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

Tuesday 24 April 2007

UNMIT ­ MEDIA MONITORING

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

National Media Reports

Alkatiri and Lu-Olo: "Ramos Horta has tendency of dictatorship"

The former Prime Minister and the Secretary-General of Fretilin, Mari Alkatiri, and the President of Fretilin, Francisco Lu-Olo, said that Ramos Horta's declaration clearly demonstrate his tendencies for dictatorship in Timor-Leste.

Ramos Horta declared on national television that he will reopen the case on the allegation of weapons distribution, which involved the country's Minister of Interior, Rogerio Lobato. Rogerio was sentenced for seven and half years.

Joaquim dos Santos, a member of National Parliament from Fretilin, also said that Ramos Horta has no power to reopen the case.

"It's political language to gain votes for himself," said Joaquim.

"To reopen or close a case is the competence of the Public Ministry, the president has no authority to do so," added Joaquim. (DN)

Horta gives no compensation to ASDT and PSD

After signing the joint declaration with ASDT and PSD at the ASDT office in Lecidere Dili, Ramos Horta declared that he gives no compensation to these parties or any other political parties that support him. (DN)

PD and PSD continue to reject the result of the presidential election

The president of the Court of Appeals, Claudio Ximenes, stated that the complaints submitted by the three candidates, Francisco Xavier Amaral (ASDT), Fernando Lasama (PD), and Lucia Lobato have no legal base for further investigation.

The complaints submitted indicated manipulation within the National Commission of Elections (CNE) and the Secretariat of Technical Administration of Elections (STAE) in the counting process.

"The presidential election of 2007-2012 is valid, Ramos Horta and Lu-Olo should go to the second round," said Claudio.

However, the spokesperson of the Democratic Party (PD), Rui Menezes, and the Representative Chief of the Democratic Socialist Party (PSD), Maria Paixão, still rejected the results even after the announcement. (DN and TP)

Halting the operation on Alfredo; Monica Rodrigues: "I have no comment on this decision"

The spokesperson of United Nations Police (UNPol) in Timor-Leste, Monica Rodrigues, said that she could not comment on the decision made by President Xanana Gusmao to halt the operation on Alfredo.

Monica explained that the current function of UNPol and PNTL is to provide security and maintain law and order in order to create peace and calm in the country.

"About the capture, it is being handled by ISF," Monica said. (DN)

Horta has no plans to meet Alfredo

Speaking to journalists after the graduation at the Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosae (UNTL), Ramos Horta said that he has no plans to meet Alfredo.

"It is up to the lawyers, the General Prosecutor and the Catholic Church to figure out what is best for the people," said Horta,

Ramos Horta also met Leandro Isaac, a run-away member of the National Parliament on Thursday (19/4) to discuss Leandro's situation. Horta said that even though Mr. Isaac is also pursued by the ISF, there is no mandate to capture him. (TP and STL)

Political Parties should guarantee the security of the elections

Speaking to journalists on Monday (23/4) at the Palacio das Cinzas in Caicoli, Dili after meeting the President Gusmao, the Vice President of the Commission of Security and Defence of the National Parliament, Clementino dos Reis Amaral, said that all the political parties should have a joint declaration urging all supporters to avoid violence.

International Media Reports

Ramos-Horta calls off search for rebel April 24, 2007

East Timor's acting prime minister has ordered foreign troops to stop looking for a fugitive rebel soldier wanted on murder charges, a move that could win the politician votes in upcoming elections.

Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who is running for president in the violence-plagued nation, made himself unpopular by ordering the arrest of Alfredo Reinado several months ago.

A former military police commander, Reinado is wanted over a series of fatal shootings a year ago, when clashes between rival security forces spiraled into gang warfare that left 37 dead and sent 155,000 fleeing their homes.

Calm returned with the arrival of Australian-led forces, but clashes between young men in the capital, Dili, continue to claim lives.

Reinado has eluded arrest since foreign troops launched a deadly attack on his mountain camp six weeks ago and his defiance of government authorities has turned him into a symbol of resistance for some gang members.

Ramos-Horta has long encouraged Reinado to turn himself in and - though his decision to stop the operation could win support ahead of next month's run-off vote for president - he said his only goal was to find a peaceful solution to East Timor's unrest.

Reinado, speaking by mobile phone from an unknown location, praised Ramos-Horta's decision.

But critics - including Ramos-Horta's opponent in the upcoming vote - said the acting prime minister should have sought parliamentary approval before holding meetings with rebels. AP

Electoral Campaign 2nd round in Timor Leste

Dili, Apr 23 (Prensa Latina) The presidential elections campaign second round in East Timor started on Monday and will finish on May 7.

Those votes will decide who will be the next head of state between the president of the Parliament Francisco Guterres from the Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor Leste (Fretilin) and the Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta.

They were the candidates with more number of votes in the first round of the elections on April 9 with the 27.89 percent and the 21.81 of the votes respectively. None of the aspirants reached more than 50 percent of the required votes.

The presidential elections will be fallowed by the legislative elections on June 30.

Timor Leste, located between Australia and Indonesia, with an extension of 5.74 miles and more than 900,000 inhabitants is considered one of the poorest countries of the world. mgs dor/PL-25

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 www.unmit.org