East Timor Local Press

Summary of local media monitoring August 5, 2002

· Timor Post front page says President Xanana Gusmão should not ask the Jakarta Ad-Hoc Tribunal to give a light sentence to East Timor’s former governor, Abilio Osorio, because it is an independent tribunal.

· MP João Gonçalves (PSD) was quoted as saying that it is an advantage for East Timor to be part of CPLP because it will strengthen relationships with other Portuguese speaking nations.

· MP Jose Andrade has been quoted as saying that the Colimau 2000 group in no longer operational in East Timor.

· A security officer at the Dili National Hospital said a hospital guard prevented a group of people from murdering a doctor on Thursday (1 August 2002). The mob accused the doctor of causing the death of a family member.

· A truck driver has been accused by his wife of trying to run-over her younger brother while driving his motorcycle in Delta-Comoro last Saturday (3 August 2002).

· The paper reported that a law on tree-cutting and land-burning must be put in place urgently.

· The paper reported that FRETILIN’s Vice-representative for Lautem district, Zaret da Silva, said that Lautem residents are upset with their MP and want him replaced in parliament. He also agreed with President Xanana Gusmão’s veto of the 20% increase in sales tax.

· Liquiça Administrator has been quoted as saying that there are no more Colimau 2000 group in Liquiça District.

· Timor Post ran a story in which it says that East Timorese women need to further develop their skills in various areas to contribute to the country’s development.

· Suara Timor Lorosa’e’s front page reported that East Timorese government officials should not use government vehicles as private vehicles because this creates jealousy in the community.

· Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Jose Ramos-Horta, congratulated Sergio Vieira de Mello on his appointment as the new Head of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

· Former Bishop of the Diocese of Dili, Dom. Joaquim Ribeiro, is reported as having passed-away in Evora-Portugal on Saturday (3 August 2002) aged 84.

· MP Eusebio Guterres was quoted as saying that his party (PD) disagrees with the agreement signed between East Timor and Australia on the Greater Sunrise Gas Field saying that it is not fair that Australia is posed to get 80 per cent from it. In the same article PM Mari Alkatiri said he believes East Timor will get 100 per cent from the Greater Sunrise Gas Field. MP Eusebio Guterres refers to it “as a mystery”.

· STL reported the Director of PT Rosario, Julio Alvaro, as saying that in the next 15 months telecommunication will be operating throughout the territory according to an agreement signed between Portugal and East Timor.

· The paper also quoted the Secretary for Transport and Telecommunication as saying that his department is planning to buy a sea-ferry from Indonesia to assist with the current sea-ferry, Emperor, operating between Dili, Atauro and Oecussi.

· A defense lawyer from LIBERTA, a Legal Association, Vital dos Santos, said the letter sent by President Xanana Gusmao to Jakarta’s Ad-Hoc Tribunal asking a light sentence for former East Timorese governor, Abilio Osorio, is not correct because the tribunal’s proceeding are still in progress.

· On 9 August 2002, President Xanana Gusmão will hand certificates to the best Elementary School, Junior High School and Senior High School graduates in East Timor, said Marcos da Costa Santos, an Official of the Department of Culture of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture.

· Secretary of Trade and Industry, Arlindo Rangel, said that the Department did not put restrictions on investors to join industries in East Timor.

[Drafted by UNMISET, Spokesperson’s Office]

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