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Subject: TIMOR LESTE NEWS
Dear All Local and International - For March 23, 2010 In this edition National News’ Headings: *TL backs Japan to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council *Japan to provide US$ 7 M for TL’s clean energy and reforestation *TL Celebrates World Water Day amidst crisis of water in Dili *President Horta Meets TMR and Longinhos Monteiro *Students urge judicial systems to be independent *Student movement calls for country’s leaders to trust in Timorese lawyers *MPs urge President Horta to respect TL’s birthright *Guterres: “No terrorists’ threats in the country” *Commissioner Monteiro meets with President Horta *Ex-guerillas who saved TL during 2006 crisis should be appreciated: MP Florindo *JICA and Agriculture Ministry hold meeting on IRCP system *Belo: “Reservist force exist to defend State” *F-FDTL and the Australian Marine Force have good cooperation *Pinto: “Investigation is going on” *Timorese war ship construction process has reached 100%: Pinto *Lu-Olo: “Leaders of Fretilin Movement are like homeless people” *Railos calls for Fretilin leaders to acknowledge weapon distribution to civilians *Alkatiri: I believe Xanana will return to his own ‘house’ *Japan’s National Defense Academy Ready to have TL’s students International News’ Headings: *Timor Leste wants Australian to return 15 teenagers now in Malaysia National News: *TL backs Japan to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council *Televizaun Timor-Leste March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun President Ramos Horta has said that Timor-Leste will support Japan to a permanent member of the UN Security Council. President Horta made the comment during a recent official visit to Japan where he met Emperor Akihito, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and the country’s Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada. “Timor-Leste continues to support Japan to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council,” said the head of the state. He said that his visit to Japan was part of strengthening the relationship between Timor-Leste and Japan. During the visit, the 1996 peace Nobel laureate also raised some international issues such as nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and the climate change. Timor-Leste has also expressed its support for India, Indonesia and Brazil to be permanent members of the Security Council. *Japan to provide US$ 7 M for TL’s clean energy and reforestation *Televizaun Timor-Leste March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun Japanese Government has pledged to provide 700 million yen equivalent to USD 7 million to Timor-Leste to help the country’s clean energy and reforestation. The pledge was made during an exchange of notes by the ministers of foreign affairs of the two countries recently in Tokyo, Japan. Minister Zacarias da Costa said that about USD 5 M of the grant aid will be allocated to the provision of clean energy in Timor-Leste whereas the remaining USD 2 M will be used to deal with reforestation and conservation. *TL Celebrates World Water Day amidst crisis of water in Dili *Televizaun Timor-Leste March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun Timor-Leste celebrated World Water Day in Dili Monday (22/3). Vice Prime Minister José Luís Guterres said that the world, including Timor-Leste, is facing water problems. He also said that in many parts of the world there is no water and that Timor-Leste is lucky to have water though we have a lot of problems related to clean water provisions. In Timor-Leste it is predicted that half of the population does not have access to clean potable water. In the capital Dili alone, the population has been living without water from the government for almost one month. *President Horta Meets TMR and Longinhos Monteiro *Televizaun Timor-Leste March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun President Horta called a meeting with Defense Force’s Commander Major General Taur Matan Ruak and National Police’s Commissioner Longinhos Monteiro after his return from abroad. After the meeting, PNTL Commissioner Longinhos Monteiro said that it was a regular meeting to brief the president on the security and defense situation in the country. He told that among the issues presented was the ‘successful’ operation against Ninjas in Bobonaro and Kovalima districts. Monteiro also said that in the meeting he invite the president to attend the tenth anniversary of the national police to be held on March 27. “I personally ask for his availability for the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the PNTL and ask him to preside the ceremony,” said Monteiro. *Students urge judicial systems to be independent *Televizaun Timor-Leste March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun The National University’s Student Solidarity Movement has urged the independence of the court in deciding criminal cases during a press conference held Monday in Dili. The student leaders said that the call is made because there is frequent political intervention into the country’s judicial systems. According to them, the intervention into the court is a way of politicizing it to better serve the politicians in power. The students then called on the government to prioritize the welfare of the state instead of using every means available to retain their power. The students also called on the president of the republic not to pardon criminals as he will as it may weaken the functioning of the rule of law in the country. *Student movement calls for country’s leaders to trust in Timorese lawyers *Radio Timor-Leste, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun University student’s movement has called for the country’s leaders to give chance to the Timorese lawyers to manage their task well in order to dignify the significant of independence. They also called for the politicians not to put hands into the judicial system in the country. Spokesperson for the student movement, Januario Beki, has said that the time has come for people to enjoy independence. The movement also called for the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) not to incline with political party; otherwise it will separate unity of the people in the country. They stressed that the UNMIT officers should carry out their work independently. *MPs urge President Horta to respect TL’s birthright *Timor Post, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun MPs in the Parliamentary plenary session have called on President Jose Ramos Horta to respect right of Timor-Leste, particularly the oil and gas exploration from the Greater Sunrise oil field in the Timor Sea. MP José Texeira from Fretilin said that the recent statement of the President Horta seemed to underestimate the country’s rights. “President Horta does not know much pipeline installation is needed in the country. Actually he should say that if the pipeline is brought to Timor-Leste then it will create employment for the Timorese,” MP Texeira said. Meanwhile, MP Adriano do Nascimento from Democratic Party (PD) has urged President Horta to cooperate with the Government to defend the country’s demand to have pipeline in the country. *Guterres: “No terrorists’ threats in the country” *Timor Post, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun The State Secretary for Security Francisco Guterres has said that Timor-Leste is free from terrorists’ threats. “The space for terrorist is too narrow to expand their activities in the country and there is no such problem related to terrorist case,” Guterres said. Guterres said the Government would not consider terrorist as the priority case of the country since there is no terrorist in the country to date. “Terrorist issue is a serious case that concerns international people but nowadays the most important case to be concerned of is problems facing the country,” Guterres said. *Commissioner Monteiro meets with President Horta *Timor Post, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun The Timorese Police Commander, Commissioner Longuinhos Monteiro, had a meeting with President Jose Ramos Horta to inform him about the PNTL’s preparation for its 10th year anniversary that is going to take place on 27th of this month. “I am here to meet with President Horta and inform him about our preparation for the 10th year anniversary of the PNTL as well to ask his availability to preside the ceremony,” Commissioner Monteiro said. Monteiro added that he also informed the president about the joint operation of the National Police and Army to hunt ninja gangs in Bobonaro and Kovalima Districts. Monteiro added that the PNTL command will promote new officials to sergeants and agents during the incoming tenth anniversary celebration. *Ex-guerillas who saved TL during 2006 crisis should be appreciated: MP Florindo *Timor Post, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun MP Osório Florindo from Fretilin said yesterday that it is important to value former guerilla fighters who had voluntarily contributed and risked their lives to save the country during 2006 crises. MP Florindo made the comment regarding to recent statement from some MPs questioning the about the payment for Frederico “Oan Kiak” Florindo and Alberto da Costa Belo which totals US$ 1,600 by the Government. “They are eligible to get the subsidy from the Government,” Florindo said. MP Florindo added that many people have got secure job this time criticized a lot of things but never realize that country got its independence because of former guerillas’ contribution during 24 years’ fight for liberation. Meanwhile, MP Cornelio “L-7” Gama from UNDERTIM has said that there should be a balance when it is about 2006 crisis case and it is important to know why the crisis happened. Gama added that they will never let their fellows to be locked up in the prison since they are no corroborating evidences to put them behind bars. “We will not let our fellows to be imprisoned because they are innocent,” Gama said. *JICA and Agriculture Ministry hold meeting on IRCP system *Timor Post, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun The Japanese Agency for International Cooperation (JICA) has held meeting with the Timorese Ministry for Fisheries and Agriculture (MAP) in order to provide their support to the MAP to implement Irrigation and Rice Cultivation Project (IRCP) at Laclo river of Manatuto district. JICA’s Chief Representative to Timor-Leste, Enomoto, has said that the objective of implementing the project was to increase local rice production in the country. “This is the first time to implement the project and it is hoped that the rice production in the country can be improved through the project implementation,” Enomoto said. Enomoto added that his agency will continue support the MAP and Water Use Association (WUA) officials including peasants in the districts so that they can increase local product in the country like rice. *Belo: “Reservist force exist to defend State” *Diário Nacionál, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun Director for Mahein Foundation, Nelson Belo, has said that all the country worldwide has establish reservist force in order to support the National Army when the state is under siege. “Reservist force exists in every country and they are ready to support or help the National Army when the National Army are unable to control security for the country,” Belo said. Belo said that the Timorese Constitution has not guarantee to establish reservist force in the country, but he said that the former Government authorized to distribute weapon to the civilians such as Frederico Florindo and Alberto da Costa Belo and others to ensure security in the country during the 2006 crisis Belo also said that the Timorese Constitution including organic law of the F-FDTL and PNTL has not guarantee the Timorese National Army and Police to distribute weapon to the civilians. Meanwhile, lawyer for Kiak and Alberto Belo have considered their clients as reservist force as they their reason was based on the UNTAET regulation No 2/2001 Article 16 reservist force establishment. *F-FDTL and the Australian Marine Force have good cooperation *Diário Nacionál, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun The Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL) Commander, Major General Taur Matan Ruak, has said that cooperation between the Timorese Army and Australian Force is going on well, particularly on the marine component. General Ruak made the comment after the Australian Force delegation led by Major General Angus Houston met with him recently at the F-FDTL QH in Tasitolu, Dili. General Ruak said that they will send Timorese Marine Component officers to go to Australia to participate in training in order to improve their skills. *Pinto: “Investigation is going on” *Diário Nacionál, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun The State Secretary for Defense, Julio Tomas Pinto, has said that the case of construction project for the Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL) garage in under investigation because the company had not constructed the garage based on the design of the garage. “The Construction has not based on the design provided and therefore the investigation for this case is going on and the company will be paid after the investigation,” Pinto said. The project construction was managed by Julio Alvaro, a local contractor. Pinto also added that the National Army commander had pulled 250 officers who took part in the joint operation back to Dili as the security in the border area is restored. “The 250 officer of F-FDTL been pulled back to the Dili,” Pinto said. *Timorese war ship construction process has reached 100%: Pinto *Diário Nacionál, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun The State Secretary for Defense Julio Tomas Pinto has confirmed that the construction process for the Timorese war ship which is built in China has reached 100%. “Two Timorese war ships which are built in China are now complete and soon will be loaded into a cargo ship on the way to,” Pinto said. Pinto said that Chinese technicians working on the ships met with him last week confirming about the release of the ships. Pinto said that the F-FDTL soldiers are enthusiastic to welcome the ships in Timor-Leste. Pinto added that the Chinese technicians who met with him had asked him to personally inspect the ships before they are shipped to Timor-Leste. *Lu-Olo: “Leaders of Fretilin Movement are like homeless people” *Diário Nacionál, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun Fretilin President Francisco “Lu-Olo” Guterres has said that the Fretilin Movement is like homeless person as it is totally dependent on other people. “Fretilin Movement is like homeless person because it depends merely on other people,” Lu-Olo said. At the same time the Fretilin Secretary General Mari Alkatiri has also said that Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão had done many things to Fretilin Movement because it is nesting with the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP). Alkatiry said he believed that one day PM Gusmão will search for his originality. Fretilin leaders and youths in Baucau district have threatened to block roads to members of Fretilin Movement because they said that the Fretilin Faction has damaged the image of this historical party. Meanwhile, a leader of Fretilin Movement, Vicente “Railos” da Conceição has called on Fretilin not to threaten Fretilin Movement because Timor-Leste is a democratic country and that the Government has power to take a necessary action to respond those who engaged in crimes. “This country is democratic country and therefore the Government has absolute power to respond any criminal case happened in the country. No Government has ever let its citizens to hurt one another,” Railos said. *Railos calls for Fretilin leaders to acknowledge weapon distribution to civilians *Suara Timor Lorosa’e, March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun Former Fretilin hit squad commander, Vicente “Railos” da Conceição has called for the Fretilin’s leaders not to forget the case of weapon distribution to the civilians where it had damage Fretilin image. “I received the weapon from the Fretilin leader. The former internal minister Rogerio Tiago Lobato and I were sent to prison due to weapon distribution case,” Railos said. Railos also called for the Fretilin followers not to threaten the Fretilin Movement as the Parliamentary Majority Alliance is now making efforts to implement a strong democracy in the country. “People fought one another in the 2006 crisis due to the Government fail to control the people, but the actual Government led by PM Gusmão will never let the people to do similar things,” Railos said. Railos called for the Fretilin President Francisco “Lu-Olo” Guterres and Secretary General of the Fretilin, Mari Alkatiri to give their supports to the democracy which is growing freshly in the country. Railos added that the Fretilin Movement was set up due to different political ideology appeared during a Fretilin national congress in 2006. *Alkatiri: I believe Xanana will return to his own ‘house’ *Suara Timor Lorosae March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun Fretilin Party’s Secretary General Marí Bim Amude Alkatiri has said that Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão is getting ‘sick’ of the coalition government and therefore he believed that Gusmão will return to Fretilin. The ousted Prime Minister made the comments in Baukau, the second largest city, after the Fretilin Movement established also their local structures in certain parts of Baukau. The Fretilin Movement came into existence after the current Vice Prime Minister José Luís Guterres and other could not secure enough votes to succeed Mr. Alkatiri and Lu Olo as president and Secretary General of historic party. Alkatiri called the leaders of Fretilin Movement as frustrated and believed that Xanana will kick them off. “They are leaning towards Xanana because by 2012 they are finished and Xanana is getting tired of them leaning on the right and the left,” said Alkatiri. He added, “Xanana is now getting sick of the Parliamentary Majority Alliance and Xanana will return to his real house.” Alkatiri said the establishment of local structure in Baukau by the Fretilin Movement is a provocative act to drag Fretilin into fresh conflict. He said that Fretilin Movement’s members had been expelled from Fretilin and that they are not members of Fretilin and therefore Fretilin will not allow it to use the attributes of Fretilin. President of the Fretilin Movement Vicente Maubusy said that his group will dethrone Alkatiri from the position as Secretary General of Fretilin. Maubusy said that the objective of Fretilin Movement was first to out Alkatiri from his office as Prime Minister in 2006 and that they will succeed with the second objective: to kick Alkatiri out from the position of Secretary General of Fretilin. *Japan’s National Defense Academy Ready to have TL’s students *Suara Timor Lorosae March 23, 2010 language source: Tetun Vice Rector of Japan’s National Defense Academy Watanabe said that the Defense Academy is ready to host Timorese students there. “We are ready to admit them no educate them to be competent military leader in the future,” said Mr. Watanabe. Four students from Timor-Leste’s Defense Force will be sent in April 2010 to study at the Japan’s National Defense Academy for five years to pursue their first degrees in military and security studies. Mr. Watanabe also hoped that if these future military leaders had good relationship there would be no more hostilities among countries in the world. International News: *Timor Leste wants Australian to return 15 teenagers now in Malaysia *Bernama, March 23, 2010 MELBOURNE, March 22 (Bernama) -- The Australian-born wife of the Timor Leste prime minister has asked an Australian woman to return to Dili, 15 Timorese teenagers who have been under the latter's care in Malaysia for several years. Kirsty Sword-Gusmao says the teenagers, who were taken to Malaysia ostensibly for medical treatment, should be returned to Timor Leste where law and order was restored, and where they could be educated and cared for in their own country, The Age newspaper reported today. But the Sydney woman, Lala Noronha, 55, has told the newspaper that the teenagers did not want to return to Timor Leste. "It's not about me. It's actually up to the kids to say what they want to do," she said. The Age published a photograph of the teenagers in the company of Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir, daughter of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Noronha said she had allowed the teenagers to stay in Malaysia because they told her that they did not want to "go back and be like" other children from an orphanage she founded in Dili, 10 years ago. She said she had received messages from Dili claiming that those children did not have enough to eat, not attending school and those two teenage girls had become pregnant. Sword-Gusmao, a campaigner for women's and children rights, told The Age that she was concerned about the children's sense of belonging and sense of identity as a result of their prolonged stay in Malaysia. "There are ample opportunities for these kids in Timor," she said. The orphanage Noronha helped to establish in 1999 has been closed and more than 15 children have either been returned to their relatives or put under the care of other families. In November 2007, Timorese authorities prevented 27 children from the orphanage from being taken to Malaysia where Noronha planned to care for them. Sword-Gusmao was the orphanage's patron, which helped Noronha attract donors. Speaking in Sydney, Noronha said that all she had done was in the interest of the children but their future now needed to be "sorted out". "If they (Timorese) want the kids back, they have to have a plan - what are they going to do with them?," she asked. A journalist who visited the children shortly before Christmas said the teenagers were happy to be in Malaysia but knew that they would one day go back to their country. Carmen da Cruz, head of Timor' Leste's child protection agency, backed Sword-Gusmao's call for the teenagers to be returned to Dili.
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