by
the United Nations, while Indonesia would focus on the data from the Human
Rights Commission and the Prosecutor General.
In the meantime Chrstio Wahiyono confirmed the request for the statement is
not related to the statute of each person/individual contained in the
information like suspects or eyewitnesses because the CTF does not have
judicial competence. According to Christio Wahiyono, the CTF wants Wiranto
to state the truth in relation to cases of human rights violations in
Timor-Leste in 1999. Apart from Wiranto, others named on the list
reportedly include the former regional Major-General Adam Damiri and Tono
Suratman. The date for Wiranto to give the statement has not been decided
yet, because the meeting from 1-4 September focussed only on procedures.
Christio Wahiyono said apart from the officials who would be called, CTF
also decided that alternates members are entitled to speak but not to vote.
(RTL)
Alkatiri Preparing to "Shut Up" Opposition Liars
It is reported that criticism from opposition parties of Prime Minister
Mari Alkatiri endlessly continue which caused Alkatiri to yesterday once
again launch another attack on the opposition parties, saying that he is
prepared to "shut up" the opposition liars. Speaking at a preparation event
for the Village Elections in Balide, Dili, on Tuesday, Alkatiri stated that
the opposition has begun to lie to the people, but that the opposition does
not know what Fretilin is doing for the lives of the people. He added that
everyone is proud of the past Fretilin resistance movement, and that this
is something that no one can deny. Anyone that does deny this proud
Fretilin history is ashamed of the past, according to Alkatiri. (Timor
Post)
"Mari Humiliates and Destroys": Guterres
Opposition MP Eusebio Guterres said that Marxist doctrine should not be
used as the politics of 1975 no longer exists. He added that the use of
such languages only humiliates the people of Timor-Leste. According to
Diario Tempo, Guterres made these comments in response to Prime Minister
Mari Alkatiri's statement on Monday that 'if Partido Democratico (PD) wins
the national elections in 2007 then chickens will grow teeth [sic-"pigs
will fly"]. Guterres said that he did not want to comment any further on
Prime Minister Alkatiri as his legitimacy is in the hands of the
population. He added that the Prime Minister should not name such comments
as the declarations are reminiscent of the politics of 1975. which have now
passed. "He is humiliating himself because he does not know that there has
been great changes in Timor-Leste and there are many people capable of
leading this country," said Eusebio Guterres, adding that the Prime
Minister should talk more about development, and other issues of concern
to the country rather than political development to favor himself for the
2007 elections. (DT)
Government Should Not Ask for Proof
Opposition MP Antonio Ximenes allegedly said that although a ceremony was
held to farewell the 200 medical students who recently left for Cuba, many
MPs have refused to recognize the selection process, as there was
corruption, collusion and nepotism in the process. Ximenes said that the
government should not ask the population for proof as the government has
the power to establish a mechanism to stop such actions. "If it really
happened, the government cannot ask for proof because the government has
the power and they must establish a mechanism to detect it," Ximenes said.
(DT)
Customs Service Turns Blind Eye to Illegal Trading
It is reported that the population of Dili everyday witness transactions of
large amounts of fuel along the foreshore at Lecidere [East Dili City],
being freely carried out without any control from the relevant authorities.
When Timor Post asked the Chief of the Operational Division of Dili Port,
Natalino Duvel Nunes dos Carvalho, he explained that, according to law,
this trade in fuel is illegal as the Department of Ports and Customs has
declared that motorboats may not transport fuel. But, according to
Carvalho, another matter of concern is the wooden boats transporting fuel,
as there is a risk that their boats may catch fire. Even so, Customs has
never opposed the wooden boats transporting fuel for the , with the
reasoning that the boats pay a fee to do so, adding and this is income for
Customs. The Port authorities do not allow the wooden boats to dock at the
port, and thus they are forced to unload the fuel on the beach. Carvalho
maintained that this practice is risky, as the port authorities will not
take responsibility if something untoward happens. Meanwhile the Director
of Customs, Olderico Maria Rodrigues, declined to reply to Timor Post's
questions without prior authorization from the Minister of Planning and
Finance. (Timor Post)
Former Militia Sentences Reduced
The Court of Appeal decided to reduce the imprisonment of two ex-militia
members, Domingos Ameta and Francisco Neto, from 7 to 6 years Timor Post
reported. The report argued further that the Court of Appeal decided to
reduce their imprisonment due to evidence that shows that the two suspects
were not involved directly in the killing of the victim, Antonio Pinto. (TP)
Police Actions Without Authorisation Considered "Criminal"
MP Antonio Ximenes recently is reported to have said that any actions taken
by the Police out of working hours should be considered criminal . MP
Ximenes was reported in the media as making an appeal to market vendors to
stop or, if needed, kill any police or anyone else (sic) who threatened the
vendors during hours after dark, Diario Tempo reported. Joana Freitas, one
of four vendors whose goods and money werereportedly lost during the
incident in Comoro Market on 6 September when street vendors were allegedly
forcibly moved from the market area by Police. She requested that her goods
be replaced or compensated or she would take the case further by taking the
two police officers to the court. Diario Tempo also mentioned that MP
Antonio Ximenes had accompanied Joana to Comoro Police Station to report
the case as well as appeal to the Police to investigate the incident on
Tuesday 6 September. It is reported that, according to the vendor, a PNTL
officer had forced her to move from the market area at 3am. A PNTL officer
had reportedly told her that the removal of vendors had been ordered by
Dili District Administration. (TP, DT)
Civil Society Participates in Seminar
A group consisting of representatives from various NGOs is currently
participating in a seminar in Melbourne focusing on the role of women and
development. The seminar with the theme: Challenges and Opportunities will
run for three days between 9-11 September. According to Mari Angelina
Sarmento, the re will be three points of discussion include. One will be on
practices and the perceptions of international organisations working with
Timorese women, responses from Timorese women on these practices and the
impact of the international community on the Timorese women. HAK, East
Timor Woman and the Globalism Institute Community and Regional Partnership
is organising the event. (DT, RTTL)
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
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