| Subject: UNOTIL's Daily Media Review
28 September 2005
[Poster's note: Long repeats of international articles already sent out to the east-timor list (info@etan.org) have been removed.] Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources UNOTIL Daily Media Review Wednesday, September 28th 2005 National Media Reports National Parliament Welcomes Princess Anne It is reported that President of the National Parliament Francisco Guterres (Lu-Olo) told Princess Anne that before Timor-Leste gained its independence it experienced 24 years of difficulties, which resulted in its independence. During her visit to the National Parliament yesterday, Lu-Olo told Princess Anne and her husband Timothy Lawrence that the members of the National Parliament are always determined, along with the government and the people themselves, to further develop this nation. The Princess’ visit to the Parliament was delayed momentarily due to a security scare when someone entered the Parliament without an identity card, but only a moment later continued as normal. The President of the National Parliament also related to the Princess the activities of the National Parliament since its inception, in particular activities surrounding the approval of laws and the ratification of international conventions, and presented the Princess and her husband with a keepsake of a traditional house made of sandalwood. The Princess reciprocated with a keepsake of a photograph of her and her husband. During her meeting with President Xanana Gusmão, the Princess accepted the President’s offer of coffee, commenting that she had heard that Timor-Leste produces the best coffee in the world. The President and the Princess discussed a range of topics, including the assistance that the Princess provides to a children’s NGO, as well as the situation in Timor-Leste, in particular the attention that Timorese leaders pay to the lives of their people. STL also covered Princess Anne’s visit with a second headline where she is quoted as stating that the United Kingdom is committed to assist Timor-Leste through NGOs that are working in education and social work. (TP, Diario Nacional, TVTL, RTL, Timor Post) Presence of new Prosecutors to expedite court process The President of the Court of Appeal has said that the presence of the four new international Prosecutors will increase the capacity of the Prosecution to expedite the prosecution process. Speaking to journalists after the inauguration ceremony of four new Prosecutors from Portugal and Brazil held at the Office of the Prosecutor General in Caicoli, Dili, he explained that the new Prosecutors would take up positions in all the District Courts. He said that this assistance would very much assist the judicial processes in the District Courts to start moving again, as finally there will be a sufficient numbers of judges, prosecutors and defenders to be able to carry out procedures for court cases. Ximenes further explained however that even though there are now more Prosecutors, the same problem of communication remains, where the Prosecutors speak Portuguese and do not understand Tetum, and the people speak Tetum and do not understand Portuguese. Thus he said the use of interpreters is still essential in the court system. He said that one more international Prosecutor is due to arrive in the near future, and that mostly these international Prosecutors will handle problems of a criminal nature with limited dealings in civil matters such as those concerning children and the disadvantaged. (TP) RI Embassy yet to receive information on reports of arrested TL citizen It is reported that the Indonesian Embassy in Dili has stated that it is yet to receive information regarding an Indonesian Metro TV news report last Friday which reported a Timor-Leste citizen to have been arrested by Indonesian forces along the border area, for smuggling of kerosene and fuel. According to Primanto Hendrasmono, representative of the Indonesian Embassy in Dili, the Embassy is still trying to confirm the report. Timor Post was also unable to confirm the incident with the Minister of Interior. Primanto confirmed that Indonesia is now prepared to implement the border pass system, which would assist the population living in the border areas to visit relatives, and would also be beneficial in promoting cultural and economic cooperation, as well as enhancing security. He reportedly acknowledged, however, that Timor-Leste is not yet prepared for the implementation of such a system. (TP) MP Araujo: President Gusmão Requests The Constitutions of PNT and KOTA Speaking to the media after her meeting with President Xanana Gusmão along with KOTA party representative, PNT MP Alianca de Araujo confirmed that President of the Republic, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão had asked both PNT and KOTA to present their political parties’ constitutions, Timor Post and STL reported. She also reportedly referred to a discussion with President Gusmão regarding the election law for the 2007 general elections. (STL, TP) Paul Martins: Situation On The Oecussi Border Returns to Normal Speaking to the media on Monday, PNTL’s General Commander Paulo Fatima Martins was reported as saying that the security situation at the Oecussi border after the recent incidents involving community members of Oecussi and Kefamananu (West Timor), which caused some injuries, has returned to normal. The security agencies of both Timor-Leste and Indonesia, Martins said, have made efforts to provide security in Oecussi border in order not allow such incidents to take place again. It was reported that Martins left for Oecussi on Monday to assess the security situation in the area. He was expected to have a direct dialogue with community members in the border areas of both Timor-Leste and Indonesia, especially those who were involved in the incidents. Meanwhile, MP Antonio Lelan of Oecussi District stated that both the Government of Timor-Leste and Indonesia are currently engaged in dialogue in order to normalize the relations between the communities in the border area. MP Clementino Amaral was reported as arguing that a traditional reconciliation system is needed to tackle social problems between populations in the border areas. “During the Portuguese period, an arrangement on such system was created by the Government, and the result was very positive. I think now we can take such measures to deal with the issue,” Amaral said. (STL) PNTL Officer Released on Bail In Relation to Becora Car Accident STL reported that a PNTL officer was involved in a car accident at Becora Bridge last Friday, causing the death of a victim called Alexandre Belo. In the first hearing conducted at Dili District Court on Monday, the suspect was released on bail and he was asked to regularly report to the Dili District’s Prosecutor Office pending the conclusion of the investigations into the case. (STL) 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 - Ends - [This message was distributed via the east-timor news list. Write info@etan.org.] etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan ETAN welcomes your financial support. For more info: http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm
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