UNMIT Daily Media Review 10 January 2007

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

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

The Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos Horta has started the first few days of 2007 by paying a three day visit to the eastern districts. He spent one day in Baucau and met with Bishop Nacimento and local authorities, and another two days in Lospalos. In Lospalos, PM Ramos Horta who was accompanied by the Minister of Development, Arcanjo da Silva, and the Vice Minister of Interior, Agustinho Somoco. They visited Lagoa Ira Lalaro and in line with the government's plan, it will be used to generate the electrical power for the whole territory of Timor-Leste. The team also held a dialogue with the local authorities where some proposals to reconstruct the destroyed bridges and government buildings were raised to the government. In responds to those proposals, the PM Ramos-Horta promised to pass the information to the Minister of Publics Work and other institutions to follow up. (STL)

In response to complaints from the members of Border Patrol Unit about inadequate meals the first Vice Prime Minister, Estanislao Aleixo da Silva reportedly said that from now on, the government would stop the company supplying he food. He said the Government through the Ministry of Interior would plan to directly pay the cash to the members of BPU enabling them to buy their own food. Mr. da Silva also said the office of the Prime Minister would work with the ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Public to provide sufficient facilities and improve the living conditions of the BPU and Immigration police members who work on the border. (STL)

Speaking to the journalists, the President of the Fretilin party, Francisco Guterres Lu'Olo reportedly said that the Fretilin party will win the 2007 General Elections with a good outcome, that will later be recognized by both Timor-Leste and the international community. This statement was given in response to the statement of the leader of Fretilin Reformist Group [Mudanca] who said that Fretilin would not even get per cent of the vote in the forthcoming elections. Hence, Mr. Lo'Olo affirmed that whether or not the Fretilin would win, or got 1% vote, it totally depended on the people not on a group of people or an individual. The people would be the determinants of the coming elections he stressed. (DN)

Victim from the Act of Major Alfredo's members meet with Commission A, National Parliament

It is reported that one of the chiefs of Aldeia from Ermera district who was captured by the members of Major Alfredo on Monday, 8 January 2007 was accompanied by 6 witnesses, including his two brothers whom had met with Commission A of the National Parliament. The group was welcomed by the President of the Commission A, Vicente Faria, Alexandre Corte-Real, President of Sub-Commission, Jacob Fernandes, Vice President of National Parliament, and other members of Commission A. The Victims and witnesses explained the chronological event to the NP as saying six members of Major Alfredo forcedly brought the victim from the vicinity of his home to Aifu where Major Alfredo lived. Upon the victim's arrival, he was interrogated by Major Alfredo on the reasons why victims organized the demonstration against his [Alfredo's] presence. But, the victim said he did not organize it. Then, he informed the NP members that there were no violent acts during the interrogation which took one hour. Then, the victim was peacefully brought back to his home. In response to this complaint the NP members reportedly said that they would inform PM Ramos Horta who is also as the Minister of Defense to follow it up, and suggested to the victim to also inform the complaint to the Ombudsman [Provedor] of Human Right and Justice. (DN)

The first trial of former Minister of Interior of Timor-Leste Rogerio Tiago Lobato took place on Tuesday with tight security around the court building. Mr. Lobato faces several charges, including arming civilians with high-powered weapons to a group of 31 persons under the command of a man named Railos. Despite the heavy charges against Mr. Lobato there were hundreds of his supporters who rallied in front of Dili Court of Appeal waving Fretilin's flag and shouting "long live Rogerio Lobato" and "long live Fretilin". The trial went well and will continue today. UNPOL and some members of PNTL provided security throughout the trial process.

The Speaker of the National Parliament Mr. Francisco Lu'Olo said yesterday that the discussion of the reports of the Eventual Commission has started and will continue until the members of Parliament issue a resolution to bring forward the recommendation of the UN Commission of Inquiry for further judicial process. Mr. Lu'Olo added that the members of Parliament will differentiate the political and justice issues so that each one will be addressed accordingly.

Yesterday there were a numbers of IDPs who went to the office of Minister of Labor and Community Reinsertion to ask for assistance but the people in the office did not react well. The IDPs complained because they felt that they were ignored or neglected by the people who were working in the office. On the same day, the Minister of Labor and Community Reinsertion clarified the issue by saying that they do their best to answer to the demands of the IDPs. Mr. Bano added the officials of his Ministry deserved respect because they have been working tirelessly attending to the need of IDPs. They work beyond obligation, including Saturdays and Sundays.

The first Vice Prime Minister Estanislao da Silva and Jose Teixeira the Minister of Natural Resources, Mineral and Energy Policy visited Atauro Island recently to see the development and condition of the people living there. During the meeting that lasted several hours the people of Autauro presented their concersn to the Vice Prime Minister and Mr. Teixeira. One of the cheffee sukus of Atauro indicated several basic requirements are needed such as water and sanitation, roads, electricity, radio, TV, and other means for communication. They also expressed concern that these concerns have been brought to the attention of the government from the first constitutional government but no action has been taken. In answering to that the Vice Prime Minister Estanislao has reiterated the commitment of the second constitutional government to address the problem of the country including Sub-District Atauro.

Timor Leste or East Timor will have no problem joining the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to officials of the 12th ASEAN Summit. In a press conference at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) here this afternoon, Summit Spokesman Ambassador Vic Lecaros said that as the youngest nation in the region, "it is just a matter of time" before East Timor would become a full-fledged member of ASEAN. Lecaros said the attendance of East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta means that "ASEAN is good enough to join in." He said that since East Timor shares the same characteristics as the rest of the members of ASEAN, the former Portuguese colony would "not be an odd man out among us." Lecaros said East Timor, through Prime Minister Horta, would first sign the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, which is the first step toward joining ASEAN. He said the other five nations that joined ASEAN went through the same process. Brunei Darussalam joined the ASEAN on Jan. 8, l984, Vietnam on July 28, 1995, Laos and Myanmar on July 23, 1997, and Cambodia on April 30, l999. (Philippine News Agency - PNA)

E Timor ex-minister goes on trial Tuesday, 9 January 2007 East Timor's former interior minister has gone on trial on charges of arming civilians during unrest last year. Rogerio Lobato is accused of supplying weapons to a rebel leader who says he was hired to act against opponents of the then prime minister Mari Alkatiri. Violence erupted when the dismissal of 600 soldiers by Mr Alkatiri in March triggered street battles between police factions and the army. More than 3,000 Australian peacekeepers were deployed to restore calm. Their numbers have since been reduced to around 1,100. At least 37 people died during the clashes within different factions of the security forces which later sparked ethnic and gang violence. More than 150,000 people fled their homes. Proceedings against Rogerio Lobato and three co-defendants are beginning two months late amid ongoing conflict between rival gangs, in which more than a dozen people have died. Hundreds of Rogerio Lobato's supporters gathered outside the high security courthouse in the capital, Dili, as some 50 UN and local police stood guard. About 35 witnesses from East Timor, Australia, the United States, Portugal and Macau are expected to testify. The four could face a maximum 47-year prison sentence if convicted. Mr Lobato has claimed he was acting on the orders of Mr Alkatiri, a close political ally, who resigned in June. Mr Lobato resigned from his post as interior minister on 1 June after President Xanana Gusmao assumed control of the security forces in a bid to control the violence. East Timor gained independence in 2002 after a period of UN stewardship. It was ruled by Indonesia for 24 years before its people voted overwhelmingly in 1999 in favour of breaking away from Jakarta. (BBC)

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]

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