[Poster's note: Repeats of international articles already sent out to the east-timor list (info@etan.org) have been removed.]

Wednesday, 27 December 2006

UNMIT ­ MEDIA MONITORING

THE UN INTEGRATED MISSION IN TIMOR-LESTE DOES NOT VOUCH FOR THE

ACCURACY OF THESE REPORTS

National Media Reports

President Gusmao: be prepared to welcome new President

President Xanana Gusmao celebrated Christmas with all the staff at the President’s office and journalists on 22 December in Dili. Speaking at the Christmas gathering, President Gusmao called on all the staff members be prepared for and to cooperate with a new President. “I ask you to continue to afford the new President your cooperation and support.” The President further stated that this was his last Christmas party with the staff members, as his tenure has only five months left, and he wanted this year’s Christmas to bring peace for all the people and the country. It was not clear, however, as to whether or not he would stand again for the Presidency. (DN, STL &TP)

Christmas messages of President Gusmao and Speaker of NP

President Xanana Gusmao delivered a Christmas message to the nation on 22 December. In his message, President Gusmao called on those who continue to perpetrate violence and killings to stop saying the people need to live in peace. He expressed his hope for Christmas and the New Year to be a moment for profound reflection and to leave violence behind. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the National Parliament, Francisco Guterres “Lu Olo,” who delivered the same message, stated that the future of this country lies with all the citizens of Timor-Leste. “The national future of the nation depends on the attitude of its citizens.” (DN, STL &TP)

Alkatiri is still a suspect: Monteiro

In response to news and rumours that former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri’s case of allegations of illegal distribution of weapons had been dropped, the Prosecutor General, Longinhos Monteiro stated that there is no official announcement as yet from his office on the issue. Asked about the status of Alkatiri in this regard, Monteiro said that “so far, his status is still as a suspect and there have been no changes yet to this status.” Monteiro further stated that in case of any change, whether archiving or processing the case, the public would be notified of all the processes and arguments supporting it. (DN & STL)

RTTL news headlines

Consultation Meeting with the Political Parties.

President Xanana Gusmao invited all leaders of the Political Parties and members of the Superior Council of State to meet and consult on the date for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. The President of the Republic has the Constitutional Mandate to decide on the date of the National Elections but he also has the constitutional obligation to call upon leaders of the Political Parties and members of the council of State to solicit their opinions and ideas before taking the decision, said Prime Minister Horta.

Three day visit of Minister of Development to Oecussi

Minister of Development Arcanjo da Silva visited Oecussi for three days to see the development in Oecussi in general and the progress of the activities of the training center for small businesses in particular. The Minister encouraged all the local small businessmen to learn to develop good financial systems for their small businesses as well as to find mechanisms to establish relationships with the National Treasurers or the office of the Minister of Finance. Access to the National treasurers will enable the entrepreneurs to learn and develop good financial systems in their business offices.

Oecussi Enclave has potential for Tourism

State Secretary of Special Residence of Oecussi Albano Salem said that development in Oecussi should be given priority by the tourism sector. Oecussi has potential for tourism therefore the central and local governments have to find proper mechanisms to develop it in the near future. The Minister of Development concurred with Mr. Albano’s statement and said that the government needs to prepare conditions for investment in this area, such as infrastructure, hotels, transportation, communication system and other related concerns.

Dialogue with the Communities

The people in Aldeia Fatumeta, Surikmas, Bairupite and Kakaulidun have met with aim to find ways to end the present crisis. In general, the people in these aldeias are willing to welcome back the IDPs in their communities because everybody realises that they are all victims of the political manipulation of some leaders, said one of the participants. Many people are not satisfied with the present community dialogue so far for they do not see the involvement of the leaders and actors of the crisis in the dialogue with the communities. At the same occasion, Jose Luis Oliveira director of Hak, said that dialogue is one way to solve the crisis but justice should be done for the actors of the crime. We cannot avoid justice and only push dialogue and reconciliation, added Oliveira.

Press Release

International Media Reports

Gangs paid as attack Aussies

By Keith Moor

December 27, 2006 01:35am

Article from: News.com.au

ETHNIC gangs are paid as little as $5 a day to create violent riots which Australian peacekeepers in Pacific troublespots have to quell. Three Australian Federal Police agents have been hurt and many others have been threatened by machete-wielding youths. The payments are part of an orchestrated plan to create civil unrest to further the political aspirations of key figures in East Timor and the Solomon Islands. The Daily Telegraph last week visited the Solomons and East Timor and also discovered:

* ALLEGED pedophile and proposed Solomons attorney-general Julian Moti leapt from a moving plane during his clandestine dash to escape extradition to Australia on child sex charges;

* THE AFP recently foiled an attempt by an organised crime ring to force East Timorese women into sex slavery;

* OLYMPIC canoeing silver medallist and AFP agent Danielle Woodward single-handedly brokered a truce between two warring East Timorese gangs;

* EVIDENCE suggests Taiwan is buying influence in Pacific nations by bribing politicians and encouraging civil disobedience;

* AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty is concerned that a person charged with inciting the April riots that destroyed most of Chinatown in the Solomons capital Honiara as later considered suitable to be its police minister;

* EAST Timorese President Jose Ramos Horta fears United Nations peacekeepers will need to stay in his troubled country for at least another year; and

* JUSTICE Minister Chris Ellison used a visit to East Timor this week urge Dr Horta to get firearms and other lethal weapons off the streets of Dili.

Victorian police officer Ken Dunmill last week said there was strong intelligence some of those involved in riots and gang violence in East Timor were paid about $5 a day to create trouble. The 23-year veteran has spent several months in East Timor during two stints attached to the AFP in 2003 and 2006. Mr Keelty last week made a goodwill Christmas visit to East Timor, the Solomons and Nauru. He took the opportunity to present Sgt Dunmill with a bravery award for swimming through a crocodile infested river to rescue villagers from raging floodwaters.

"Someone is paying the rioters. Our belief is that someone is paying them for violence to occur. I don't know exactly what the motivation is, but it is definitely political. Somebody, or some group, wants there to be civil disobedience in East Timor," Sgt Dunmill said. "I have seen some horrific injuries with machetes. We are seeing a lot of death.

The gang violence is getting worse. "There is a lot of (anti- Australian) hate building up. We are becoming targets." The head of the police peacekeeping force in the Solomon Islands, AFP agent Will Jamieson, said there was evidence of rioters in the Solomons were also receiving money. "We can't be as precise as rioters being paid $5 or $10 but there are indications that some of the groups were paid to cause the disturbances," he said. "We have information which indicates there were certain groups that actually were co-ordinated from a politically motivated perspective to cause violence and disturbances in the streets to disrupt the process of government and democracy."

Agent Jamieson said police were a target for those who rioted in April. "There was organisation, co-ordination and planning. They attacked Australian police. They knew police required communication and transport," he said.

(News.com.au)

NATIONAL NEWS SOURCES: Timor Post (TP) Radio Timor-Leste (RTL) Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) Diario Tempo (DT) Diario Nacional Seminario Lia Foun (LF) Televisaun Timor-Leste [TVTL] UNMIT MEDIA MONITORING www.unmit.org