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

Daily Media Review Tuesday, 26 September 2006

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

National Media Reports

PM Meets Petitioners

Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta is scheduled to meet the petitioners’ group in Railako, Ermera District today. According to the media, the purpose of the meeting is to assess the humanitarian conditions and to discuss ways to resolve the problem. The media also report that the petitioners would also like to discuss the subsidy assigned to them, which has not been paid in the past months. On the same occasion, the Prime Minister will also visit and speak to the population about their economic conditions. Salsinha Gastão, the petitioner’s spokesperson, stated that the group is willing to work with the Notable Commission to try and resolve the current crisis. The statement has been confirmed by a member of the Commission, Pedro da Costa, who said there is a will from the petitioner’s side to put an end to the problem in the country. (TP, DN, STL)

MPS Praises Hasegawa’s Work

MP Mariano Sabino (PD) has praised the work of former SRSG Sukehiro Hasegawa describing that there were many successes under his leadership that the people of Timor-Leste benefited from. Sabino said this must be acknowledged with gratitude stressing that the UN should not be solely blamed for the various crises. He said some institutions are still weak and the Timorese are partly to blame. The MP said that the role of the UN in Timor-Leste at present is to provide support, and different from UNTAET where it had full responsibility of the administration. Another MP, Alexandre Corte-Real (UDT) said the former SRSG worked hard to strengthen the democratic institutions, the judiciary system and security, adding that the work performed by Hasegawa also boosted the image of the UN in Timor-Leste. In a separate article, MP and President of ASDT Xavier do Amaral said the new UN mission (UNMIT) must help resolve the national crisis of the nation. (DN, STL)

RTTL New Director General

A new Director General of the national broadcasting services has been appointed in a ceremony attended by Deputy-Prime Minister Rui Araújo, members of government and diplomatic corps. Joao Batista da Costa is replacing Virgilio Guterres who resigned from his post as Director General. (DN, STL, TP)

RTTL News Monitoring Report

26 September 2006

Francisco Xavier do Amaral and Gil Alves were elected to be the President and the Secretary-General of the ASDT Party.

After hosting a two-day congress of ASDT Party in Dili, the delegates from 13 districts re-elected Francisco Xavier do Amaral as the president and Gil Alves as the Secretary-General. Speaking to journalists after the congress, Gil Alves thanked the delegates for having trusted in him and his colleague Amaral to lead the party for the period of 2006 - 2010. He also reportedly said that although they were both were re-elected, they had the responsibility to prepare the party to win the 2007 General Election. He added that the experience of this two-day congress could assure their victory in the coming election.

Democratic Party hosts two separate congresses at district level on Saturday, 23 September 2006

In order to consolidate the PD party and prepare its militants for the 2007 General Election, PD party held two congresses in Luro, Lospalos and Hudi-laran, Dili. Speaking to the journalists in Luro, Lospalos, the president of the party, Fernando La Sama reportedly said that his party would prioritise national unity by possessing the love and peace in each individual’s hearts. Then they would share this love and peace with other people and later create peace and love in our beloved country which is now not in a peaceful environment. He also reportedly denied the allegation that PD leaders were behind the demonstrations held previously in Dili. However, he informed his militants that people who organized the demonstration previously in Dili were good people as they had good intentions. These people, he said, were from the National Front for Justice and Peace - ‘FNJP’. In addition, there was also the 1st congress held in Hudi-Laran, Dili for the PD party Youth Association and the restructuring of some leaders at the district level.

International Media Reports

Press Releases

Plenary Session Agenda n. 446/I/4a

Monday, 25 September 2006

Today’s Plenary session was chaired by the Vice-President of the National Parliament, Mr. Francisco Xavier do Amaral and the Vice-Secretaries of the Mesa, Ms. Maria Terezinha Viegas and Ms. Maria Avalziza Lourdes.

In the Period before the Agenda, the Vice-Secretary of the Mesa read the following documents:

* Letter by MP Jacob Xavier to the President of the NP informing about the declaration by the Chefe de Aldeia of Riamori, Surucraic, who stated that workers of the above mentioned aldeia didn’t receive their salaries;

* Letter by the Court of Appeal to the Prime Minister, informing about the existence of rumors on the possible kidnapping of international judges together with other allegations against the Courts;

Various MPs underlined the necessity of the NP to give importance to the letter by the Court of Appeal.

As the Judiciary System is still fragile and the Timorese Judges, Prosecutors and Defense Lawyers are still receiving training by international advisors, the Court of Appeal is still confronting itself with a lot of difficulties in the accomplishment of its daily activities. It is important for the National parliament to reiterate its support to strengthen the above mentioned institution.

Some MPs also asked to invite the Minister of Justice, to have the possibility to receive a detailed explanation on the problems and obstacles that the Court of appeal is facing.

The Project of Resolution n. 23/I/4a about “National Symbols”, which was part of today’s agenda, was not discussed, as the Committee of Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees did not present the report related to the same Project of Resolution.

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