East Timor News Digest 21 - August 11-24, 2003

Dili -- Civil and military officials in East Timor have recently exhumed the bodies of over 250 people who died during new nation's quarter-century independence struggle against occupying Indonesian forces.

The victims of Timor's bloody independence war had been buried in makeshift graves in the center and east of the country and are being returned to their families for proper burial as part of a East Timor Defense Force (ETDF) initiative to "honor fallen heroes".

Capt. Mau Kalo of the ETDF told Lusa there had been widespread popular calls for proper burial of the war dead, both guerilla fighters and civilians, and rigorous contacts with ex-fighters had established at least 3,000 Timorese are buried in one mountainous zone in the center of the country.

Bodies are being taken for full identification to a school outside of Dili before being handed over to families, Capt. Kalo said.

Timor's prime minister, Mari Alkatiri, told Lusa he welcomed the exhumation process, saying it was time to "restore the truth of history".

"It is important the initiative progresses in a coordinated fashion under the charge of sovereign bodies, particularly parliament. It is not just enough to exhume the bodies, they have to be properly identified to ensure no errors are made", the Timorese leader said.

Timor Gap

Canberra agrees to East Timor boundary talks

The Australian - August 11, 2003

Nigel Wilson -- Australia has agreed to begin talks with East Timor before the end of the year on changing the maritime boundaries between the two countries.

The promise, which follows months of delay in Canberra, comes as the Indonesian Government is under pressure to renegotiate a 1973 treaty with Australia covering the uninhabited Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island off far-north Western Australia.

Both moves threaten future Australian-based oil and gas developments in the Timor Sea and could accelerate the decline of Australia's biggest producing oilfield at Laminaria/Corallina.

Prime Minister John Howard wrote to his East Timor counterpart Mari Alkatiri on August 1 saying Australia would agree to the maritime boundary talks beginning before the end of the year. This was nearly five months after Dr Alkatiri asked Australia to give some sort of timetable for the maritime boundary talks.

East Timor wants the boundary changed so that it runs along the median line, equidistant between the two countries, rather than the present arrangement which gives greater weight to Australia's claimed economic zone.

If East Timor were to succeed, it would secure administrative control over developments such as ConocoPhillips' multi-billion- dollar Bayu Undan project and the planned Greater Sunrise gas development.

Any change in the maritime boundaries could also hand control of the flagging Laminari/Corallina field to either East Timor or Indonesia, forcing the Australian Government to surrender potentially billions of dollars in tax and royalties, some backdated.

An adviser to Dr Alkatiri, Alisa Newman Hood, said in Dili that Mr Howard's letter was a positive development. But she noted the Prime Minister had not specified any time frame for the negotiations to conclude even though Dr Alkatiri had publicly stated that the boundary question, while complex, needed to be resolved within three to five years.

Provision for maritime boundary changes is contained in the Timor Sea Treaty signed in Dili in May last year when East Timor became a sovereign nation. But Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been reluctant to enter into negotiation. It withdrew Australia from the maritime jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice before the Timor Sea Treaty was signed.

Meanwhile, the small Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara has demanded that Australia reopen discussion on the Timor Gap and the ownership of Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island.

Earlier this month, The Jakarta Post quoted Ferdi Tanone, head of a special working committee, as saying that if Australia did not cede Ashmore Reef, known as Pasir Island to Indonesians, then Australia should pay compensation of $US25 million ($38 million) for 50 years.

Australian National University Asian and Pacific Studies Research Centre director James Fox said that depending on how boundaries were calculated, natural resources would change hands if the claims were successful. But he noted there was no evidence in recent years that boundaries had changed anywhere in the world under agreed negotiation procedures.

Justice & reconciliation

Former militiaman jailed for eight years

Agence France Presse - August 12, 2003

A court in East Timor jailed a former pro-Jakarta militiaman for eight years and eight months for crimes against humanity during the territory's bloody breakaway from Indonesia in 1999.

Joao Sarmento, who pleaded guilty, was convicted of two counts of murder and of forcibly deporting villagers in the Same area of Manufahi district between April and September 1999, the country's Serious Crimes Unit said in a statement.

Sarmento murdered two people in a coordinated militia attack on a village in April that year and murdered another man in September who refused to board a truck to be transported to Indonesian West Timor. He was also guilty of forcibly moving villagers from Same to West Timor in "planned operations" in September 1999, the statement said.

Last month two other former members of the same Tim Sarasat Ablai militia were jailed for 12 and eight years respectively.

The East Timorese militias, backed by the Indonesian military, waged a savage intimidation campaign before East Timorese voted in August 1999 to split from Jakarta, and a revenge campaign afterwards. An estimated 1,000 people were killed and whole towns were burnt to the ground. Tens of thousands of East Timorese either fled or were forced by militiamen across the border into West Timor as international peacekeeping troops moved in to halt the violence.

East Timor's Special Panel for Serious Crimes has now convicted 35 people over the 1999 violence. United Nations-funded prosecutors have charged more than 300 people, including top- ranking Indonesian military officers. Of those indicted, 221 remain at large in Indonesia, which refuses to hand anyone over for trial.

Indonesia's own rights court for offenders in East Timor has been described by international rights groups as a sham, with most defendants cleared or given light jail terms.

Human rights trials

East Timor atrocities: Submit to international tribunal

Straits Times - August 15, 2003

William J. Furney -- Spare a thought for the judges who heard cases of atrocities at Indonesia's special crimes tribunal for the former East Timor: With almost every major international human rights group slamming the trials of 18 former officials as an unabashed "whitewash", these are put-upon, mercurial justices of the law.

Most of the Indonesian military and civilian officials -- charged with crimes against humanity and, in some cases, genocide -- have been let off the hook, acquitted by the court in Jakarta before the dust had even settled on the gavel's opening strike.

However, in a surprise verdict in the final trial last week, the court sentenced the former military commander of East Timor -- now Timor Leste -- to three years' jail, despite the fact that prosecutors had requested the charges be dropped for lack of substantive evidence.

Major-General Adam Damiri had denied responsibility for failing to stop his underlings from brutally slaying 153 people in five separate massacres in the former Indonesian province, and for subsequently not bringing the officers to justice.

He maintains that he was "not in the field" at the time, stationed as he was on the resort island of Bali. It is thus highly likely that he, along with five other military and civilian personnel convicted, will appeal the verdict.

This means the tribunal, set up to assuage international outrage over the killings of around 1,000 Timorese, has so far failed to put anyone behind bars for the atrocity.

Stonewalling the trials is undoubtedly the all-powerful Indonesian military machine, which is experiencing a return to glory after the downfall of former president Suharto in 1998. The armed forces chiefs now have a willing ally in the administration of President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Acquiescing to international pressure, Jakarta established its ad hoc court early last year. And for a while, it seemed keen to comply and hold to account those responsible for the mayhem in the former Portuguese colony it annexed in 1975.

But not for long. Soon, in case after case, officials either walked free or were meted out minor sentences. Jocular scenes in military personnel-filled courtrooms were the norm as those accused thumbed their noses at the pseudo-proceedings.

The new government of Timor Leste has been remarkably subdued in its response to growing concerns over the direction the trials have taken -- apart from Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, who called for the establishment of a United Nations-backed tribunal, but was quickly silenced.

President Xanana Gusmao has adopted a courting stance towards Jakarta. Rather than lash out at the Indonesian government over the trials' outcome, he has remained mute on the subject, and it can only be assumed that he sees cordial relations with the former colonial master as the best way forward for the world's newest nation, and among its most impoverished.

The outcome of the Damiri case, however, seems to have been the straw that broke a strained camel's back for Timor Leste. Days after the verdict was handed down, Foreign Minister Jose Ramos- Horta hit out at what he called a lenient sentence, but -- again refuting overseas trials -- passed the buck to the European Union (EU) and the United States to press for a foreign-based tribunal to re-hear the cases.

With human rights groups increasingly calling for the establishment of an international court to re-hear the cases -- similar to the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, where ailing former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic is being tried -- it seems increasingly likely that momentum among concerned governments and institutions might see one come about.

In the latest broadside on Indonesia, the EU, Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland issued a joint statement last week condemning the tribunal for having "have failed to deliver justice" and chided prosecutors for not presenting evidence from UN and independent Indonesian investigators.

The State Department in Washington also voiced its dismay.

Even if an international court sees the light of day, though, it is clear that the military chieftains in Indonesia would simply snub it. Buoyed by domestic and international support for its current war against separatist rebels in Aceh province, the military is flexing its muscles as it revels in its return to glory days.

However, there are dark days ahead for Indonesia, with cascading criticism of the military at the vanguard of an impending downward spiral.

A recent editorial in The New York Times on last week's deadly hotel bombing in Jakarta warned that Indonesia "is acquiring a reputation as a soft target for international terrorism" due largely to "chronic misgovernment". "Helping fight terror in Indonesia should not mean handing unchecked power to its already unaccountable army, which remains repressive more than five years after the fall of the Suharto dictatorship."

Now, authorities are considering draconian legislation akin to Singapore and Malaysia's Internal Security Act, laws that would give broad powers of arrest and indefinite detention.

Coordinating Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono even went as far as saying, in the wake of the Jakarta bombing, that basic human rights could be forsaken in the interests of looking after the common folk.

If such a scenario comes to pass, we could see a roll-back to the days before former president Abdurrahman Wahid separated the dual role of the military and police, when the military adopted overall responsibility for maintaining order. Not only has the man who was chief of the Indonesian military in 1999, General Wiranto, not been indicted, but he has also opted to contest Indonesia's first direct presidential elections next year, and his ballot bid is now in full swing.

However, whatever the political machinations in Jakarta, there remains a strong desire among foreign nations and global organisations to see that justice is done over Timor Leste.

To that end, Jakarta would be well served to meet demands for an international tribunal -- and ensure indicted former military officers and civilian officials are given a plane ticket.

[The writer is a freelance journalist based in Jakarta.]s the polytechnic school). Present at the ceremony was President Xanana Gusmao the Head of UNMISET, Mr Kamalesh Sharma and others distinguished guests.

The President of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Mr Virgilio Guterres, yesterday said that the Council of Ministers do not have the right to interfere in the editorial matters of the Public Broadcasting (RTL and TVTL). Mr Guterres said that the right of interference was not stipulated in the Broadcasting Regulation. Mr Guterres said "if the Government tries to impose views and influence the work of the national radio and television, it is an evidence of violation of freedom of speech and the independence of the media. The article said that the State Secretary for the Council of Ministers, Mr Gregorio de Sousa sent a reprimand letter to the Public Broadcasting Service. The letter said that PBS's journalist are irresponsible and mentioned PBS reports on the Mr Mario Carrascalao case and Lucia Lobato's, statement regarding the nationality status of the Prime Minister and Secretary of Defense.

The Timor post reported that the Minister of Finance and Planning, Mrs Madalena Boavida, yesterday met with Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri to report on the unspent CFET budget allocated to each department for fiscal year 2002-2003. After the meeting, Mrs Boavida told reporters that all departments should wisely spend their budget as per her request. Mrs Boavida said that she was concerned about the unspent CFET budget.

And said: "for the fiscal year 2003-2004, the Finance and Planning Department will pay attention to this matter by watching other departments to fulfill their budget ". Mrs Boavida said" the CFET budget for this fiscal year totalled US$79.1 million and it must be spent effectively by every department".

The Speaker of the National Parliament, Mr Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, said that the Falintil Day (August 20) commemoration in Waimori -- Viqueque was a historic day for our heroes of independence. He said this made him feel happy.

Timor Post also reported on the inauguration of the Timor-Loro Sa'e National University ? Technical Department Campus as per the STL report.

Governemnt pooh-poohs international rights standards

Jakarta Post - August 15, 2003

Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta -- Indonesia should not be obliged to meet international standards in prosecuting the human rights abuse cases in East Timor, because the trial of perpetrators was conducted in mostly in accordance with the local law, says a government official.

Director of human rights affairs at the Foreign Affairs Ministry I Gusti Agung Wisaka Puja said that the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Commission had never asked Indonesia to try those held responsible for the 1999 East Timor rights abuses in accordance with international standards.

"It is a loophole that benefited Indonesia. However, we must admit that our legal action in handling the East Timor cases has not been perfect because we have judges who lack experience and professionalism," Puja said at a seminar about the human rights court here on Thursday. "But, of the utmost importance is that we have a strong commitment to bringing a number of rights abuse suspects to justice via the ad hoc trials," he added.

According to Wisaka, it is also unfair to criticize the court verdicts imposed on a number of former government and military officials in East Timor since further legal proceedings at the High Court were still under way. East Timor declared its full independence on May 20, 2002 after the 1999 vote. "Let's wait for the final verdicts from the higher courts," he said.

The human rights court has tried 18 civilian and military leaders that were working in East Timor in 1999 in connection with the carnage carried out mostly by militia groups. Six were found guilty, but most were given lighter sentences than the minimum stated in the law, and several others were acquitted of all charges.

Thousands of East Timorese were believed to be killed in the massive scorched earth campaign that erupted following the ballot's results, in which nearly 80 percent favored independence.

Meanwhile, human rights activist Ifdhal Kasim of the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam) said the only possible solution to such cases was to accept universal jurisdiction in human rights cases.

"Belgium is one example of a country that has accepted such universal jurisdiction to penalize the human rights violators even without the presence of the defendants in court," he said.

"If the defendants are found guilty they could face arrest in some countries." He said that the option of setting up an international tribunal would not be needed at present as the world was focusing on its fight against global terror.

Justice after the Timor bloodshed

Sydney Morning Herald Editorial - August 11, 2003

It was overshadowed by the Jakarta bombing. But the conviction last week of a senior Indonesian general for crimes against humanity should not be overlooked. Indonesia did all it could to avoid having its officers brought before international war crimes tribunals over their behaviour during East Timor's independence vote four years ago.

It promised instead to try suspects in a specially created human rights court in Jakarta. Fears that suspects would get off with a slap on the wrist unfortunately were quickly proved right. But now the human rights court has sentenced Major-General Adam Damiri to three years' jail for "criminal acts" committed while serving as the regional military commander during the army-backed militia violence of 1999.

Damiri, who was the head of the Bali-based Udayana command which took in East Timor, is the most senior Indonesian officer to be charged and convicted over the Timor bloodshed. He did not receive the longest sentence. His Dili-based deputy, former Colonel Noer Muis (who was not long back from an Australian staff college when he took up his 34-day posting) got five years -- a year for each week he spent in Timor -- and Eurico Guterres, the notorious Timorese militia leader, 10 years.

Damiri's career took off under two prominent Kopassus (Special Forces) officers. He was the chief of staff of the Jakarta military garrison under Major-General Syafrie Syamsuddin, a former adjutant to president Soeharto and a man associated with a number of unsavoury operations, in Jakarta, Aceh and East Timor. And he was hand-picked by Soeharto's son-in-law, Lieutenant- General Prabowo, to command a division in the army strategic reserve.

In East Timor, Damiri helped arm and organise brutal pro- Indonesia militias. Later, he worked closely with Major-General Zacky Anwar Makarim, a Special Forces intelligence officer. Anwar, while ostensibly liaising with the UN Mission, had the job of scuppering a vote for independence, by fair means or foul. Like Syafrie, Anwar had been deeply involved in Indonesia's dirty war in Aceh.

Even though Damiri received a relatively light sentence and is unlikely ever to see the inside of a jail, he has reason to believe he is the senior fall guy. Disturbingly, no charges have ever been brought against General Wiranto, the armed forces chief at the time, or against Anwar or Syamsuddin. Equally disturbingly, some who were deeply involved in the Timor horror have prospered since. Syamsuddin is now the army spokesman. Major-General Mahidin Simbolon, a former Special Forces intelligence officer and Damiri's deputy in East Timor when the militias were being organised, was later appointed military commander in the troubled province of Papua (formerly Irian Jaya) where, not long afterwards, Kopassus soldiers were accused of murdering Theys Eluay, the chairman of a Papuan umbrella group, many members of which favour independence.

Damiri's conviction is a sign of some justice being done, but not much. It remains to be seen whether the constitutional grounds for appeal against retrospective punishment which clouds the Amrozi Bali bombing case might also apply to his and other East Timor human rights cases.

Indonesia

Indonesia, Timor agree to set up gateways, markets at border

Antara - August 22, 2003

Kupang -- Indonesia and East Timor have agreed to set up nine gateways and seven markets at their border.

The markets are intended to become a center of economic activities among the people of the two neighboring countries, Supartantyo, head of the industry and trade office of Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province, said here Friday.

The gateways are located in Mota'ain, Metemauk, Haekesak and Haumusu in Belu district; Napan, Wini, Laktutut and Haumenimau in Timor Tengah Utara district; and Oepoli in Kupang district.

News & issues

Feared militia leader lives happily in Yogya

Laksamana.Net - August 21, 2003

Joao da Silva Tavares, widely regarded as one of the most feared and hated pro-Jakarta militia leaders of East Timor, is these days enjoying retirement in Indonesia's ancient temple city of Yogyakarta.

Tavares is the former leader of Bobonaro district's notorious Halilintar militia and also served as supreme commander of the East Timorese Integration Fighters Legion (PPI).

The murderous militias were formed by the Indonesian military in an effort to intimidate the people of East Timor not to vote for independence in an August 1999 referendum organized by the United Nations.

Following the referendum, in which the East Timorese voted overwhelmingly to secede from Indonesia, the military and its militia proxies went on orgies of killing, looting and arson.

An estimated 1,000 people were killed during the carnage, before the militias withdrew to West Timor, which is part of Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province.

In July 2003, Tavares was indicted in absentia in Dili for crimes against humanity for his active leadership role in the militias in Bobonaro. The militias were accused of a series of abuses, including a massacre at the Maliana police station on September 8, 1999.

East Nusa Tenggara Military Command chief Colonel Moeswarno Moesanip on Wednesday told state news agency Antara that Tavares has chosen to live in Yogyakarta because he feels free from persecution and accusations of human rights violations.

"He has been living in Yogyakarta only recently but is enjoying the rest of his life there," said Moesanip. He said Tavares enjoys the pleasant atmosphere in Yogyakarta and is also free from economic hardship.

Earlier this month, Tavares warned that more violence would erupt in East Timor if the new nation's government and people don't cease their efforts to take legal action against former militia leaders. He instead called on all East Timorese people to continue the reconciliation process to create stability.

Reconciliation would only be achieved if the East Timorese people forgive each other and don't try to take revenge on their enemies by attempting to bring them to court, he added.

He said jail is not the right place to resolve the problems faced by East Timor. The right place lies in the inner hearts of the East Timorese people, who are ready to forgive each other, forget the bitter experiences of the past and step forward to a peaceful future, he asserted.

Tavares said reconciliation would only be strong and durable if the East Timorese do not seek to take revenge for mistakes of the past. "We should not seek legal process against those considered guilty," he was quoted as saying by Antara.

Tavares claimed he had decided to live far away from the border West Timor and East Timor in order to create peace for East Timor's younger generation. "Certain quarters in East Timor would consider it a constraint to create peace if I live in the border areas," he said.

Indonesia has shown zero desire to hand over soldiers and former militia leaders wanted in East Timor for crimes against humanity.

Local media monitoring

East Timor local media monitoring

UNMIET - August 11-14, 2003

Suara Timor Lorosae reported that on Saturday, President Xanana Gusmao attended a vocational training certificate award ceremony held at Don Bosco Training Center ? Comoro ? Dili. During the ceremony, President Xanana told the 90 students who had accomplished their studies that Timor-Leste as a new nation faces a lot of problems. He said it is obvious that students should chose applied sciences as their preferences rather than social sciences such as politics and law to fulfill the market demand. The Don Bosco Educational Center has an vocational course for carpentry, electrical work and welding. President Xanana said that he is very glad of the Don Bosco Education Center's contribution in the capacity building for the young people self reliance. (President Xanana's statement did not refer specifically to this education institution, but it is an appeal to the youth in general).

In a demonstration of support for Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri held on Saturday at Nicolau Lobato International Airport, the Interior Minister, Mr Rogerio Tiago Lobato, told demonstrators that Fretilin is committed to support Mari Alkatiri in hard times. He said Fretilin would continue to hold the legislative agenda of the five years term with Mari Alkatiri as the Secretary General of the Fretilin Party. The article said that about 150 supporters were gathered at the Airport with banners of support for Mr Mari Alkatiri.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri presented 80 vehicles to the National police (PNTL) in a ceremony held at the Government Palace. The Prime Minister formally handed the vehicle keys over to the Interior Minister, witnessed by all cabinet members. The Interior Minister, Mr Roderio Tiago Lobato, told reporters that the Government had allocated US$900,000 from the budget of 2002-2003 to purchase these vehicles. Mr Lobato said that most of the vehicles will be allocated for border districts of Bobonaro, Covalima and Oecusse.

The Timor Post reported that Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri told reporters after his official visit to Thailand that :"I know why I became Prime Minister. I know the soil that I stand on.

Those who are against me, I know who they are. So I don't feel preoccupied with these concerns. If I become afraid of the people, then it is another matter. But I am not afraid of the people, therefore I undertake the "Open Government Program". Prime Minister Alkatiri was received by supporters at Nicolau Lobato International Airport.

The Indonesian Representative Office in Timor-Leste (KUKRI) is in profound sorrow after the death of its Political and Information Officer, Mr Harry Say.

Mr Say passed away on Saturday after being treated at the Dili National Hospital Intensive Care Unit. Spokesperson for the KUKRI said that Mr Say had died of a heart attack.

In a exclusive interview with Timor Post the Timor-Leste's Students and Youth Organization's (OJETIL) President, Mr Eladio Faculto de Jesus, said "the current political constellation in Timor-Leste appeared to have an impression of divergence of ideas among national political leaders". Mr Jesus said that the people in general and OJETIL in particular were concerned with the current political situation.

Timor Post also reported on the graduation of the students of Don Bosco Vocational School as per the STL report.

August 12

Suarta Timor Lorosae reported that the President of the Timorese Democratic Union Party (UDT), Mr Joao Viegas Carrascalao, yesterday held a press conference to explain his party's views regarding the current political situation and the coup d'etat that happened in 1975. He said: "I ask Timor-Leste's political leaders to settle their conflicts through dialogue, instead of criticizing each other. It is the time to focus on people's problems and suffering". Mr Joao recalled the 1975 coup d'etat incident and said: "no more coup d'etat like what had happened on August 11, 1975 in Timor-Leste". Mr Joao said that when the coup happened, it was not the UDT that asked for integration with Indonesia, but the Portuguese. "This is the reason when some people saying that UDT undertook the coup d'etat. UDT is ready to respond in the court" said Mr Joao.

The Minister for Justice, Mr Domingos Sarmento, yesterday told reporters that Government plans to evict people from Government premises will be suspended due to unfavorable economic and social conditions of the people. "The eviction of the community from Government properties will be examined case by case. I will consider the social and economic situation of the people who uses Government properties before a final decision is taken" said Mr Sarmento.

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri yesterday officially opened the Timor-Leste's Maubere Youth Organization (OJUMATIL) national congress in Akadiruhun Dili.

The Prime Minister said in his open remarks that some people would not like the Government's policy in upholding the law. "I accepted this responsibility not to make friends. I have to be responsible for those who died in the struggle for the liberation of this country. I would not accept this task just to make friends" said Mr Alkatiri.

The Commander of the National Police(PNTL), Mr Paulo de Fatima Martins, yesterday said that during the commemoration of the Falintil 28th anniversary on August 20, 2003 in Waimori-Viqueque, the District Police of Baucau, Viqueque and Manatuto will be responsible for the security. "PNTL will not lose the opportunity, we will take part in Waimori. Beside that a joint team of F-FDTL and PNTL will trace the graves of those died during the struggle" said Mr Martins.

The Timor Post reported tha the Minister of Justice, Mr Domingos Sarmento, yesterday told reporters that Opposition Parties questions about the nationality status of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, the Defense Secretary, Mr Roque Rodrigues and State Minister Mrs Ana Pessoa, were baseless. Mr Sarmento said that their (Prime Minister and the other two ministers) nationalities are clear. Mr Sarmento made these comments in response to reporters' question about Government discrimination concerning those with wives or husbands with Indonesian nationalities. The journalist had said they had heard that they have to pay immigration monthly tax, while some Government officials with the same situation were exempted from the regulation.

Mr Sarmento said that he will examine the case. He said that his office is preparing a draft regulation on international marriage.

The Vice Speaker of the National Parliament, Mr Jacob Fernandes, yesterday said that the National Parliament will recommend that the Government lowers the price of the pre-paid electricity. He said that this recommendation is based on the protest by consumers. Mr Fernandes said that the community needs to support Government's decision to implement the pre-paid meters otherwise the Government will not have financial resources to cover the cost.

The President of the Timorese Democratic Union Party (UDT), Mr Joao Viegas Carrascalao, yesterday said that UDT did not hold a coup d'etat in 1975. However he said UDT held a anti-communist demonstration against communist doctrine. The President of UDT held the press conference to respond to rumors that the UDT is preparing a coup d'etat to bring down the ruling party.

The Executive Director of the East Timor Study Group, Dr Joao Mariano Saldanha, yesterday spoke at a seminar held by ETSG. He said that Timor-Leste should learn from Ireland's experiences in developing its economy. Mr Saldanha described how the Irish Government together with the private sector and national Non Governmental Organizations had developed the private sector and foreign investment. The article said that this seminar was supported by the Office of the President.

August 13

Suara Timor Lorosae reported that President Xanana Gusmao, yesterday told reporters that he will call on political leaders to discuss the current political situation which, according to him, does not reflect national unity and democracy. The article said that the President has scheduled a tentative agenda. On Saturday (16/08) the President will meet with former Falintil Commanders such as Eli Foho Rai Bo'ot (L-7), Samba ? 9 and Oligario (from CPD-RDTL). Next Saturday (23/09) the President will meet with national political leaders and some F-FDTL commanders. President Xanana said that all the meetings will be held at his residence.

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, yesterday held a meeting with the Commander of the F-FDTL, Gen Taur Matan Ruak and the Commander of National Police, Mr Paulo de Fatima Martins. The meeting was held to discuss security issues after UN peacekeepers depart in mid ? 2004. After the meeting the Prime Minister told the press that they had discussed preparations and preventive measures post UN PKF and UNPOL departure in June 2004. The Prime Minister said that it was a coordination meeting to formulate measures for a smooth transition. The article said that the Prime Minister did not explain any further about the term "formulate measures".

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, yesterday inaugurated the Timor Lorosa'e National University ? Technical Department Campus in Hera ? Dili. The Japan Engineering Group carried out the rehabilitation of the buildings of UNTL ? Technical Department (known formerly as the polytechnic school). Present at the ceremony was President Xanana Gusmao the Head of UNMISET, Mr Kamalesh Sharma and others distinguished guests.

Timor Post also reported on the inauguration of the Timor-Loro Sa'e National University ? Technical Department Campus as per the STL report.

August 14

Suara Timor Lorosae reported that on Tuesday Emeritus Bishop, Monsignor Carlos Filipe Belo, appealed to political leaders through his message on Radio Timor Kmanek, that political leaders should sit together and address their differences through dialogue rather than criticize each other. Bishop Belo said that ultimately it is the people who will suffer if they don't.

In response to the statement made by the President of the Public Broadcasting Service, Mr Virgilio Guterres, the State Secretary, Mr Gregorio de Sousa, yesterday told reporters that the letter sent by him to Mr Guterres was a suggestion letter aimed at improving TVTL's and RTL's coverage on Mario Carrascalao's case. Mr Sousa said "We think that what has been reported by the TVTL and RTL it was not true. Reporters who covered the case did not show impartiality. The Government did not interfere in the media".

The President of the Political Platform of National Unity (PPNU), Mr Fernando "Lasama" de Araujo, yesterday told reporters that PPNU gives freedom to its members to speak out. Mr Araujo said that the PPNU is not preoccupied with members who do not agree. In a statement last week Mr Araujo said that the PPNU was created to give the freedom to everybody to speak out. Mr Araujo said that he has promised to hold a meeting soon to clarify any misunderstandings.

Vice Minister of Health, Mr Luis Lobato, yesterday said that the Department of Health has received US$230,000 from the United Nations for malaria prevention.

Mr Lobato said that in order to account for the money they will spend and also to formulate a strategic plan for malaria prevention, his department is carrying out a workshop at Dr Antonio de Carvalho Hospital in Lahane ? Dili.

The Timor Post reported that the Speaker of the National Parliament, Mr Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, yesterday told reporters that the National Parliament has sent a letter to the Minister of Telecommunication, Transport and Public Works, Ovideo de Jesus Amaral, to come to the Parliament to explain the pre- paid electricity system. Mr Lu-Olo said that consumers are complaining about the high cost of the pre-paid electricity.

The Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers, Mr Gregorio de Sousa, yesterday asked Timor Post reporters why it was that the opposition parties could criticize the media but the Government not ? Mr Sousa said that the Government saw something it felt was wrong in the media, then it sent a letter to the President of the Board of the Public Broadcasting Service, Mr Virgilio Guterres so the media could consider Government concerns. In a separate interview, the President of the Board of the Public Broadcasting Service, Mr Virgilio Guterres, said that Prime Minister has called him personally to confirm his statement in yesterday's media that the Government had interfered in freedom of media. The Prime Minister explained that it was not an interference, but a protest letter to RTL and TVTL. Mr Guterres said that the media would be frustrated if the Government tried to control them.

The lawyers's spokesperson, Mr Benevides Correia Barros, said that Mr Mario Viegas Carrascalao yesterday filed his case with the Dili District Court. Mr Mario is suing the RDTL Government, The Department of Justice, Directorate of Land and Property. (The story does not explain the reason for his actions). Mr Barros said that Mr Mario's advocacy team is made up at 8 lawyers organizations and 11 lawyers.