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UNOTIL

Daily Media Review

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Daily Media Review

Friday, 16 September 2005

National Media Reports

Lu Olo: Fretilin Would Never Create A Dictatorship in Timor-Leste

President of the Fretilin Party and the National Parliament Francisco Guterres (Lu-Olo) has reportedly said that Fretilin honours the people for their suffering during the period of the struggle, and that Fretilin would never establish a dictatorship in Timor-Leste. Responding to STL?s questions related to comments from Democratic Party (PD) Vice-Coordinator Ernesto Fernandes (?Dudu?) that the Fretilin government is trying to establish a dictatorship in Timor-Leste so that the opposition are pacified, Lu-Olo said that it would not be necessary to create a dictatorship in this country as the people of this country are intelligent. He also referred to the period of struggle when the people listened to their leaders and eventually gained independence. He said that in this new period of democratic rule, it is important that all people put forward their ideas related to issues of national interest in order to find constructive solutions, rather than launching personal criticisms. (TP, STL, Diario Nacional)

Guterres: UDC may reunite with PDC

President of the Christian Democratic Union (UDC) Vicente Guterres has told journalists that his party may eventually reunite with the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) but at the moment the two parties remain in dialogue. Guterres explained that many people recognize the two separate parties as one party, as they previously were, but that UDC has not yet made a decision as to whether to re-merge with PDC. He emphasized that his party considers the interests of the people and the nation to be the most important factor in this decision, and not power struggles over positions. (DT, Diarion Nacional)

DRSG Bajwa Congratulates National Police on Professional Skills

Deputy SRSG of UNOTIL Mr. Anis Bajwa on Thursday congratulated the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) and the Police Task Force Unit of the Timor-Leste National Police Force for their demonstration of skills in handling demonstrators as part of a recent training they participated in. Speaking after the demonstration at the Police Academy yesterday, DSRSG Bajwa congratulated the police participants, not only on an excellent demonstration, but also on their professionalism in displaying their capacity to control demonstrators while maintaining their patience and discipline, even when faced with difficult behaviour from demonstrators. At the same event, UNOTIL Senior Police Advisor Malik told journalists that the United Nations Police are continuing to support the Timor-Leste National Police, until May 2006 when the Timorese themselves will be able to train each other. Deputy General Commander of the PNTL Inspector Ismail Babo said that this training is not only provided to the UIR but also other police units. (DT)

Santos & Ismael on the Border Crossing Implementation

General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nelson Santos, reportedly told the media that to facilitate the border crossing by Indonesian and Timor-Leste communities along the border that both the Timor-Leste and Indonesian governments have signed an agreement to implement a ?border crossing? policy to enable communities from both sides to visit each other. He added that the ?border crossing system? has not been implemented until now as Timor-Leste is not ready with such a new system, which Indonesia has experienced with Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. Santos commented further that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is trying to implement the system this year by addressing financial and technical complications.

Deputy Operation Commandant, Ismael da Costa Babo reportedly told media recently that PNTL Maritime Unit could not regularly patrol the South Coast due to a lack of boats. He added that so far the PNTL Maritime Unit could only patrol the North Coast. (TP, STL)

Amaral: PNTL Leadership Is Incompetent

MP Clementino Amaral reportedly told media that the leadership within PNTL is incompetent because PNTL are reinstating dismissed PNTL officers into their functions after dismissing them reported Diario Tempo. He added that it is not normal by other countries? standards to reinstate such officers after suspending them for a month or a year. He suggested that the PNTL leadership should first study the cases before dismissing officers to then be reinstated. (Diario Tempo)

Japanese Government Donates Generator To EDTL

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Deputy Technical Director of Timor-Leste?s Electricity Service (EDTL) Inacio de Jesus Leite was quoted as saying that the Japanese Government has donated a 4 megawatt-generator to Timor-Leste in order to address the power problems faced by the people of Timor-Leste, especially those who live in Dili, the capital. The generator, Leite said, would not function until after Christmas as it is still in the process of being installed at Dili power station. Moreover, he explained that with the large generator, there would be sufficient provision of power to cover the needs of all residents in Dili and those of Liquica, Maubara, Laulara and Manleu. (Timor Post)

UNDERTIM and FUN are Frustrated Groups

Today?s edition of STL published an opinion piece by Martinho G. Da Silva, a Catholic priest currently working as the Director of Baucau Diocese?s Peace and Justice Commission. The article provides an analysis of National Unity of Timorese Resistance (UNDERTIM) and National Unity Forum  (FUN) stating that those who founded UNDERTIM and FUN are politically frustrated. According to Da Silva, the political transformation conducted by UNDERTIM and FUN indeed goes in line with what Alkatiri himself has stated regarding the need for an evolution of mentalities in order to face the challenges of building a state based on the rule of law. In this case, he said, the accusation of Alkatiri by labelling the founders of UNDERTIM and FUN as frustrated groups was baseless. In some aspects, da Silva noted that the two newly founded groups apparently wanted to transform Fretilin into a political force with a new mentality in accordance with modern political standards. In conclusion, da Silva argued that with their political efforts, both former Guerilla Commander L-7, the founder of UNDERTIM and Marito Reis, the founder of FUN have managed to ?make Mari Alkatiri?s political tire flat? [read- burst his bubble]. (STL)


Regional Media Reports

First Celebration of the International Day of Peace Across Timor-Leste

At the initiative of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri with the support of President Xanana Gusm?, it has been decided to celebrate the International Day of Peace on 21 September in conjunction with the United Nations, representatives of civil society and the people of Timor-Leste. Preparations are underway to celebrate the International Day of Peace in all districts of Timor-Leste through sporting events and other commemorative activities to mark the International Day of Peace for the first time across the nation.

In Dili, a formal ceremony with a minute of reflection at noon will be held for the public at the Peace-Park in Lecidere and will be attended by Prime Minister Alkatiri and other officials. A ?March for Peace? will commence at 17:00 at the Main Government Building and proceed to the Democracy Field where there will be a ?Peace-Concert? with  music groups, performers and cultural groups in which President Gusm? and other officials will participate. On 1 October, a ?Peace Seminar? will be held on the role of civil society in the consolidation of peace which is due to take place at the former CNRT/UNAMET building.

The Prime Minister has invited RDTL officials and the people of Timor-Leste to participate in a national one minute of reflection at 12 noon and also wear an item of white clothing on 21 September 2005. All United Nations staff in Timor-Leste and other organisations will also be encouraged to participate in such activities to mark the International Day of Peace.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 and fixed by UN General Assembly Resolution 55/282 in 2001 to be celebrated on 21 September every year. The International Day of Peace provides an opportunity for all individuals, all organizations, religious groups and member-states of the United Nations around the world to celebrate Peace-Day with acts of peace. Peace Day is a day to strengthen the ideals of peace and to promote the alleviation of tensions and causes of conflict. It is an invitation to all nations and people to honour non-violence and global ceasefire for the duration of the Day in joint events or activities. (Press Release)


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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