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

Tuesday, 20 March 2007

UNMIT ­ MEDIA MONITTORING

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

National Media Reports

Benevides: "I Have No Intention To Accuse Fretilin"

Answering to the statement of Jose Reis, the Vice Secretary General of Fretilin who said that Fretilin will bring him to Tribunal, the lawyer of Alfredo Reinado, Benevides Correia Barros, responded that he has no intention of accusing Fretilin for having weapons.

He said that currently the State, UNMIT and ISF consider his client a threat to the upcoming election. Benevides said that other civilians who are armed should also be considered as a threat for the election.

"I have no intentions to accuse Fretilin, I am just using the comparison of other armed civilians," said Benevides (19/3) in Hudi Laran. (TP)

People Rush To Get Electoral Cards

The District Administrator of Dili, Ruben stated that at the present people in Dili are enthusiastically registering and to running to get their electoral cards before the deadline of registration (21/3).

Ruben also added that some additional places were opened to attend to registrations with queuing started at 07.00. (STL)

89 PD Sympathizers Affiliated To Fretilin

Francisco de Araujo, previously the chief of Aldeia (sub-village) of Vatuu, in Atauro Sub-District, Dili affiliated with other 89 sympathizers of PD, even though he was elected under PD's banner.

Mr. Araujo said that they did it for home sweet home ­­ being away from Fretilin was like a "Prodigaal Son." They promised voting for Lu-Olo for next president, and the First Lady of Timor-Leste is an Atauro woman. (STL and DN)

Situation In Dili Remains Normal

After the President's resolution, the situation in the capital city remains calm. Public and private transportation, schools and public institutions are working as usual after the presence of F-FDTL in Dili to control some offices of ministries. (DN)

ISF's Operation, Mal Rerden: "ISF Still Respect ET Culture."

Responding to some people's concern that ISF's operation in Same dishonored East Timorese culture, the Commander of ISF, Brigadier Mal Rerden reportedly stated in a Press Conference on Monday (19/03) that the operation of apprehending Reinado and his group in Same did not denigrate the Timorese culture. He said that ISF soldiers had cross-cultural training in Timor-Leste culture. (DN)

TVTL- News Headlines Monday, 19 March 2007

PM Officially Visited Atauro

Prime Minister Ramos-Horta officially visited Atauro Island on the weekend and said the island is setting a good example as it has been free from the violence of Dili.

Regarding the small food quantity, the Minister said he is concerned that the community will start to face food shortages in two months time and would discuss with his government and colleagues how to address the problem.

The Minister had also promised to assist in getting more fishing boats to the community and mechanical training in order to allow them to maintain their boats as it is their source of survival. (RTTL)

Electoral Monitoring Training

Fretilin held a training session for some members of the party on monitoring of the electoral process for both presidential and parliamentary elections. Members of the party from various sub-districts participated in the training held on the weekend in Aileu. (RTTL)

PD Consolidation Gathering

The Secretary-General of Partido Democrata, Mariano Sabino told a gathering in Faularan, Liquiça District that it is time to put an end to the crisis in TL.

In the meantime, the President of the party appealed to all Timorese to respect and embrace each other during the election. (RTTL)

Lucia Lobato Officially Launches Campaign

Lucia Lobato, Candidate no.5, of Partido Social Democrata, officially launched her campaign in Dili on Monday. In her opening speech, she said if she becomes the President she would strengthen ties with the church and other religious institutions.

She has also accused Ramos-Horta of violating the electoral laws during her speech adding that he is already campaigning before the official campaign date. She pointed to some posters distributed in some places he had visited as well and cited the use of government facilities. Lobato further said she already wrote a letter of complaint to CNE.

She said up to date the candidates have not received the funds for their campaign as promised and asked the authorities to speed up the release of the funds. (RTTL)

Fretilin Mudansa Will Adhere To Some Political Parties

Victor da Costa of Fretilin Mudansa said the group would adhere to one or two political parties during the elections with the aim to save the nation.

Da Costa said by adhering to a party it does not mean that the group would no longer be Fretilin. (RTTL)

MTRC Establishes Permanent Secretariat

The Ministry of Labor and Community Reinsertion have established a permanent secretariat with the aim to work with the presidential candidates if they want to know the work of the Ministry in relation to humanitarian assistance, said Minister Arsenio Bano.

Bano also told the media during a press conference Monday that his Ministry had already sent material assistance to the people whose houses were damaged during the international forces operation in Same on 4th of March as well as 30 tones of rice to the population in that district. (RTTL)

UNICEF and RTTL Signs Agreement

UNICEF and RTTL have signed an agreement to extend the collaboration with the children's program in the radio and television. (RTTL)

International Media Reports

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