Local Daily News

June 18, 2010

*President Horta urges Timorese Trade and Industry to monitor companies *Radio Timor-Leste, June 17, 2010 language source: Tetun

President Jose Ramos Horta has urged Timor-Leste Trade and Industry (CCITL) to hold monitoring to the companies to be responsible for the implementation of the public projects in the country. The president made the comments during a meeting with the CCITL board members at the Palace of the president on Thursday (17/6). Horta said the CCITL needed to function well for monitoring the companies in a way that it could control the implementation of the project based on the contract made. “The CCITL needs to hold monitoring to its members, so that the companies could implement the project based on the contract,” Horta said. He added that the CCTL should be good partners for the Government in order to mover forward with the country’s development.

*Lutahamutuk urges Minister Alves to resign from his post

*Radio Timor-Leste, June 17, 2010 language source: Tetun

Lutahamutuk NGO has urged Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to sack Minister for Tourism, Commerce and Industry to resign from his post, due to he is incapable of carrying out his work. Lutahamutuk said for about three years in office, Minister Alves had not been showing good will to work by changing mechanism of rice distribution in the country. Incapability of the Minister Alves has damaged the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) Government led by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao’s image. Lutahamutuk called on the prime minister to consider it as an urgent issue, so that it could not prejudice the AMP Government.

*Belo has not received any information about task force officers maltreat journalist *Televizaun Timor-Leste, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

Dili District Police Commander, Superintendent Chief Pedro Belo said he had not received any information regarding the recent maltreatment to a journalist his task force police officers. Belo stressed that it was important for the victim to make a claim him [Belo], so that they could process the case legally and said the attacker should be sanctioned based on the existing law. “I think the National Police never beat anyone without reason and probably there were some certain officers who engaged in maltreating the journalist. It is important for the victim to report this case to the commando so that we can hold a profound investigation into it,” Belo said. He added, “Many people have always accused Task Force of engaging in maltreating people but at this time many civilians also in the Task Force uniform; therefore we need to identify whether the one who maltreated the Journalist is task force officer or not.”

*President Horta to contact PNTL commissioner *Diario Nacional, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

Following recent maltreatment to a journalist by one of the task force police officers, President Jose Ramos Horta has pledged to contact the Timorese National Police (PNTL) Commander, Commissioner Longuinhos Monteiro to respond to this case. “I will phone the PNTL commissioner or his deputy to come to explain me the case why the police maltreated this journalist. I do not know clearly about the case,” Horta said. Horta said it was bad attitude if the police maltreated when the journalist carried out his/her work. Horta added that he wanted an official report from the police about the case, so that he could know clearly about it. The Diario Nacional journalist, Joao da Silva was maltreated by some of the task force police officers when he was taking pictures at the Palace of the Government.

*Some ministers behave like activist: Carrascalao *Diario Nacional, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

Deputy Minister for Public Administration and Good Governance, Mario Viegas Carrascalao said many of the ministers worked and behaved like activist and had not placed themselves as servant of the people. Carrascalao made the comments during a meeting with the people’s representatives in the Parliament. “Many of the ministers do not want to make coordination; they only want to do their work alone. They only present their work at the Council of Ministers’ meeting as it is led by the prime minister,” Carrascalao said. Carrascalao added that he understood such situation and said he would continue working hard for serving the country’s people.

*Police should not act recklessly: Guterres *Diario Nacional, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

State Secretary for Security, Francisco Guterres has called on individual of the Timorese National Police (PNTL) officers not act recklessly when responding to any problems in the terrain. Guterres was referring to the recent maltreatment to a journalist involving the PNTL’s task force police officers. Guterres said his side would take a strong action against the police officers who were believed to have been engaged in the maltreatment. He called on the victim to make claims and report, so that the case could be processed legally.

*Parliament calls on President Horta to defend pipelines building *Diario Nacional, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

The Parliament through its plenary session has approved President Jose Ramos Horta’s official visit to Australia and Philippines, the Parliament also called on the president to defend the Government’s policy of building pipelines of the Greater Sunrise gas and oil field to Timor-Leste. MP Natalino dos Santos said the issue of building the Greater Sunrise pipelines building was being polemic; he therefore called on president Horta to firmly defend it when visiting Australia. “If the president meets with Woodside Company and the Australian Government’s representatives, he should defend the pipeline building policy to the country,” dos Santos said. MP Fernanda Borges said he endorsed the president’s visit and she did trust that he would defend the country’s national interest.

*Minister Alves has no good will to serve Timorese people: Lutahamutuk *Timor Newsline, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

Lutahamutuk NGO said Minister for Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Gil da Costa Alves had no good will to serve the country’s people and urged Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to sack him from his post. Luta-hamutuk was referring to the recent comments made by Minister Alves asking Lutahamutuk to set up a political party. “We observe that Minister Gil Alves is incapable of carrying out his work and has no good will to serve the country’s people,” Lutahamutuk said. Lutahamutuk said the time had come for the Prime Minister Gusmao to dismiss Alves from his post.

*Minister Freitas: UNTL does not want to collaborate *Timor Post, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

The Minister of Education, João Cancio Freitas said the Universidade Nasionál Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) side had not collaborated well with the Minister of Education to resolve its problem. “I give opportunity to the UNTL yesterday (16/6) to come to my office talking about their demands but they did not appear,” Minister Freitas said. Freitas stressed that the academics should use their brain to discus the problem faced in order to seek for solution to resolve it Meanwhile, Student’s Movement President of Economy Faculty of the UNTL, Damião Pereira said the academics were ready to have dialog with the Minister of Education but the most important thing was the Ministry of Education should include version of the UNTL. He added that the academics would topple down the Minister of Educatio João Cancio Freitas if he had no solution to resolve the isue of the UNTL status soon.

*President Horta to contact PNTL commander for clarification *Timor Post, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

President Jose Ramos Horta has said that he would contact the National Police Commander and State Secretary for Security to report him about the recent maltreatment to journalist of Diario Nacional João da Silva involving the Task Force police officers. “I will contact the Timorese National Police Commander, Commissioner Police Longuinhos Monteiro to come and explain what has really happened and how it happened,” President Horta said. President Horta said that he was dissatisfied with the task force officers’ attitude of battening up the journalist just because of taking picture. Meanwhile, the State Secretary for Security, Francisco Guterres has called on the Press Club of Timor-Leste (TLPC) to present him claims about this case so the his sides could start investigating the case.

*Minister Freitas: Anyone who engage in corruption should be investigated *Timor Post, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

The Minister of Education João Cancio Freitas, has said that whoever engaged in corruption should be investigated. Minister Freitas made the comments regarding Deputy Prime Minister for Management and Public Administration Mario Viegas Carrascalão recently said that corruption had really appeared within the Ministry of Education. “It is important to investigate any indication of corruption cases and if the minister who is alleged of engaging in corruption should also be investigated,” Minister Freitas said. He added that the case was now in the investigation process and hopefully the result of investigation could uncover who had engaged in corruption.

*Ximenes does not know official letter sent by ISF to Public Prosecution *Timor Post, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

The Timorese Appellate Court President, Claudio Ximenes said the official letter sent by the International Stabilization Force (ISF) to the Public Prosecution about its plans of handing over weapons seized from the ex-rebel leader Alfredo Reinado ALves and his men in 2006 crisis was unknown to him. “I have no information about this, but they are ready to hand over those weapons. The weapons should be handed over to competent institutions as it guaranteed by the law,” Ximenes said. He added the court side would not investigate the weapons that would be handed over by the ISF, adding that it was responsibility of the competent institutions to identify which institution the weapons belong to.

*MPs calls on President Horta to defend LNG pipeline *Timor Post, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

The Timorese MPs have called on the President Jose Ramos Horta to defend pipeline LNG from the Greater Sunrise to the country. MPs made call because President Horta was scheduled to hold an official visit to Australia on 20th this month. MP Manuel Tilman from KOTA said the president should defend pipeline LNG of the Greater Sunrise to Timor-Leste, adding that it was important for the president to have consensus with the Government about this case. “It is important for President Horta to have consensus with the Government before he departs to Australia, so that he can firmly maintain our position to bring LNG pipeline to the country and he should not show that President, Government and the National Parliament have no consensus,” MP Tilman said. Meanwhile, MP Natalino dos Santos from the National Congress for the Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) said that it was important for the president to defend dignity of the state. The MPs made the comments because sometimes the country’s leaders have different ideas on the Government’s policy on building pipelines to Timor-Leste.

*It is important to set up superior court for administrative investigation *Timor Post, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun Deputy Prime Minister for Social Issues, Jose Luis Guterres, has said that it was important to set up superior court for administrative investigation in the country. Guterres made the comments on Thursday (17/6) after participating in the launching ceremony for the Ministry of Justice strategic planning for 2011 up to 2030 which was held at Delta Nova, Dili. Guterres added that the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) Government was making efforts to prioritize and improve judicial sector of the country, so that people could get access to the justice. “This is why we have to set up justice court and superior court for administrative investigation and account soon,” deputy PM Guterres said.

*USA Marine ship will head to TL for preparing joint training *Timor Post, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

The US Marine Amphibian Raider ship, “USS Peleliu (LHA 5) will come to the country to prepare joint military training with the Timorese Defense Force (FFDT) and the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for a week. “Soldiers of the F-FDTL and ISF would be trained by USA marine force for a week in TimorLeste,” said the US Ambassador to Timor-Leste. Meanwhile Colonel Róy Osborn an official of the MEU 15 said that they had waited for this opportunity to have realistic training in the tropical area with many challenges. “We feel this is a great honor to us and we are pleased with another potency of operations in the future,” Osborn said.

*SES and SED hold meeting with working group team *Suara Timor Lorosa’e, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun The Timorese State Secretary for Defense and Security have held a meeting with the working group to explain about security development process in the country. The meeting was led by the State Secretary for Defense and Security, Julio Tomas Pinto and Francisco Guterres and the participants composed of the US Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Hans Kleem, Australian Ambassador, Peter Heyward, New Zealand Ambassador, Tim McIvor, United Nations Commissioner Police Luis Carillho, the Australian Force Commander, Asian Foundation and civil societies. State Secretary Francisco Guterres said there were some programs that were needed to support by the donors particularly in the training for security officers. Guterres said the meeting was positive as the donors committed to providing their support, adding that it was important for the Government convey its programs to the donors before implementing it. The meeting was also about cooperation between the National Police and Army with the United Nations Police and the Australian Force right now.

*Fretilin and PUN question PM Gusmão’s capability of combating corruption *Suara Timor Lorosa’e, June 18, 2010 language source: Tetun

Opposition bench in the National Parliament, Fretilin and the National Unity Party (PUN) have questioned capability of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão to combat corruption, collusion and nepotism in the country. MPs from Fretilin and PUN questioned about it, due to PM Gusmão had recently said that he would never dismiss his ministers when there was no evidences proved that his ministers had really engaged in corruption. MP Fernanda Borges from PUN said the country’s progress would not move onward if the Government would not take necessary action to prevent corrupt practice in the country. We cannot move onward because there is an allegation of corruption but there is no suspension. The anti-corruption commission (KAK) will do nothing because the corruptor are well protected and hide all documents,” MP Borges said. MP Borges also called on the competent institutions to investigate any ministers or MPs if they were alleged of engaging in corruption. Meanwhile, MP Aniceto Guterres from Fretilin said corruption numbers would stay in high in the country when the Government had no proper system to control its ministers and officials.

*Macau national runs off with US$3 million From Referendum Package Project *Timor Newsline, June 18, 2010

A Macau citizen has run off with Ministry of Finance money totaling US$3 million, which the Ministry paid to him to undertake public works pursuant to the Referendum Package Project. Deputy Prime Minister Mario Viegas Carrascalao told journalists this on Wednesday (16/06), at parliament house, relating to US$3 million from the Referendum Package that FRETILIN previously denounced publicly as having been lost in the Ministry of Finance. Carrascalao did not explain fully for what works the Ministry of Finance had made this advance to the Macau citizen, but the VPM Carrascalao added, the US$3 million that were lost have been immediately covered up by the Ministry of Finance from the rectified budget funds. “This money was really lost, because someone came from Macau, they paid him to do the works, but later he ran off, and later they took money from the Referendum Package to pay for it,” said Carrascalao. Carrascalao also said this information regarding someone from Macau running off with the money had not yet been published in the press, and this is why he was informing the journalists now, because he did not want to be held responsible for it.

Timor-Leste Subscriber News Local and International Media Monitoring. (The contents of this service do not reflect the views of TLMDC. News and opinion is summarized; and headlines are edited in English to give the best possible sense of the original headline. For more detailed information about any story in this bulletin; or for tailored sector-specific monitoring contact: francisco@tlmdc.org; alberico@tlmdc.org)

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