[Poster's note: Long repeats of international articles already sent out
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UNOTIL
Daily Media Review
Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international
sources
UNOTIL Daily Media Review
September 24th & 26th 2005
National Media Reports
President Gusmão Comments on Political Parties’ Statutes and Philosophy
It is reported that President Xanana Gusmao has said that he wants to
know more about the regulations and philosophies of the political parties,
namely whether the party regulations are being implemented according to
party statutes, and whether the party philosophies are being applied in the
relations of the party with the people. After meeting with the President
last Friday, Secretary General of the ASDT political party Gil Alves told
journalists that the President is keen to learn more about the above
aspects, adding that the President would also like the political parties to
formulate development programs that are beneficial for the people. According
to Alves, the President wants the political parties to talk less about the
past and focus more on the future and a better life for the people. (TP)
MP Ximenes: Falintil Veterans Need to Reform
It is reported that the sacrifice that the Falintil veterans made during
the period of struggle cannot be recognized with just medals, but there must
also be reform, according to the President of the Christian Democratic Party
(PDC) Antonio Ximenes. Speaking to journalists, Ximenes’ said that during
his meeting with President Xanana Gusmao on Friday, they discussed the
possibility of reform of the Falintil veterans, as well as the economic
situation of the country, and justice. Ximenes told journalists that the PDC
is currently preparing a proposal for veteran reform to be submitted to the
President. (TP)
MP Lelan: Indonesian Population Destabilizes Border Area
It is reported that the people of Tibiselo, Oesilu, of the enclave of
Oecussi were panicked last Thursday when a group of Indonesian citizens
entered and burned some land in Timor-Leste territory. Member of the
National Parliament, Independent Antonio Lelan is reported to have said that
this is provocative behaviour from the Indonesians, designed to destabilize
the border regions. Speaking to journalists, Lelan expressed his concerns as
to why the Indonesian military post stationed in the region allowed the
Indonesians to enter Timor-Leste territory. He appealed to the Minister of
Interior to take action to secure the area, and to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Cooperation to inform the Indonesian government of the incident.
According to Lelan, the Indonesian government has failed to inform its
population of the accord denoting border demarcation lines signed between
the two governments in Bali several months ago, with the result that the
Indonesian population remains uninformed, and border crossings and
infiltrations continue to occur. Secretary of State for the Oecussi region
Albano Salem told journalists that he has informed the President of the
National Parliament, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation of the incident, so that the Minister may discuss the incident
as well as the several other incidents that have occurred in the area
recently with Indonesia’s representative in Dili. (STL)
National Parliament to Hold Seminar on Electoral Regulation for 2007
Elections
During its parliamentary factions meeting last week, the National
Parliament decided to hold a seminar in October concerning the electoral
regulation for the 2007 elections. National Parliament Secretary Francisco
Carlos told journalists that the seminar will be jointly held with a Swedish
delegation, in accordance with the unofficial parliamentary accord. (TP,
TVTL)
CPLP Meeting To Be Held in Timor-Leste For the First Time
STL reported that the 20th meeting of the General Directors for Border
Control Units of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) was
going to be held for the first time in Dili, Timor-Leste for five days,
starting today. National Director of the Border Control Unit, Uldarico Maria
Rodrigues, would head Timor-Leste’s delegation for the meeting. The primary
objectives of the meeting are to establish harmonization in various
practices of border control to apply a uniformed document for all of the
Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries. During the meeting, Timor-Leste
would present the Code of Conduct for Border Control Management. Acting
Prime Minister, Minister of State Administration Ana Pessoa along with
Minister of Planning and Finance Madalena Boavida representing Timor-Leste’s
Government would attend the meeting. (STL,TVTL)
Macario dos Santos: CPD-RDTL Members Damaged Eulese’s Health Centre
Speaking to Timor Post last Thursday, Village Chief of Eulese, Lautem
District Macario dos Santos informed that Eulese’s Health Centre had been
closed for the last three weeks due to the damage caused by a CPD-RDTL
member on 1 September. It was reported that five of the windows of the
building were totally destroyed. Lautem District PNTL Deputy Commander Fasio
de Jesus Lima, when questioned about the case, stated that an investigation
had been carried out by PNTL. To attend the medical needs for the local
population temporarily, a mobile clinic has been since operated under the
supervision of Cuban medical doctors deployed in the area. (Timor Post)
MP Amaral: National Security Services Should be Better Equipped
Speaking at the workshop hosted by NDI and USAID on security sector
auditing MP Clementino Amaral was reported as stating that in order for PNTL
and F-FDTL to better perform their security services in patrolling the
border and preventing people from stealing natural maritime wealth of Timor-Leste,
both PNTL and F-FDTL need to be better equipped, reported Timor Post. MP
Clementino also reportedly said that although Timor-Leste is stable and
secure there are still problems such as martial arts issues and the issue of
CPD-RDTL. F-FDTL Chief of Staff, Colonel Lere Anan Timor stressed that
internal security matters should be addressed otherwise it would further
contribute to any external threats. Diario Nacional on also quoted Minister
of Interior, Rogério Lobato as saying, “the Government of Timor-Leste would
try to improve conditions for PNTL to enable them to perform their duties
according to the law.” Minister Lobato made the above statement during the
dispatch of 13 district PNTL officers last week. He further clarified that
the conditions referred to are such as insurance/compensation. (Timor Post)
Regional Media Reports
UK's Princess Anne to launch BBC World Service next week
Princess Anne of the United Kingdom will visit East Timor next week,
inaugurating the British Broadcasting Corporation's Portuguese language
service in the country during her two-day stay, a diplomatic source told
Lusa Friday. Princess Anne, the diplomat said, would also meet with
President Xanana Gusmão and Foreign Minister José Ramos Horta and visit
charitable institutions.
Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Royal will visit Timor-Leste with
her husband Rear Admiral Laurence, on 27th and 28th September 2005. During
the visit HRH will meet President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, and Senior
Minister/ Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta.
Topics for discussion will include the achievements of East Timor since
independence in 2002 and the challenges still faced. During the visit, The
Princess Royal will visit the Child Friendly Space Learning Centre, ASSERT
Physical Rehabilitation Centre, Alola Foundation and will launch the BBC
World Service FM Broadcasts in Dili. (Lusa, Release)
Malaysian Human Rights Expert Delivers Training for the Provedor
A training programme for the Provedor Mr. Sebastião Dias Ximenes and his
Deputy Silverio Baptista Pinto coordinated by the UNOTIL Human Rights Unit
was completed on Friday 23 September 2005. The training was funded by the UN
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights arranged after consultation
with the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), of
which Timor-Leste is now a candidate member.
The five-day training programme was delivered by Vice-Chairman of the
National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, Mr. Simon Sipaun who commented
that “the programme is an important step on the never-ending journey to
promote and protect human rights in Timor-Leste”. Mr. Simon also
congratulated the Provedor on the strong legal mandate he has been given to
promote and protect human rights in Timor-Leste. He also commented on the
current process of drafting a National Human Rights Action Plan as
demonstrative of a strong commitment by the Timor-Leste government to human
rights.
During the training programme, practical advice was provided to the
Provedor on establishing procedures for management and staff training, the
drafting of internal procedures for receiving and investigating human rights
complaints as well as education and promotion of human rights to the people
of Timor-Leste. The training programme also focussed on the importance of
the establishment of good working relations with other state institutions
such as the Prosecutor-General, PNTL, the Office of the Inspector General,
the Courts and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Human Rights.
There was also emphasis on the Paris Principles on National Human Rights
Institutions for the Office of the Provedor to function effectively and
independently.
Provedor Sebastiao Dias Ximenes stated that “the programme has been very
useful to us. The discussions and the sharing of experience in setting up a
national human rights institution will help us in establishing a strategic
plan for the human rights aspect of the mandate of Timor-Leste’s Office of
the Provedor”.
UNOTIL has already provided one national human rights officer to the
Office of the Provedor. An international human rights officer will shortly
be provided to the Office of the Provedor in addition to other human rights
officers who will be provided to the National Parliament, the Office of the
Advisor on Human Rights to Prime Minister and the Ministries of Interior,
Defence, Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (UNOTIL)
For more information please contact: Mark Harris - + 670 7230746 or
Sebastião do Rego Guterres - + 670 724 111
National News Sources Timor Post (TP), Suara Timor Lorosa’e (STL), Diario
Tempo (DT), Diario Nacional (DC), Semanario, 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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