East Timor Press Review

19 August, 2002

· Suara Timor Lorosa’e front page reported that former Indonesian Governor to East Timor, Mario Viegas Carrascalão, as saying that the Jakarta Ad Hoc tribunal has not been fair. In the same article the paper reported on a demonstration held by East Timorese last Saturday in front of the Dili Hotel appealing for the establishment of an International Tribunal. The event coincided with Indonesia’s Independence Day being observed by Indonesia’s Ambassador for East Timor and other guests at the hotel.

· STL reported on various opinions regarding the Jakarta Ad Hoc Tribunal: MP Clementino Amaral says that Abilio Osorio has been used as a scapegoat. Indonesia will loose its credibility with the international community.

· Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Ramos-Horta, said “I am sad because a Timorese (Abilio Osorio) as we all know was not responsible directly for the violence committed by other people.” Mr. Horta stated that he will speak to the Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, the President and to the Council of Ministers about the verdict and also to evaluate the Ad Hoc Tribunal process. Mr. Horta has already had a meeting with the president (17/8) to discuss the tribunal’s verdict. The government and the President will meet to discuss the same issue.

· Father Juvito do Rego has been quoted as saying that one must be realistic about the establishment of an International Tribunal in the country because the judicial system and many institutions in East Timor have just been created themselves.

· A student was found dead in the early hours of Saturday in Meti-Aut, Dili. The victim died in a motorbike accident.

· It is reported that the police shot three prisoners last Friday at Becora prison. One prisoner is undergoing medical treatment at the National Hospital in Dili, reported STL.

· Vice-Minister of Justice, Domingos Maria Sarmento, said the Jakarta Ad Hoc Tribunal has been a farce and aimed at covering up Indonesia’s mistakes.

· The Ah Hoc Humans Rights Tribunal in Jakarta should not only try the Timorese people said the Secretary-General of PST, Avelino Coelho reported Timor Post.

· The visit of the Japanese Defense Minister,Gen Nakatani, was reported on TP’s front page. The paper says the Minister’s was accompanied by a delegation of 23 officials.

· It is reported at least 5,000 RDTL members from Dili will be joined by 180,000 former FALINTIL, CDP-RDTL members from all the districts to celebrate FALINTIL Day tomorrow, 20 August, at the Democracy Park in Dili, said Antonio Ai Tahan Matak.

· Gregorio Saldanha, President of OJETIL, a youth organization, has appealed for its members not to participate in the ceremony of the “Restoration of FALINTIL” because according to the constitution FDTL/Falintil, ETPS and PKS are the security forces of East Timor.

· The Minister for Internal Administration, Rogerio Lobato, stated that the government would provide assistant to FALINTIL widows through an organization.

· East Timor’s Police Commissioner Paulo Martins said demonstrations could be held with the authorization of the police.

· Advocacy judge Aniceto Neves, says that they will meet with the United Nations Head of Humans Rights, Mary Robinson during her visit to East Timor. Mr. Neves says members of his organizations will raise the verdict of the Jakarta Ad Hoc tribunal as well as the establishment for an International Tribunal in East Timor with the High Commissioner.

[Drafted by the UNMISET Spokesperson’s Office]

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