East Timor Press Review

14 November 2002

· Suara Timor Lorosae front page headline: “Twenty Three Timor-Leste Police will be trained in Malaysia.” Government of Malaysia, for the six times, gave the opportunities to TLPS to get training in Malaysia for improving the skills and also in the area of police management. This time 23 Timor-Leste police officers have the opportunity to take police course for a month in Kuala Lumpur. Upon their return, the officers will be assigned to the districts as commanders. Ten of them will work as close protection officers.

· On Wednesday Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri stressed that Border Control case should not be exploited as a big issue. Mr. Alkatiri said, “The judicial system is very important for this nation. The system will function well if it is supported by good human resources (Judges, Public defenders and Police). These three components are important to establish so that the judicial system in this nation would be trusted by the people, reported STL.

· On the question of Timorese refugees deportation from Australia, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said,” Let them reside there.” In the same article, Mr. Alkatiri requested his counterpart John Howard to allow the refugees, who have been living in Australia for the past 8 to 9 years, permanent resident.

· Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri stated that the Government plans to relocate the burial sites of those killed during Indonesian occupation. Mr. Alkatiri mentioned that government’s priority is to allocate the sites of Falintil commanders. On the issue, Mr. Alkatiri also said that the Government will discuss it with Indonesian government on the next joint commission meeting.

· STL reported that former eight Falintil members were taken to court for causing disturbances.

· Around 8 people involved in the stealing of animals in Beasu, Viqueque district have been arrested and detained in Becora prison.

· Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Armindo Maia appealed to Timorese students in Portugal not to return to Timor-Leste before completing their studies.

· Former militia leader Eurico Guterres stated that he and members of pro-integration group received the amount of around US$500, from General Wiranto. Guterres also said that the General also paid Bishop Belo and Manuel Carrascalão.

· Administrator District Dili, Ruben Braz de Carvalho stated that according to CNRT structure, Dili District was divided into 48 sub-districts.

· National Parliament Vice-President, Jacob Fernandes, said that in order to attain information on numbers of those killed on November 12, 1991, the Timorese should work closely with Indonesian Parliament.

· The Government of Australia donated AU$24,000 dollar to Timor-Leste government. The donation was received by Minister of Finance, Maria Madalena Boavida and witnessed by Prime Minister Alkatiri.

· It is reported that 5 TLPS has been promoted to higher rank in Oecusse district.

· Attorney General, Longuinhos Monteiro expressed that the government of Timor-Leste has not yet indicated a police officer to be nominated as INTERPOL member reported Timor Post.

· Recent clashes in Baucaau occurred due to jealously among brick vendors.

· In the Portuguese language page of this daily, Lusa reported that President Gusmão was scheduled to participate in a ceremony to pay tribute to the victims of Bali bombing and lay a wreath of flowers on the site of last month tragedy. President Gusmão and Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Ramos-Horta spent the night in Bali on their return visit from Thailand and South Korea.

· In a separate article the same daily reported that the President met with pro-integrationists during his overnight stay in Bali. The three leaders intended to meet with Mr. Gusmão during his visit to West Timor, but could not make it due their tight scheduled. The three: Mateus Maia (former President of the Municipal Council) Francisco Osorio (brother of former governor, Abilio Osorio) and Martins Fernandes requested the meeting. Aniceto Guterres, the president of the Commission of Reception Truth and Reconciliation departed to Bali on Wednesday to participate in the meeting. The President is expected back in the country on Thursday afternoon.

· National Parliament President, Francisco Guterres starts a 23-day visit to Cape Verde, Portugal Brussels and Mozambique. Mr. Guterres departs Dili on Friday and is scheduled to participate in the first forum of Portuguese Speaking Communities Nations (CPLP) in the City of Praia, Cape Verde on the 17th. After meeting with government representatives of that nation he will travel to Portugal and meet with the president of the Portuguese Parliament. He is expected in Brussels on the 24th to participate in the Combined Assembly, which ends on the 29th. From there he will fly to Mozambique and is expected back in the country on December 9.

· Members of Parliament voted to suspend the parliament proceeding for 2 months due to the postponement of the recess period of July and September. The proposal was passed with 37 votes in favor defeating automatically a proposal presented by vice-president, Jacob Fernandez of Fretilin party to have breaks between the 2 moths.

· It is reported that the Colimau Group has re-emerged in Bobonaro District. The group is now stealing and threaten the population of that area. The police presence months ago curbed their activities.

· Police and border control department held a meeting to discuss the immigration law and look into new premises for the department of border control and discuss cooperation among them.

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