Bahasa Indonesia Headlines ­ Friday 29 June 2001

1. UNTAET supports National Unity Government after 2001 elections 
2. Timor refugees should not be forced 
3. PNT will not make empty promises to people 
4. Students and the porno film industry

1. UNTAET supports National Unity Government after 2001 elections (Timor Post, front page headline)

UNTAET will support the formation of a national unity government after the 2001 election. The Transitional administration will involve all parties in Timor Lorosae in order to forge cooperation.

This was stated yesterday by UN Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello in his address to the National Council outlining the UN’s successes from September 1999 to June 2001.

According to the Transitional Administrator, the government ot be formed after the 2001 election would reflect the aspiration of the Timorese people.

“I am now proud that as of end of the month, all District Administrators will be Timorese and three of them are women,” he said.

After the 2001 general election, Cabinet members will be chosen by the new government. There is a strong possibility that the UN mission will be extended, even after Timor Lorosae’s independence.

UNTAET has submitted the proposal to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who in turn will present it to the Security Council.

“There is a strong possibility that the Security Council will agree to the extension,” said Sergio de Mello.

Sergio de Mello said the extended UN mission would be a scaled-down version of the present one.

2. Timor refugees should not be forced (Timor Post, front page second lead)

Refugees currently in Indonesia-controlled West Timor must be forced into staying permanently in the province, said Indonesian minister Agum Gumelar.

“They can’t be of two minds. If they stay in Indonesia, they have to be Indonesian citizens and loyal to the laws of Indonesia,” said Agum who was visiting Kupang.

The minister admitted that many refugees wanted to stay in West Timor because they felt that they were close to Timor Lorosae.

Minister Agum said the Indonesian government would be making definite plans for those refugees who intended to stay and would begin repatriating those who wanted to return homes.

“We received information that many refugees wanted to return home but were waiting to see the results of the 30 August election before making up their minds,” said the minister.

3. PNT will not make empty promises to people (Suara Timor Lorosae, front page second lead)

Alianca de Araujo, the Vice President of the National Party of Timor (PNT) said yesterday her party will not make empty promises to the people during the election campaign.

“We have no intentions of doing that, though there are lots of rumours circulating around town,” she said.

“PNT will be one of the parties campaigning for the rights of the ordinary person. We will stress on freedom and the right of choice for people,” said Alianca.

Alianca admittedthat there were certain political parties formed just to create trouble during the elections.

“These parties would only divide society,” said Alianca, without naming the parties.

“Our political experience during the past 25 years has indicated that that the people must have the right to be able to freely make choices. This is a very important part of the democratic process,” she added.

4. Students and the porno film industry (Lian Maubere magazine, Opinion)

There is still no moral judgment with regard to porno films in Timor Lorosae. Are they a menace to society or not?

There are many quarters in society who are already profitting from the porno business. The mass media, too, have been carrying articles on the porno business and trade in illicit drugs in Timor Lorosae.

These business are not only carried out by adults but also involve students.

Many secondary school students, who have just started school, are now agents of the porno mafia -­who are using the schools to ply their trade. If this goes on unchecked, we dread to imagine what would happen to Timorese society.

Rationalists might argue that since sex was considered taboo previously, let it now be open in an era of globalization and modernization. Others argue that because sex is restricted, there is a great desire to try it out of curiosity ­ so why not make it free and open.

Whatever the argument, there is no denying, however, that pornographic films and illegal drugs have made their way into the circles of the young in this country.

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