Subject: UNMIT Daily Media Review 5 January 2007

[Poster's note: International and other articles already sent out to the east-timor list (info@etan.org) have been removed from below.]

UNMIT

United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste

Public Information Unit

Daily Media Review

Friday, 5 January 2007

UNMIT ­ MEDIA MONITORING

THE UN INTEGRATED MISSION IN TIMOR-LESTE DOES NOT VOUCH FOR THE ACCURACY OF THESE REPORTS

National Media Reports

President Xanana Gusmão returns home from holiday in Bali

President Xanana Gusmão reportedly arrived at Dili International Airport yesterday from a 10 day holiday in Bali, Indonesia. Upon his arrival, many journalists were waiting for an interview, but as his trip to Bali was a private one, he did not hold a press conference. (STL, DN)

National Parliament (NP)has not debated anything on the Ad-hoc Commission [Eventual Commission] because they want to protect each other: Oliveira

Speaking to journalists, the Director of Association of Human Rights and Justice, Jose Luis Oliveira reportedly said that East Timor National Parliament (NP) had not yet held a discussion on the Ad-hoc Commission [Eventual Commission established by the NP to follow up on the findings of the COI report] because they would like to protect each other. Mr. Oliveira emphasized on the role of the National Parliament, saying that it aims to serve the public and not individual colleagues, groups, or parties and added that the NP’s attitude was already seen by every East Timorese during the Indonesian occupation. In this era, under the Soeharto regime, Golkar [one of the biggest Indonesian political parties] was the only one that frequently did this. Then, he asked whether or not the ruling party, Fretilin would like to be another ‘Golkar’ in Timor-Leste. Mr. Oliveira considers the act of the NP as a political manipulation that has already committed serious violence against Human Rights in Timor-Leste. He stressed that this political manipulation also occurred in the judiciary sector. He affirmed that there were other ways for people to find justice even though constitutional ways were blocked and manipulated. (STL)

Ultimatum given to IDPs to return home is against the law

Speaking to journalists after attending a meeting between IDP representatives, the coordinator of the Airport IDP camp, Jose da Costa Gumao, reportedly said that the ultimatum from the government to ask IDPs to move from their camps and to stop providing humanitarian aid was against the law of human rights, particularly the right of IDPs. He added that the current government did not have any sentiments for its people who were suffering under tents in every camp. He criticized PM Ramos-Horta for being very slow in ending the crisis. Hence, the representatives of the IDPs agreed to remain in their camps until they obtain a clear policy from the government on internal security, civilians who are in possession of weapons, and criminal proceedings. (STL)

Our Institutions are still weak: Dom Basilio

Speaking to journalists after chairing the mass of the New Year Celebration in Baucau, Bishop of Baucau Diocese, Dom Basilio do Nascimento reportedly said that the process of following-up on the COI report, particularly in processing the actors who were involved in the crisis, took very long because our institutions are still very weak. Not only that, but we should all understand that this country got its independence recently; it’s just like a baby who was just born, explained Dom Basilio.

RTTL news headlines

Autopsy to establish the truth

UNMIT Deputy SRSG Mr. Eric Tan yesterday at the weekly UNMIT Press Conference said that an autopsy on the body of Mr. Sebastian is one of the important steps to reveal the truth for the family of the victim and the people of Timor-Leste. The autopsy is necessary for justice and the people who want justice. Mr. Tan also said that UNMIT will be responsible to take care of the body from exhumation until re-burial. SRSG Mr. Khare added that the autopsy would be completed within 24 hrs. At the same press conference SRSG Khare convey to the people of Timor-Leste UNMIT’s position on the report of the Commission of Inquiry. SRSG Khare stressed that UNMIT will not support any efforts for amnesty or impunity for those people who committed crimes against humanity.

IDPs reject Government plans to relocate

Yesterday, representatives from different IDP camps publicly declared to reject the government’s plan to relocate them from the present IDP camps because the proposed plan is not clear for them. One of the coordinators of the IDPs said that the Government was forcing them to return to their homes but they [the government] did not have a clear plan and never discussed their plan with the IDPs. Another member said that the government “forces us to move but how about those people who were taking the life of others, and looting and burning the houses of people and stealing from others? Will they be free? And how about those people who are still holding the illegal weapons, is the government forcing them to return their weapons to the government?”

STAE: Induction Training

In preparation for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, STAE has started an induction training programme for those staff members who will help with the entire process. The Vice Minister of State Administration Valentin Ximenes said that the aim of the training is to equip the participants with the necessary skills so that they will be able to participate in the process of the national elections. The participants are coordinators from the grassroots level in the 13 districts. They should be empowered with training and be provided with clear orientation because they will be working in the districts, sub-districts, sukus and aldeias, added Mr. Ximenes.

International News

NATIONAL NEWS SOURCES: Timor Post (TP) Radio Timor-Leste (RTL) Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) Diario Tempo (DT) Diario Nacional Seminario Lia Foun (LF) Televisaun Timor-Leste [TVTL]

UNMIT MEDIA MONITORING www.unmit.org 


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