| Subject: UNOTIL's Daily Media Review
22 September 2005
[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 Thursday, 22 September 2005 National Media Reports Lu-Olo: "Where There is Peace, There is Stability” President of the National Parliament Francisco Guterres (Lu-Olo), in his speech at the Peace Park at Lecidere on International Peace-Day yesterday, told the audience that Timor-Leste is now celebrating Peace-Day in a climate of freedom, democracy, and sovereignty. Therefore, “peace is the first condition….for the strengthening of the idea of rights, dignity and respect for all peoples, as well as the conditions for freedom of ideas”, he said. He reminded the population that the struggle for peace means the struggle against all forms of violence, both physical and psychological, including violence against women and children, in the form of domestic violence. He also explained that social, cultural and economic development cannot be achieved without peace. (Diario Nacional) To Achieve Peace in Timor-Leste, Differences Should be Respected”: Lu Olo The President of the National Parliament, Francisco Guterres is reported to have told media that to achieve peace in Timor-Leste, a multiparty culture of respecting the differences between the existing political parties should be encouraged. Political parties should not be vindictive toward each other which then would lead it to war, reported Timor Post. He added that peace is needed among the Timorese but it should not be forgotten to respect the existing differences between the Timorese in Timor-Leste, and that after the 1975 political experience, the manner in which political parties are insulting each other happened again due to the multiparty environment. He then emphasized that it is not the intention of the majority party as well as the opposition to be vindictive toward each other then create conflict. (TP) President Gusmão Proud That There is Peace in Timor-Leste President Xanana Gusmão says that he feels proud, because other nations are always congratulating him on the peace and stability in Timor-Leste. Speaking at the International Airport last week upon returning from a trip to New York, the charismatic leader said that Timorese should be happy that they are now living in a time of peace and stability. This is not to say that there are never any problems, but that, overall, things are peaceful. He added that with this peace Timor-Leste is giving an example to the world, and particularly to those countries that are still struggling to establish peace that, after war, there can be peace. (Diario Nacional) Raul: “Peace should be in hearts and actions” Speaking at a Peace-Day celebration in Manatutu district, Timor Post reported that the Vice Minister of Public Works, Raul Mousaco, as saying that peace should not only be words but also be in our hearts and translate into actions. The celebration was also attended by the Vice-Minister of Development, church representatives and the general public. Minister Maia: Minister of Education Does Not Recognise Recent Graduates of Crystal Tertiary College Minister of Education, Armindo Maia told media that the Ministry of Education does not recognise the recent graduates of Crystal Tertiary College due to the lack of involvement of the referred institution in the accreditation process, reported Diario Nacional. Minister Maia, who was quoted at the Ceremony for the International Peace Day at the Peace Park in Lecidere, Dili on 21 September, added that besides the lack of involvement in the accreditation process it is also because there has not been any approval by the Ministry of Education. (Diario Nacional) Australia to Train PNTL, and 10 Security Personnel Members Return from Thailand The Minister of Interior Rogerio Lobato on Wednesday met with the Australian Minister for Justice Chris Ellison, to discuss means for the strengthening of police ties between the two countries. Minister Lobato told journalists after the meeting that the two Ministers discussed the possibility of the Australian Police Force providing training to the PNTL, in particular involving the police academy, with the aim of increasing the capacity of the PNTL. Lobato confirmed that the Australian Police Force has agreed to provide training, with an exceptionally large budget of AS$32 million. Other issues discussed during the meeting focused on the deficiencies that Timor-Leste must cope with, including the absence of a criminal investigations centre, and a place for narcotics analysis. For this, Lobato said that the continuing assistance of Australia and other countries in these matters is appreciated. In separate news, ten security personnel have returned from three months training in Thailand. Speaking from his office in Dili yesterday, PNTL General Commander Paulo de Fatima Martins told journalists that the ten come from a range of government offices, including the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Office of the President of the National Parliament, and VIP Security. He said that this training is a part of bilateral cooperation between the governments of Thailand and Timor-Leste, in which ten members of the Rapid Intervention Force also underwent a one-month training in Thailand. Martins expressed his view that the training was excellent, and that Timor-Leste would be more than pleased if Thailand were to offer more training for Timorese police. He said that Timor-Leste’s border police would particularly benefit from some Thai training, as Thailand has a lot of border patrol experience, with borders on three sides. (Diario Nacional) Regional Media Reports Timor-Leste In Support of Indonesia for Security Council Seat Speaking at UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta is reported to have said that the UN Security Council to consider that Indonesia deserves permanent membership of the Security Council to represent the Islamic world as well as the country with the third largest population in Asia. It is reported that Timor-Leste also supports the G-4 (Japan, Germany, Brazil, India) initiative for permanent seats at the Security Council. (Kompas, Antara) Santos Sells Stake in Timor Sea Oil Fields to Paladin (Update1) Santos Ltd., Australia's biggest natural gas producer, agreed to sell its 25 percent stake in a Timor Sea exploration permit containing the undeveloped Jahal and Kuda Tasi oil fields to Paladin Resources Plc. Santos will receive about $19.5 million of Paladin shares for the stake and be reimbursed for about $2.5 million of exploration expenditure since July 1, Adelaide-based Santos said today in a statement. It may also get $3 million in cash should any fields be developed in the area. The operator of the two fields, Woodside Petroleum Ltd., said in January last year they aren't large enough to support a stand-alone project, after earlier saying it expected to start production in 2005. Edinburgh-based Paladin earlier this year bought stakes in the producing Laminaria and Corallina oil fields, also off northern Australia. ``This divestment is in line with Santos's strategy to rationalize its portfolio and realize value by selling non-core assets,'' Santos Managing Director John Ellice-Flint said in the statement, which was lodged with the Australian Stock Exchange. (Bloomberg) National News Sources Timor Post (TP), Suara Timor Lorosae (STL), Diario Tempo (DT), Diario Nacional (DC), 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- [This message was distributed via the east-timor news list. Write info@etan.org.]
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