Subject: UNMIT Daily Media Review 13 March 2007

[Poster's note: Repeats of international articles already sent out to the east-timor list (info@etan.org) have been removed.]

Tuesday, 13 March 2007

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

National Media Reports

UNMIT team to tackle illegal weapons

(DN, March 13, 2007)

Deputy Chief of security for the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT), Erick Huck Gim Tan said UNMIT is currently forming a team to tackle the problem of illegal weapons, which were still being distributed within the community.

"Mostly, these illegal firearms belong to the National Police and UNMIT has formed a special team to handle any illegal weapons being carried by civilians and to recall them," Tan told journalists during a recent press conference at Obrigado Barracks.

Parliament asks Committee A to investigate Same incident

(DN, March 13, 2007)

The President of the Parliament, Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres said Parliament has asked its Human Rights Committee A and Health, Solidarity, and Labor Committee F to create a commission to investigate the destruction of people's houses in Same by Australian black hawk helicopters.

Sixteen houses are reported to have been damaged last Thursday (8/3) when the black hawk helicopters flew close to people's houses in pursuit of ex-Military Police Commander, Major Alfredo Reinado and his followers.

Lu-Olo was speaking to journalists yesterday about the incident.

Parliament approves resolution on Alfredo's capture

(RTL and STL, March 13, 2007)

The President of the Parliament, Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres said Parliament has approved a resolution in support of President Xanana Gusmão’s order to capture ex-Military Police Commander, Major Alfredo Reinado Alves and his men.

MPs from both the Democratic Party (PD) and Social Democratic Party (PSD) left the plenary session in protest after Lu-Olo told the media that the plenary session for the resolution was closed to the public.

The Australian forces undertook the operation to capture Alfredo upon President Xanana Gusmão’s authorization after Alfredo raided two Border Police Units last month seizing 18 firearms.

The operation earlier this month in the southern town of Same left five of Alfredo's men dead.

Alfredo ready to come to Dili for dialogue

(TP, March 13, 2007)

Ex-Military Police Commander Major Alfredo Reinado Alves said he was moving closer to Dili as he did not want the crisis to affect the southern districts and he did not want similar incidents to happen in other districts.

Speaking in an interview yesterday from his current hideout, Alfredo also expressed sadness at the gun battle that took place in southern town of Same. He said innocent people had been the victims of this battle and that he was now ready for dialogue.

Alfredo and his men are on the run after the Australian-lead international forces raided their hideout in the southern town of Same earlier in the month.

F-FDTL's presence helps guarantee stability

(TP, March 13, 2007)

MP Antonio Cardoso said yesterday from Parliament that the situation within the capital, Dili has returned to normal after President Xanana Gusmao gave more power to international forces and allowed the deployment of Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL).

Dili resident, teacher Georgina Aleixo of Delta Comoro, said she was pleased with the recent deployment of F-FDTL. She said she trusted that F-FDTL would not destroy their own country or kill people.

Journalists must not be candidate's mouthpiece

(TP, March 13, 2007)

A senior journalist from Portugal's Public Radio and Television (RTP), Jose Alberto Sousa said journalists should not become mouthpieces for any presidential candidates during political campaigns.

He said journalists must be objective in their coverage of the whole election process. Sousa was speaking to journalists in a one-day seminar held at Hotel Timor Saturday (9/3).

Fretilin supporters looking for opposition followers

(STL, March 13, 2007)

MP Riak Leman from the Social Democratic Party said yesterday from Parliament house that Fretilin followers were conducting sweeping operations and conducting check-points to find supporters of opposition parties in the southern town of Same.

Meanwhile, President of the Parliament, Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres said he had heard about these rumors, and he called on people to look for ways to normalize the situation in Same.

International News:

East Timor: Judicial support program faces closure due lack of funds (Lusa News Agency, March 12, 2007)

Dili, March 12 (Lusa) - The program to strengthen East Timor's justice system could come to a halt next August unless aid partners provide new financing, according to an official assessment.


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