[Poster's note: Long repeats of international articles already sent out to the east-timor list have been removed.]

UNMISET Daily Press Review

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Daily Media Review

Monday, 7 March 2005

Twenty PNTL dismissed

PNTL Commander Superintendent Paulo de Fatima Martins says that in the past three years the PNTL has dismissed a total of 20 police officers for undisciplined behaviour, the majority of offences associated with mistreatment. Superintendent Paulo told STL that dismissal was used as a punishment to demonstrate to the public that the police are not immune from the law, as well as to improve public opinion of the police force. (STL)

Fretilin legitimacy doubted

The ongoing battle between the government and the Church over the inclusion of compulsory religious teaching in the national curriculum could endanger Fretilin's legitimacy, according to political and military observer Julio Tomas Pinto. Speaking to STL, he said that the majority of those who make up Fretilin's support base are Catholic, so the difference in opinion between the Church and State on this matter inevitably becomes a political matter. He said that the Church, which has a strong community base, will inform the community on this difference of opinion, and in turn, this will bring about a decline in support for Fretilin. According to Julio the strong role that the Church played in Timor-Leste's independence means that the issue of religion is linked intimately to the private lives of the people. (STL)

Fretilin nominates new Provedor candidate

After twice failing to elect the Provedor for Human Rights and Justice, majority party Fretilin has submitted Sebastiao Dias Ximenes (currently the Dean of Dili University) as their candidate for the position. Sebastiao is a new candidate, who will run alongside the other two current candidates, Aniceto Guterres Lopes and Isabel Ferreira. Speaking to STL, Director of HAK Association, Jose Luis, said that the Parliament's failure to elect the Provedor demonstrates that political leaders are not serious in fighting corruption, collusion and nepotism. The Parliament has twice failed to elect the Provedor because the number of votes for one particular candidate never reached the majority needed as specified in the Provedor legislation. (STL)

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