[Poster's note: International and other articles already sent out to the east-timor list (info@etan.org) have been removed from below.]

UNMIT

United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste

Public Information Unit

Daily Media Review

Wednesday, 25 October 2006

UNMIT ­ MEDIA MONITORING THE UN INTEGRATED MISSION IN TIMOR-LESTE DOES NOT VOUCH FOR THE ACCURACY OF THESE REPORTS

National Media Reports

Parliament Must Issue Resolution Recommendations

The Human Rights Monitoring Network issued a statement welcoming the COI report and urged the competent bodies to continue with the legal process as recommended by the commissioners. The group wants the National Parliament to take immediate action with a resolution on the recommendations. The statement says the resolution would be a step to strengthen the Public Ministry to carry out criminal investigations on those allegedly accused as per the COI report and also investigate other cases involving the shooting of a woman and man in different parts of Dili. FNJP wants Rogerio Lobato’s case to be delayed by the court and handed over to a special panel. PSD issued a proposal to the Parliament plenary session on Monday to establish an Ad-Hoc tribunal to process the trial for those responsible for the recent crisis. Jose Reis, Fretilin Deputy Secretary General said the party’s Central Committee will convene to politically discuss the report of the COI. According to Reis, the report has not included many factors, adding he will not reveal further until the discussion is concluded. (TP, STL)

Priest Laments Assault To The Church

Dili Diocese spokesperson, Fr. Domingos Soares, who is also known as Domingos Maubere, has lamented the actions of some groups for destroying the church in Aimutin, pelting and killing a churchgoer. Fr. Domingos appeals to the population to respect each other and to sit and talk if they have any problems rather than opt for violence. The priests said the church does not blame the youth who are following orders, adding he heard there are allegations of people paying five dollars for throwing rocks and seven dollars for injuring one and twenty dollars for killing. Therefore he appealed to the authorities to investigate the organized groups behind such allegations. (STL)

Australian Police Unable To Confront Violence

Political and military observer, Julio Tomas Pinto said the government of Timor-Leste must do an evaluation on the international police, especially Australian police and military for not taking any action in many incidents they have participated in. Tomas said the recent disturbances of rock throwing in Aimutin, both the military and police of Australia only observed. They did not take any prevention to the violence, and it shows they do not have the capacity to help the people of Timor-Leste, said Pinto. He also said the Australians came not to face violence and it is likely that due to their respect for human rights, they do not want to use violent methods. (TP)

Pacific Island Forum

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health, Rui Araujo is participating in the South Pacific Forum as an observer. The Minister is also taking the opportunity to meet with Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to extend Timor-Leste greetings and Prime Minister Ramos-Horta’s message. Araújo would also take the opportunity to meet with leaders of other pacific nations as well as discuss further academic training for Timorese in Fiji. (TP)

RTTL news headlines 25 October 2006

To find peace in Timor-Leste, every East Timorese must have consciousness to create peace in our heart instead accusing other people or countries: Dr. Ramos Horta

Speaking to journalists after attending the International Seminar held in Hotel Timor, PM, Dr. Horta reportedly affirmed that in order to create peace and stability in our country, we, East Timorese must have consciousness to create peace inside the individual’s heart, family members, and every East Timorese. He then called for every East Timorese to stop blaming other people or countries such as Australia and Portugal for allegedly creating our problem. On the other side, he said the roots of the conflict of East Timor existed before the on-going crisis. For example, during the Indonesian occupation particularly in the 1999 incident, not only TNI (Indonesian National Armies) or Kopasus (Special Indonesian Armies Group) who committed crimes/violence only, but we, East Timorese in fact also fought each other. This can be seen that majority of the militiamen were East Timorese who fought against us, he stressed.

East Timor Democratic Social Party, PSD proposed to establish a team to have a profound study and investigation on the CoI report

Speaking to journalists after the plenary session at the National Parliament on Monday, 23 October 2006, Maria Paição, member of NP from PSD bench reportedly said that we need to establish an investigation team comprising of four sovereign bodies and the church to have a further and profound investigation on the CoI report. Not only this, but the party also suggested to establish an International Ad-hoc Tribunal that comprises of National Judges who will be guided by International judges.

National Front for Justice and Peace (FNJP) held a press conference to state their position on the CoI report and their demands for further action

Victor do Santos, Secretary General of FNJP at a televised press conference on Monday, 23 October 2006 reportedly declared that FNJP was happy with the report but urged that the government and state should improve the East Timor justice sector in implementing the report’s recommendation. This includes the recruitment of new international judges, prosecutors, and defenders as recommended in the report. FNJP also urged the government and state to establish a special panel to prosecute the actors of the on-going crisis.

International Media Reports

Troop commander warns of E Timor humanitarian crisis

Wednesday, October 25, 2006. 9:44am (AEST)

The commander of Australian troops in East Timor says a humanitarian disaster could happen in the troubled nation, unless housing for refugees fleeing the unrest in Dili can be arranged before the approaching wet season. Tomorrow marks five months since Australian troops were deployed to East Timor to help settle an outbreak of fighting following the country's elections. Commanding officer Brigadier Mick Slater says Dili is more stable than when Australian troops first arrived, but he says there is an undercurrent of criminal activity in camps that were set up for those fleeing the capital. "The longer the camps are here, the more difficult it will be to solve the social and community problems in Dili itself," he said. "Of course with the approaching wet season there's the potential for a humanitarian disaster if we cannot get people back in to their homes before the wet season brings diseases." (ABC)

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