| Subject: UNMISET Daily Media Review 15
March 2005
UNMISET Daily Press Review Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources Daily Media Review Tuesday, 15 March 2005 Islamic leaders supportive of Church stance Leaders of Timor-Leste's Islamic community has given its full support to the pastoral note issued by the country's Catholic Church in protest against government policy not to include religion as a compulsory subject in the primary school curriculum. The President of CENCITIL (Centre for the Islamic Community of Timor-Leste), Arif Abdullah Sagran, said that the pastoral note was relevant to the Islamic community because if Catholicism were to be taught in schools, then automatically minority religions would also be taught. He said that such a policy would benefit Muslims here on a more detailed level as it would mean that the government would need to provide funds and teachers in schools to teach Islam. Sagran emphasized that in general, whatever is beneficial for the community in Timor-Leste would also benefit Muslims, and that it was important for school children to be given a religious and moral education, otherwise their future would be cloudy and void of meaning. (STL) 1999 perpetrators to be arrested upon entry to TL Those indicted for crimes committed in 1999 and who have had an arrest warrant issued against them will be arrested if they enter Timor-Leste, according to Carl de Faria, Deputy Prosecutor General. Speaking to journalists at a press conference yesterday, de Faria answered questions regarding the arrest warrant for Wiranto and explained that all indictments will be handed over to Timor-Leste's Prosecutor General when the Serious Crimes Unit closes down in May. He said that the decision on whether to continue pursuing these indictments would be up to Timor-Leste's government. (STL) Cyclone Ingrid intensifies over Timor Sea Tropical Cyclone Ingrid has been upgraded to a category four system after intensifying on its path towards Western Australia's north Kimberley coastline from the Timor Sea. The cyclone has caused extensive damage to island communities off northern Australia, unleashing fierce winds on the Tiwi Islands north of Darwin. The Bureau of Meteorology says a cyclone warning is now current for coastal and island communities between Port Keats in the Northern Territory and Mitchell Plateau in Western Australia. (ABC) Falintil-FDTL to dismiss 40 officers Major Ular Rihik of F-FDTL's Personnel Section announced yesterday that 40 officers are set to be dismissed from the military service due to being absent from duty for 90 days. According to Rihik, those who will be dismissed are from the first battalion, second battalion, communication and training centre units, naval components as well as two high-ranking officers. (Timor Post) Tax increase on border Speaking at yesterday's plenary session, Clementino dos Reis Amaral, Vice President of the National Parliament's Commission B in charge of Foreign Affairs, stated that foreign investors have been voicing concern about the increase in taxes on the border. "They are predominantly concerned about not being informed about the hike in taxes, more so than actual increase," said Amaral. Amaral appealed to the Government to inform the public on tax increases ahead of time so that the business community is able to factor this in to their work. (Timor Post)
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