Daily Media Review 27 March 2008

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Prime Minister presents report on State of Siege: Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has presented a report on the State of Siege to the National Parliament. MPs claimed that the report showed the reality of what is happening in the country.

The report included information on the assassination attempts against the President and Prime Minister, the Apprehension Operation and the current situation.

However, Fretilin MP Fransisco Miranda Branco is still asking the United Nations to create an independent investigation in order to clear up any suspicions/mysteries still lingering in the public mind.

MP urges Chief Justice to report to National Parliament: PUN MP, Fernanda Borges, has urged the Director of Justice and Human Rights to report to the National Parliament on exactly how many cases have been received during the State of Siege. Borges is insisting on this, claiming the Director has received many cases from the victims during the State of Siege.

James Baker says a formal investigation is needed: ISF Brigadier-General James Baker has said that a formal investigation is needed to find out the events before, after and during February 11. "It is being commonly accepted by the public that the attacks on 11 February just happened. Unfortunately the incidents could not have been predicted, nor did we have information that it would happen" (TP)

104 families register in MSS: The Coordinator of the Ministry of Social Solidarity for the Eastern Region, Domingos Martins, has confirmed that 104 families have registered in the Ministry of Social Solidarity in order to receive subsides from the Government.

"MSS has also registered the people whose houses were burnt and destroyed during the last crisis in the district of Baucau, Lautem and Viqueque," said Mr Martins.

The Government has provided 3 options for the families to choose from: (a) To return to their homes in Dili; (b) To move to another place; and (c) To remain in the districts. Sixty-one families have chosen option A and 21 families have opted for C. No one selected option B. (TP)

Fretilin demands Government form Commission of Inquiry: Fretilin MP Fransisco Miranda Branco has demanded that the Government form an International Commission of Inquiry to investigate the events of February 11.

"Bishop Basilio do Nacimento has said that the assassination attempts against the President and Prime Minister on February 11 remains a mystery. Therefore, Fretilin demands that the Government form a Commission of Inquiry in order to clear up any mysteries." Said Mr Branco. (DN)

MP asks police not to intervene in politics: Fretilin MP Inacio Morreira said that the government totally forbids police to be involved in politics as politics is only for the politicians. Police are just entitled to act as they are commanded to by their institution. (DN)

Two of Salsinha's men receive a preventive prison: Two of Salsinha's men have received preventive prison after a hearing in the Dili court. One of the men is suspected on being involved in the assassination attempts against the Prime Minister and the President and the other men suspected of involvement in the events of May 23, 2006. (STL)

Minister says 5000 IDPs have returned home: The Minister of Social Solidarity, Maria Domingas Fernanda Alves 'Mikato,' has said that 5000 of the 200,000 original IDPs camped in 53 locations in Timor-Leste have returned to their homes, and that the rest are being processed.

The government has also vowed to clean all the camps by the end of the year. "We hope that by the end of the year, all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) will be home and that there will be no more IDPs in the country," said Sra. Mikato.

During the time that this Government has been in office, all efforts have been made to return the IDPs to their homes. As such, $200.000 USD was approved by the National Parliament to help solve the IDP Problem.

The Government will provide between $1500 - $4.500 USD for each family whose house has been destroyed. (STL)

National News Sources: Televizaun Timor-Leste (TVTL) Radio Timor-Leste (RTL) Timor Post (TP) Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) Diario Nacional (DN)

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