| Subject: Local Media Monitoring - August
14, 2003
From UNMISET LOCAL MEDIA MONITORING August 14, 2003 STL EMERITUS BISHOP BELO MESSAGE TO POLITICAL LEADERS On Tuesday Emeritus Bishop, Monsignor Carlos Filipe Belo, appealed to political leaders through his message on Radio Timor Kmanek, that political leaders should sit together and address their differences through dialogue rather than criticize each other. Bishop Belo said that ultimately it is the people who will suffer if they don't. GREGORIO DE SOUSA: "GOVT DOES NOT INTERFERE IN THE MEDIA" In response to the statement made by the President of the Public Broadcasting Service, Mr Virgilio Guterres, the State Secretary, Mr Gregorio de Sousa, yesterday told reporters that the letter sent by him to Mr Guterres was a suggestion letter aimed at improving TVTL's and RTL's coverage on Mario Carrascalao's case. Mr Sousa said "We think that what has been reported by the TVTL and RTL it was not true. Reporters who covered the case did not show impartiality. The Government did not interfere in the media". PLATFORM OF NATIONAL UNITY GIVES FREEDOM OF SPEECH The President of the Political Platform of National Unity (PPNU), Mr Fernando "Lasama" de Araujo, yesterday told reporters that PPNU gives freedom to its members to speak out. Mr Araujo said that the PPNU is not preoccupied with members who do not agree. In a statement last week Mr Araujo said that the PPNU was created to give the freedom to everybody to speak out. Mr Araujo said that he has promised to hold a meeting soon to clarify any misunderstandings. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RECEIVES $230.000 FROM UN Vice Minister of Health, Mr Luis Lobato, yesterday said that the Department of Health has received US$230,000 from the United Nations for malaria prevention. Mr Lobato said that in order to account for the money they will spend and also to formulate a strategic plan for malaria prevention, his department is carrying out a workshop at Dr Antonio de Carvalho Hospital in Lahane ? Dili. TIMOR POST GOVT MUST EXPLAIN THE PRE-PAID ELECTRICITY The Speaker of the National Parliament, Mr Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, yesterday told reporters that the National Parliament has sent a letter to the Minister of Telecommunication, Transport and Public Works, Ovideo de Jesus Amaral, to come to the Parliament to explain the pre-paid electricity system. Mr Lu-Olo said that consumers are complaining about the high cost of the pre-paid electricity. SOUSA SAYS:"WHY CAN THE GOVT NOT CRITICIZE THE MEDIA ? The Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers, Mr Gregorio de Sousa, yesterday asked Timor Post reporters why it was that the opposition parties could criticize the media but the Government not ? Mr Sousa said that the Government saw something it felt was wrong in the media, then it sent a letter to the President of the Board of the Public Broadcasting Service, Mr Virgilio Guterres so the media could consider Government concerns. In a separate interview, the President of the Board of the Public Broadcasting Service, Mr Virgilio Guterres, said that Prime Minister has called him personally to confirm his statement in yesterday's media that the Government had interfered in freedom of media. The Prime Minister explained that it was not an interference, but a protest letter to RTL and TVTL. Mr Guterres said that the media would be frustrated if the Government tried to control them. MARIO FILES HIS CASE WITH THE DILI COURT The lawyers's spokesperson, Mr Benevides Correia Barros, said that Mr Mario Viegas Carrascalao yesterday filed his case with the Dili District Court. Mr Mario is suing the RDTL Government, The Department of Justice, Directorate of Land and Property. (The story does not explain the reason for his actions). Mr Barros said that Mr Mario's advocacy team is made up at 8 lawyers organizations and 11 lawyers. Back to August menu |