Monday, 10 December 2007

UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING

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National Media Reports

PM Xanana Gusmao: "The Government Will Arrest Whoever Supports Alfredo" Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao and President Horta said that they have already identified who is distributing uniforms and money to Alfredo Reinado and his group, and the Government will arrest them for committing a crime against the nation.

"We will try to capture the people who supplied the uniforms to Major Alfredo because it is a crime to support them financially or with materials. As you know, we only have one military force in Timor-Leste, not two. His supporters are not trying to resolve the situation but instead are creating various problems. Therefore, the authorities will capture, bring them to court, and try them based on the law in Timor-Leste," said the Prime Minister (STL)

Fernando Lasama Araujo: "Timor-Leste is Open to Investors" The President of the National Parliament, Fernando Lasama Araujo, said Timor-Leste is open to accept investors who want to invest in the country.

"We are aware that the fourth constitutional government cannot alone resolve the huge problems we are confronted with, and we all know that one big problem is unemployment", said the President of National Parliament. (DN)

Horta Unhappy with the Decision of the Court of Appeal on with regards to the Reduce Poverty Program The President of the Republic was unhappy with the decision of Court of Appeal to reject the poverty reduction program under the Office of the President of the Republic.

"I actually do not agree with Court's opinion, but I accept the decision. I also was unhappy with how Fretilin parliamentarians politicized what supposed be a universally-valued issue. I did not want to politicize helping poor people and I don't want to have any further controversy", said Mr. President of Republic. (DN)

Trilateral Meeting on Security Issues A Trilateral meeting was held in the Government Palace last Thursday attended by Prime Minister Mr. Xanana Gusmao along with his Deputy Mr. Jose Luis Guterres, the General Commander of F-FDTL Mr. Taur Matan Ruak, the ISF Commander, the UNPOL Commander and the PNTL Commander. They discussed the issue of security and the official visit of the UN Secretary General, the Australian Prime Minister and others.

"In this meeting we did not touch upon Alfredo and the Petitioners. Mostly, we discussed the current situation and the plan for providing security for the visits of the United Nation Secretary General, the Australian Prime Minister, and the Norwegian Finance Minister", said Mr. Francisco Guterres, Secretary of State for Security.

Ramos Horta: "The Drama of Distributing Guns Has not Come to an End" The President of the Republic, Mr. Ramos Horta, said that the drama of gun distribution to civilians is not yet over, and in light of this Fretilin parliamentarians should not talk too much.

"Mister Alfredo will not avoid the judicial procedure and he will face trial, because he has a right to justice. He will explain to the court and to the people why he fled the armed forces for the jungle, who provoked the crisis, who distributed the guns - either Rogerio Lobato or any other leaders - because these stories are not yet over. I was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and did not make decisions on matters of defence. Therefore, those who talk too much in Parliament should remain quiet, because the gun distribution story has not yet come to an end", said the President of Republic.

Fretilin Should Continue to Struggle for the Truth The Deputy Secretary-General of Fretilin, Mr. Jose Manuel Fernandes, said that the Fretilin party should be reborn with Jesus Christ on 25 December this month to fight for truth and justice.

"It is time for Fretilin to stand up to defend the truth. I declare that Alfredo is not with Fretilin, because Fretilin defends the sovereignty of the state", said Mr. Jose Manuel. (DN)

The Government has approved a resolution to support the victims of the crisis "At a recent council meeting, the AMP Government approved a resolution to support the F-FDTL and PNTL members and their families who were disabled and killed during last year's crisis, as they were officials of the State," said the Minister of Council, Hermenegildo Pereira. (STL)

The President of Timor Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta, declares that he wants to eliminate poverty in Timor Leste The President of Timor Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta, declared that he will continue to use funds that have been allocated to his department in order to combat poverty, despite the Court decision that the allocation was unconstitutional. (STL)

Julio Pinto: The Civil Court can prosecute the soldiers The State Secretary for Defense, Julio Pinto, said that F-FDTL members who have committed crimes should be brought to trial in a civil court, as no military courts exist as yet. He said the civil court is available to try them. (STL)

UNPol and ISF can't capture Major Alfredo because they don't want more bloodshed in the country UNPol and the ISF declared that they will not pursue and capture former Military Police Chief Major Alfredo and his members at this time because they don't want anymore bloodshed in the country. UNPol and the ISF respect the Government decision to give the Task Force - who are currently working to find a way to open dialogue between Major Alfredo and the State- more time, so that Alfredo may submit himself to justice in a peaceful manner. (TP)

Four babies died in their mother's wombs The Maternity Health Manager in Same, Justa Pereira, said four babies were stillborn because their families did not bring the pregnant women to hospital early enough. The four women were having their babies in the traditional manner. (TP)

Government Asks UNMIT to support the work of an Audit Team The Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão, has requested the help of UNMIT and the World Bank with regards to auditing. He asked them to support the Government by sending an international team of auditors to review the work of the current Government. Xanana said the auditors will begin at the Presidential Palace in Caicoli, the Government Palace, and the National Parliament. (TP)

NATIONAL NEWS SOURCES: Timor Post (TP) Radio Timor-Leste (RTL) Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) Diario Tempo (DT) Diario Nacional (DN) Semanario Televisaun Timor-Leste (TVTL)

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