East Timor Press Review

6 September 2002

· Timor Post front page reported President Xanana Gusmão as saying that it is not easy to establish an International Tribunal in East Timor.

· In the front page TP reported on Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri’s reaction to the Border Control case saying that it has raised a big polemic in East Timor. Prime Minister noted that Dili District Tribunal accused BC as being at fault and ordered ETPS to execute BC but no action has been taken due to the government intervention. Due to the intervention the government requested Prosecutor General, Longuinhos Monteiro to hand over the goods confiscated by BC to the tribunal, which rejected the word ‘hand over’. When journalists asked Mr. Alkatiri about the language used he replied, “they can execute themselves.”

· A man was reported as saying that an ETPS officer beat him yesterday when he stopped under a police officer order. He was then beaten again by three officers at one of the police stations when he tried to complain about the incident. The man said the three officers also threatened to kill him reported TP.

· Minister of Health, Rui Maria de Araujo informed that his department has already presented the executive cabinet the four programs of health focusing on the campaign to fight against HIV/AIDS, and the control of health goods in the market so that they are not outdated.

· It is reported that, for the security of a new nation like East Timor, there are both positive and negative aspects of investment which should be considered in order avoid social conflict.

· It is reported that 3 international doctors, 2 Indonesians and 1 Filipino, have ended their contract. Local doctors have replaced them.

· Oscar Lima a local businessman, announced that Portugal International Timor Telecom will replace Telstra on February 2003.

· TP reported on the ETPS Border Patrol offices in Bobonaro, Maliana District last Monday that arrested a former militiaman who was involved in crimes committed in September 1999, said Deputy Commander of Bobonaro district ETPS, Semedio Talo Mau.

· ETPS Commissioner, Paul Fatima Martins stated that the East Timor Police Service must work together with the Australian and Indonesian Police to prevent people from illegally entering and leaving the country.

· MP Jacob Fernandes (FRETILIN) announced that five Parliament members were invited to commemorate the third anniversary of Suai Massacre this Friday. In the same article Mr. Fernandes said the tribunal has the responsibility to solve the Border Control case.

· Suara Timor Lorosa’e front page reported that Prosecutor General, Longuinhos Monteiro said there are indications that Indonesian Intelligent services are operating in East Timor to spy on Aceh and West Papua citizens. In the same article the Head of Indonesia’s Political Department, Chalief Akbar, denied these allegations but stated he is aware there are people from Aceh and West Papua in the country on business matters and not because of political motivation.

· It is reported that a letter from Jakarta’s AdHoc Tribuanl was sent to Timorese eyewitnesses to testify in the Jakarta tribunal, but Prosecutor General, Longuinhos Monteiro has stated that the United Stated has banned eyewitnesses from testifying in the Tribunal saying that it’s budget does not cover international staff accompanying Timorese to Jakarta.

· President Gusmão has been quoted as saying that “in order to establish an international tribunal we must decide if our judges can perform in the international tribunal’. The President has also stressed, “ Dialogue is needed for the establishment of an International Tribunal because when we require the support of people from overseas, we must think of who is going to pay them, who is going to support the establishment of the tribunal. Will it be UN, United States, Europe or Indonesia?” Mr. Gusmão added that at times NGOs’ demand too much and he appeals to NGOs and the civil society to raise all these questions on the establishment of an International Tribuanl.

· It is reported that Prosecutor General Longuinhos Monteiro made a phone call to the West Timor District Military Commander to cancel the meeting between the head of former pro-Indonesia group João Tavares and East Timor government officials. He claimed that Dili Tribunal did not receive a letter of request from Mr.Tavares about the meeting. Longuinhos Monteiro said the meeting must be coordinated with the tribunal in order to avoid Tavares being arrested.

· Minister of Internal Administration, Rogerio Lobato has been quoted as saying that only FRETILIN people are entitled to be in charge of the administration all the way to the chefe sucos./head of villages. He said those who are not FRETILIN members couldn’t be in charge of the administration. In the same article, Aileu district Administrator, Maria Paixão announced that she would step down as head of that district because of statements made by her superior (Rogerio Lobato) and because she is not a FRETILIN member.

· It is reported that Merpati Airlines will soon provide services from Kupang to Dili and Baucau.

[Drafted by UNMISET Spokesperson’s Office]

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