UNOTIL

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Daily Media Review Thursday, 02 February 2006

National Media Reports

MP da Costa: Pe Maubere did not call Fretilin Communist Member of the National Parliament of Fretilin political party, Maria José da Costa, clarified that Pe Domingos Maubere did not say in his oration at last week’s mass in Same Parish, that Fretilin is Communist and would wipe everyone out if it wins the election, Timor Post reported. MP da Costa said that those published statements in the media are incorrect. Timor Post also printed a brief report on the response of MP Francisco Miranda Branco, who claimed that the incorrect reports of that oration by Pe Domingos Maubere is just a ploy to discredit Fretilin. (TP, STL)

Centralized tender system facilitates corruption Commission D in the National Parliament, headed by MP Flavio da Silva, has recommended that the Government grant special autonomy to individual ministries or departments to manage their own tender processes on the basis that a centralized tender system can give rise to corruption. The recommendation is based on opinions collected from the local Oecussi population when the Commission visited the region. The population reportedly told the Commission that the tender system currently implemented by the Government is inefficient and bureaucratic. According to a member of the Commission, Paulo Alves Sarmento, a centralized tender system does not only increase the possibility for corruption, but also slows down the implementation of urgent activities. He related an example of funding required for a project to be implemented during the dry season in which the funding was not made available until much later when the wet season had already begun. (STL)

PSD formulates development program The Social Democratic Party has prepared a Development Program for 2007, should the party be elected to head the Government in the 2007 elections. The program is awaiting approval by the party’s National Congress to then be used in the 2007 election campaign. PSD MP Fernando Gusmao told journalists that the program reflects PSD’s social democratic ideology. He commented that PSD is neither a left nor a right party, but that it takes positive aspects from both sides to form its development programs. (STL)

AATL President Barros on legal system problems

Timor-Leste’s legal system became a matter of public focus in 2005. Not only the political leadership, but legal practitioners and the general public questioned the weakness of the system. Many cases were not heard, and communication was a problem in those that were heard. President of the Timor-Leste Lawyers Association Benevides Corriera Barros, told STL that there is some confusion about the type of law system that should be followed here in Timor-Leste as to whether it should be a European Continental, Civil Law, or Common Law system. The result is that a hybrid is being followed in responding to legal issues, without a solution being provided by the National Parliament. He said that the Government is not committed to providing extra attention to the legal system, including ensuring that criminal cases are not suspended for two to three months at a time, and that civil cases are not pending, as they are now in some cases, for up to three years. Barros said that bringing in international legal practitioners does not improve the situation, but actually further complicates the system through the language problem, and the fact that these legal practitioners come from different legal backgrounds. Therefore, he said, Timorese legal practitioners are more useful both in terms of language and the fact that often defendants request that their cases be handled by Timorese nationals as opposed to foreigners. (STL)

RTTL News Headlines

President Gusmao Inaugurates Democracy Centre and to meet Claudio Ximenes

President Xanana Gusmao inaugurated the Centre for Democracy in Dili on Tuesday. Speaking to journalists after the inauguration ceremony, President Gusmao stated that the centre would be used to hold materials about political parties as well as a venue for discussions.

Also, speaking to journalists at the Democracy Centre, President Gusmao said that he would soon hold a meeting with the President of the Court of Appeal to discuss the Penal Code, especially Articles on defamation. The President added that he would also meet with the Minister for Justice for the same purpose.

Urban Planning for Dili and Baucau The State Secretariat for Environment organized a workshop in Dili to present a proposal on urban planning for Dili and Baucau. Speaking after the workshop, the State Secretary, Joao Alves told journalists that the workshop was aimed at obtaining opinion from the community about the plan.

Update on Malibaka Joint Investigation Team The Joint Investigation Team between Indonesia and Timor-Leste on the Malibaka incident is currently in the process of analysing the investigation results. The Head of TL delegation, Longinhos Monteiro, reportedly told RTTL that the parties had a disagreement on whether to include the exact shooting location of the killing in the Terms of Reference to be signed. Monteiro added that despite the fact that both agreed that the incident took place inside TL’s territory, the Indonesian team refused to include that in the ToR.

Attack on PNTL HQ in Liquica Over 50 individuals reportedly attacked the PNTL District Headquarter in Liquica on Monday night. The attack allegedly took place after the police arrested a community member in Liquica Sub-District following a fighting involving the youth on 28 January. They demanded that Police detain both parties involved in the fighting not just one.

Gus Dur support CAVR’s report From Indonesia, RTTL reported that the former Indonesian President Abdurahman Wahid “Gus Dur” reportedly expressed his support for the handing over of CAVR’s report to the UN by President Gusmao. Gus Dur also said that the death toll between 1974-1999 in Timor-Leste could be higher than the figure presented in the report.

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]

These Items Do Not Reflect the Position or Views of the United Nations. UNOTIL Public Information Office