[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 Friday, 29 September 2006

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

National Media Reports

New Legislation On Compulsory Military Service

A press communiqué issued yesterday from the Council of Minister states that if a proposed legislation from the second constitutional government is approved, military service would be compulsory for all Timorese between the ages of 18-30. (TP, STL)

Women Facing Political Discrimination

Impoverished education and experience are some of the key factors of discrimination against women in their political participation, said Milena Pires, Director of UNIFEM in Timor-Leste. Pires stressed that time, change of mindset and establishment of institutions would help in the eradication of discrimination against women. She said UNIFEM is supporting greater women participation in the 2007 elections and the women’s program in the political parties. The launch of the book on the conventions on the elimination of discrimination against women in four languages, Tetum, Indonesia Bahasa, Portuguese and English, according to Milena, is a first step for everybody to understand the importance of the convention. The book was launched in Dili on Thursday. (STL)

Australian Satellite Detects Alfredo

According to the Prime Minister, Australian Forces have identified, through the use of their satellite, Alfredo Reinado’s location and the men who are with him as being in Same near the sub-district of Alas. He further said the Australians forces, some of whom are nearby the location, the President of the Republic and himself are happy that Alfredo has not committed any violence, adding that the forces have had direct contact with Alfredo. In relation to their arrest, Prime Minister Ramos-Horta said the troops have a dialogue and will allow him to surrender voluntarily. Ramos-Horta stressed that even though Alfredo is wrong he hopes dialogue is the solution to avoid further bloodshed. He said he did not order the arrest of Major Alfredo and he will not interfere in the justice process. (STL, DN)

PM Request Bush To Visit TL

Speaking during a farewell gathering for outgoing US Ambassador, Grover Joseph Rees, Prime Minister Ramos-Horta requested Rees to extend his invitation to President Bush to visit Timor-Leste. In response, Ambassador Rees said he would transmit the message to his superior. Gary Gray is the new US Ambassador to Timor-Leste. (STL, TP, DN)

Annan Decision On New SRSG

Acting SRSG Finn Rieske-Nielsen said the UN Secretary-General is still searching for a new candidate to replace former SRSG Sukehiro Hasegawa, following the decline of Mascarenhas Monteiro of Cape Verde. Speaking to the media following his meeting with Prime Minister Ramos-Horta, Nielsen sad he discussed with the head of the government the important areas that need attention following the approval of the UN Security Council recently. The areas UNMIT will provide assistance to, said the acting SRSG, are in security, national reconciliation, justice and the election process for 2007 as well as establish good relations with the government, political parties and civil society. (TP)

Police Detain 29 Youth

United Nations police have detained 29 youth from the IDP camp in Kolmera together with some light weapons following allegations that they have been involved in rock throwing with an unknown group in that area. In the meantime, Timor Posts reports that the Timor-Leste Youth Organization from all the districts will hold a dialogue with youth from the west and east of the country. Francisco Amaral said that before jumping into national dialogue it is imperative that youth from both parts of the country participate in the dialogue. The event is scheduled to take place in Oecusse, Baucau, Lospalos and other districts, which have not yet been determined. Diario Nacional reported the Chefe Suco of Comoro, Eurico da Silva as saying the recent rock throwing, burning of houses, killings in Lurumata and Lafatik [Airport roundabout, Comoro] are not derived from the issue of east and west but it is a problem between martial arts groups from Lurumutu Fatu-Hada and Suco Comoro. Da Silva said he already requested the Minister of Interior to set up a permanent police post in Comoro but it is not possible due to the small number of international police in the country. (TP, DN)

Big Obstacle To Regain PNTL Credibility: Antero Lopes

Acting Police Commissioner, Antero Lopes said one of the obstacles for PNTL is to regain the trust of the population and the credibility of the police especially in Dili, reported Timor Post Friday. Lopes said some of the population have lost their trust in PNTL individual officers and not in the institution following the crisis, adding he believes not all the police were involved in the crisis that emerged therefore UNPOL has to be careful with the screening process for Timorese police officers. The Acting Police Commissioner said for those PNTL officers not involved in the crisis, their cases will be expedited in order for them to engage in operations together with the UN Police and be stationed throughout the country. He added that 25 PNTL officers have reactivated their duties following the screening process, another 900 have been registered and slowly they will receive training and resume their duties. On the issue of security, he said it has been calm and is certain there are still some problems but that it is a normal process, which is related to politics. In a separate article, Julio Tomas, Political and Military analyzer said the International Forces must make the effort to learn the root of the problem the country is facing as well as its culture in order for their work to be effective. (TP)

New Judges To Provide Assistance

Two international judges, from Portugal and Brazil were sworn-in on Thursday (28/9) by the President of the Court of Appeal, Claudio Ximenes. Ivo Nelson de Caíres Batista Rosa from Portugal and Telma Angélica Figueiredo from Brazil will work in Dili District Court and were recruited by UNDP. A group of one judge, two prosecutors and one defender arrived in Dili under the bilateral cooperation program between the government of Timor-Leste and Brazil to help with the judiciary system. (TP)

RTTL News Monitoring Report

29 September 2006

East Timor for the first time participated in a meeting of the Forum of Economic & Commerce between the People’s Republic of China and the members of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP)

In the meeting, every member of the CPLP including Timor-Leste was asked to share up-dated information regarding current developments in each country. The objectives of the meeting were to support each other in regard to development and to establish a platform of the economic and commerce development of each member. The delegation of East Timor, comprised of members of government and national entrepreneurs, was led by Mr. Arcanjo da Silva.

The Minster of State and Internal Administration of the Republic of Portugal, Antonio Costa Visited East Timor

The visit reportedly aimed to see the activities of GNR in East Timor, to meet with the interim SRSG of UNMIT to discuss the involvement of GNR in UNPOL in restoring the peace and stability to/in East Timor, and to meet with the ET Interior Minister to discuss the bilateral cooperation in regard to internal security. After the meeting with the Minister of Interior, Mr. Costa reportedly confirmed to the media that the Portuguese Government will continue to assist East Timor in the area of security.

The Association of National Defenders of Timor-Leste held a meeting to discuss its future strategic plan

Speaking to the journalists after a one-day meeting, the President of Association, Benevides Barros reportedly informed that the meeting aimed to look at the future strategic plan, activities of the association, and to resolve any internal problems towards an independent association in terms of managing its internal affairs and funds. The meeting also aimed to push the National Parliament to approve the statute of the association including the Draft of Law of Public & Private Defenders which had been submitted long ago.

On the same occasion, responding to questions on the impacts of the International Defenders, Mr. Barros said that whether or not the presence of the international defenders will be a threat for the national defenders depends on the decision of the Court of Appeal that legally has the competency regarding this matter. He stressed that the Court of Appeal should thoroughly think and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the international presence, particularly its impacts of the international presence on the national defenders.

In a separate interview, Member of Parliament, Dr. Manuel Tilman urged the Government of East Timor to assist the Association of the National Public and Private Defenders administratively, legally and financially. He then emphasized that the government should assist the association in terms of recognition, accreditation, and finance.

International Media Reports

East Timor's prime minister calls for dialogue ahead of elections next year The Associated Press

Published: September 28, 2006

DILI, East Timor East Timor's prime minister said Friday there is an urgent need for rival political parties to hold talks and reduce tensions ahead of elections next year that some fear may spark fresh bloodshed in the tiny nation. East Timor is still recovering from violence between factions in the security forces and political upheaval in May that led to Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, taking the country's top job. "There is an urgent need for dialogue between all political parties to end the crisis and contest the elections in 2007 as messengers of peace and stability," Ramos-Horta told delegates at the Democratic Party's annual conference. His comments reflect fears that the May polls may trigger fresh violence within the nation's political and military elite, which remains fiercely divided following this year's upheaval. The Democratic Party is East Timor's second largest party. Fretilin, the party of recently deposed Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, is the ruling party and is seen as the favorite in next year's polls. Ramos-Horta belongs to no party and was addressing the conference as prime minister. East Timor broke from 24 years of brutal Indonesian rule in 1999 in a U.N.-sponsored referendum and became formally independent in 2002. Its 800,000 people are among the poorest in Southeast Asia. (International Herald Tribune ­ Asia-Pacific)

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. UNMIT Public Information Office