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Subject: Daily Media Review 20 Feb 2008
Wednesday, 20 February 2008 UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING "UNMIT assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the articles or for the accuracy of their translations. The selection of the articles and their content do not indicate support or endorsement by UNMIT express or implied whatsoever. UNMIT shall not be responsible for any conseque6nce resulting from the publication of, or from the reliance on, such articles and translations." National Media Reports TVTL News Coverage Alfredo's advisor under house arrest: The advisor to Alfredo Reinado, Angelina Pires, has been placed under house arrest after being arrested on Sunday (17/2) on conspiracy and attempted assassination charges. 'I cannot comment on the Prosecutor's eyewitness as I respect the dignity of the suspect," said the international prosecutor Felismino Cardoso. Fretilin: Xanana's statement too provocative: The Fretilin member of NP Inacio Moreira said that the statement made by PM Xanana Gusmão to the public was very provocative. "The message of PM Xanana last night is going to exacerbate the situation during the 'State of Emergency," said Mr. Moreira. Separately, MPs from CNRT, UNDERTIM and PSD said that they all agree with the Prime Minister's statement. "UNDERTIM agrees with the statement of the Prime Minister. If possible the 'State of Emergency' should be extended to 2012 until the nation becomes stable and secure," said Cornelio "L7" Gama. RTL News Coverage 18 people arrested for violations against "State of Emergency": The Operational Commander of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), Mateus Fernandes, confirmed that 18 people were arrested for violating the 'State of Emergency.' Police have also seized fifty Rama ambons (metal arrows) and a sword from one suspect in his residence in Bidau, Dili. Commander Fernandes said that more than a hundred people attempted to destabilize the situation in the areas of Vila Verde and Bairopite by beating iron against metal gates- usually done to warn of impending trouble. The police responded immediately by capturing 17 suspects and detaining them in the Dili District Police station for further investigation. "There are some incidents in the capital Dili, but the police attended immediately and the situation remains calm…PNTL has arrested some people who did not respectt the 'State of Emergency' and who were also involved in the assassination attempts against PR José Ramos-Horta and PM Xanana Gusmão," said Commander Fernandes. The security situation in Dili however remains calm with no significant security incidents. Alfredo's advisor under house arrest: The advisor to Alfredo Reinado, Angelina Pires, has been placed under house arrest after being arrested on Sunday (17/2) on conspiracy and attempted assassination charges. Prosecutor Felismino Cardoso said on Tuesday (19/2) that Angelina's case is an important one as it is relates to the attempted assassinations against the leaders of the country. Angelina Pires was one of the first suspects interviewed. NP has no law to guide 'State of Emergency': The Acting President of the National Parliament (NP) has affirmed that there is no law guiding the Government on when it needs to report to the NP on the 'State of Emergency.' The Acting NP President Maria Paixão said that the National Parliament is currently working on a law about the State of Emergency. "There is no law that outlines the deadline for reporting on the 'State of Emergency.' We could adopt some from other countries," said Ms. Paixão in response to demands made by MPs for the Government to provide a report on the first State of Emergency. Ms. Maria appealed to the MPs to give adequate time to the Government to prepare its report. Fretilin demands medical officers for Horta: Fretilin is forcing the Government to provide medical officers to Darwin to follow the process of PR Ramos-Horta's medical treatment. "The Government has to have a medical team in Australia to follow the treatment process every day and not just wait for information provided by the Australian doctors. This is our responsibility," said Fretilin member of NP, Antoninho Bianco on Tuesday (19/2) in NP, Dili. ETCRN: Timor-Leste remains in crisis: The East Timor Crisis Reflection Network (ETCRN) said that Timor-Leste continues to be in crisis as there is no commitment from the Timorese people to resolve problems that too easily become politicised by individual and group interests. The Director of ETCRN José Caetano Guterres has asked the political parties to contribute to resolving the nation's problems by creating unity between them and the public. Related to the assassination attempts against PR José Ramos-Horta and PM Xanana Gusmão, Mr Guterres said that the attempted assassinations show that the presence of the International Stabilization Forces (ISF) and the United Nations Police (UNPol) in Timor-Leste could not guarantee security for Timor-Leste. Mr. Guterres further asked the National Parliament to invite the ISF and UNPol to give their statements on their failure to establish security. Mr. Guterres is also proposing to establish a national independent commission to investigate the events of 11 February Print Coverage SRSG and Lasama discuss arrest mechanisms: The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, met with the Acting President of the Republic, Fernando Lasama de Araujo, on Monday (18/2) to discuss possible mechanisms for arresting Salsinha and his group. "My meeting with the Acting President was to see how we can arrest those who were involved in the crimes. We focused on certain mechanisms. I also talked to PM Xanana this morning on how to make the arrests more effective by involving the F-FDTL, PNTL or anyone else," said SRSG Khare. (TP) Pires under house arrest: Angelina Pires, accused of conspiring with Alfredo's group to assassinate PR Jose Ramos-Horta and PM Xanana Gusmão, has been placed under house arrest by the Dili District Court. "I cannot comment on the Prosecutor's eyewitness as I respect the dignity of the suspect," said the international prosecutor Felismino Cardoso. Angelina was arrested on Sunday (17/2). (TP) Fretilin: Xanana's statement provocative: The Fretilin member of NP Estanislau da Silva said that the statement of PM Xanana Gusmão to the public was a provocative message which would worsen the current situation. Mr. da Silva said that the statement of PM Xanana was also insulting to other people. "The message of PM Xanana last night is going to exacerbate the situation as the message violates the 'State of Emergency' which prohibits any political activity," said Mr. da Silva. "But Xanana is engaging in political activity in order to attack others." Mr. da Silva has also asked PM Xanana to amend his statement for the sake of national consensus. Separately, MPs from CNRT, UNDERTIM and PSD said that they all agree with the Prime Minister's statement. "CNRT does not see the message as being provocative. As the Chief of the Government, he has to say whatever he has to create calm during this State of Emergency," said Eduardo de Deus Barreto. (TP) UNPOL: possible to arrest Salsinha and his men: The UNPol Spokesperson, Benjamin Osuji, has said that the coordination between UNPol, PNTL, F-FDTL and ISF would make it possible to arrest Gastão Salsinha and the other 17 members of his group who were involved in the events of 11 February. "The UNPol Commissioner in Timor-Leste, Rodolfo Tor, has said that the suspects involved in the incidents should be arrested. Timor-Leste's authorities, including the political parties, are also demanding the arrests," said Mr Osuji on Tuesday (19/2). (DN) Alfredo sent a letter to the UN SG: Alfredo Reinado once sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon claiming that he and his group were victims under Fretilin's rule. The nine-page letter was sent on 27 November 2007, two weeks before the visit of the Secretary-General to Timor-Leste. He wrote that he was only following his duties when the fighting occurred in mid 2006. He also wrote that as the Commander of the military police, he had a right to protect the nation when the 'State of Law' changed into the 'State of Dictatorship.' (STL) Joint Operation Commander's meeting held: For the first time, the Commander of the Defence Force of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak has led a joint meeting with PNTL. TMR acted as the General Commander of the Joint Operation of F-FDTL and PNTL. The meeting was held to discuss operational strategies to be used during the 'State of emergency' to track down Alfredo's men and Salsinha's group. (STL) IDPs to remain in place: In relation to the recent attacks against the leaders of the country, IDPs are refusing to return home claiming that they will wait in camps until the situation normalizes and becomes secure. Afonso Moniz, one of the IDPs in Obrigado Barrack Camp, said that the 11 February events have made him afraid to return home. "Even though the Government is pursuing various avenues to make us return home, we insist on remaining in the camps," said Mr. Moniz. (STL) * * * 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) UNMIT MEDIA MONITORING http://www.unmit.org Back to February menu |