Subject: UNMIT Daily Media Review 02 July 2007

[Poster's note: Repeats of international articles already sent out to the east-timor list (info@etan.org) have been removed.]

Monday, 02 July 2007

UNMIT ­ MEDIA MONITORING

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

National Media Reports

KOMEG sends 1,232 observers for Parliamentary Elections

The Joint Monitoring of General Election (KOMEG) sent 1,232 observers across Timor-Leste's 13 Districts to observe the Parliamentary Elections on Saturday (30/6).

"In preparation for the parliamentary elections, KOMEG reinforced the team by recruiting another 178 observers," KOMEG Chairman Fr. Agostinho de Jesus Soares informed the media at a press conference on Friday (29/6) in Dili. (STL)

PNTL committed human right abuses

The Chief of the Human Rights and Justice Provedor (PDHJ), Sebastião Dias Ximenes, at a press conference on Friday (29/6) in Dili said that the PDHJ report indicates that many PNTL members committed human rights abuses during the period 2005-2006. (STL)

National parliament objects statement made by Prime Minister and F-FDTL Commander

In response to the statements made by Timor Prime Minister Estanislau Aleixo da Silva and F-FDTL Commander Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak regarding the petitioners, the Vice Chairman for Security and Foreign Affairs at the National Parliament, Mr. Clementino dos Reis Amaral, reportedly said that he rejects such statements.

Mr. Reis said that these statements undermine the efforts made towards reaching a dialogue. (STL)

Remove posters and banners from polling centers

At a CNE press conference on Friday (29/6) in Dili, CNE Spokesperson Maria Angelina Lopes Sarmento stated that based on article 15 of the electoral law, all political parties and coalitions have the responsibility to remove their posters and banners from the polling centers and stations across the country.

She called upon all political parties and coalitions to remove all posters and banners before the parliamentary elections on Saturday. (STL)

Bishop of Dili called upon political parties to accept elections results

The Bishop of the Dili Diocese, Mgr. Ricardo da Silva, called on political parties contesting in the parliamentary elections to accept the results.

"Saturday (30/6) is an important and historical day for East Timor, when the Timorese people will cast their vote for democracy," said Mgr. Ricardo on Saturday (30/6) after voting in Lecidere polling station, Dili. (STL)

Horta: "We have to accept the results"

After casting his vote in Dili, President José Ramos-Horta called on the Timorese people and the political parties to accept the results of the elections.

"We should recognize the results of the elections as victory will be determined by the majority. I do not believe that any one party can form a government so discussions must take place. I will bring all the parties together this week ­ even before the final results are announced ­ to make sure that discussion take place regarding thhe transition," (DN and TP)

High Voter turnout in Parliamentary Elections

At a STAE press conference on Saturday (30/6) in Dili, the STAE Director, Tomas do Rosario Cabral, stated that there was a higher voter turnout in the Parliamentary Elections. (DN)

203 prisoners cast their votes

Timorese prisoners had the opportunity to cast their votes on Saturday's (30/6) parliamentary elections. According to the supervisor of the Becora prison in Dili, João Domingos, 203 prisoners were able to vote. (TP)

International Media Reports

UN says East Timor elections quiet and orderly Last Updated 30/06/2007, 21:14:10 ABC Radio

The United Nations mission in East Timor has made the preliminary finding that Saturday's parliamentary poll in the country has proceeded without any major incidents.

Our reporter in Dili Geoff Thompson says even in the eastern districts of Viqueque where two people were shot earlier this month and in Ermera where dozens of houses have been burnt, East Timor's second parliamentary election has been a quiet and orderly affair.

Precise voter turnout numbers are not yet known.

But on the ground reports suggest an enthusiastic response from the young nation's 530,000 registered voters.

On Saturday night, United Nations and military helicopters have been used to move sealed ballot boxes to district centres where counting begins on Sunday morning.

Early national results are expected by Monday or Tuesday while the final vote percentages won by individual parties are not expected before the end of next week.

Record turnout predicted for E. Timor elections Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:44a.m. New Zealand police have been helping provide security in East Timor New Zealand defence personnel in East Timor say they expect a huge turnout at the nation's Parliamentary elections today.

East Timorese are heading to the polls for the third and final time this year, in a bid to restore stability after the country's recent deadly violence.

Campaigning got off to a bloody start when two supporters of the former President were killed in June.

Colonel Paul Van Den Broek says they expect the voting will go smoothly, but may take sometime with record crowds predicted

T. Leste, RI students injured after clash YOGYAKARTA: Students from a private university clashed here Friday, with several having sustained serious injuries.

Police are still collecting information on the brawl that involved students from Timor Leste and Indonesia.

Four Timor Leste students were brought to Bethesda Hospital, while one Indonesian from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, was treated at Babarsari Hospital for serious injuries.

East Nusa Tenggara and Timor Leste share a land border located on Timor island.

Police were quoted by detik.com news portal as saying the clash may have been triggered by a dispute between students the previous day.

Following then East Timor's decision to secede from Indonesia in 1999, many Timor Leste students have continued to study at Indonesian universities, including in Yogyakarta, financed by scholarships provided by the Indonesian government. -- JP

A brief look at the parties competing in East Timor's parliamentary elections The Associated Press Published: June 29, 2007

DILI, East Timor: More than 548,000 voters are eligible to cast ballots Saturday in East Timor's parliamentary elections, the third poll since April after two rounds of presidential elections. Some 14 parties are vying for spots in the 65-seat legislature, with four top contenders:

- RT: National Congress for the Reconstruction of East Timor founded in March 2007 and led by former president and independence hero Xanana Gusmao. Has not yet developed a detailed policy program but seen as lead contender due to the popularity of its charismatic leader.

- ETILIN: Revolutionary Front of an Independent Timor-Leste, a left-wing party led by Mari Alkatiri, which has a loyal following due to its ties to the struggle for independence from Indonesia. Heads current government with nearly two-thirds of parliamentary seats, but expected to lose a large block of voters to CNRT.

- D: Democratic Party, a center-left party led by Fernando 'Lasama' de Araujo that came in second behind Fretilin in the last parliamentary election. Likely to form a coalition with Gusmao's CNRT if the latter wins polls.

- SDT/PSD: A coalition of the Timorese Social Democratic Association (ASDT) and the Social Democrat Party of East Timor (PSD). ASDT is one of the oldest political parties in the country, with strong nationwide support. May also be called on to join a new government coalition.

- PSD, headed by the wealthy Mario Carrascalão, a moderate alternative to Fretilin may also join a new Cabinet.

REMAINING PARTIES: Democratic Timorese Party (UDT); Timorese Socialist Party (PST); Sons of the Mountain Warriors (KOTA); Christian Democrat Party of Timor (PDC); Millennium Democratic Party (PMD); Timorese Nationalist Party (PNT); Peoples Party of Timor (PPT); Republican Party (PR); National Unity Party (PUN); and National Democratic Unity of Timorese Resistance (UNDERTIM).

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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