UNMIT Daily Media Review 10

[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

Remove direct capture before prepare to dialogue with Major Alfredo (Youth supports the church mediation)

The dialogue between government and Major Alfredo may be held since the mandate of arresting or shooting on him stopped, said Marcelino Magno, a researcher on political and social affairs on Friday (09/3), the day of launching the candidacy of Fernando 'Lasama' to run for the president.

Furthermore, he stated that for some time the two Bishops (Mgr. Basilio and Ricardo) urged dialogue not violence, and to avoid using weapons to shooting.

Spokesperson Front Mahasiswa Timor Leste (FMTL) Julio Soares reportedly said on Friday 09/03/07 at Campus FASPOL Caicoli Dili that Youths support the Church Mediation to dialogue with Major Alfredo Reinado. As a Timorese, to create stability in this newly born country we need a best way to prepare dialogue with Major Alfredo Reinado to resolve problem. (TP,)

President of Conselu Nasional Elisoins (CNE) Faustino Cardozo reportedly said that CNE will be totally responsible for upcoming elections mainly in budget and tabulation areas. He revealed that from now on CNE will prepare to cooperate with overall institutions which deals with Media, UNMIT and Provedoria Direitus Humanus i Justisa (PDHJ). (STL)

Member of National Parliament João Gonsalves reportedly appealed to all youths to stop violence saying that violence will resolve nothing. He called for all youths to remain calm and follow the best ways to develop this new country. He said that the upcoming elections will resolve and reduce current problems with a new Government with a confident Political Party. On the Judicial Process, he said that all problems will be resolved all the way through Tribunal, based on the legal laws in existence. This is the best way to resolve problems, he said. (STL)

To stabilize East Timor Security in upcoming presidential Election, ISF Australia reportedly added 200 Personnel Armed Forces yesterday. With these increments the initial 800 Personnel has become 1.000 Personnel. These troops arrived on two planes from the Philippines. According to Brigadier Mal Rerden, these Armed Forces will reinforce the current Australian and New Zealand troops. (STL)

Morning FlightClementino: peopple have to have its clarification from the Government

Vice President Committee B (Security, Defence and Foreign Negotiation), National Parliament Clementino dos Reis Amaral reportedly called for Government to clarify the three morning flights at International Airport Nicolau Lobatu Comoro. He said that the State has to clarify for people regarding from which country the plane is coming. He said that people are now traumatized and shouldn't be further terrified. (STL)

A meeting in relation to Major Alfredo Reinado Alves, was held with the fifth meeting of High Level Committee. In attendance was the Special Representative of Secretary General (SRSG) Atul Khare, Brigadier General Mal Rerden, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta, President of National Parliament Lu-Olo, Attorney General Longinhos Monteiro and President of Republic Xanana Gusmão. There is no result from the meeting reportedly and the High Level Committee did not provide any comment to Journalists despite the fact that the meeting is very important for people pending the responsibilities of the State and Government to the current situation concerning Major Alfredo Reinado's. (STL)

TP observed that actions of burning tires and government vehicles in Dili has been reduced after President Xanana gave his approval to International Stabilization Forces (ISF) to step up efforts against the violence by supporters of Alfredo. (TP)

After the operation to detain Alfredo Reinado failed during the last week on 04/03/07, ISF asked for cooperation from all Timorese for the current and upcoming operations. ISF Brigadier Mal Rerden reportedly said that ISF would appreciate if all people of Timor Leste contributed to providing information about Major Alfredo. He said that when Alfredo Reinado with his group took weapons from BPU on the border and afterwards moved to Same, UNPol provided information to ISF and after gaining that information, ISF urgently relocated to Same to maintain Security. The Special Representative of Secretary General Mr. Atul Khare also appealed to Major Reinado Alves to surrender if he positively loves Timor Leste, Justice and stability in this new country. (TP,)

The UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Timor Leste, Atul Khare said he believed the upcoming elections would be conducted fairly and credibly.

Khare was speaking to journalists about the ongoing situation within the capital Dili, and the military operation against ex-Military Police Commander, Major Alfredo.

Khare said the deployment of international forces and UN police would be sufficient to respond to any kind of violence during the elections. He added hat he believed Timorese leaders would try to reconcile and that Timor was capable of resolving the situation with Alfredo. (DN)

The President of Fretilin, Francisco Guterres (Lu-Olo) said although former Interior Minister and Fretilin member, Rogerio Lobato, had been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, Fretilin would not suspend his party membership because the sentence would be appealed.

Rogerio's verdict was reached by the panel of three international jurists, led by Judge Ivo Rosa Batista, after a three-month trial.

Lobato's lawyer, Paulo Remeidos said the verdict was not fair and that his client would appeal the sentence

Lobato was tried for arming a civilian hit squad, one of the key triggers for country's recent political crisis. (DN)

A total of 504 new polling stations will be built throughout the country, for the April 9 presidential elections, Director of the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), Tomas Cabral said at a launch ceremony, Friday (9/3) at the STAE offices.

He added that STAE would announce the total number of polling centres which would be open to the public, three days before the election is held.

STAE estimates that more than 510,000 people will vote in the elections, at more than 700 polling stations.

More than 3,500 polling staff would work on the elections and more than 600,000 ballot papers would be distributed throughout the country. (DN)

The President of the National Electoral Commission (CNE), Faustino Cardoso Gomes said the upcoming elections required the cooperation and contribution of both media and civil society.

Speaking at a one-day seminar on media coverage of the elections, Faustino said the media play a very important role during elections, disseminating information and educating voters. The seminar was held Saturday (10/3) held at Hotel Timor. (RTL, March 12, 2007)

Prime Minister, Jose Ramos Horta said establishment of the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party would be made in a few days.

Horta said CNRT would be led by the current President, Xanana Gusmao. CNRT would be fully supported by Timorese veterans and would back Horta as a presidential candidate.

He added that President Xanana might want to play a role in government or parliament. "If the President leaves his current post to sit in parliament and government, I do believe that this will be very important to the nation," said Horta. (STL)

The United Nations' Special Representative in Timor Leste, Atul Khare said the UN would provide transport and communication equipment for the upcoming elections.

Khare was speaking to journalists Friday (9/3) at the National Electoral Commission (CNE) offices.

Khare added that the UN mission in Timor Leste was going to cooperate with all Timorese institutions, in supporting both the presidential and legislative elections. The presidential election was scheduled to be held on April 9 and the legislative elections would be announced after the presidential elections. (STL)

The President of National Electoral Commission (CNE), Faustino Cardoso said President Xanana Gusmao has asked CNE to work hard and monitor presidential candidates to make sure that they did not exert improper pressure on voters or other candidates during their political campaigns.

Faustino said the President expected that a fair and democratic presidential election would take place. He was speaking to journalists Friday (9/3) after meeting Xanana at the Presidential Palace. (STL)

Ex-Interior Minister, Rogerio Lobato would be imprisoned like an ordinary person and the government would not provide him with special treatment, said the Minister for Justice, Domingos Sarmento.

The Minister was speaking to journalists Friday (9/3) about the preparation of detention facilities for Lobato.

Rogerio was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison Wednesday (7/3) by panel of three international jurists, led by Judge Ivo Rosa Batista, after a three-month trial. (TP)

Sixteen houses in Babulu village in the southern district of Manufahi were damaged during the Australian-led international forces military action in pursuit of ex-Military Police Commander, Major Alfredo Reinado, last Thursday (8/3).

A Timor Post correspondent reported that the houses were damaged by fire from the black hawk helicopters.

Alfredo and his men are on run after Australian forces raided their hideout in southern town of Same last weekend, killing five of Alfredo's men.

The Australian forces undertook the operation to capture Alfredo, on President Xanana Gusmão's authorization, after Alfredo raided two Border Police Units last month, seizing 18 firearms. (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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