Subject: UNMIT's Daily Media Review, 7 February 2008

Thursday, 7 February 2008

UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING

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National Media Reports

TVTL news coverage ---

RTL news coverage

MSS meets with Ministries of Portuguese speaking nations: The Minister of Social Solidarity met with representatives of the various Ministries of Social Solidarity of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP). The Minister said that such meetings were important at they allowed the CPLP countries to come together and discuss common social problems.

* * *

UN meets with Fretilin to discuss security reform: The senior leadership of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) met Fretilin's leadership to discuss the reform of the security sector. The meeting followed Fretilin's expression of willingness to become engaged in issues of national importance, such as security sector reform.

The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, convened the meeting to seek their views on UNMIT's role in the review and reform of key security institutions. Mr Khare said that security sector reform was a priority area and that its success would be critical in ensuring sustainability for the new nation.

"Any review on how to reform the security sector must look at the restructuring of the national police and an assessment of the F-FDTL, the private security sector, customs and other institutional areas such as the courts and correctional facilities," said Mr Khare. "The review must be comprehensive, holistic, ensure broad representation of all stakeholders and it must be owned by the Timorese people." It was agreed that similar meetings would be held on an ongoing basis, every two weeks. (TP)

Reinado's rebels fire on ISF: Rebels under the leadership of Major Alfredo Reinado have fired warning shots near a patrol of Australian troops south-west of the capital, Dili. Reinado has been on the run since he was arrested on charges of illegal weapons' distribution, desertion and attempted murder after widespread violence in 2006.

The International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Spokesperson Brigadier General James Baker said that five to eight warning shots were fired, but the Australian troops did not return fire. "What we've seen today is a reckless act by Reinado. If the ISF soldiers had not acted with professionalism and discipline, then an escalation of the incident could have occurred," he said. "The ISF did not return fire, but immediately withdrew to Gleno [the home base]," he added. "There were no casualties from this incident."

Brigadier General Baker said that the ISF is not engaged in any operation against Reinado. "Reinado is a fugitive of the Timorese criminal justice system, he has threatened the safety of Australian troops," he said. (TP, DN and STL)

Petitioners gather in Dili: The President of the National Parliament, Fernando Lasama, said that members of the petitioners' group gathered today (7/2) in Aitarak Laran, Dili to commence a process of dialogue with the Government and the National Defence Forces of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL).

"They needed to come to Dili to help find a solution to their problems," said Mr Lasama. "They will remain here and have their issues heard by the Government." (TP and DN)

IDPs reject reduced food aid: Negotiations between IDPs and WFP officers have ended with IDPS in Comoro Airport Camp rejecting WFP's food assistance.

"We will reject any food aid because of the Government's policy to reduce the rations," said the Comoro Airport Camp IDP Spokesperson, Mateus da Costa Belo. IDPs further said that they would continue such peaceful actions until the Government responded to their needs. (TP)

National Parliament VP: Parties must self-access: The Vice President of the National Parliament, Vicente Guterres, said that each party in the national parliament had to build capacity within itself and to create harmony with other parties in the parliament.

Mr. Guterres also said that he believed this second national parliament to be stronger than the first, as the first NP was weakened by an undisciplined opposition. Mr Guterres claimed that Fretilin was conducting itself in a professional and disciplined manner and that this would help to strengthen the National Parliament. (DN)

Reform with no transparency: A Political and Social Science Lecturer at the National University of Timor-Leste, Faustino Cardoso (also the President of the National Commission of Elections), has said that the reformation process initiated by the Government is not transparent.

"While the government has started the reforms, it is not clear how the reforms are progressing." said Mr. Cardoso on Wednesday (6/2) in Balide, Dili. "The public does not know about the reforms because the process is not transparent. It is still unclear what areas will be reformed." (STL)

F-FDTL to recruit soldiers with legal backgrounds: The State Secretary of Defence, Julio Thomas Pinto, said that the F-FDTL would this year look to recruit soldiers with law degrees and/or backgrounds.

"In order to establish a military tribunal, we need trained military judges," said Mr. Pinto. "The Department of Defence now is focusing on this to recruit soldiers with legal backgrounds to be involved in the military tribunal." The new recruitment will be held in July 2008. (STL)

Lasama: Petitioners should cooperate with the Government: The President of the National Parliament, Fernando Lasama, said that establishing a gathering place for the petitioners to meet will help in finding solutions to the problems faced by them. Mr Lasama said that a common gathering place would allow the petitioners, the F-FDTL and the Government and to meet and cooperate with each other to find a resolution to this ongoing crisis. (STL)

NATIONAL NEWS SOURCES: Televizaun Timor-Leste (TVTL) Radio Timor-Leste (RTL) Timor Post (TP) Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) Diario Tempo (DT) Diario Nacional (DN) Semanário Nacional (SN) Tempo Semanal (TS)

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