[Poster's note: Long repeats of international articles already sent out to the east-timor list have been removed.]

UNMISET Daily Press Review

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Daily Media Review Monday, 9 May 2005

TL government reaches accord with Catholic Church

Anti-government demonstrations in Timor-Leste backed by the country's Catholic Church, ended on Sunday after the two sides settled a dispute over religious education. Thousands of people had joined the three weeks of protests in Dili against the government's decision that there should be no mandatory religious education in public schools.

The protestors began to disperse after the Bishop of Dili, Alberto Ricardo da Silva, and the Bishop of Baucau, Basilio do Nascimento, read a declaration at mass signed the day before by Church and government officials. The statement called for creating a permanent working group to oversee any problems between the government and members of the Catholic Church as well as other religions in the country. It also noted the importance of religious values in Timor-Leste and called for the teaching of different religions in schools. (AFP)

Investment law follows international standards

Timor-Leste's national and foreign investment laws recently approved by the Parliament, follow international standards as well as take into account the needs of Timor-Leste, said Secretary of State for Tourism, the Environment and Investment, Jose Texeira. Texeira said that the national investment law aims to assist national business people by the use of incentives, while the foreign investment legislation provides guarantees and authorizations for overseas businesses. He added that the laws took almost four years of preparation with assistance from international technical advisors, in particular, from the US government. The two pieces of legislation were approved by the National Parliament last Monday. (Timor Post)

TNI increases border patrols

The Indonesian military's Border Security Task Force deployed along the border of East and West Timor, has increased its border patrols following a decision by the Commander of the TNI Wirasakti Regional Military Command, Col. Inf. Amir Manan, to provisionally cease the routine Tactical Coordination Line meetings. Through the media, Manan declared that the meetings would be temporarily ceased while Timor-Leste is still processing the case of the shooting incident involving a TNI soldier in April. (Timor Post)