East Timor Press Review

1 October 2002

Suara Timor Lorosae reported Executive Director of NGO Forum, Cecilio Caminha as saying that East Timor has the right to be vocal in UN Forum. It is a new step for East Timor after becoming UN official member.

The paper reported that today President Xanana Gusmão is schedule to meet with Secretary of State, Colin Powel and afterwards with the President of World Bank, James Wolfensen. On Wednesday Mr. Gusmão will meet President George Bush at the White House after which he will be travelling to Portugal.

It is reported that East Timorese police and immigration officers sent nine Indonesian prostitutes back to their country last Friday. They were accused of practicing prostitution in a numbers of hotels in Dili.

Vice President of National Parliament Jacob Fernandes said recent conflict among youths in the capital Dili were merely juvenile delinquency, but investigation is needed to find out the motives behind it.

Jacinto Alves, a member of the Commission of Reception, Truth and Reconciliation was quoted as saying that many East Timorese are not yet aware of the meaning of reconciliation carried out by the Commission. Some conceived it as avoiding the legal process, other merely understand it as seeking the truth without further follow-ups. In related news, the Commission Vice Director, Father Juvito do Rego stressed that the two-year mandate of the Commission was too short. He said it is impossible to finish the work within two years.

It is reported that around 2- 4 patients die daily at the National Hospital in Dili. The number of patients with diarrhea has dropped. The hospital dealt with 164 emergency cases in the month of September.

Arsenio Bano, Secretary of State for Labour and Solidarity said that up-to-date the Government has not had a program of sending workers overseas, to countries like: Ireland, Malaysia Singapura, and others.

East Timor Attorney General Longuinhos Monteiro said that nine witnesses refused to go to Jakarta to give their testimony at the Ad-Hoc Tribunal. They preferred to give it through tele-conference.

Head of Suai District Court Francisco Agostinho Pinto was quoted as saying that the Suai Court would function in two more months. The equipments are in place except for electricity.

Attorney General, Longuinhos Monteiro said it has been reported that four to five East Timorese companies allegedly involved in the sale of sandalwood has been identified..

Marcia Sarmento of the Justice Department said that the proceedings at Dili District Court continue to take place even though legal training were taking place for the judges, prosecutors and public defenders.

CPD-RDTL Secretary-General, Antonio Aitahan Matak said his group refuses the establishment of an international base in Timor-Leste. He said UN must quickly transfer the country sovereign like the Defense Force, Security, economy and justice sector in order for East Timor to proceed its reconstruction properly.

MP Manuel Tilman of Kota party said that in order to attract foreign investors, the guarantee of security should be prioritized.

Timor Post reported that after one-week of demands by students on lower fees, the National University has reduced the fees to $ US30 per student.

Six remains have been found in Jaco Island. It is reported that the remains are from people killed by Indonesia army in 1984.

It is reported that 136.000 East Timorese children under five years old obtained polio immunization during the National Immunization Day last week.

First Lady Kisrty Gusmao was quoted as saying that she is very concerned with the rape of children under age. She said a research is needed in this area.

East Timorese economist at the National University of East Timor Filipe Mendes said that the progress of the economic growth depends on the political elite and Government.

ILO in cooperation with Department of Labour introduce the Labour Code to five sub-distircts of Viqueque District through a workshop recently.

It is reported that President Xanana Gusmao would meet with US Secreatary of State Collin Powell today.

[Drafted by UNMISET Spokesperson’s Office]