UNOTIL

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Daily Media Review Monday, 22 May 2006

National Media Reports

Petitioners rejects investigation commission

In response to the petitioners declaration of refusing the investigation commission, established by four sovereign bodies including the church and NGOs, Minister of Foreign Affairs José Ramos Horta said he disagrees with the declaration because the investigation commission was established to respond to the petitioners demands. “The commission was established because the petitioners asked for it. Don’t change what they insist on every one or two months”, said Horta. STL also reported that Ramos-Horta is still in contact with the petitioners and is trying to resolve their problem. “Two days ago I talked to Salsinha Gastão via cell phone and we are hoping to meet each other again”, Horta said.

In a separate article, Horta’s response to the petitioners who asked to disarm F-FDTL before the commission started their job, is that “no army in the world can disarm F-FDTL” and he appealed to the petitioners not to fear the F-FDTL as they are not going harm them. “I guarantee their security and Brigadier Matan Ruak has told me that they are not going hurt them” said Horta. (DN)

Divide Fretilin and Timor-Leste will explode: Alkatiri

Mari Alkatiri, Fretilin’s Secretary General said “a divided Fretilin would destroy Timor-Leste saying there are two important institutions in Timor-Leste - Fretilin and Falintil. Falintil is respected by the people because it managed to liberate the country from Indonesian occupation. Alkatiri added if Falintil is divided, Fretilin can continue to remain strong, but if Fretilin is divided Timor-Leste would explode. These were the words delivered by the re-elected Fretilin’s Secretary General on Saturday in Dili. He added whoever wants to divide the population must first divide the two institutions noting that even by trying to first divide Falintil would not be possible because Fretilin are still united. He appealed to the party’s militants to immediately combat the issue of Lorosae-Loromonu ‘east-west’ as there is no such thing, and only one nation, Timor-Leste. Mari Alkatiri also said now that the congress is over, he believes the population can now sleep in peace. The re-elected President, Francisco ‘Lu’Olu’ Guterres said those people using this terminology are trying to weaken Fretilin, adding he is not accusing Salsinha Gastao and his group.

Political observer, Julio Tomas said the biggest challenge for Alkatiri and Lu’Olo would be the petitioners and Major Alfredo case and, in order to regain their trust, both leaders must make drastic changes to face the crisis situation. Mari Alkatiri and Francisco ‘Lu’Olo’ Guterres were sworn-in by the President of Fretilin’s National Congress platform/table Estanislau da Silva. (TP)

L7 Rejects rumours of attack

President of Partido Nasional Democratic da Resistensia Timorense (UNDERTIM) and also a former Falintil member, Cornelio Gama, aka L7, rejects rumours of attack to Ermera. L7 says he and the former resistance do not have intentions of attacking that region. “This rumour is incorrect, and those who have invented it saying that we received guns to advance an attack, but with whom? Before, in the jungle, our aim was to liberate the people and the nation from colonialism… this is a manipulation by some groups to scare the population to achieve their objective. Their behaviour is making the people suffer,” L7 underlined. (STL)

Regional Media Reports

PALAU: 2 Officers Return Home From East Timor

The Palau Horizon reports that two Sons of Palau, Police Officers Dollyn Tell and Jonnie Ngeluk, will return home this month following their deployment to East Timor where the two spent nine months as United Nations peacekeepers. Vice President and Justice Minister Elias Camsek Chin said Palau is proud of the two officers’ achievements. He said upon their return, Tell and Ngeluk could train other police officers at the Police Academy.

They can spread that wealth of knowledge,” Chin said. Prior to their deployment to East Timor, Tell and Ngeluk completed a four-week training in the United States and Greece. They underwent training in handling border patrol, human smuggling anddrug cases. (Pacific Magazine)

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 - END ­

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