Monday, 09 July 2007

UNMIT ­ MEDIA MONITORING

THE UN INTEGRATED MISSION IN TIMOR-LESTE DOES NOT VOUCH FOR THE ACCURACY OF THESE REPORTS

National Media Reports

The coalition government should be better than Fretilin

The President of Social Democratic Party (PSD), Mario Viegas Carrascalão, has said that the future government led by an alliance should be better than one led by [the ruling party] Fretilin in response to the crucial programme faced by Timorese people.

"Alliance government has to be better than Fretilin's, however if this is not to happen, let Fretilin form the government and we all have to recognize it," said Mr. Viegas.

On the other hand, the President of the Democratic Social Association Timor-Leste (ASDT), Francisco Xavier do Amaral, said that they propose Mr. Mario Viegas Carrascalão to become Timor-Leste's Prime Minister. (STL)

Political parties should respect the sovereignty of the people

At a press conference held by the World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA) on Friday (6/7) in SOMET's office in Dili, the WFDA representative said the election has finished and it is now time for all political parties to respect peoples' sovereignty and focus on development.

Mr. Miclat also congratulated all Timorese who contributed to the democracy of this new country in a peaceful manner. (STL)

People in Oecusse support the coalition of government

The CNRT Coordinator of Oecusse District, Jeferino da Cruz Sau, on Friday (6/7) in Ambeno said that the population of Oecusse supports former President Xanana Gusmão to form a coalition of government to resolve last year's crisis.

"I am very happy with the decision made at the national level to form the coalition government," he said. (STL)

Alliance of four political parties: ambition to have power

The Secretary-General of UNDERTIM, Mr. Cristiano da Costa, on Saturday (7/7) at UNDERTIM's office in Dili, declared that UNDERTIM considers the alliance formed by four political parties, such as, CNRT, ASDT, PSD, and PD, as an ambitious concept for power sharing.

He said that such a coalition could not serve the Timorese people and even if the four parties have decided upon the coalition they could not lead the government without confirming that Fretilin is the winner of the election. (TP)

Fretilin should move forward

At a press conference held on Friday (6/7) in CCF Comoro Dili, the President of [the ruling party] Fretilin, Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, said that Fretilin's main responsibility now is to work with the other parties to solve the problems that the people are facing. (TP)

UNMIT: it is important to contribute to the stabilization of Timor-Leste

At the meeting with all political parties on Friday (6/7) at the UNMIT Headquarters in Dili, the Special Representative of Secretary-General in Timor-Leste, Mr. Atul Khare, said that it was important for political parties to move forward in way that was legally correct and contributed to the continuing political stabilisation of Timor-Leste.

During the meeting, the parties thanked the United Nations and its agencies for the ongoing assistance provided during the campaigning, voting and post-election phase. They all agreed that the most important role for all of them now was to form a parliament and opposition that would represent the citizens of Timor-Leste. (TP)

New government should eliminate corruption

The Director of Lalenok ba Ema Hotu (LABEH), Christopher Henry Samson, reportedly called upon the new government to eliminate corruption.

"The new government should organize itself and eliminate the corruption that existed during the Fretilin era," said Mr. Samson. (TP)

Maria Angelina: "Fretilin cannot form a government by itself"

In response to the preliminary results of the Parliamentary Elections, which gave Fretilin the lead, the CNE Spokesperson, Maria Angelina Sarmento, said that although [the ruling party] Fretilin had the majority of the votes, it could not form a government as it only had 33 seats. (DN)

Lu-Olo and Alkatiri: "Fretilin respects the people"

At a press conference held on Friday (6/7) in CCF Comoro Dili, the President of [the ruling party] Fretilin, Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, and the Secretary-General of Fretilin, Mari Alkatiri, said that Fretilin wants to respect the wishes of the people who cast their votes for Fretilin in the Parliamentary Elections.

They said that the Timorese people want peace, stability and development for the future of this new nation. (DN)

Manuel Tilman: Alliance of four political parties is an assault on power

In response to the alliance of government, the president of KOTA, Manuel Tilman, said that the action of the four political parties who formed a coalition for the government is an assault on power.

He said that based on the law (article 106), the winning party can select a Prime Minister who is then nominated by the President of the Republic; in Timor-Leste, Fretilin is the party who won the parliamentary election, so it has the right to choose its Prime Minister. (DN)

People questioning security matters

Despite the presence of the International Stabilization Forces (ISF) in Timor-Leste, some people are still questioning the security matters in the country, particularly with regards to the feeling to the incidents of rock throwing in the capital.

The journalists observed that people are questioning the security situation in the country since they are concerned that people unhappy with the new Government might cause disturbances. (DN)

Rodolfo TOR: "there will be a penalty for members of the PNTL"

At a press conference held by the Human Rights and Justice Provedor (PDHJ) on Friday (6/7) in Caicoli, Dili, the UNPol Commissioner, Rodolfo TOR stated that they will investigate the members of PNTL who have abused their power.

"Firstly we will investigate and evaluate, and this will include penalties for the guilty members of PNTL, so that the Timorese people can be confident in us," said Mr. Tor. (DN)

Political parties agree to build national unity

After meeting with the representatives of the political parties on Friday (6/7) in UNMIT headquarters, Obrigado Barracks, Caicoli, Dili, the UNMIT spokesperson Ms. Allison Cooper said that the 14 political parties and two coalitions had agreed to build national unity in peaceful manner ­ guaranteeingg to serve and develop Timor-Leste.

Furthermore Ms. Cooper explained that the objective of the meeting was discussion talking about the strategy for this country, and how UNMIT will give its support to the East Timor government for the next five years, especially in the areas of security, education, health and any other essential matters. (DN)

International Media Reports

08 - FVR leaves for Timor-Leste

Sunday, July 08 2007 @ 03:31 PM BST

Former President Fidel V. Ramos left Sunday for Timor-Leste to join the Club of Madrid's (CoM) mission in providing "Leadership Support of a National Dialogue for Consensus-Building" in the world's newest democracy.

The mission comes right after the June 30 parliamentary elections, in which preliminary results showed Fretilin (the ruling party) taking a lead over the CNRT, the party established by independence hero and former President Xanana Gusmao. The CoM consists of former presidents and prime ministers.

Timor-Leste, a Portuguese colony for more than 400 years, fought a 24-year struggle against -­ and broke frree from -­ Indonesian rule in 1999.

>A military mutiny plunged the country in turmoil and chaos, resulting in institutional instability and, according to UN experts, brought Timor-Leste to the brink of state failure.

This led to intervention of the UN Secretary Council and foreign armed forces and police, principally from Australia, Portugal, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the Philippines, which, to this date, has a contingent of 150, under Philippine National Police (PNP) Gen. Rodolfo Tor, who also acts as the UN police commissioner.

CoM's involvement came in response to the request of Timor-Leste leaders (through then Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri) and the European Commission (through EC President Jose Manuel Barroso) in August 2006, for help "to facilitate dialogue among all the parties involved in the creation of the state."

The CoM accepted the mission with duration of six months to promote democratic governance in that country.

Its initiative has focused on two main tasks -- to help facilitate Timorese leadership efforts to bridge political and personality differences; and support a high-level National Dialogue (HLD).

Among the key personalities in the HLD are former President Xanana Gusmao, former Prime Minister and current President Jose Ramos Horta, former Speaker of Parliament and Fretilin leader Francisco Guterres Lu' Olo, former Prime Minister and Fretilin Secretary General Mari Alkatiri, and Military Commander Matan Ruak.

The CoM has led three missions to Timor-Leste, headed by Prime Minister Birkavs of Latvia.

The current and final CoM mission to Timor-Leste will hold consultations with top political figures to provide advice on particular issues related to the democratic and economic transition and consolidation of the country and a stakeholders' seminar which is expected to serve as platform for the agreement on and signing of a "100-day governing pact."

As he always does on foreign trips, Ramos will also meet the Filipino community in Dili, led by Ambassador Farita Aguilucho Ong. (PNA)

Ahern announces cash for conflict resolution unit

SUNDAY 08/07/2007 16:44:04

UTV Ireland

The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs says he hopes the establishment of a new conflict resolution unit will give others the benefit of what has been learned from the Northern Ireland peace process.

Dermot Ahern was speaking as he announced a 25 million Euro annual package to fund the initiative within his department.

Mr Ahern says he sees the unit building on the Irish Republic's peace-keeping role in war-ravaged countries like Liberia and East Timor.

He says it will draw on the experience of individuals who played their part in bringing both communities together in Northern Ireland.

Labor has a much better plan

MERGEFORMATINET Kevin Rudd July 09, 2007 12:00am

WHILE Prime Minister John Howard commits our troops to a five-year long war in Iraq without any exit strategy, the security situation in our back yard goes from bad to worse.

The island states to our north and northeast have become Australia's "arc of instability".

Australia faces a wide-scale refugee outflow from the region. Also health challenges such as HIV-AIDS if we do not take a different course of action in the South Pacific. The past decade has seen militant Islamist activity increase in Indonesia, police and military crises in East Timor and political instability in Papua New Guinea.

Ethnic violence broke out in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands imploded.

Coups in Fiji and a constitutional crisis and street violence in Tonga added to the instability.

Nauru, the region's first properly defined failed state, become a centre for international money laundering.

The uncomfortable truth is that Australia's national security policy in our immediate region has been reactive rather than proactive and last-minute rather than long-term.

If more Pacific island states fail, the cost to the Australian taxpayer of emergency police or military interventions will become massive. The cost of emergency humanitarian assistance in the event of the collapse in food and medical supplies will also be huge.

What return has Australia had for the more than $11.2 billion the Howard Government has spent on the neighborhood? And all of that is before we look to the $3.5 billion the Government is proposing to spend.

The problem is that most of the key economic and security indicators for the island states are getting worse, not better.

It is time for a fundamental rethink of Australia's development assistance strategy. A Rudd Labor government will develop and implement a long-term pacific partnership for development and security.

This includes tackling the collapse in primary education and primary healthcare and building basic infrastructure such as roads and telecommunications as well as providing access to clean water.

Other initiatives will:

COMBAT the problem of urban male youth unemployment through public works programs.

SUPPORT locals to develop a private local economy.

TRAIN officials in the operation of government.

SUPPORT the University of Papua New Guinea and the University of the South Pacific. PROVIDE security assistance and capacity building with local police.

In our first term, Labor will audit local needs and plan how these can be met long-term.

We will then need to fund the programs which will flow from these partnerships. We do not believe we can do this within Australia's existing aid commitment.

Federal Labor supports the Government's stated intention of lifting Australia's official development assistance from 0.26 per cent to 0.35 per cent of gross national income by 2010.

If we are to be serious about realizing a fundamental turnaround in our immediate region's long-term economic development and consequential political stability, Australia will need to increase its funding effort beyond 2010-2011 to 0.5 per cent of GNI by 2015.

This is an important step in the right direction towards Australia doing its fair share of the work in our region to truly make poverty history.

NATIONAL NEWS SOURCES: Timor Post (TP) Radio Timor-Leste (RTL) Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) Diario Tempo (DT) Diario Nacional (DN) Semanario Televisaun Timor-Leste (TVTL)