UNOTIL

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

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

Daily Media Review Wednesday, 17 May 2006

National Media Reports

SRSG Meets Salsinha Gastão

SRSG Sukehiro Hasegawa met with the spokesperson for the Petitioners of F-FDTL, Lieutenant Gastão Salsinha, in Ermera District on Tuesday, 16 May where they discussed various issues related to the allegations of the discrimination case within F-FDTL, the 28 April incidents and the investigation commission set up by the Government and led by Minister Ana Pessoa Pinto. With regards to the investigation, Salsinha requested Hasegawa to involve an international investigation team as well as international military forces in order to strip both civilians and military members of their weapons. According to Salsinha, the investigation team led by Ana Pessoa would only be successful if the international investigation team and international military forces were involved. Responding to this request, Hasegawa explained that the international investigation team from Geneva will be involved in the investigation, but such a team will be in Timor-Leste not more than a month’s time. Hasegawa also promised that he would present Salsinha’s requests to President Xanana Gusmão. In addition, Salsinha said, “If such disarmament is difficult to do, then all of the weapons can be kept at F-FDTL Headquarters in Metinaro. However, it should be the internationals who will deal with this matter when a solution for the problem has not been found. We also request the United Nations to particularly provide the security because this is very important for this new nation ever since the people lost their trust in F-FDTL which they considered as the nation’s defense force. If this is the case, how can it be?” Salsinha said that the existence of the investigation commission was too late because it was established on the last day of demonstration. “We have objections to such an investigation team,” he said. When asked if groups or political parties were involved in the demonstration, Salsinha claimed that no third parties were involved, stressing that it was only supporters and sympathizers of the petitioners. (STL)

Fretilin Second Congress Starts in Dili

The Second Fretilin Congress started in Dili today with challenges by new candidates for the position of the Secretary General and President. According to the media, Jose Luis Guterres one of the candidates, reportedly said he is ready to assume the role of Prime Minister if Alkatiri, Fretilin’s current Secretary General and Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, resigns. Egidio de Jesus, the candidate for President stated he is not resigning as Secretary of State for Region III in relation to his candidacy because his duty mandate expires next year.

In the meantime, Fretilin’s Vice-Secretary General Jose Maria Reis brief and invited the media on Tuesday to participate in the Congress. Reis informed that it took three months preparation for the Congress and that the last Central Committee meeting analysed and approved the fundamental documents for the Second congress. According to STL, a total of 500 delegates are expected at the gathering.

Member of Parliament Alexandre Corte-Real (UDT) said the Congress is important as Fretilin is the one in charge of the Government and appealed to the participants to accept structure changes. MP Manuel Tilman (KOTA) appealed to the delegates to maintain political maturity and congratulated Fretilin as a ruling and historic party for setting a role model for Timor-Leste and the international community point to the way the Congress has been organized. Tilman is of the opinion that if Prime Minister Alkatiri resigns from his current post, the Government and the economy will disintegrate noting that Alkatiri has been the engine of ideas, negotiations and budget.

Political observer Julio Pinto reportedly said the running candidates are ideal to lead the country as both represent east and west and it would be proof that Fretilin is not a dichotomy party. But, on the one hand, Pinto points out that the Alkatiri and Guterres Government, although weak, had already advanced with some Government work and confidence-building from the international community. He added that the biggest challenge for the Government now would be to resolve the petitioners’ problems. MP Cipriana Pereira (Fretilin) and member of the party’s Central Committee stressed that she accepts changes to the party but in due course, the leadership should remain as it is or face big risks within Fretilin and the State. (TP, STL)

MONVERTIL appeals for unity

The spokesperson of the Voice of National Movement of Timor-Leste Resistance (MONVERTIL), Andre da Costa Belo “L-4”, appealed for unity in relation to the current situation as it is affecting the lives of the Timorese people. “Don’t forget, our unity has been built since 1975 and it should not be let down, we are anti-violent,” L-4 said. Members of both the ex-clandestine movement and ex-Falintil signed a declaration stating their full support of the investigation commission established by Four Sovereign Bodies to solve the petitioners’ case. “We, from the ex-resistance movement, support the decision which has been made by the four sovereign bodies and we hope that the investigation commission will do their job with responsibility, transparency and impartiality,” L4 read as part of MOVERTIL’s statement. (STL)

Too soon to declare intervention was legal

In response to the statement of the President of the National Parliament, Francisco Guterres Lu Olo, that the intervention of F-FDTL on 28 April was legal, MP Lucia Lobato said that it was too soon to declare it legal since the report from the Government was only read by the President of the Parliament at the plenary session and had not yet been distributed to the MPs to debate. “We think that the declaration is from the President only, so it’s not right and it’s unjust,” said Lucia adding that the MPs will keep on insisting that the report from the Government and the Commander of F-FDTL be debated in the Parliament. According to Lobato, the intervention of F-FDTL to calm down the situation was unconstitutional because only the President of RDTL can give orders to F-FDTL, not the Government.

In relation to the police and F-FDTL members who left Headquarters with guns, MP Clementino do Reis Amaral, vice president of Commission B, in charge of the defense and national security, asked Minister of Defense Roque Rodrigues, Minister of Interior Rogerio Lobato, Commander of F-FDTL Taur Matan Ruak and Commander of PNTL Paulo Martins to be responsible for their disarmament. “They ran away with guns and if they kill someone, these leaders will be responsible for it” Amaral, said. The Director of National Hospital, Antonio Caleres, reportedly told the reporters that one of the casualties of 28 April, Frederico Pereira, was shot in his stomach on 28 April. “The medical team tried to keep him alive. He had three operations but we could not help him,” Timor Post reported Caleres as saying. (STL,TP)

Regional Media Reports

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

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