TIMOR-LESTE NEWS

Local and International - For April 6, 2010

In this edition

National News’ Headings:

*Prof. Sachs: “Ban Ki-moon believes Timor-Leste can stand alone” *Govt should not bring debt policy in the meeting agenda *Diário Nacionál, April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun *MP Menezes: There’s no such Decentralization Package in the State Budget *Govt subsidized rice in Aileu reached US$20/sack *Landslide and hunger threatens Oekusi *Guterres and Commissioner Monteiro to explain rank promotion process *ADB to help road construction in TL *Lasama: “Timor-Leste is not a failed state” *Carrascalão: “People are now afraid of engaging in corruption because of media” *MP calls on Govt not to grant project to failed companies *Sachs: “GS pipeline to be brought to Timor-Leste” *Ombudsman of Human Rights and Justice in Oekusi registers 12 allegations *DNSEP and PNTL ready to ensure security during Dili International Dialog *Monsignor da Silva calls on Christians not to involve in corruption and prostitution

National News:

*Prof. Sachs: “Ban Ki-moon believes Timor-Leste can stand alone”

Professor Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, a senior economic adviser to the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has said the Secretary General is firmly believed that Timor-Leste can stand alone on equal foot with other countries in the world.

Prof. Sachs made the comment when he visited the country in order to directly observe the country’s development and how the UN body could help the country to develop it.

According to Prof. Sachs, Timor-Leste is a small country but it is very rich so he believed Timor-Leste will be successful in developing the country’s economy in the future.

“As an economist, I do believe that Timor-Leste will get a great success in terms of its economy in the future,” Sachs said.

Sachs added that the Government should govern the country well with good systems as it is a part of development process.

Sachs promised that he will tell the progress made by Timor-Leste to the UN Secretary General and his staffs so that they could continue providing their support to the country.

*Govt should not bring debt policy in the meeting agenda

*Timor Post, April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

Demêtrio Amaral, Director of Haburas Foundation, has called on the Government not to bring debt policy in the meeting agenda which is going to be held this week.

Amaral said that it is possible for the international donors to put hands into the development process in Timor-Leste, but the Government should not depend to their support only.

“When we talk about planning then we may touch upon concepts of development to be adopted and the main role of the international partners in developing the country is to participate well in the national development process, Amaral said.

Amaral said Timor-Leste should not depend on the international partners because TL has human resources and its state general budget for the development of the country.

Amaral added that the Government should manage well supports provided by donors in a transparent way in order to achieve the expected objectives.

Meanwhile, the Timorese Human Right Association (HAK) Director, Rui Viana, has said that Timor-Leste is a young country and therefore it needs help from other countries or international communities.

“We will see the result of the meeting as it seems that the Government is now making efforts to attract international donors to provide their support to the Government in order to accelerate the country’s development,” Viana said.

*MP Menezes: There’s no such Decentralization Package in the State Budget

*Timor Post 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

MP Rui Menezes from Democratic Party (PD) has said that there is no such Decentralization Package in the 2010 General State Budget and therefore if the Government wants to have a go with it, then it should present it to the National Parliament.

“I think in order to implement the projects of Decentralization Package at least the National Parliament are informed so that we know the mechanisms of its implementation,” said Menezes Monday.

He said that the 2010 General State Budget did not pinpoint issues of the decentralization package, a new name for controversial referendum package in which the government sub-contracted local contractors, often single-sourced, to carry out projects related to infrastructure.

“As far as I know the government may have decentralization package but it has to be included in the revised budget of the state in order to be in the plan of the government however if it is not in the state budget then we should be informed about it,” he added.

Meanwhile MP Francisco Branco from Fretilin has said that the decentralization package is merely meant to buy votes in the coming general elections in 2012.

“The decentralization package is merely a politics to buy votes,” he said.

He also said that the ruling government tends to act illegally as it seeks to promote instant culture in Timor-Leste.

“We are being accustomed to having shortcuts or instants so when we are asked to abide by law we are not prepared yet,” he added.

*Govt subsidized rice in Aileu reached US$20/sack

*Suara Timor Lorosae April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

The population of Aileu District is now saddened by the fact that the government subsidized rice which should be sold with US$12/sack has now reached US$20.

It is believed that the hike in price is caused by scarcity of rice in the district.

The local population has urged the government to find solutions to the problems. “We have asked the retailer not to sell it by US$20 as it is very expensive for us to buy but it seems that no one heard our call,” said Mariano Sarmento, a local villager.

Felipe dos Santos said that it not the fault of the retailer to sell the rice with such price however it is the government who should control the price.

José Mendonça, a local retailer, said that he decided to sell the rice with US$20 because he himself bought the rice in Dili with US$15 and therefore he deserves to sell with that price.

“We sell it with US$20 because we bought it with US$15/sack in Delta Dili and we have to rent cars to transport the rice over here,” he said.

The distance between Dili and Aileu is 46 kilometers and it is on the main road to southern districts of Timor-Leste, such as Ainaro, Manufahi, and Kovalima.

*Landslide and hunger threatens Oekusi

*Timor Post 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

A recent landslide in Bobometo village of Oekusi has destroyed at least 2 hectares of farms of the local villagers and then forced evacuation of 15 families living around the affected area.

According to village chief of Bobometo, Bento Bobo, the landslide took place last March 11, 2010.

He also said that there is no support from both regional and national government for those who are affected by the landslide.

Meanwhile, a community leader from Suni Ufe village in Nitibe has said that the local villagers are not going to harvest this year due to long drought.

Paulo Cobo said that his population, mainly farmers, will have severe hunger if the government does not find solutions to the problem facing them.

The district administrator, José Tanesib Anuno also said that hunger threatens almost all villages in Oekusi, particularly on the coastal areas.

“I will make a report quickly to the central government to take necessary measures to support the community on the coastal areas,” he said.

*Guterres and Commissioner Monteiro to explain rank promotion process

*Diário Nacionál, April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

The State Secretary for Security, Francisco Guterres, has said that it is an obligation for him and the Timorese National Police (PNTL) Commander, Commissioner Longuinhos Monteiro to explain rank promotion process to the demoted national police officers.

“It is an obligation for both Commissioner Monteiro and I to explain rank promotion process to the demoted officers, so that they can understand deeply about selection process. The process was conducted transparently,” Guterres said.

Guterres made the comment regarding the demoted police officers had concerned about rank promotion was not fair.

Guterres added that he had ever explain to some demoted officers, but many of them were not yet to hear explanation from him and just hear form his friends, therefore he said it is important to re-explain to them.

“We are making preparation to hold meeting with the National Police Commander, Commissioner Longuinhos Monteiro before we are going to give further explanation to the demoted national police officers,” Guterres said.

He added that they still have another opportunity to participate in the second rank promotion test and therefore he called for them to keep calm and should be subject to the existing rules with the National {Police Institution.

*ADB to help road construction in TL

*Timor Post, April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

A press release has stated that the Vice President for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), C. Lawrence Greenwood Jr. will hold visit to Timor-Leste week for participating in a meeting of the development partners. The meeting will discus the ADB help that will provided to the Timorese Government.

The press stated that besides form meeting with the Timorese development partners, he will also meet with the state leaders.

The ADB had provide its support to the Timorese Government to develop the country, such as in ate sector of Infrastructure, technical assistance for micro finance, private sector development and improving human resources.

ADB had recently approved a program called “Our road is our future” with a free funding that will be spent for repair road at least 90 KM in the rural areas, small market, sanitation, and health center.

The press added that the ADB will spend US$15 million for infrastructure management projects where the AusAID will also provide its fund for this project.

*Lasama: “Timor-Leste is not a failed state”

*Diário Nacionál, April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

The Timorese Parliamentary Speaker, Fernando “Lasama” de Araujo, has said that Timor-Leste is not a failed and fragile country as the citizens has never felt such situation.

“Many people from the other countries have said that Timor-Leste is a fragile failure country, but in my observation that the Timorese people have never express this statement, because they know that their country is a young country and it needs much time to develop it,” Lasama said.

Lasama made the comment following the Timor-Leste would be hosting an international dialogue for state and peace-building by so-called G7 of fragile countries on the globe.

The participants will come from seven countries that categorized as fragile counties including Timor-Leste.

*Carrascalão: “People are now afraid of engaging in corruption because of media”

*Diário Nacionál, April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

Deputy Prime Minister for Management and Public Administration, Mário Viegas Carrascalão has said that media plays an important role as it has contributed to combating corruption in the country.

Carrascalão said that people are now afraid of engaging in corruption as media has continued spreading what is happening in the country.

“Working as a journalist is good and therefore it is important to continue supports them, so that they can reveal what is happening in the country. Who against my manner to combat corruption in the country then he/she will be considered as the corruptor,” Deputy Carrascalão said.

Carrascalão made the comment after meeting he held with the President Jose Ramos Horta at his office.

Meanwhile President Jose Ramos Horta recently had called for the Timorese Human Right and Justice Ombudsmen (PDHJ), anti-corruption commission (KAK), Prosecutor General and Deputy Prime Minister for Management and Public Administration, Mario Viegas Carrascalão to make a formal report on corruption practices in the country.

President Horta made the call regarding the media had publicized the facts of corruption but the Government; particularly the competent institutions had never made a formal report about it.

*MP calls on Govt not to grant project to failed companies

*Diário Nacionál, April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

The Timorese Parliamentary Committee G for Infrastructure and Social Equipments has called on the Government not to provide projects to the company which had not maintain quality in the last Government referendum package project.

MP Gertrudes Moniz has said that the Committee G of the Parliament had observed the referendum package projects and in fact that many projects have no quality and therefore she called on the Government not to give 10 % money for project maintenance.

“The Government should not provide 10% money for the project maintenance for three months if it is found that the project really has no quality,” MP Gertrudez said.

She also called on the Government to sanction those companies which had not maintained the project’s quality in the referendum package.

*Sachs: “GS pipeline to be brought to Timor-Leste”

*Diario Nacional, April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

Senior economic adviser to the United Nations Secretary General Professor Dr. Jeffrey Sachs has said that he is personally against the policy of constructing pipeline to Australia and therefore he said that it should be built to Timor-Leste.

“I just want to say that in order to have a good budged management then it should be shared with Timor-Leste,” Sachs argued.

Sachs made the comment after he met with the Timorese National Police and Army’s leaders at the Finance Ministry’s office last Thursday (1/4).

Prof. Sachs invited the Government of Timor-Leste, to give advises to the government on how to better develop the country, especially in relation to poverty reduction policies.

More than half of the population of Timor-Leste is living an extreme poverty as thy only earn US$ 0.88, according to 2007 survey of living standard.

*Ombudsman of Human Rights and Justice in Oekusi registers 12 allegations

*Timor Post 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

Ombudsman of Human Rights and Justice in Oekusi has registered 12 allegations during its first three months of 2010.

The allegations consist of corruption (2 cases), violation of human rights (2) and maladministration (8).

According to local coordinator of PDHJ, Paúlo Libeiro, said that in comparison to the cases registered in 2009, the cases registered this year is high.

Libeiro said that the cases of human rights violation involved some officers of the Timor-Leste’s Defense Force and the National Police.

He added that the cases of corruption are against certain public entities and the case against good governance it is more concerned with abuse of public power and maladministration.

He said that the local office has sent it to Dili for further analysis and coordination with relevant competent institutions to find solution to the cases.

A local youth coordinator, Arnoldus Suni, said that the number of cases may be higher but since public servants are often late and more concerned with their interests local people could not approach them to make reports on violation of human rights and justice.

Raimundo Efi, a director of local lawyer’s association said that the case of human rights violation may be bigger but since there is no clear socialization about human rights, local people are not aware whether their rights are violated or not.

*DNSEP and PNTL ready to ensure security during Dili International Dialog

*Suara Timor Lorosa’e, April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

Director for National Security Department (DNSEP), Guilhermina F.S. Ribeiro, has said that his department and the Timorese National Police (PNTL) are ready to ensure security during the Dili International Dialog that is going to be held tomorrow.

Ribeiro said that there were 372 security officers composed of the DNSEP officials and the National Police officers are now prepared to guarantee security for DID.

“There are 372 security officers composed of PNTL and DNSEP officials are prepared to be deployed at some places where conflict always took place,” Ribeiro said.

Ribeiro added that they have assigned the Personal Security Officers (CSP) to maintain security at the Hotel Timor as the DID participants will stay at this hotel.

*Monsignor da Silva calls on Christians not to involve in corruption and prostitution

*Suara Timor Lorosa’e, April 6, 2010 language source: Tetun

Bishop for Dili Diocese, Monsignor Alberto Ricardo da Silva, hás called on Christians to stay away from corruption and prostitution.

“I would like to use this opportunity to call on all the Christian to stay away from corruption and prostitution as well another criminal act,” Monsignor da Silva said.

Monsignor da Silva made the comment in the homily during the Easter celebration on last Saturday (3/4) in the Cathedral, Dili.

Monsignor da Silva said that the act of corruption, prostitution and another criminal act are bad thing that can damage people image. Therefore he stressed that all people should combat this case.

<http://timorlorosaenacao.blogspot.com/2010/04/timor-leste-news_08.html> http://timorlorosaenacao.blogspot.com/2010/04/timor-leste-news_08.html

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