UNMIT Daily Media Review 6 March 2007

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

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

President Xanana Gusmão said Timor-Leste would use national defence force to stop the violence in the country. In his Presidential statement on Monday 5th March, the President stressed that the State is no longer tolerating anyone destroying properties or taken somebody else's life, noting that the violence has been long affecting the capital Dili. Gusmão lamented that the country is heading a little bit towards anarchism and there is no goodwill from some people of the community to contribute to peace. He said that some protests, rather than bringing people together to resolve the problems, are contributing to distancing the people in a time when the nation needs to recuperate to become an environment of tolerance and acceptance. He also said it is important to create conditions for all citizens to freely participate in the upcoming elections and that it is the State's obligation to safeguard the stability of the country, the people and their properties and to stop criminalities and to ensure that the smooth functioning of State institutions and the existence of freedom for all citizens. The President also appealed to the national and international authorities to use legal means to ensure that the law of the country is obeyed and that any demonstrations must follow the rules. He said that the international forces should take strong action against anyone creating public disorder. Gusmão stated to the nation that if the decision to reduce criminality is not sufficient, the State will take harsher measures.

According to Timor Post, the State had ordered the security forces to use force to stop the violence by issuing a decree law, which authorizes the International Forces to search houses around Dili without a court warrant. President Xanana Gusmão officially introduced the law yesterday (05/03) at Palacio das Cinzas, Dili. (DN,TP)

Commander of Unidade Intervenção Rapida (UIR) Inocencio da Silva, reportedly told the media Monday following a meeting with Prime Minister Horta that the police is prepared to attend to the violence in the country as the higher superiorities gives the go ahead. On the same occasion, Prime Minister Ramos-Horta asked UIR members to focus on their work seriously. He said that the State had requested F-FDTL to provide security to State buildings due to the workload UNPOL and PNTL are facing. The Head of the Government said the recent burning and looting of computers from the Ministry of Education was done by a group of criminals and the computers were taken not to study but to sell to their militia friends in Kupang and Atambua and therefore, F-FDTL is willing to protect buildings indicated by the State. Ramos-Horta said the reason the President issued a decree law, which has the support of the Parliament and the UN, is to give more power to the international forces in their operations to make decisions that will help stop disturbances. He said that some groups really want to destabilize the country by terrorizing and pushing the population away from their homes in order for them to steal. (DN)

The Commander in Chief of Unidade Intervesaun Rapida (UIR), Inocencio Araujo da Silva informed that the violence of burning houses and attacking each other by the youth groups has forced 114 families, mostly children and elderly people in Suco Fatuhada and Hudi Laran to seek refuge in UIR compound for protection and security. Furthermore, Inocencio stated that most of the refugees who have lost their houses have been staying at the compound for the last two weeks. The refugees are still not receiving sufficient humanitarian assistance yet. Meantime Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta who was at the PNTL UIR compound, presented his gratitude to Inocencio and his men for their kindness in giving protection and security to the refugees and pledged that the government will help members of the unit who are facing problems with food. He said the government will provide rice to the whole unit for them to effectively perform their duties. The rice will be distributed by the Ministry of Labour and Community Reinsertion. (TP)

Prime Minister Ramos-Horta reportedly said that although the international forces continue the search to apprehend Reinado, if Alfredo sends a SMS or approaches the church to re-seek dialogue and follow the justice process, the operation to capture him will immediately cease. He said that there are possibilities for dialogue and that the point of the operation is not to kill him. He said the International Forces have orders not to fire first, noting that in Same, Alfredo's group fired first at the ISF helicopters which resulted in the death of four people. The Prime Minister said in the months that have passed President Xanana tried to persuade Alfredo to follow the justice system by holding many dialogues with him, which led to the President being accused of trying to hide Alfredo from the International Forces. He also said that rather than follow the advice from many including Bishop Belo, Alfredo decided to take more guns from the border posts, an act which cannot be accepted by the State, the President of the Republic and the Parliament. (DN)

Coordinator of Movimentu Unidade Nacional ba Justisa (MUNJ) Agusto Trindade Junior has given a 24 hour deadline to the President of the Republic to withdraw his order on the capture of Major Alfredo. Trindade Junior said if the demands are not met he will mobilize youth from all the districts to hold a protest in Dili against the ISF.

Coordinator United Nations Development Funds For Women (UNIFEM) Milena Pires reportedly told Timor Post that the media is still not reporting much about women. She cited as an example the first page of the newspapers which carried information based mainly about men. Pires said the media must also approach women and report on news about and opinions from women. She said in order to strengthen women's participation in the 2007 elections, media is an important partner and cannot be ignored. The head of UNIFEM in Timor-Leste said women participating in the elections will provide all the information to the media which is imperative to have a space allocated for it to be reported in a balanced and accurate manner. (TP)

United Nation Police (UNPOL) and PNTL appealed to all citizens to provide information about the suspect of Sergio Castro de Jesus knows as Sergio Ninja. Sergio Ninja escaped from the Becora prison on 17 February 2007 while he was awaiting trial for his attack and sexual abuses. Sergio Ninja is the fifth prisoner which police have not yet captured

UNPOL and PNTL officers said that since he escaped from the Becora Prison, Sergio has been seen around various parts of Dili. The police are seeking public assistance to localize and to arrest Sergio.

Justice System Monitoring Program (JSMP) appeals to the United Nations in Timor Leste UNMIT to improve the justice in Timor Leste. According to JSMP justice sectors in the Districts of Baucau, Oecussi, Suai and Dili still are not functioning properly due to political interference.

DILI - The attack of australian Forces to the 'barracks' of the renegades (Alfredo cs) on Sunday (04/03) morning burning the anger of East Timorese. Tension spread over Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste since yesterday afternoon. Hundreds of young men blocked main roads in Dili by burning tires.

They yelled Alfredo Reinaldo, the head of renegades who had been targeted by international forces for days.

The protest made Australian government anticipating the situation by evacuating its citizens out of Dili, excluded military personnel and diplomatic corps. "The situation in Dili is endanger. Too many many groups demonstrating. Mostly, the supporters of Alfredo. They threat Australia," said Monica Rodrigues, a female UN force who accompany the riot in Dili yesterday.

The Foreign Minister of Austrtalia, Alexander Downer who was visiting Indonesia said that the evacuation of the civilians should be in hurry to avoid the attack. "The situation in Dili is very dangerous. It is too risk to ignore our civilians without protection," said Downer.

Even though the action of his Army (ADF) pursuing Reinaldo bringing disadvantage for Australia, he amplified that the operation will go forward. "Every efforts done to arrest Reinaldo alive. But, I think, good suggestion for Reinaldo is surrender. He could hide in the forest for awhile," added Downer. To increase the security forces, Australia through UN asking for police personnel in Timor-Leste to be more than one thousand personnell.

Australia is worried about the possibility of conflict that will be taking place, following civil war. That is why one hundred SAS forces had sent to Timor-Leste in 24 hours before the attack.

Reinaldo said that, Australia is coming to Timor-Leste to create instability - more instable. "The Australian Forces are the target of mosquitos in the forest, while we are sleeping on the mattress and at the same time watching TV," said Reinaldo sinically.

Reinado left his barracks in Same after Autralian forces which supported by two Black Hawk hrlicopters attacked. In his hide place, he sent 6 SMS to diplomats and journalists. "For now we are watching out to do any kind of attack," said Reinado.

In separate place, Gastao Salsinha, the head of 700 forces which dismissed last year, said that he and Reinaldo are now dedicating their lives to fight for one million people and their rights in Timor-Leste.

Reinaldo said that, Timor-Leste will enter civil war if Australia continue attack his groups. He said that, the Attorney General, Longuinhos Monteiro could detain him. The requirement is, Longuinhos could protect himself by waiting for all the statements in the tribunal about the riots last year.

Meanwhile, President Xanana appeal to all people stay in calm. He said that the nation interest is all above then the interest of a single individual or certain people. (ap)

The situation in East Timor appears to be deteriorating with the government now advising those concerned for their safety to consider leaving.

Thousands of angry supporters of East Timor's rebel leader Alfredo Reinado protested in the capital Dili last night, against a raid on his hideout by international troops.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says the risks there are now extreme, and is advising against all travel within the country.

Ex-pats and tourists are being strongly being urged to register with MFAT, and maintain regular contact with the embassy in Dili.

Some Australian embassy staff and their families will be evacuated from the Timor-Leste's capital of Dili amid fears of increased violence sparked by a failed attempt to capture the nation's fugitive rebel leader by the Australian- led international force.

The rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, who escaped from a prison in the capital of Dili last year, still remains on the run in the rugged hills around Same, south of Dili.

There have been reports of unrest in the capital since Sunday's raid on Reinado's hideout.

Some supporters of Reinado have protested outside the Australian embassy in Dili.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has authorized the voluntary departure of Australia's non-essential embassy staff and their dependants in Timor-Leste, warning there is a high risk of violent civil unrest.

"There is an increasing likelihood that Australians could be specifically targeted," he said in a statement late Monday night.

Meanwhile, Timor-Leste's President Xanana Gusmao has said a state of emergency may be imposed to stop an outbreak of civil unrest, vowing to use all legal means to pursue the rebel leader.

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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