Timor-Leste Daily Media News

Timor-Leste not to bow to Australia, says PM - Suara Timor Lorosa’e, 10 September

East Timor’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão reaffirmed Tuesday (9/9) that East Timor as a state would not bow itself to Australia in the efforts to land Greater Sunrise’s pipeline in East Timor.

“I said that East Timor should weigh the decision; it is not entirely the decision of Woodside Company,” said Gusmão.

He explained to his Australian homologue Kevin Rudd about the existence of the national petroleum authority and the secretary of state for natural resources was also initiating feasibility studies from East Timor’s side. He added the studies reveal the possibility of having pipe lines in East Timor’s territory.

“Don’t be swayed by the decision that it is impossible to bring the pipe line in because it has to be a joint decision,” Gusmão reiterated.

The Minister of Oil and Natural Resources further assured the results of the studies indicate that it highly likely to land the pipe line in the country.

Don’t expect the result of Feb. 11 investigation yet, says AG - Diário Nacional, 10 September

East Timor’s Attorney General Longuinhos Monteiro said the investigation into the February 11 attempt which is done in Australia is not yet conclusive.

“To date there is no result yet to the case of February 11 attempt against Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and President Ramos Horta,” said Monteiro.

However, he declined to make further comments about the process of the investigation as the investigation itself is still ongoing. Mr Monteiro recently visited Australia to know the process of the investigation carried out by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Ex-SRSG congratulated Xanana’s Govt - Diário Nacional, 10 September

A professor of the Hosey University in Tokyo, Japan Sukehiro Hassegawa who is also a former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in East Timor congratulated the AMP’s government led by Xanana Gusmão because of its efforts to start transforming and changing Timor-Leste into a stable and peaceful country.

“I congratulate and am delighted to see Timor-Leste reemerge as a stable and peaceful country after the February 11?,” said Hassegawa Tuesday (9/9) at Hotel Timor, Dili.

However, Hassegawa added in order to further maintain the level of stability and peace in the country, the government has to focus its attention to national development such as provision of basic services, a society free of corruption, rural and agricultural development, laws on land and property, and security and judicial system reforms.

F-FDTL to use Portuguese Army’s equipments - Radio Timor-Leste, 10 September

East Timor’s Secretary of the State for Defense Júlio Tomás Pinto said Tuesday (9/9) 21 members of the East Timor’s Defense Force (F-FDTL) who to take part in a CPLP joint military exercise would have to use Portuguese Army’s equipment.

Mr Pinto said that the Defense Ministry had come into an agreement with Portuguese government to let the F-FDTL members using their equipment during the joint military exercise held in Alvério, Lisbon (Portugal).

He explained that such agreement had to be made given that the distance to be traveled by the members is too far to make them carry along with them their equipments.

Timor-Leste to use Aussie patrol boats - Radio Timor-Leste, 10 September

Secretary of the State for Defense Júlio Tomás Pinto said Tuesday (9/9) East Timor is considering of using two Australian patrol boats to deal with recurring illegal fishing in the national maritime territory of East Timor until our own patrol boats arrived.

Mr Pinto made the statement in relation to a proposal to be discussed during Wednesday (10/9) Council of Minister. He added that there is also possibility of hiring these boats to curb illegal fishing by foreign national in the maritime areas belonging to East Timor.