[Poster's note: Long repeats of international articles already sent out
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UNOTIL
Daily Media Review
Thursday, 08 September 2005
National Media Reports
Xanana Gusmao: "National Unity Should Be Strongly Upheld"
Speaking at the launch of the newly founded NGO, FUN (National Unity Forum)
at the former CNRT compound on Wednesday, President of Republic Xanana
Gusmao stated that all Timorese can be united under the values of
democracy, justice, and the respect for human rights. And this, he said,
should be strongly upheld. Gusmao further said that for the future FUN can
be an open forum for everyone to discuss good ideas and contribute for the
national development freely. At the moment, President Gusmao said, people
would like to find out what the political parties have really done for the
development of the nation, adding that therefore FUN was created with the
aim of trying to do things that have not been done properly for the last
few years. Meanwhile, the President of FUN Marito Reis, a former prisoner
declared that FUN was founded with an objective to gather all Timorese with
their strength and capacity to work together in the process of nation
building based on what the Timorese aspire. Reis added that FUN in its
functions would try to work with all segments of Timorese society such as
Government at all levels, private sector, local NGOs and international
organizations. (TP, STL and DT)
Truth Commission Receives Jakarta Ad-Hoc Tribunal's Documents
Truth and Friendship Commissioner Dionisio Babo told the media on Wednesday
that the work of the Commission has progressed for the last two weeks due
to the fact that the Indonesian side had offered the documents of Jakarta
Ad-Hoc Tribunal to the Commission. According to Babo, after receiving the
documents the Commission started reviewing and analyzing them, adding that
there was a need for the Commission to recruit more technical staff with
legal background to do the work. However, Babo stated that the Commission
has not touched upon the substantive part of their work since there has not
been any agreement on the approval of legal statutes and the schedule for
their work plan. The Commission, he said, has decided to have a meeting in
Bali, Denpasar on 26 and 27 September to discuss this matter further.
(Timor Post)
Cuba Continues To Support TL
Cuban Ambassador to Timor-Leste Francisco Monsa Barrata has said that
Timor-Leste is an aid priority for the Cuban government. Speaking at a
farewell ceremony with President Xanana Gusmao on Tuesday for the Timorese
medical students who have received scholarships to study in Cuba, Monso
said that on his recent visit home he had the opportunity to meet with the
Cuban President Fidel Castro and to discuss the possibility of further
assisting Timor-Leste. He reportedly explained that Timor-Leste is
currently Cuba's number one priority for assistance, and he hopes that
Cuba's assistance in training Timorese doctors will contribute to reducing
the high mortality and morbidity rate in this country. 228 Timorese medical
students have been granted scholarships to study in Cuba, and 16 Cuban
doctors have been working in Timor-Leste for the past two years. Monso
added that the Cuban government plans to send 1500 doctors to the Southern
United States to assist in the clean-up efforts following the recent
hurricane there. (DT)
Launch of Government Website
It is reported that the Prime Minister Alkatiri has launched the website of
the Inspector-General stating that is an important element to demonstrate
the government's transparency. "In many of the cases, I have requested that
the Inspector-General conduct investigations, some requests are also from
the President as well as from some members of the government. This is why
we requested investigations as there are many cases," Alkatiri said. He
added that when a case is under investigation it does not necessary means
there is corruption as some cases only lacked facts. (TP, RTTL)
BPU Detains Former Militias
It is reported that PNTL Border Patrol Unit arrested 3 former Hametin Merah
Putih militia members in the border of Motain on Tuesday. RTL quoted a BPU
member as saying that the three had entered Timor-Leste territory while
searching for firewood in an area where trees are forbidden to be cut. It
is further reported that the three peoples were involved in the 1999
violence namely Mariano Barros (35) Lino dos Santos (25) and Batolomeus
Godinho (22) from Marobo sub-village of Soelesu in Bobonaro subdistrict.
The three men are in detention in Maliana police station for further
investigation. (RTL, TVTL, STL, Diario)
Introduction of International Judicial and Legal Advisors
The formal introduction by UNOTIL of 16 new international magistrates
advisers to the Ministry of Justice was reported on RTL news. Vice-Minister
Manuel Abrantes said that the international advisors will work in the
Courts, the Office of the Prosecutor-General, the public defenders office
and the Ministry of Justice. Manuel Abrantes reportedly said that a number
of public defenders in the Ministry of Justice would be located in Dili,
Baucau, Suai and Baucau Districts. (RTL)
WHO Goodwill Ambassdor Meets President
The World Health Organisation's Goodwill Ambassador for the Elimination of
Leprosy Yohei Sasakawa returned to Japan on Wednesday following a four-day
visit to Timor-Leste. A press release from the WHO explained that during
his visit Mr. Sasakawa met with President Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister
Mari Alkatiri and Minister for Health Rui Maria Araujo. He paid a visit to
Oecussi with the Minister for Health to participate in a congratulations
ceremony for 200 leprosy sufferers who have just concluded their treatment.
The Goodwill Ambassador congratulated Timor-Leste for its efforts to combat
leprosy, as well as its acceptance of leprosy sufferers within the
community, saying that this is a good example for the rest of the world.
The Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation is also currently providing
assistance to Timor-Leste for control of parasites, and on 6 September
Sasakawa said he was able to visit Manatuto where he met with volunteer
staff there involved in the distribution of worming medicine. (DT)
Japan Government Invites Prime Minister
Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dr.
Jos?Ramos-Horta met with the Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura
who came to Tokyo from his electoral district in northern island of
Hokkaido. The Japanese Foreign Minister commended the Timorese authorities
for having achieved the stability and progress in democratic nation
building. He indicated to Minister Ramos-Horta that the Japanese
government would like to invite Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri to visit
Japan before the end of March 2006.
Minister Ramos-Horta expressed his appreciation to Minister Machimura for
having returned to Tokyo to meet with him in spite of his extremely busy
electoral campaign.
Minister Ramos-Horta confirmed that Timor-Leste supported the G-4 proposal
and Japan's permanent membership in the Security Council. Foreign Minister
Ramos-Horta also explained about and asked for Japan's support to the
Commission for Truth and Friendship. He also sought Japan's support for
UNDP's institution building initiatives to strengthen the capacity of
government ministries, parliament and judiciary. He advised the Japanese
Foreign Minister that the mandate of UNOTIL comes to an end in May 2006,
however, advisory assistance will continuously be needed, especially in the
area of governance.
Foreign Minister Ramos-Horta also sought Japan's support for south-south
cooperation for advisory assistance. For instance, qualified advisors
could possibly be provided from Indonesia, Thailand etc, funded by Japan.
Foreign Minister Machimura fully endorsed the idea of south-south
cooperation. (Press Release, DT)
National News Sources
Timor Post (TP)
Suara Timor Lorosae (STL)
Diario Tempo (DT)
Diario Nacional
Seminario
Lia Foun (LF)
Televisaun Timor-Leste [TVTL]
RTL Radio Timor-Leste [RTL]
These items do not reflect the positions or views of the United Nations.
UNOTIL Public Information Office
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