East Timor Local News

Summary of local media monitoring 1 August 2002

· The Timor Post ran a front page story on East Timor’s formal entry in to the Association of Portuguese Speaking Nations. However, in the same article the Rector of Dili University, Lucas da Costa, was quoted as saying there are very few benefits to be gained by East Timor adopting Portuguese as an official language.

· The paper ran a story describing yesterday’s familiarization visit by SRSG Kamalesh Sharma to the Timor Post’s headquarters in Dili.

· Dili District Administrator Ruben Bras de Carvalho said the municipality is planning a major clean-up campaign in the capital. Carvalho is quoted elsewhere stressing the importance of improved healthcare for children.

· The paper ran a report on the UNHCR providing assistance to the Sri Lankan boat moored in Dili Harbor.

· Suara Timor Lorosa’e ran a front page story on the meeting in Brunei between Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Ramos-Horta and his counterparts from Laos and Cambodia at which diplomatic relations were formally established. East Timor now reportedly has diplomatic relations with 25 nations.

· STL featured a report on yesterday’s launch of a maternal and child health care campaign by the President’s wife, Kirsty Sword Gusmão.

· The manager of the AMI clinic, a Timorese health care NGO, is reported as saying that the clinic has run out of water.

· ETPS Deputy Commissioner Julio da Costa Hornai is quoted as saying that domestic violence is one of the most prevalent crimes in East Timor.

[Drafted by Ghelly Cortes-Real, UNMISET Spokesperson’s Office]

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