East Timor Press Review

10 September, 2002

· Suara Timor Lorosa’e front page reported Parliament President Francisco “Lu-Olo” Guterres as saying that only FRETILIN are entitle to raise the party’s flag. Mr. Guterres was refering to members of CPD-RDTL who intends to raise FRETILIN flag on September 11.

· João Saldanha, a Timorese member of East Timor Study Group, says the 20% tax increase will discourage foreign investors to East Timor.

· It is reported that on Monday Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri visited the Timor Gap exploration location of Bayu Undan accompanied by Minister of Transport, Telecommunication, and Public Works, Ovidio Amaral, Minister of finance, Madalena Boavida and other government officials. President of Philips Petroleum, Mr. Steven Brann also traveled with the delegation. Upon his return from the field trip, Mr. Alkatiri said he went to see the project himself and met a few Timorese who are currently working on the rig. Mr. Alkatiri added that he invited President Gusmão and President of the Parliament to join him on the visit trip but they could not go because of work.

· President Xanana Gusmão yesterday met with members of CAVR and four main points were reached during the meeting. They are Repatriation, Reconciliation, Refugees and Amnesty. Present at the meeting were representatives from IOM, UNHCR and UNICEF.

· STL reported that a former member of Besi Merah Putih (BMP) militia group, Armando, was sentenced to 20 years in jail yesterday by Dili District Tribunal for violence committed in the country during 1999 .

· Dili Traffic Police Officer, Jose Xavier Pereira announced that from January to August 2002, 754 cases of traffic accidents were recorded including 11 deaths.

· Director of East Timor Electricity, Virgilio Guterres stated that the total income of electricity bills from consumers for the fiscal year of 2001/2002 reached US$411.125,63 dollars.

· Former Aileu District Administrator, Maria Paixao was officially sworn in as Member of Parliament yesterday. Mrs. Paixão replaced Milena Pires of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) who resigned from her seat last month.

· CPD-RDTL secretary-general, Aitahan Matak says if a dialogue will not eventuate, people from all the districts will come and protest in Dili again. Aitahan Matak said that he had received many letters from the people demanding a national dialogue between CPD-RDTL, the Government and the Parliament. The people have also requested UN recognition of Falintil because without Falintil, RDTL would not exist. Aitahan Matak said he met with President Gusmão on Monday and requested the dialogue for Wednesday.

· The Manager of German Technical Cooperation Astrid Paape announced that 80% of water supply has been rehabilitated in the district of Viqueque.

* NB No Timor Post today*

[Drafted by UNMISET Spokesperson’s Office]

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