Thursday, 31 January 2008

UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING

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National Media Reports

TVTL news coverage F-FDTL soldier recognizes police officers who attacked Ruak's residence: An active Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL) soldier, Damiao da Silva, yesterday testified at the Dili District Court that he recognized police officers who were involved in the attack on F-FDTL Commander, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak's residence.

During the trial, da Silva said he saw there were some police officers shooting at his commander's residence, but he did not know about the exact involvement of Abilio "Mausoko" Mesquita.

Da Silva said that during the attack, he was wounded on both his armpit and neck. Da Silva was testifying in the trial for the former police officer, Mausoko who was suspected of being involved in the attack on the F-FDTL commander's residence during the crisis in 2006.

RTL news coverage

Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister meets Lasama: The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, Wu Dawei, met with the Parliamentary President Fernando "Lasama" Araujo yesterday to discuss Chinese aid for Timor-Leste.

Lasama said the Chinese Government has helped this country in agriculture and other sectors to assist with the nation's development.

Lasama said the meeting was very important to identify which areas need to be developed. Lasama added that the Chinese Government has pledged to continue helping Timor-Leste.

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RETRACTION- No offer of money from UNDP to TLPC: The story printed yesterday claiming that the Untied Nations Development Program (UNDP) was to provide USD800,000 worth of funding for a project to purchase newspapers from the Timor-Leste Press Club (TLPC) has been retracted due to serious errors in the article.

The Coordinator of Timor-Leste Media Independent Development Initiative Project, Miguel Caldera, has corrected the story stating that no such arrangement has been made between TLPC and UNDP. During the meeting between TLPC and UNDP, from which the erroneous article was based upon, discussions were had over possible UNDP support for all media in the nation. No specific finances were discussed.

Mari Alkatiri: "Early Elections should be considered": The Secretary General of Fretilin Mari Alkatiri said that there should be serious consideration given to holding early elections in 2009.

Mr. Alkatiri said that if there is no anticipation that elections may be held early, Fretilin will rally the population to force the current government to step down.

"This is not a threat to the Majority Alliance in Parliament (AMP). But this is Fretilin's right, and the peoples' need," said Mr. Alkatiri on Wednesday (30/1) in the National Parliament (NP), Dili. (TP)

Fretilin decries CNRT Xanana adulation: A member of parliament (MP) from Fretilin, Francisco Miranda said that Fretilin disagrees with the political statement of the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) which bestows undue adulation on Prime Minister (PM) Xanana Gusmão.

According to Mr. Miranda, such adulation is very dangerous for the process of democracy in Timor-Leste.

"As citizens of this country, we should give honor to all political leaders. But to glorify one leader above all others is dangerous for the process of democracy," said Mr. Branco in the NP, Dili.

Mr. Branco was responding to the political statement of CNRT in the NP that Xanana's contribution to the liberation of the country has been bigger then any other individuals. (TP)

Nelson Correia: "Alfredo's case all politics": The President of the Social Democratic Party Nelson Correia has said Alfredo's case is no longer a military case as it has become quite political. As such, it is difficult to define Alfredo's status and to know if the case requires a political or military solution. (DN)

IDPs reject Government's food reduction: IDPs in the airport camp have rejected the Government's plan to reduce food rations. The IDPs have made a request to the Government to continue food aid.

"If the Government's decision to reduce the food rations is implemented, we will demand that the Government show us immediately who the author of the military and political crisis has been," said Mateus de Costa Belo, Spokesperson for the IDP camp. He also warned that such action would cause civil unrest such as strikes and roadblocks. (DN)

Baucau: IDPs demand food aid: IDPs in Baucau have asked the Ministry of Social and Solidarity to provide food aid and other assistance as there have been no food distributions in Baucau for 8 months.

"We escaped to the district because of the crisis, not because we wanted to. We have lost all of our possessions. We are asking for assistance because we are victims, not beggars. The Government has to give consideration to our suffering," said the IDPs in a statement sent to Diario Nacional. (DN)

ISF: Only PNTL and UNPol can arrest Alfredo: The Commander of the International Security Forces (ISF) John Hutcheson has said that the ISF has no mandate to capture Alfredo or his group. However, if the courts need to capture him, they can ask the UNPol and PNTL forces for assistance as they do have a mandate to capture him. (DN)

UN examines TL report on child prostitution: The United Nations Commission on the Rights of the Child has examined the report by the Government of Timor-Leste on child prostitution, child trafficking, child pornography and child soldiers. The Commission stated that Timor-Leste needs a comprehensive judicial board to guarantee the promotion and protection of the right's of children. (DN)

UN Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS to visit TL: The UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS for Asia and the Pacific, Dr Nafis Sadik, is planning to visit Timor-Leste on 6-7 February to discuss the dangers of HIV/AIDS and to promote the use of prophylactics to guard against the disease. Dr Sadik's will visit senior Government officials in health and education. (DN)

TLPC sends protest letter to PNTL: Journalists from the Timor-Leste Press Club (TLPC) sent a protest letter yesterday to the PNTL Commander, Afonso de Jesus, claiming that members of the PNTL had used undue and unwarranted force in beating one TLPC member, Nelson da Cruz. The PNTL had also threatened the AFP Journalist with a gun. The protest letter was signed by the President of TLPC, Domingos Saldanha and the Secretary-General of TLPC, Paulino Quintas.

"We understand that while Nelson da Cruz had broken a rule, he should not have been physically abused. There are other ways of resolving this conflict," said the letter.

The protest letter had also requested that the PNTL members conduct themselves with professionalism. (STL)

International Media Reports

INDONESIA: EAST TIMOR, TSUNAMI ALERT CALLED OFF (AGI) - Jakarta, 30 Jan - The tsunami alert issued following the underwater earthquake recorded off the coast of East Timor has been called off. The tremor - 6.6 degrees on the Richter scale - struck the Indonesian province of Maluku at 4.32pm local time (8.32am in Italy) and was recorded 300 kilometres north-east of Dili, the capital of East Timor.

Suharjono, head of the Indonesian geophysics institute, said that the tsunami alert had been launched because the first consequence of a tremor at a depth of 23 kilometres if the creation of an anomalous wave.

NATIONAL NEWS SOURCES: Televizaun Timor-Leste (TVTL) Radio Timor-Leste (RTL) Timor Post (TP) Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) Diario Tempo (DT) Diario Nacional (DN) Semanário Nacional (SN) Tempo Semanal (TS)

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