<http://timorlorosaenacao.blogspot.com/2010/04/timor-leste-news_28.html>TIMOR-LESTE <http://timorlorosaenacao.blogspot.com/2010/04/timor-leste-news_28.html>NEWS

Local and International - For April 27, 2010

In this edition

National News’ Headings:

*Alkatiri: “I don’t believe Xanana had accused me” *Fretilin: Gusmao’s consultation is a pre-campaign *Roads in rural areas will be in good condition on 2015: PM Gusmão says *Govt will allow another telecommunication company to invest in the country *Govt plans to buy more big warships *Fretilin-CNRT to govern this country: Alkatiri *Alkatiri calls on PM Gusmao not to intervene KAK *Alkatiri: “People should unite to demand pipeline in TL” *Alkatiri: It’s now clear Xanana wants to control Anti-Corruption Commission *Alkatiri does not believe that PM Gusmao discredited Fretilin’s governance *Alkatiri: If Fretilin is more corrupt than AMP, please provide evidence *Carrascalão: “US$5 billion in US Federal Bank will only enrich certain people” *PM limits KAK’s work: Luta Hamutuk *Texeira: “It will be a disaster for Timor-Leste if Petroleum Law is amended” *Minister Da Costa should have resigned: MP Inacio Moreira *Guterres: “Xanana Gusmao will govern this country up to 2017” *PM Gusmão: “Many thieves in Fretilin governance period” *Council of Ministers approves law for labor

National News:

*Alkatiri: “I don’t believe Xanana had accused me”

*Televizaun Timor-Leste, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Secretary General of the Fretilin Party has said Monday (26/4) during a press conference at the Headquarters of the party in Komoro that he does not believe that Xanana Gusmao had accused him saying that he ordered to set fire on the Customs’ Office in 2006 but it was a mere fabrication of the STL.

“If it (the statement of Gusmao) happened in 2007, I might have believed it. However if he said so in 2010, he is a liar because he has had all the data about it,” said Alkatiri.

Alkatiri made the statement after Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) daily newspaper on Monday published the statement of PM Xanana who had accused Fretilin as more corrupt than AMP and accused Alkatiri of ordering the burn down of the Customs’ office in Kolmera in 2006.

“I don’t believe that Xanana said so but it is fabrication of the STL made with the intention create tensions between Fretilin and CNRT because there is a possibility for the two parties to have coalition,” said the former Prime Minister who was toppled in 2006.

He said Fretilin members are everywhere to attend the consultation of the Prime Minister and his sources said that there was so such statement from Prime Minister Gusmao.

“We (Fretilin) follow the process because Fretilin is everywhere,” said Alkatiri.

He argued that the document was totally backed up and therefore there was nothing lost about the data of the Customs’ Department.

Regarding the consultation of the 2020 National Development Plan, Alkatiri said Gusmao is indeed doing a pre-campaign.

He said that consultation should be done by his technical staff but his direct involvement in the process is more than a political campaign.

*Fretilin: Gusmao’s consultation is a pre-campaign

*Radio & Televizaun Timor-Leste, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Fretilin party’s bench leader in the National Parliament MP Aniceto Guterres has said Monday (26/4) that Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao is not consulting with the people on the content of the National Development Plan but doing a political campaign fro his political party.

“The question is why only the Prime Minister who is doing consultation without taking with him his members of the government? If it is open governance, there should be members of government? And it is not a consultation because in consultation you have dialogue and what he is doing is only monologue where big brother Xanana who is doing all the talks,” said Guterres.

MP Manuel Tilman from KOTA said that it is indeed a campaign to secure majority support for the 2020 National Development Plan.

“It is indeed a campaign in order to secure a big majority,” said Tilman.

MP Rui Menezes from Democratic Party (PD) said that what Prime Minister Gusmao doing is strategic plan of the coalition government in response to the opposition who always asks for clear plan.

“It is the government’s strategic plan which is a response to the opposition frequent call for the government to present the plan and it’s it,” said Menezes.

He added that the plan has been presented to Timor-Leste’s donors and to the participants of G7+ dialogue recently held in Dili.

He said that donors have considered the plan to be both fantastic and ambitious.

*Roads in rural areas will be in good condition on 2015: PM Gusmão says

*Radio Timor-Leste, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão has said that the Government has planned to repair roads in the rural areas throughout the territory and that they should be in good condition on 2015.

PM Gusmão made the comment yesterday in the market place of Kelekai sub-district, Baucau District when he held public consultation about the Government’s strategic plan for national development.

He promised that the Government will make contract with international companies in order to repair and build roads in the rural areas with high quality.

“Roads in rural areas in the districts, villages and sub-villages will be repaired as the Government has plan on that, adding that the Government will contract international company to repair and build roads with high quality,” PM Gusmão said.

PM Gusmão added that road condition in the rural areas was not good and therefore the Government will start to repair them on 2011.

He also said that the power outage problem faced by people so far will have been resolved when the electrical power center of heavy oil power production in Hera will have been finished.

*Govt will allow another telecommunication company to invest in the country

*Radio Timor-Leste, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão has said that the Government will allow Indonesian Telkomsel and Digecel from Ireland to invest in Timor-Leste.

PM Gusmão said that both Telkomsel and Digecel will start investing in the country after the Council of Ministers approved liberalization law for telecommunication.

“Timor Telecom is the unique operator of telecommunication in the country and therefore the Government has policy to allow another telecommunication companies such as Telkomsel and Digecel to invest and compete with TT,” PM Gusmão said.

He believed that all people will access low cost of communication in the country following the two companies will have been investing in the country.

*Govt plans to buy more big warships

*Suara Timor Lorosae, April 27, 2010, language source: Tetun

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has declared during a consultation process in Lautem District that in the future the Government would buy more warships in order to protect our maritime resources and to prevent transnational terrorism in the Timor Sea.

“We will buy more big warships, bigger than two ships we bought from China, in order to protect our oil and gas and to prevent terrorism getting into our territory,” said the Minister for Defense and Security.

A local community leader, Mateus Pinto, said that he is concerned because there are ongoing activities of illegal fishing in the territory of Timor-Leste but the government is unable to protect the resources.

Gusmao said that the government is aware of problem and therefore it decided to buy two ships from China.

“We are aware of the problem and the problem has been ongoing and therefore we bought two ships in order to cast away the thieves from our territory,” said Gusmao.

He said that based on the National Development Plan there will be naval posts in Jaco Isle, Iliomar, Same and Suai.

*Fretilin-CNRT to govern this country: Alkatiri

*Diario Nacional, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Fretilin Secretary Genera Mari Alkatiri has said that he did not want to have fresh conflict with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, because Fretilin and the National Congress for the Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) is in the process of making a coalition to govern this country in the future.

“CNRT and Fretilin will make a coalition to lead this country onward and therefore PM Gusmão and I will not take various challenges and we will not be angry with each other,” Alkatiri said.

Alkatiri made the comment yesterday regarding allegations made by PM Gusmao in STL newspaper saying that Alkatiri instructed people to burn down Timorese Customs office during the 2006 crisis.

Alkatiri said that it impossible for PM Gusmao to allege him as the one who ordered the arson of the office of the Customs department because PM Gusmão has data about Fretilin Governance and what had happened in the past.

*Alkatiri calls on PM Gusmao not to intervene KAK

*Diario Nacional, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Fretilin Secretary General Mari Alkatiri has called on Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão not to intervene work of the anti-corruption commission (KAK).

Alkatiri made the comment yesterday at the Fretilin office of Committee Central in Komoro following PM Gusmão had recently asked the KAK not to investigate bribing or Uang rokok.

He said that KAK is not depend on PM Gusmão therefore PM Gusmão should let the KAK undertake its work independently to combat corruption in the country.

“Is the KAK depending on PM Gusmão? Should PM Gusmão ask KAK? It makes us scare. He asked KAK not to investigate bribing uang rokok this should not happen and it confuses me,” Alkatiri questioned.

*Alkatiri: “People should unite to demand pipeline in TL”

*Diario Nacional, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Fretilin Secretary General, Mari Alkatiri, has called on all people to firmly maintain their demands about pipeline installation from the Greater Sunrise to the country.

Alkatiri said that people should not afraid of the recent threat of the Australian Government and should firmly maintain their demands, because there will job field in the country when pipeline will have been installed to Timor-Leste.

He said that Australia has no right to threaten Timor-Leste people just because of the agreement made by the Timor-Leste Government and Woodside Company will end on 2023.

“Australia has no right to threaten Timorese people, because they will unite to defend their demands and self-defense,” Alkatiri said.

Alkatiri made the comment yesterday at the Fretilin Committee Central office in Komoro.

He added that he had not read letter sent by the Australian Minister for Natural Resources in which its content poses a threat to the Timorese Government if it does not agree with the option of building pipeline in Australia.

He also said that he disagrees with the Government to amend the Petroleum Law in order to allow the Government to withdraw more than the 3% of the estimated sustainable income according to article 9 of the law.

*Alkatiri: It’s now clear Xanana wants to control Anti-Corruption Commission

*Suara Timor Lorosae, April 27, 2010, language source: Tetun

Former Prime Minister and Secretary General of Fretilin has said Monday (26/4) that recent statement of the Prime Minister Kayrala Xanana Gusmao urging the newly established Anti-Corruption Commission not to deal with petty corruption cases as a clear indication that Gusmao wants to control the work of the commission.

Alkatiri said, “This shows that in fact the Anti-Corruption Commission is dependent to Prime Minister Xanana because it him who instruct the commission. This is what we were concerned of that with the establishment of an institution to only follow the will of the ruling government. We are now seeing it clearly.”

During a ‘consultation’ with the people of Lautem in Lospalos, Prime Minister Gusmao said that the Anti-Corruption Commission should not deal with small corruption cases alleged to be taking place in the Customs’ Department with what is known as uang rokok or money for cigarettes which could reach US$100.

“I don’t know to which direction we are going to build the country. During my government I never instructed the Prosecutor General to investigate any case. But things are different now,” Alkatiri added.

MP Adriano do Nascimento, bench leader of Democratic Party (PD) at the National Parliament advised the anti-corruption commissioner not to take political statement seriously but to use his discretion to do what should be done.

“Now it goes back to Commissioner Adérito on how to carry out his moral responsibility for the state because the people of Timor-Leste are expecting that the commission should save the country from corruption,” said Do Nascimento.

Do Nascimento said that in order to be successful, it is important for the anti-corruption commissioner not to listen to political statements made by politician, including Prime Minister Gusmao but to focus on his work to eradicate corruption.

“I hope that Adérito will do better in performing his tasks because the Prime Minister’s statement is more on political question….. but if he is dependent to Prime Minister, let the people judge it,” he said.

MP Manuel Tilman of KOTA said that Gusmao’s statement does not reflect his election promise in which he said that even those who steal a quarter should be answerable to the court.

“I think by just stealing a dollar can also affect the life of the people, especially those who are poor and that in terms of justice not only those who steal a lot can go to jail. Those who steal chicken, buffalo, or stone are committing crimes; so let the court decide,” said Tilman.

*Alkatiri does not believe that PM Gusmao discredited Fretilin’s governance

*Suara Timor Lorosae, April 27, 2010, language source: Tetun

Former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has said Monday (26/4) that he does not believe that Prime Minister Gusmao would discredit his governance but the accusation was made by the Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) that Fretilin was more corrupt than the AMP and that Alkatiri who had ordered the burning down of the office of Customs’ Department in Kolmera in 2006.

On Monday (26/4) STL published in its front-page “PM Xanana Accused Fretilin more corrupt than AMP” with a subtitle “Alkatiri ordered the burning down of the Customs’ Office.”

Alkatiri said that the accusation was a mere fabrication by the STL to dismantle the relationship between Xanana and Fretilin.

“If he (Xanana) said so, then he is a liar. But it is STL which fabricate it on the ground that there should be ongoing conflict between Alkatiri and Xanana as everyone knows that CNRT and Fretilin are in the process of getting together to bring the nation forward,” said Alkatiri.

He said that he does not want to threaten but he would file the defamation case with court as part of seeking justice on his behalf and the party.

“This is not a threat because I know that it (defamation) is no longer a crime but please prepare some money to compensate me,” said Alkatiri during a press conference at the party’s headquarter in Komoro, Dili.

He also said that his people are attending the consultation process and the people told him that there was no such statement from Gusmao accusing both Fretilin and Alkatiri.

Alkatiri added, “Our militants are attending the pre-campaign of Xanana. We call it a pre campaign because the consultation that he is doing should be the competence of his technical staff. However, if a Prime Minister has to do it, it may be done to muster more political support. We don’t agree with it. But we know that he didn’t make such statement.”

Alkatiri asked STL to be more nationalist and patriotic in its publication by not provoking conflict between politicians in the country for its own economic profit.

He also said that if Prime Minister Gusmao indeed made the accusation he is ready to apologize for STL and would ask Gusmao to show him corroborating evidences of the accusation against him and Fretilin.

*Alkatiri: If Fretilin is more corrupt than AMP, please provide evidence

*Suara Timor Lorosae, April 27, 2010, language source: Tetun

Former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has challenged Prime Minister Gusmao’s recent statement that if Fretilin was more corrupt than the coalition, he would ask Gusmao to present evidence of the allegation.

“I don’t want to have any conflict with brother Xanana. But don’t always try to misinform the people. I challenge him to go to the court,” said Alkatiri.

He added, “(Xanana) should show evidence. How much money does Alkatiri have after his term, and each of his minister’s money? We said that there is corruption in the AMP government because only the blind cannot see it.”

He also said that it was not the case that his government ordered the burning down of the Customs’ Office as his government did its best to have backup data of all activities of the Department.

Alkatiri also said that carry-over which is severely criticized by Xanana is not equivalent to corruption.

“This (carry-over) is not corruption but the money which was not spent during certain period of time because of any failure. So, there should not be any confusion between carry-over and corruption. Now there is no more carry-over because a lot of money ends up in the private bank accounts,” Alkatiri explained.

*Carrascalão: “US$5 billion in US Federal Bank will only enrich certain people”

*Timor post, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Deputy Prime Minister for Management and Public Administration, Mario Viegas Carrascalão has said that Timor-Leste has huge oil and gas revenue from the Timor oil and there are US$, 5 billion saved in the Federal Bank of America (BFA) but it can enrich some certain people only as in reality that many people of the country still living under poverty line.

“We have money US$, 5 billion saved in BFA. It is difficult to combat poverty in the country although the Government will spend all the money to develop the country. Only some people will be rich and the other continues poor,” Deputy Carrascalão said.

He added that Government should implement decentralization projects as soon as possible as it was away of reducing poverty number in the country and should not wait to implement it on 2014.

“I hear that the Government will implement decentralization projects on 2014 and people are pleased with this but I personally unpleased because I believe that peoples life will changes if the Government implements these projects soon,” Carrascalão said.

*PM limits KAK’s work: Luta Hamutuk

*Timor post, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Luta Hamutuk Director, Mericio Akara, has considered Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão has limited work of the anti-corruption commission (KAK) to combat corruption practices in the country.

Akara made the comment, because Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão had recently called on KAK no to investigate bribing case or uang rokok.

“In our opinion that this is bad indication because in one hand the Government’s intention to set up KAK in the country is to combat corruption in the country but in the other hand the Government has limited their work to eradicate corruption practices and this showed that the Government has no seriousness to eradicate corruption virus,” Akara said.

He added that the recent call of PM Gusmão was seemed that he had intervened KAK in undertaking their duty to combat corruption.

*Teixeira: “It will be a disaster for Timor-Leste if Petroleum Law is amended”

*Timor post, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

MP Jose Texeira from Fretilin has said that it will be a disaster for the Timorese people and they will continue living in poor condition if the Government want to amend law for Petroleum Fund.

“We will become poor,” MP Texeira said.

He said that economic condition of the country will become worst in the future if the Government amend this law without proper balance.

MP Texeira said that the Government was wandering to invest petroleum fund more than 10% but the law allow to spend 10% only in the stock market.

Meanwhile, MP Manuel Tilman from KOTA has said that the law for petroleum fund should not be amended.

“In my opinion that we should not amend this law and if I can suggest then the Government can just spend some amount of money from this fund to set up another fund called strategic development fund,” MP Tilman said.

*Minister Da Costa should have resigned: MP Inacio Moreira

*Diario Nacional, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

MP Inacio Moreira from Fretilin has said that the current Minister for Foreign Affairs Zacarias Albano da Costa should have resigned from his political post because Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão has no confidence in him anymore.

MP Moreira made the comment yesterday saying that PM Gusmão has delegated Justice Minister Lucia Lobato to participate in the United Nations Security Councils’ meeting in the United States and it showed that PM Gusmão had no trust anymore in Minister Da Costa.

“In my observation that PM Gusmão has no confidence in Minister da Costa, and actually Minister da Costa should have resigned from political post he assumed if he wants people to respect his dignity,” MP Moreira said.

Meanwhile, MP Vital dos Santos from Democratic Party (PD) has said that PM Gusmão has power to delegate any Ministers to participate the UN Security Council Meeting.

*Guterres: “Xanana Gusmao will govern this country up to 2017”

*Diario Nacional, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Fretilin Movement leader, Jose Luis Guterres, has said that Kayrala Xanana Gusmão will govern this country up to 2017.

Guterres made the comment regarding the National Congress for the Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) will celebrate its third anniversary today.

“We Fretilin Movement believed that our big brother Xanana Gusmão will continue govern this country, because the Government has capable to resolve social problem such as IDPs, money for older people, petitioner problem and so fort,” Leader of Fretilin Movement said.

Guterres believed in Xanana Gusmão to develop well this country in his next governance, so that people can live prosperously.

Meanwhile, the CNRT’s Secretary General, Deonisio Babo, has said that the celebration of third anniversary of the CNRT was an opportunity to the party’s followers to reflect on the party’s programs been implemented during its governance.

*PM Gusmão: “Many thieves in Fretilin governance period”

*Timor post, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão has said that people had many times shouted that there were many corruption cases within the Alliance Government (AMP) but actually mostly corruption cases had taken place at Fretilin Government’s period.

PM Gusmão said that he knew clearly about indication of corruption case appeared within the former Fretilin governance but he said no need to reveal this bad thing.

“I know former Fretilin Government officers take much money in their pocket,” PM Gusmão said.

PM Gusmão made the comment when he socialized the Government’s strategic development plan in the Luro sub-district.

PM Gusmão also said that Government has not paid in full all the debt made by the Former Fretilin government starting from 2002 up to 2007.

Meanwhile, Fretilin Secretary General, Mari Alkatiri, has call on PM Gusmão to show evidences over allegation he made saying that many people had engage in corruption during the period of Fretilin Government.

“It is important to show evidences and do not just trap the people. He can just prove how much money I have including those former ministers,” Alkatiri said.

*Council of Ministers approves law for labor

*Timor post, April 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Secretary General for Timorese Labor, Almerio Villa Nova has said that the Government through the Council of Ministers has approved law for labor and will be discussed by Parliament in July.

“Our new drafts of law elaborated been approved by the council of Ministers and will be discussed by the Parliament in July this year,” Vila Nova said.

Vila Nova said that this law will guarantee remuneration of labor based on the work they do.

He said that applicable labor law in the country at this time is labor law of UNTAET where it guarantee that labors can get minimum salary US$ 85.00, but comparing with today’s cost of life then US$, 85.00 it was not enough.

Vila Nova said that the law been approved will guarantee right of labors to take annual leave, sick leave, right to have holiday and so forth.

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