East Timor Press Review 31 October 2002

· Suara Timor Lorosae reported on ABC news about a report put out in Dili, which mentioned main building and places of terrorism attacks in the next 7 months.

· STL reported on Primer Minister Mari Alkatiri’s interview with the Portuguese newspaper, EXPRESSO last week in which Mr. Alkatiri reiterated that the country’s allies are those that speak the Portuguese language.

· It is reported that the government will send a team to investigate problems occurred in District Viqueque in the last few days. It is claimed that animals have been stolen and killed in Watulari sub-district.

· STL reported that a 12-year-old girl is pregnant with her own 53-year old father.

· Primer Minister Alkatiri officially opened the National Logistic Centre yesterday at Tolo-Bere in Bebora Dili.

· Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, Armindo Maia is seeking more scholarships from Portugal, reported STL.

· Timor Post’s front page reported President Xanana Gusmão as saying the Timorese must forget terms like ‘militias’ and ‘Untas’ and focus their energy more on the national unity.

· Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Ramos-Horta stated that there is no need to increase security if it is going to affect the movement of people, for example roadblocks. Mr. Horta also stressed, “ personal security for myself and the President will not be increased.”

· In a separate article Mr. Horta said President Gusmão will officially travel to Thailand soon after the Atambua and Kupang trip.

· Timor Post reported that former clandestine members have requested Timor-Leste Police Commissioner, Paulo Martins to increase the recruitment from 100 to 200. A total of 300 former clandestine should go through the recruitment process. It is also reported that 12 former clandestine commanders met with the Minister of Internal Administration, Rogerio Lobato and UN Police Commissioner, Peter Miller to present their concerns and also requested a change on the age status from 45 to 50 years. Mr. Miller agreed on the matter. Meanwhile a list of six 6,000 names have been presented by the Minister of Administration to UN Police, which has decided to recruit only 100, reported TP.

· Minister of Internal Administration, Rogerio Lobato stressed that the conflict in Watulari, Viqueque District has political motivation, therefore it should be resolved politically, not with repression. Mr. Lobato said the government decided on a commission composed of Vice-Minister Ilda da Conceiçao, members of police, Baucau diocese, Parliament and Commission of Reception, Truth and Reconciliation to travel to that district and resolve the problem with local head of villages. The Minister said he is confident Mrs. Conceição can help settle the conflict because she used to work there and has dealt with the same issue many times over the years.

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