UNMISET

Date: 08/04/2003 03:33PM

Subject: Daily Media Review 4 August

Dili, August 04 2003

Daily Media Review

MP Guterres: Nationality Status Should be Proven in Court

The citizenship status of Prime Minister Alkatiri and the Secretary of State for Defense Roque Rodrigues was again questioned in the National Parliament and according to MP Eusebio Guterres (PD,) both should testify in court in order for the public to know their birth origin. Guterres made these comments on Sunday in response to Ahmad Alkatiri, a younger brother of the Prime Minister who said that although his family is of Yemen descent, the Prime Minister was born in Timor-Leste. Meanwhile Lucia Lobato (PSD) told the media on Saturday 'she was ready to testify in court if any of her statements regarding nationalities rights had victimized a few people'. She said it was up to the Prime Minister Alkatiri to prove he was a Timorese citizen and not to the President of the National Parliament, Francisco Guterres. In a separate article run by STL on Monday, Mario Carrascalão said MP Leandro Isaac purposely made a statement that he [Carrascalão] was a Portuguese rather than Timorese citizen in order to politically bring him down. Carrascalão said the issue of nationalities has been a heated debate in Timor-Leste because the nationality status of certain key government officials is being questioned. (STL)

Members of the Community Questioned Function of CAAC-CAVF

During the President's five-day visit to Vemase sub-districts, many residents questioned the role of the Association Commission for Former Combatants (CAAC) and the Commission of Former Falintil Veterans (CAVF). Many people in the sub-districts are not aware of the aims of the commissions and what their role will be once they complete the data collection. Gusmão explained the commissions' role and said information will only be collected on those who fought in the jungle between 1975 and 1999 and those actively involved in the clandestine effort. (STL)

Visit of UNIFEM Director to Timor-Leste

The Executive Director of UNIFEM Noelene Heyzer arrives today [Monday] in Timor-Leste for a four-day visit. During her visit she will launch a book titled "Women War and Peace" and meet with government officials, the Head of UNIMSET, as well as Timorese women's organizations. She will make a special visit to Mauxiga village, a sub-district in Ainaro, reported Suara Timor Lorosae (STL)

Police in Oecussi Enclave Should Also Act as Ambassadors

Prime Minister Alkatiri said that the police force in the Oecussi enclave should also act as Ambassadors due to its distance from the capital and other parts of the territory. Speaking at the hand-over ceremony of UNPOL to PNTL in Oecussi on Saturday, Alkatiri stressed that to strengthen the security on the border, PNTL must work in cooperation with the Indonesian police. Timor Post reported that Prime Minister Alkatiri, the Minister of Internal Administration, Rogério Lobato, Secretary of State Defense Roque Rodriques and PNTL Commissioner Paulo Martins held a meeting with two Indonesian police officers who had also attended the hand-over ceremony. Alkatiri said, "the two Indonesian officers pointed out that they were happy with the relations established between PNTL and West Timor Police and promised to further support the new Timorese police in border security". (TP)

Washington beckons Dili to UN human rights post

A senior US diplomat said Washington was ready to back Timor-Leste to head the United Nations' Human Rights Commission if Dili decided to stand for the post currently held by Libya. "We are worried about the composition of the Human Rights Commission...and encourage more moderate countries, like Timor-Leste, to advance with a candidate", Sichan Siv, the US representative on the UN's Economic and Social Council, said Thursday in Lisbon. Timor-Leste was "a good example of a new country with a strong commitment to democracy and human rights", said the diplomat, while describing Libya and Cuba's presence on the commission as "discrediting" the organization. If Africa were to back a candidate early next year, Sichan Siv said Washington would look kindly on a country such as Mozambique. (Lusa)

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