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Subject: Timor-Leste Local Media Monitoring July 6, 2004
The content of this Email does not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank. Timor-Leste International and Local Media Monitoring July 6, 2004 Timor Post Inauguration of Atauro express boat The Secretary of State for Water and Sanitation, Egidio de Jesus, inaugurated a new express ferry boat to Atauro Island and Oe-Cussi (Enclave) on Saturday. The Secretary of State, representing the Prime Minister, said that the problem of the population can now be resolved as they kept on lamenting on the lack of transport between Dili, Oecussi and Atauro. The national newspaper reports that the ferry is owned by a Timorese and was purchased from Japan at the price of US$400,000. The Ferry?s manager, Jose Maria Alves, said that the project was only possible with the support from BNU (Portuguese bank) in providing the credit. The Atauro Express will operate twice between Dili-Oecussi and once Dili-Atauro, leaving Saturday and returning Sunday afternoon. New staff to be recruited by Radio and Television The Director for the National Radio and Television Station in Timor-Leste, Virgilio Guterres, said that the board has plans to establish a broadcasting station in Baucau, Maliana and Oe-Cussi. Mr Guterres said that the institution is on its third recruitment process, adding that 50 to 60 people would be recruited between 2004/2005. Mr Guterres said that the increase in the number of staff is mostly require to enable the deployment of TV and Radio crews in the districts of Timor-Leste. He said that the most disadvantaged TV station is the one that lacks crews in the districts. PM ready to talk with L7 The Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that he?s ready to speak to L-7 regarding the substitution of the Minister of Interior, Rogerio Tiago Lobato. The Prime Minister said that it was up to the former commander of Region III to decide when he wanted the audience with him. The Prime Minister said that so far Cornelio Gama (L-7) has not approached him but instead he?s making public statements that the Minister of Interior should be replaced. Government supporting the rich, says Tilman A Member of the National Parliament for Klibur Oan Timor Asu?wain (KOTA), Manuel Timan, said that the government of Timor-Leste is not reducing poverty at all but instead is supporting the growth of rich people. Mr Tilman said that the only thing that the Government did in the budget was to increase the travel allowances for the minister and staff, and thus supporting the growth of rich people. A bit of respect for the Veterans, says Lu-Olo The President of the National Parliament, Francisco Guterres (Lu-Olo), said that organizations who are using the veterans name should have a bit more respect for those that fought and sacrificed their lives for independence, and not use the veterans with an objective to seek money for their own benefit. Mr Lu-Olo said (without naming them) that these organizations are using the money for their private interest. Ex-general leads Indonesia presidential vote A former army general took an early lead Monday in Indonesia?s first direct presidential election, a key step toward democracy six years after the fall of longtime dictator Suharto. With around 1.3 percent of the estimated 140 million votes counted, Susilo Bambang Yudhouyono had 33 percent. Incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri had 28 percent. Another retired military general, Wiranto, was third with 22 percent. The election in the world?s largest Muslim nation was a massive enterprise, with more than 155 million eligible voters, spread across 13,000 islands and three time zones. Election officials reported that balloting was peaceful and largely free of problems. But they said the voting got a slow start in the capital where many soccer fans were sleeping in after staying up overnight to watch the European championship match. STL Justice system not functioning, says Lobato The Minister of Interior, Rogerio Tiago Lobato, said that Timor-Leste's justice system is not yet functioning properly, because whenever the Police arrest someone with enough evidence, the court turns around and decides that the evidence is not sufficient enough. According to the newspaper the Minister of Interior was referring to the recent case involving the Australian man, Julian King, who was deported on Monday. NP will approve National Anthem The President of the National Parliament, Francisco Guterres (Lu Olo), said that the National Parliament will prepare legislation to be able to approve the National Anthem for Timor-Leste. Mr Guterres said that it's an important issue for the National Parliament to decide. PM did downgrade own party, says Tilman The President of the Commission C at the National Parliament, Manuel Tilman, said "when the prime Minister said that I manipulated the figures and number in the budget, then he downgraded members of his own party (Fretilin) who are part of the Commission C". Mr Tilman said that if Commission C manipulated the numbers in the budget, why did Members of the National Parliament approve it. Maliana without electricity for 3 months The Coordinator of the EDTL in the District of Bobonaro, Asunção Pinto Batista, said that the generator cannot stand the demand from consumers, and the capacity of the generator is not big enough to sustain the current. Mr Batista said that for this reason most parts of the capital of the District of Bobonaro, Maliana, is always in the dark. Mr Batista said that those who are fortunate enough to have power pay their bills on time without any protest. Semanário (weekly newspaper) New political party born in Timor-Leste This week's edition of the newspaper reports that a new party the Millennium Democratic Party (PMD), was created and formed by former members of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). The President, Ermenegildo Lopes Kupa, during the Party launch said that the Party was born with very important ideas to better peoples lives from actual bitterness to a sweet reality. Mr Kupa said that the important thing for the party is to prepare the concept to be able to change the actual Timorese political atmosphere. Ex-resistance leaders from 13 Districts planning to protest During a meeting of the ex-veterans in Becora, an ex-Falintil Commander for Region III, Cornelio Gama (L7), said that leaders of the resistance from 13 Districts will stage a protest during three months if the Government does not undergo a reshuffle and restructure. He said that the National Police Force needs to be restructured, because many police officers serving now either come from outside or were Indonesian informants during Indonesian occupation. Present at the meeting were a few ex-commanders, the coordinator of CPD-RDTL, Antonio Ai-Tahan Matak, the Rector of the Peace University, Lucas da Costa and the Director of the CISPE, Victor da Costa. Jose Filipe External Affairs World Bank, Dili Office Support ETAN, make a secure financial contribution at etan.org/etan/donate.htm Back to July
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