Independence struggle

A glitch in the Matrix: Where is East Timor today?

Counter Punch (US) - December 9, 2003

Chris White -- Not 8 hours into this day and google retrieved over 100 American news articles that have been published commemorating the day that will forever live in infamy. 62 years ago today, 2,400 Americans lost their lives in Pearl Harbor.

Just for kicks, I did a search for East Timor and found nothing. I figured it must have been a mistake, because it was also on December 7, but 28 years ago, that the Ford administration supported the Indonesian invasion of unknown-to-Americans island, leading to the slaughter of 200,000 people, 1/3 of the population.

How could the so-called "liberal", "objective", "independent" or "fair and balanced" media have overlooked such an anniversary, while commemorating the hell out of another, while East Timor lost 83 fold the number of Pearl Harbor? Does the American public know what happened that fateful day, 28 years ago?

In 1975, and I am drastically oversimplifying history here, in the wake of the collapse of Portuguese colonial rule in East Timor, civil strife erupted, ending with the left-wing Fretilin political party in power. The Indonesian military dictatorship under General Suharto felt threatened by this independence movement within 1000 miles of Jakarta, and therefore, on December 6, asked President Gerald Ford and his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, for their blessing to invade the tiny island with American-supplied weaponry, at a meeting in Jakarta.

According to National Security Archive editors William Burr and Michael L. Evans, "On 4 or 5 December, while still in Beijing, Kissinger received a cable from the State Department suggesting that the Indonesians had 'plans' to invade East Timor," which reveals that Kissinger understood Suharto's intentions prior to meeting with him on December 6.

On December 6, Ford responded to Suharto's request with: "We will understand and will not press you on the issue. We understand the problem and the intentions you have."

Kissinger was much more direct in his support and in the potential international backlash of such an event: "the use of US-made arms could create problems," but "It depends on how we construe it; whether it is in self defense or is a foreign operation." Kissinger then made a point of saying: "It is important that whatever you do succeeds quickly," and that, "Whatever you do, however, we will try to handle it the best way possible." (Embassy Jakarta Telegram 1579 to Secretary State, 6 December 1975, National Security Archives, pgs. 9, 10)

When the UN debate over the invasion of East Timor was addressed by the US, the most influential and powerful nation in the world, and the one providing most of the material and political support to the invasion, UN representative Daniel Patrick Moynihan blocked any efforts to stop the bloodshed. He later stated these words: "The Department of State desired that the United Nations prove utterly ineffective in whatever measures it undertook [with regard to East Timor]. This task was given to me, and I carried it forward with no inconsiderable success."

Thus, Kissinger ordered Moynihan to obstruct any resolution condemning the invasion, for it was our largest Muslim world ally that was in the process of eliminating the East Timorese.

To sum up, our nation fails to officially acknowlede our role in the invasion and genocide of the peoples of a tiny, defenseless island, while on the same day honoring American victims of an attack in the then-colonial territory of Hawaii. In one case, we applauded and provided the means for the murder of 200,000 people, and in the other we lost 2,400 Americans and therefore, it must forever be "a day that will live in infamy".

Had East Timor been a lone case in the realm of collective American historical amnesia and hypocritical US foreign policy, I would not have written this commentary. Had we not supported dictatorships a hundred times more than democracy in the past, and had we not invaded, intervened, and sabotaged dozens of impoverished nations in the past century, my words would not be as compelled as they are to exist. Had I not been indoctrinated, as student in public school, and later as a US Marine, that America stood for "liberty and justice for all", maybe I would have overlooked this little glitch in our matrix.

[Chris White is a former Marine Sergeant who is currently working on his PhD in history at the University of Kansas. He served in the infantry from 1994-98, in Diego Garcia, Camp Pendleton, CA, Okinawa, Japan, and Doha, Qatar. He is also a member of Veterans for Peace.]

Witnesses recount horrors of Santa Cruz massacre

Associated Press - November 20, 2003

It was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration to mark the death of a fellow East Timorese activists.

Instead, Simplisio Celestino de Deus remembers how Indonesian troops indiscriminately opened fire on 3,000 unarmed protesters on November 12, 1991. Troops then stormed into the Santa Cruz cemetery, bayonetted survivors and hauled off the dead bodies in trucks.

"When the vehicle began to move, there was someone among the bodies that still moved," de Deus told the East Timor Commission for Reception, Truth & Reconciliation Thursday. "He tried to get up and asked for water from the guys in charge. Rather than give him water, the soldier in charge sliced his throat with a bayonet."

De Deus' testimony is part of three-day hearing that ends Friday into some of the 120 massacres that occurred in East Timor just before and during the brutal 24-year Indonesian occupation of the half-island.

Some of them -- like the Santa Cruz massacre -- have been well documented and, in fact helped rally the international community to support country's independence in May 2002. More than 250 were killed and about 270 went missing in the Santa Cruz massacre.

The hearings -- aired on national television and radio -- aim to put these tragedies on the record and gather evidence that could be used prosecute those responsible. The Commission will hand a final report with recommendations for criminal prosecution to the president's office, parliament and the United Nations.

Max Stahl, a British cameraman whose undercover footage of the Santa Cruz massacre was seen around the world, told the Commission that the death toll was more likely 500 and that the killings continued for days around Dili and at military hospital where many victims were taken.

"It is clear that this was not the action of low level soldiers but of the commanders, police, hospital staff and the whole Indonesian state," Stahl said.

Two generals were dismissed and 10 police and military officers were sentenced to eight to 18 months in prison following the massacre.

Helen Todd, a New Zealander whose son was killed in the massacre and later successfully sued one of the Indonesian generals for US$21 million in an American court, told the Commission that she wanted authorities to bring those responsible to justice for his death.

"I have the names of the TNI members who killed Kamar," said a tearful Todd, referring to her son Kamal Bamadhaj, a Malaysian- born college student. "I won't give those names here in public. But I will give these reports to the commission."

Former officials and army officers in East Timor have been tried in both Indonesian and East Timorese courts for crimes against humanity that took place before and after a 1999 referendum, in which East Timorese voted for independence. Indonesian troops and their proxy militias killed more than 1,000 people and destroyed much of the half-island.

A special Indonesian rights court was dismissed as a sham because it convicted only six of 18 Indonesian military and government officials. All remain free pending their appeals.

East Timorese courts have charged 367 people -- including at least 32 Indonesian commanders and the country's former militant chief Gen. Wiranto -- for the violence, and convicted 35. Of those indicted, 280 remain at large in Indonesia.

Transition & reconstruction

East Timor wants united nations to retain presence

Reuters - December 10, 2003

Michelle Nichols, Canberra -- East Timor appealed to the United Nations Wednesday not to desert the world's newest nation by diverting its assistance to flashpoints like Iraq and Afghanistan.

UN peacekeepers have helped run the tiny country, off the northern coast of Australia, since East Timor voted in 1999 for independence from Indonesia and a bloody backlash killed about 1,000 people.

The 1,800-strong peacekeeping force still in East Timor is due to withdraw in May next year, but Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said Wednesday the United Nations needed to maintain a smaller presence in the country.

"The UN must stay, engage in East Timor on a smaller scale but with a robust, credible presence to ensure that the achievements of the past two or three years will not unravel with a hasty retreat," he told the National Press Club in Canberra.

He said the nation of 700,000 people, granted independence in May 2002, wanted the United Nations to maintain a "rapid action" police force of between 400 and 1,000 to back up East Timor's police, and civilian advisors to support the government.

Australia, which led the UN peacekeeping force in East Timor, has committed A$40 million ($30 million) to help its neighbor develop and train police over the next four years. "Nation-building cannot be undertaken with shortcut methods. It cannot be based on the Security Council wanting to save money from East Timor and then diverting it to Iraq or Afghanistan or the Middle East," Ramos-Horta said.

East Timor is one of the world's poorest nations and currently receives $150 million a year in aid from countries led by Australia, Japan and the United States, despite having billions of dollars worth of oil and gas reserves on its doorstep.

Royalties from the resource-rich Timor Sea are likely to remove East Timor's need for international aid, but first a maritime border must be agreed with Australia. Official negotiations between the two nations are due to begin in April.

Australia and East Timor have a temporary revenue-sharing treaty in place for some oil fields until a maritime boundary is agreed. That treaty splits revenue 90:10 in favor of East Timor from a shared 24,000 square mile region.

Optimism, despite tough times

Radio Australia - December 5, 2003

Eighteen months ago East Timor became the world's newest nation, but the euphoria of the independence celebrations is now long over.

Those who fought for their freedom say day-to-day life in their new state is much harder than they ever imagined. There are security concerns, the economy has contracted sharply as the United Nations staff pull out, and in recent months, drought has ravaged parts of the countryside.

Even so, as ABC correspondent Mark Bowling reports, the peole of East Timor are quietly confident as they look beyond today's tough times to the future.

Mark Bowling: It's hot work inside a small carpentry workshop on Dili's outskirts. There's sawdust in the air and sweat pours from the brow of Azapita De Costa Jimenes.

Azapita is a former member of Falantil, the guerrilla force that fought against Indonesia. Now he's learning how to build boats.

"We need to learn," he says, "and hopefully in one or two years, we will learn a lot more of the skills that are needed". Under the watchful eye of 69 year-old Australian boat builder Barry Wicks, a handful of former Falantil guerrillas are learning a new and useful craft. Power tools have been donated from Australia, which will allow these young men to return to their villages and a somewhat normal civilian life.

Barry Wicks: They become a boat builder, coffin maker or whatever and so it immediately gives them a bit of status in the village, and then skills that they never had before, they can pass on to other people.

Mark Bowling: This is a small success story in a country beset by economic woes. After the 1999 vote for independence and the militia violence that followed, East Timor was left a burnt-out shell.

The United Nations poured vast amounts of money into rebuilding, but the world body's role has wound right back since independence. East Timor began as one of the world's poorest countries and very little has changed.

It's true that along the streets of the capital Dili, most buildings have been repaired, business is thriving and there are more cars, trucks and motorbikes than ever before. But without the UN's presence unemployment is running high.

Crime is rising fast and the newly-formed police force and judicial system are ill-equipped to fight it. There is a reliance still on the generosity of foreign non-government organisations to provide funding and help train.

In schools, there are complications which impede learning. Children are taught in Portugese, a language they don't understand. Most speak the local language Tetun, the second official language, and Indonesian.

The difficulties are illustrated by the situation in one Catholic school in Dili. Most teachers are unpaid volunteers, the school has only a handful of Portugese text books, but it has a store room full of donated English texts from Australia, which sit gathering dust.

A teacher, a nun, explains that texts are still being translated into Tetun. In the meantime, she relies on the blackboard and chalk, when she can get it. The state of the schools is symbolic of the lack of resources East Timor has to start building its new life.

When school children do finish their rudimentary education, the harsh reality is that many will not be able to find jobs. East Timor's fledgling government recognises the importance of not relying on big injections of foreign aid to try and solve its problems.

The government believes gaining skills is a top priority. That's why grassroots projects like teaching former Falantil soldiers how to build boats are so important.

As well as the training involved, each new boat in that project goes to a fishing village that had its crafts stolen or destroyed during the 1999 violence. It's a project which allows fisherman to provide for their own people, a small, but significant step.

Sea of poverty sinking East Timor's dream of nationhood

South China Morning Post - December 3, 2003

Peter Kammerer -- East Timorese look at Iraq in wonderment. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and investment are pouring into the still unstable Persian Gulf nation, while promised international contributions to their peaceful young democracy have dried up to barely a trickle.

There is a hint of envy, even though Iraqis would argue they are technically still at war. Iraq, with its massive oil reserves, has a bright future. East Timor, tussling with Australia for control of limited quantities of oil and gas, has a less certain one.

A three-day meeting with donor nations starting today in East Timor's capital, Dili, will try to correct perceptions. But observers are not holding their breath. The problem is terrorism. Since the attacks in the US in September 2001, the world's focus has been on security -- not poverty, the biggest impediment to East Timor's future.

The nation is the poorest in Asia and ranked among the least developed in the world, on a par with the African country of Rwanda which was the scene of genocide that left up to one million people dead in violence that erupted in 1994.

East Timor's 800,000 struggled with Indonesian brutality until independence was promised in 1999 and the United Nations stepped in to stop widespread violence by militias.

The UN took control and, that December, a donors' meeting in Tokyo promised US$520 million. Independence was granted on May 20, 2002, and the UN is scheduled to pull out next April.

But the promised international commitment has disappeared, usurped by the war on terrorism and Iraq. Between December last year and June, just US$1.15 million was spent by the World Bank- administered Trust Fund for East Timor on development projects in the tiny Southeast Asian island nation. A donors' conference in Madrid in October pledged US$33 billion to Iraq -- a country vastly bigger in area than East Timor and with 30 times as many people. Amid such moves, there is a sense among the East Timorese that the effort to deliver to the better-developed Iraqis will be greater.

Out of the global spotlight, East Timorese are suffering. The Australian director of the Catholic charity, Caritas, Jack de Groot, yesterday questioned why some of the world's most vulnerable people were being ignored.

"The only debate we have at the moment is one of security," Mr de Groot said. "We don't seem to have any on poverty eradication or alleviation. All we're after is security at the moment and Iraq fits into that mould. East Timor doesn't."

Mr de Groot was in East Timor last week on a fact-finding mission centred on poverty and health issues. He said that up to next April, 110,000 people -- an eighth of the population -- would experience food shortages, most because of a two-year drought. Low-nutrition sago had become a staple for many East Timorese, who sell whatever assets they have to buy food to survive. Amid such shortages, the government and World Food Programme planned to begin food distribution next week.

Without increased international attention, such difficulties could be a feature of the country until oil revenues from an oil deal signed with Australia begin to flow in 2007. The problem is money -- and East Timor does not have enough.

Its budget last year was US$79 million -- the same as a small town in a developed country such as the United States or Britain. Of that, 20 per cent came from taxes, another fifth from oil and gas revenues and the remainder from international donations and agencies such as the UN.

East Timor expert James Fox, the director of the Research School of Asian and Pacific Studies at Australian National University, said East Timorese had little reason for optimism. "It's very hard to realistically run a country in need of as much development as East Timor with a budget their size," he said. "These are the lean years -- they're always lean in East Timor."

East Timor's government pins hopes for the future on oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea between its shores and Australia. But a dispute over the maritime boundary between the two nations is confusing negotiations over when revenues will flow at their fullest. A temporary agreement guarantees US$3 billion to East Timor over the next 20 years, but the dispute has cast doubt over when an estimated US$14 billion more begins flowing.

Talks ended last month without a deal and are expected to resume in April. East Timor's Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, accused the giant neighbour of pressure tactics and stalling for its own financial gain.

"It was always deadline over deadline to have it done in a time frame that was not easy for ... a new country to respond to," he said of the pressure from Australia and oil companies.

Mr Alkatiri said the billions of dollars from oil and gas would "break our dependency from these donors and the whole process of the development of the country would take another step forward".

East Timor argues the border should be drawn in the middle of the 600km of sea separating the two nations -- putting 90 per cent of the oil and gas reserves on its side of the line. Australia argues its continental shelf to be the border. In some places that is just 150km from East Timor's coastline.

The present agreement gives East Timor 20 per cent of the Greater Sunrise gas field, the richest in the area, and Australia gets the remainder. East Timor also gets 90 per cent of several fields in a joint development area, but those fields are not as lucrative. The treaties do not cover three other fields -- Buffalo, Laminaria and Corralina -- which lie on East Timor's side of the disputed area but from which Australia is taking all the revenues.

The urgency for a resolution was expressed by East Timor government spokesperson Jose Gutierrez. He nonetheless was optimistic that a solution could be found. He was hopeful that laws could soon be put in place to attract foreign investors and that the coffee industry, the prime source of income under the Portuguese but destroyed under Indonesian rule, would again become a prime generator of income.

The niche organic coffee market was being eyed and buyers had already been attracted from the US and Europe.

"It's a challenge -- we're building a nation from scratch," Mr Gutierrez said. "We're creating everything from zero and it's being done by East Timorese with the help of the UN."

Future prosperity, though, would still seem to be in the hands of outside forces.

Security & boarder issues

UN failed to act effectively in Dili riots, inquiry finds

Melbounre Age - November 19, 2003

Jill Jolliffe, Darwin -- A United Nations official has pointed the finger at the UN police command for its failure to intervene effectively during riots in East Timor last December.

A UN report just released also said East Timorese police had been unco-operative in an investigation into the riots.

Kamalesh Sharma, head of the UN Mission to Support East Timor (UNMISET) told a news conference yesterday that at the time of the riots he had told commanders to "take whatever action required without wasting time consulting me", and had authorised the use of UN troops.

Mr Sharma said his own role was "not an operational one" and that he had given the police power to act. Although he did not name him, blame was clearly directed at Canadian UN police Commissioner Peter Miller, who completed his Timor posting in June.

Mr Miller spent his last months in East Timor under heavy security after threats over his role during the violence, which was sparked by the fatal shooting by local police of two student demonstrators.

About 16 people were wounded and millions of dollars in damage from arson and looting resulted when a mob raged through Dili as UN police failed to intervene.

More than 400 people were interviewed and 151 weapons fired for ballistic evidence in the UN investigation, but it failed to find who killed the students and wounded other demonstrators.

The report criticised "a high incidence of contradictory statements" by East Timorese police.

Earlier this year, Filipino policeman Nick Torre was demoted for criticising the police failure and left the UN mission.

He was deputy intelligence chief on December 4 and claimed that, as the first buildings were torched, he warned superiors that events were spinning out of control and that the military should be called in, but was ignored.

East Timor became independent in May 2002 but the UN retains command of the military and police until May 2004. Its failure to protect Dili led to anger among residents.

Mr Miller was replaced as commissioner by Australian Sandi Peisley, who has initiated reforms to improve the performance of local police.

Land/rural issues

East Timor drought causes food crisis

Radio Australia - December 9, 2003

Mark Colvin: In East Timor, thousands of people remain in the grip of an acute food shortage, and now face a bleak and hungry Christmas. A severe drought has left much of the country parched and barren, with some crops declared a complete failure. But although the long dry has now ended, the food crisis is unlikely to ease until at least March, as Anne Barker reports.

Anne Barker: For months now, thousands of East Timorese have been reduced to scavenging in the bush just to stay alive.

A severe drought for the past two years has devastated crops across a large swathe of the country, leaving up to one in six people on the edge of starvation. Many have been forced to eat wild leaves and roots to survive.

But while the drought has now broken, the food crisis is far from over. Jack de Groot is the national director of the relief agency, Caritas Australia. He's just returned from East Timor, where he learnt first-hand of the scale of the crisis.

Jack de Groot: There is quite a reality now in place of a serious food emergency, and some of that could have seen by the fact that farmers along the roadside were harvesting sago and taking that to their villages.

Sago is very low in nutrition, but certainly does fill up the stomach. It's not a general crop that the East Timorese population would be eating except in times when there's a food shortage.

And I suppose the most obvious other sign of food shortage was the coming to town of cattle herders to sell cattle, to sell the only assets they've got because of their food shortage.

And whilst the drought has now broken to some extent, the people will not have any of their own ability to provide food until April, and so the deliveries of food from now through to March are crucial.

Anne Barker: So what are people doing for food?

Jack de Groot: Well, what they are doing is they're actually buying in Dili, so farmers are catching the barge from Acusi into Dili and selling their cattle. Now that's a pretty rare exercise for them to be doing because there is nothing available in the markets there, and nothing from the fields. And they are eating these sorts of wild crops, or non-traditional food crops such as sago.

Anne Barker: If the drought has now broken, why are you predicting this food crisis will last until April?

Jack de Groot: Because the traditional planting times and harvest, they can only start planting when the weather's got underway. That's still a little time away. They haven't been able to plant prior to this because of drought, and it won't be harvest until April. So there is no naturally grown food stocks by the community available until April. So it is a bad situation now.

Mark Colvin: Jack de Groot, national director of the relief organisation, Caritas Australia, with Anne Barker.

West Timor/refugees

Sparse joy for city's Timorese

Yarra Leader (Australia) - December 8, 2003

Rachel Kleinman -- Yarra's East Timorese asylum-seekers face a miserable Christmas unless their appeals for residency are resolved.

About 700 of Australia's 1700 East Timorese asylum-seekers live in the City of Yarra. Most have been through painstaking and drawn-out application processes for residency during the past 18 months.

Many initial appeals were rejected but applicants took their claims to the Refugee Review Tribunal. After failing at that hurdle, they then personally appealed to the Immigration Minister.

Latest figures from the Federal Department of Immigration show 437 had been granted permanent residency. But most others still await news and face a grim festive season without welfare help.

All asylum-seekers supported under the Red Cross Asylum Seeker Assistance program had their benefits cut off when their tribunal appeals were rejected. They have been struggling without financial help ever since.

Yarra Council launched a fund and raised about $14,000 to help provide basic medical assistance, food and rent for the community.

But last week Mayor Greg Barber said more was needed during the Christmas period.

He said he had spoken to Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone's office but that there was no indication when a decision would be made on the outstanding applications.

"Unless people are granted residency before Christmas, there will be a lot of people desperate and distressed," Cr Barber said. "The applications are literally sitting on the minister's desk. All I can do is appeal to her to process them sooner rather than later."

If you would like to help, please call Yarra Access on 9205 5555.

Timorese asylum seekers petition President Megawati

Antara - December 9, 2003

Kupang -- Twenty-six East Timorese who have been seeking asylum in Belu district since last October have sent a petition to President Megawati Soekarnoputri asking for protection and expressing their objections to being deported.

"We appeal to the Indonesian president and government to protect us. We prefer to be punished in Indonesia to being sent back to East Timor," the asylum seekers said in a letter to the President, a copy of which was received by ANTARA on Tuesday.

In their letter, they claimed to have always been supporters of East Timor's integration with Indonesia.

They said they used to be refugees in East Nusatenggara (Indonesian part of Timor island) and had returned to East Timor late in 2001 after being persuaded by certain persons at a reconciliation meeting.

But since their repatriation, they were frequently subjected to terror and intimidation. As they did not feel safe living in their homeland, they finally decided to go back to Atambua in Belu district, East Nusa Tenggara, they said in their letter.

The East Timorese asylum seekers said they were resolved not to return to their former homeland and were ready, if need be, to be punished even with death in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, lawyer for the 26 East Timorese asylum seekers, Nocholay Aprilindo, separately said their letter had been sent to the Indonesian president in Jakarta.

"We are hoping the Indonesian government will soon respond to the letter and find a solution to the issue acceptable to all parties," Nocholay said.

The letter was signed by the 26 asylum seekers who included a number of women, named Ermilinda da Cruz, Maria Theresia, Sahelinda Fernandez and Rita do Santos.

No illegal immigrants

Nocholay said the East Timorese asylum seekers were not illegal immigrants who must be deported by force. "They are political victims of the past and therefore they are not illegal immigrants," Nocholay said.

According to Nocholay, the East Timorese asylum seekers were supporters of the wide-ranging autonomy option in the popular consultation in the former Indonesian province in 1999.

He pointed out the 26 East Timorese asylum seekers also had human rights and dignity and thus they had a right to be protected by both national and international laws.

Nocholay made the remarks in response to a plan of East Nusa Tenggara security agencies to deport the 26 East Timorese asylum seekers by force on the ground they were illegal immigrants who had no official documents.

He called on the Indonesian government to make a prudent decision on the fate of the 26 East Timorese asylum seekers.

Timor Gap

Timor says too early to panic about timor sea boundary

Reuters - December 10, 2003

Canberra -- East Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said Wednesday it is too soon to fret over the final shape of a permanent maritime boundary between his impoverished nation and Australia.

Ramos-Horta said negotiations on a permanent boundary to settle the ownership of billions of dollars' worth of gas reserves located beneath the Timor Sea have just begun and it is understandable Australia is taking a tough line.

But he said Australia shouldn't allow any new exploration activity within disputed areas of the Timor Sea until a final treaty is agreed.

"We would hope Australia and everybody else with a stake in the region, bearing in mind the claims by our side, would refrain from any new actions that would complicate the issue," Ramos- Horta told the National Press Club.

He also urged Canberra to commit to monthly negotiations, rather than the biannual meetings currently scheduled. "We would prefer to have more regular meetings, maybe once a month," he said.

Last year East Timor, fresh from winning independence from Indonesia, claimed a maritime boundary extending 200 nautical miles from its coast, overlapping Australia's own claimed boundary and putting in doubt the ownership of the Timor Sea's vast gas reserves.

While the two countries have agreed a treaty to carve up an area of the Timor Sea and provide fiscal certainty to developers, the deal is only an interim arrangement pending a fixed boundary.

That treaty favored East Timor, with Australia agreeing that the country should take a 90% share of the so-called Joint Petroleum Development Area.

The JPDA, which replaced a similar agreement between Australia and Indonesia under which the area was split 50:50, takes in such gas fields as Greater Sunrise, operated by Australia's Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL.AU), and Bayu-Undan, operated by US oil major ConocoPhillips (COP).

But other major gas reserves like the Lamanaria, Coallina and Buffalo projects lie outside the JPDA in waters long claimed by Australia, and they are now subject to East Timor's boundary claim.

East Timor has previously accused Australia of trying to stall the negotiation process, which East Timor hopes will be completed in three to five years.

Ramos-Horta said considerable energy will need to be devoted to the negotiations "to find a solution that is satisfactory to us." "Our claims are solidly grounded on international law. That's our only strength. Look at East Timor. What can we do against the giant Australia?"

He predicted the process will involve "some tumultuous discussions," adding that Australian Prime Minister John Howard is determined to protect Canberra's interests. "He never pretended ... to be either Tom Cruise or Mother Theresa. He is who he is," said Ramos-Horta.

"And obviously when it comes to billions of dollars that oil experts say exist in the Timor Sea, even if John Howard were Mother Theresa he would hesitate in giving away what he actually believes belongs to his order," he said.

[Veronica Brooks, Dow Jones Newswires.]

Horta tells Australia to keep hands off disputed gas fields

Agence France Presse - December 10, 2003

Canberra -- East Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta has demanded Australia halt development of massive natural gas fields in the Timor Sea until a dispute over their ownership is settled.

Ramos Horta said Australia should not exploit resources potentially worth billions of dollars before a treaty detailing how they will be distributed is finalised.

"We would hope Australia and everybody else with a stake in the region, bearing in mind the claims by our side, would refrain from any new actions that would complicate the issue," he told a function.

Ramos Horta, joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, also called for Canberra to speed up negotiations on the maritime border between Australia and East Timor -- the key to who receives the bulk of the gas revenue. East Timor regards proceeds from the gas fields as the only way the fledgling nation can overcome its dependence on aid following independence from Indonesia.

Australia withdrew from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, in March 2002 in what the East Timorese government described at the time as a "hostile act" designed to stop it receiving its fair share from the gasfields.

The most hotly disputed part of the border concerns the Greater Sunrise field, most of which lies outside an area covered by a joint development treaty between Australia and East Timor.

Instead, the bulk of the field is covered by an interim deal known as the International Unitisation Agreement, which gives 90 percent of revenues to Australia.

Some East Timorese fear Australia will allow the border talks to drag on for decades so that by the time the issue is settled the gas fields will be virtually empty.

Australia claimed 80 percent of Greater Sunrise under the terms of a maritime treaty signed with Indonesia when it occupied East Timor. But after East Timor became independent, Dili claimed a far greater part of the field lay within its maritime boundaries.

Fair play demanded in oil talks

Sydney Morning Herald - December 13, 2003

Cynthia Banham -- East Timor has accused Australia of dragging its feet in talks over billions of dollars in oil and gas rights under the Timor Sea.

The Foreign Minister for East Timor, Jose Ramos Horta, said yesterday that the delays were allowing Australia to exploit, under current licences, the Buffalo, Laminaria and Corallina oil fields which the fledgling nation claims are rightfully its own under international law.

Mr Ramos Horta, speaking at the National Press Club yesterday, left no doubt about East Timor's claim to those areas, saying those fields "that have been under Australian licences are rightfully part of East Timor sovereign rights".

"What I believe firmly is that our claims are solidly grounded in international law -- that's our only strength. Look at East Timor. What can we do against the giant of Australia, when we go to negotiations our side has two or three people, Australia always brings 10 times more."

Australia has denied acting outside international law, as well as any suggestion it has not been acting in good faith. A spokesman for the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, who discussed the issue of maritime boundary negotiations with Mr Ramos Horta during a meeting yesterday afternoon, said: "We're operating under international law and in accordance with international law and at the same time we're negotiating in good faith under this issue."

But Mr Ramos Horta questioned the Australian Government's assertion that it could not speed up negotiations because of a lack of resources. Australia has agreed to hold two meetings a year with the East Timorese, while the latter would prefer one a month.

"I always take at face value what people say -- if Australia says it doesn't have money, it doesn't have resources for more than two meetings a year, who am I to doubt that," Mr Ramos Horta said.

In the meantime, an estimated $US1.5 billion had gone to Australia under licences over the disputed fields since the mid- 1990s, he said.

Mr Ramos Horta was philosophical about his country's differences with Australia. "I say it's very natural, because where there is a lot of money involved, husbands fight wives, wives fight husbands," he said.

Mr Ramos Horta called on the United Nations and the international community not to withdraw its presence completely from the country when the UN mandate in East Timor expires in May. East Timor opened its embassy in Canberra yesterday.

Bayu Undan delays hit East Timor

Herald Sun - December 6, 2003

Nigel Wilson -- Production from the Bayu Undan gas recycling project in the Timor Sea has been delayed at least eight months with implications for East Timor's revenues running into millions of dollars.

And the production postponement could hit Santos, the only Australian participant, because of a later contribution to its income from its 10.64 per cent stake.

Bayu-Undan lies in the Timor Sea, 500km off Darwin and 250km south of East Timor.

Darwin area manager of project operator ConocoPhillips, Blair Murphy, yesterday confirmed the estimated start of full commercial production from the field had been delayed from April next year until November.

He said the timetable had been affected by construction and delivery delays in both the Bayu production platforms and the floating production storage and offtake vessel.

Mr Murphy added that while there had been technical difficulties with two of the initial production wells being drilled on the field, more recently two other wells had come in better than expected. This meant the drilling program was back on schedule.

The $US1.64 billion project will involve the production and processing of wet gas, the separation and storage of condensate, propane and butane, and the reinjection of dry natural gas back into the Bayu Undan reservoir.

A paper presented to a meeting of East Timor donors in Dili this week said the delay meant ConocoPhillips' product profile for 2004 showed a decrease in liquids production from 22 million to 12 million barrels.

This is only about one third of the production estimate of 33 million barrels that was anticipated in 2001 when ConocoPhillips signed an agreement covering Bayu Undan development with the East Timor administration.

The paper said this would result in a significant decline in the estimates of payments to the East Timor Government.

"While the projected Timor Sea oil and/or gas revenues for 2005- 06 and 2006-07 have been significantly reduced, the revenue estimates for subsequent years have remained broadly unchanged," it said.

The major reductions in revenues will fall mostly in the next four years.

East Timor received $US26.4 million in revenue from the Timor Sea in financial year 2002, but this is estimated to drop to $US17.1 million this year, to $US9.7 million in 2004-05 and to $US7.7 million in 2005-06 before increasing to $US28.8 million in 2006- 07.

Over the same period, East Timor's budget rises from $US24.6 million to $57.5 million.

Most of East Timor's current income comes from the small Elang Kakatua field which are projected to be shut down by the end of next year though high international crude oil prices may make it economical to extend the field's life.

Human rights/law

Timor court jails ex-army sergeant for crimes against humanity

Agence France Presse - December 10, 2003

An East Timor court has jailed a former Indonesian army sergeant for crimes against humanity during the territory's bloody breakaway from Jakarta.

It is the first time a soldier has been convicted of such an offence since trials began two years ago.

Marcelino Soares was sentenced to 11 years "for crimes against humanity of murder, torture and persecution" committed in April 1999, prosecutors from the United Nations-funded Serious Crimes Unit said in a statement.

He was convicted of murder over the fatal beating of Luis Dias Soares and of torturing him and two other independence supporters at an army post.

The Special Panels for Serious Crimes have previously convicted an East Timorese sergeant in the Indonesian army of murder and another East Timorese soldier of rape.

But prosecutor Per Halsbog was quoted as saying the conviction of Soares for crimes against humanity was "an important milestone in pursuit of justice".

A sizeable number of East Timorese served with the Indonesian army. The troops and their local militia proxies waged a savage but futile intimidation campaign before East Timorese voted overwhelmingly in August 1999 to split from Indonesia.

At a separate trial, judges jailed a former militiaman, Damiao da Costa Nunes, for 10-and-a-half years for crimes against humanity for stabbing two independence supporters to death in Covalima district in August and September 1999.

The courts have now convicted 43 people and acquitted one. Prosecutors have indicted 369 people, but 281 of them are in Indonesia, which refuses to hand anyone over for trial.

An estimated 1,000 people were killed in 1999 before and after the ballot, and whole towns were burnt to the ground. The tribunal in East Timor is the only one seen to be delivering justice to offenders.

Indonesia set up its own special court over the 1999 bloodshed, but rights groups described it as largely a sham. Six out of 18 defendants were convicted and ordered to be jailed for between three and 10 years, but were allowed to remain free pending an appeal.

Timorese militiaman gets 9 years for human rights crimes

Associated Press - November 26, 2003

Dili -- A Timorese militiaman was convicted Wednesday of crimes against humanity and sentenced to nine years in jail for killing three independence supporters and torturing others during the country's bloody break from Indonesia's 24-year occupation.

Miguel Mau, a 55-year-old member of the pro-Indonesian Laksaur militia, is the 40th person to be convicted by Timorese courts for the violence that swept across East Timor in 1999 before and after voters approved a UN-sponsored independence referendum.

Mau admitted killing three pro-independence supporters on April 23, 1999 and joining Indonesian troops in attacking the Timorese village of Fatukmetan and torturing villagers, according to the court, called the Special Panels for Serious Crimes in Timor L'este.

He also confessed to the forced disappearance of another Timorese man, according to the court.

"I confess all the sins I committed in the past," Mau, a farmer, said after his trial. "But I think nine years is too much for my crimes. I hope my defense can appeal this decision and get this sentence reduced because I've got seven children to feed."

During the 1999 referendum, Indonesian troops and their proxy militias kidnapped, tortured and murdered hundreds of Timorese fighters and civilians, laying waste to much of the territory.

Trials of those accused of perpetrating the violence have been taking place in both Indonesia and East Timor, which officially became independent in May 2002.

But the Indonesian human rights court has been widely dismissed as a sham. It convicted just six of 18 accused Indonesian military and government officials. All six remain free pending their appeals.

The East Timorese Special Panels, created in 2001 with support of the United Nations, has charged 367 people and convicted 40. However, 280 of those charged remain free in Indonesia, including at least 32 Indonesian commanders and the country's former military chief Gen. Wiranto.

Media monitoring

East Timor media monitoring

World Bank - December 2, 2003

Agence France Presse reported that an Indonesian government plan to make most tourists buy visas, which was due to come into force, has been delayed again amid strong opposition from tourist industry representatives. The immigration department said it was now hoped to start the new scheme in January. "We still have several inputs to consider and we hope to begin to halt the use of the visa-free facilities in January 2004," said spokesman Ade Endang Dachlan. He said the postponement was agreed during a recent meeting between Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, whose ministry oversees immigration, and representatives of the travel and tourism industry and the tourism media. "There only remains some disagreement on the cost of the visas on arrival but it looks like we will soon have an agreement on that matter," Dachlan said.

The Timor Post reported that an observer for Political and Military Affairs from UNTIL, Julio Thomas Pinto, said that the Government of Timor-Leste cannot ban CPD-RDTL or anybody because there's no basic law to allow such action. Mr Pinto said that members of CPD-RDTL have the right to commemorate independence day on 28th November.

A Member of the National Parliament, Antonio Ximenes, said that the new coins for Timor-Leste officially launched on 28th November have not reached some sectors of the population. Mr Ximenes said that he was surprised to find that some people are still ignorant about the new centavos. He added that dissemination of information is vital for people to be able to understand the new centavos.

During a speech at the Business Management Centre, the Vice- Minister of Development and Environment, Abel da Costa Freitas Ximenes, said that corruption thrives not only in Government but also at the private sector.

Mr Ximenes said that in the private sector, corruption is widespread and "heavy". He added that people have to understand that corruption can make the country crumble.

Suara Timor Lorosae reported that during a launch of the worldwide campaign for HIV/AIDS the Minister of Health, Dr Rui Maria de Araujo, said that so far Timor-Leste has registered four cases of HIV/AIDS. He added that of the four, two patients infected of HIV had died already. Dr Araujo also said that people should not discriminate against those who are suffering from this disease.

Australia has warned its citizens that further terrorists attacks "may be imminent" in Turkey and could also happen in East Timor. "Australians are advised to defer nonessential travel to Turkey until further notice" the foreign ministry said in a statement. Separately, the foreign ministry also warned Australians to "exercise extreme caution in the light of possible terrorist threats in East Timor".

A member from the community of Suco Betano, District of Manufahe, Placido Noronha, said that with the World Bank support the community now has clean water to drink. He added that further work was needed to provide water to every household within the community.

The Brigadier General of F-FDTL, Taur Matan Ruak, said that for this country to be strong and ensure well-being the people have to unite. He added that unity is the best solution for the future development of Timor-Leste.

December 4, 2003

Suara Timor Lorosae reported that during a speech at the Timor- Leste Development Partners Meeting the American Ambassador in Timor-Leste, Grover Joseph Rees, said that it is not enough to talk about banishing corruption, but what is important is to lose "the mentality". He added that transparency also needs to be implemented. He said we need to work together to help develop the nation through private sector. Mr Rees said that the Government of Timor-Leste has to support the private sector for them to be more active.

During a speech at the Timor-Leste's Development Partners Meeting, the Vice-President of the World Bank, Mr Jamil Kassum, said that Timor-Leste is facing clear challenges, including declining growth, high unemployment, and a substantial gap in financing for the Government budget, CFET. Mr Kassum also said that Timor-Leste has a substantial gap in financing for the Government's budget which will transpire over the next three years. Mr Kassum added that the magnitude of this gap is now estimated at USD 126 million. Mr Kassum said that the Government of Timor-Leste has already identified seven options for financing the CFET Government budget gap.

A Representative from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Amarnath Hinduja, said that as a member, Timor-Leste can ask for loans from ADB, and as a new nation it can get concessions. He added that the procedure can take up to one year before the money can be loaned.

The Director of ADB for the Asia Pacific Department, Robert Siy, said that the positive steps taken by the Government in the last six months have created good conditions for the private sector. He added that in a long run the work the Government has done will benefit the private sector.

At the Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that the Government of Timor-Leste, which started from a basis of debris with limited structures and extremely low human resource capacity, has tried during last year and half to prioritize the institutionalization of the State. Dr Alkatiri said that the Government of Timor-Leste have launched the fundamental basics on defense and security; development; justice; legislative measures; private sector; internal audit and human resources development. He added that these are very important steps for the future of Timor-Leste.

The Brigadier general of F-FDTL, Taur Matan Ruak, said that the responsibility for stability lied not only with F-FDTL, the Police, the Government or the Parliament but is in people's hand to maintain stability after the end of the UNMISET mission.

The National Police Commissioner, Paulo Martins, said that during a check point carried out on 28th November in Dili, the National Police Force confiscated about 53 light weapons. He added that the operation was successful due to peoples cooperation.

The former militias just over the border in Indonesian West timor have worried East Timor's President Xanana Gusmao for more than three years. Now, as the international peacekeeping forces leave East Timor, his concern is increasing.

Mr Gusmao estimates 10,000 to 12,000 of the 28,000 refugees living within striking distance of East Timor are former militia, or the families of former militias, or people under the sway of the former militias.

Australia has asked the Un to stay in East timor to prevent the fledging nation from becoming a haven for criminals and terrorists, Justice Minister Chris Ellison said. Australia was also worried that East Timor could become a haven for Australian criminals on the run.

The Timor Post reported that in a written message for the Timor- Leste Development Partners Meeting, the President, Xanana Gusmao, said when talking about investment we cannot forget also about the need for Justice, the Courts and the Police. He added that with laws in place, it will give confidence to investors to come.

The President of the National Parliament, Lu Olo, said that to reduce poverty and create sustainable growth in Timor-Leste, the people have to work harder to help this developing new nation. He added that with everyone's efforts, then we can say that we walking on the right path.

The Prime Minister, Dr Mari alkatiri, said that the Government has a deficit of USD 20million ? called a financing gap. He added that to cover the shortfall, the Government has taken measures to contain the CFET expenditures. Dr Alkatiri said that the shortfall in the Government budget will be met by exercising tight control on Government budget to cover half of the money, and the rest will come from donors.

During a speech at Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that for the Government of Timor-Leste to carry on with its development work and to secure the progress made to date, the international community has to continue financing Timor-Leste.

December 7, 2003

The Director of EDTL for the Districts and Sub-Districts of ManuFahe and Viqueque, Domingos Bonaparte Soares, said that these areas had no power because the generator had broken.Mr Soares said that he hoped to solve this problem soon when spare parts arrive.

A Member of the National Parliament, Elizario Ferreira, said that the National Parliament has to call National Police Commissioner, Paulo Martins, for clarification on the whereabouts of Fernando dos Santos and Manuel dos Santos. These are the two men who allegedly disappeared from Police custody in Becora. Mr Ferreira said that the Police Academy needs to teach ethics and morals to their officers.

The President of Associacao Social Democrata Timorense (ASDT), Francisco Xavier do Amaral, said that the UN mandate in Timor- Leste will end in May next year but he would like to see PKF stay give the much needed support on security. Mr Amaral said that he has informed the President, Xanana Gusmao, about his party's request for PFK to continue its presence in Timor-Leste.

Suara Timor Lorosae reported that the Vice-Police Inspector in the District of Covalima, Patricio de Jesus, said that the domestic violence increased in the District of Covalima. He said that most of the cases are caused by frustration over not having a job. He added that break-ins have doubled in recent months.

The Director of the National Hospital, Antonio Caleres Junior, said that he appreciates very much the criticism received from the National Parliament and patients about the lack of ethics in nurses and doctors. Mr Caleres Junior said that he hopes that the staff will change their attitude towards the patients (The paper doesn't say what measures he'll be taking to correct their attitude).

The events of 4 December 2002 were unfortunately and tragic and had a significant impact on the perception about internal security in East Timorese as a Nation. At a news conference, Ambassador Kamalesh Sharma, said that UNMISET investigations could not identify those responsible for the fatal shooting of two crowd members and the wounding of a number of demonstrators. He added that as a result of the investigation made by UNPOL, 20 suspects were arrested, most of whom were identified on video and photographs taken by journalists. These suspects were arrested for burning and looting the Prime Minister's house. The UNMISET investigation team interviewed 144 UNPOL officers, 122 Rapid Reaction Unit (RRU) members of East Timor National Police officers, 78 Members of the Parliement, 50 eyewitness from ordinary people who were on the scene when the incident occurred, 4 UNPKF members, 13 victims. 30 police vehicles were forensically examined and 151 police weapons test fired for ballistic comparison. Video and photographic evidence was viewed and examined, and the investigation involved thousands of works hours by investigators and support staff.

The Timor Post reported that Prosecutor General of Timor-Leste, Longuinhos Monteiro, said that he's very disappointed with the results of the investigation into 4 December 2002. He added that the report presented by UNPOL was not clear and does not mention the culprits. Mr Longuinhos said that the report demonstrates the need for the National Police Force to build their skills in maintaining law and order. He said that he has sent the report back to UNPOL for further investigation.

A Researcher into Military and Political Affairs, Julio Thomas Pinto, said that corruption and nepotism exists within the Government of Timor-Leste. He said just about everybody who knows it, but the Government keeps denying it. Mr Pinto said that corruption not only exists in politics, but also in the economy.

The President of the Social Democrat Party (PSD), Mario Carrasclao, said that the Timorese have to unite to create stability in Timor-Leste. He added that to make it happen, everybody should try to find harmony working together instead of approaching issues individually.

The President of the Social Democrat Party, Mario Carrascalao, said that the Timorese people need to be cautios before signing the Timor Sea treaty for the exploration of natural resources in Timor Sea. Mr Carrascalao said that he sees that the Timorese face great difficulties in maintaining the relationship between the Governments of Timor-Leste and Australia.

Suara Timor Lorosae reported that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Ramos Horta, said that his image has been affected by the sabotage to electronic equipment donated to TVTL by Portugal. He said that given he sought the donation, he feels a level of responsibility for the equipment. He added that the behavior of those responsible for the act are like the militias.

The President of the United Islamic Center of Timor-Leste (UNICET), M. Iqbal Menezes, said that the 265 Muslims who are living in Timor-Leste cannot continue to live isolated from the Timorese society. He added that the Muslim community has to integrate and be part of the Timorese society. Mr Menezes said that he and his followers are waiting for the Government to make a decision about where they would send the people who are currently living in the mosque in Marconi.

The Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that it would be best for the former Director of Civil Servants and Public Employment (CISPE), Victor da Costa, to keep quiet instead of making lots of noise through the media about his dismissal. He added that its best for Victor to find a new job before he (the PM) "spills out" the reason for his dismissal.

UNICEF rehabilitated Manutane Primary School The Coordinator for the Primary School in Manutane, Francisco Barros, said that the school has been rehabilitated by UNICEF. The first stage was financed by UNICEF and the second stage of rehabilitation will be done by the World Bank. Mr Barros said that the community is delighted with UNICEF support in facilitating training for teachers and books for the schoolSTL

The United Nations for Development Program (UNDP) has hosted a workshop in Atabae in conjunction with the Government of Timor- Leste entitled "Timor-Leste Ita Iha Nebe Ona ? Ohin Loron". The objective of the workshop is to inform the community about programs implemented by the Government of Timor-Leste as part of the National Development Plan.

The Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that there's no corruption in his Government. He added that there was a tendency towards corruption coming from outside influences but not from the Government. Dr Alkatiri said that the people cannot expect the Government alone to combat corruption in Timor-Leste, but all institutions.

The Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, said that the he doesn't need exit polls to tell him that 50% of the population don't like him. He added that the 50% who dislike him feel this way because of certain measures he has taken to ensure better governance.

During the Open Government in the sub-district of Zumalai, the Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, said that the President, Xanana Gusmao, has asked the Government to dismantled the CPD-RDTL group and not continue tolerating them.

193 Australian soldiers from AUSBATT VIII, based at Moleana and Maliana, will departure East Timor after a ceremony at Port Hera. The Commander of the Australian National Command Element East Timor, Colonel Wayne Fleming, presented medals in recognition of the departing soldiers' contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability in East Timor.

The Timor Post reported that a member of the community in Saburai, sub-district of Maliana, Lourenco Tavares, said that the school in Saburai needs urgent repairs to accommodate the 350 elementary school students. He said most of the children attend their class under a tree in the school yard. Mr Tavares said that the community has already informed the local Government about the condition of the school.

During a Conference entitled "Transparency and Responsibility in Public Administration" the President of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, said that the Government of Timor-Leste has promised to fight corruption and nepotism. Mr Gusmao said that everyone should encourage and give their support to initiatives like thatSTL

The Minister of Health, Dr Rui Maria de Araujo, said that the immunization campaign for children sponsored by UNICEF last month throughout 13 Districts reached 99%. 127, 453 children were vaccinated. Dr Araujo said that the population now understands the importance of having their children vaccinated. When in previous years the number of children vaccinated was very low.

The Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, said that the RESPECT Project approved by the Government recently will create 289 new jobs such as repairing bridges and roads, and ensuring clean water systems for the people in the District of Covalima.

Dr Alkatiri said that the RESPECT project is ongoing with a rehabilitation of a school in Baucau. In Viqueque a bridge as being rehabilitated and in Maliana an irrigation system is being repaired.

The Timor Post reported that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Ramos Horta, said that it's a natural thing and a justified one when the population presents their views through opinion polls on attitudes and popularity of politicians. Dr Horta said that the IRI opinion poll shows that Fretilin still has the majority, and the Opposition are still weak.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Baucau and Dili, D Basilio do Nascimento, said that out of the 7 priests nominated for the post of Bishop for the Diocese of Dili, only 3 names made the shortlist. He said that the Vatican will make an announcement within a month.

The Secretary of State for EDTL (Electricity Authority), Igidio de Jesus, said that his department has adopted new measures to generate payment from 65% of the consumers who are not paying their electrical bills. Mr Jesus said that if consumers do not pay, the Authority will cut off their power.

A shareholder of Timor Telecom, Oscar Lima, said that the Government has requested Timor Telecom keep on schedule with their promise to provide services in the Districts of Baucau and Lospalos by 28 November. Mr Lima said he hoped TT would be providing services throughout all 13 districts soon.

The President of the Parliament of Timor-Leste, Francisco Lu-Olo, said that the regiment adopted by Members of the Parliament states that members cannot be removed unless he or she decides to change sides to other political party.

The Director of the Hospital in the District of Lautem, Dr Julio Pereira, said that last month 575 patients received treatment at the Hospital all suffering from malaria and an infection caused by an allergy that makes it difficult for patients to breath. He added that daily, 6 to 7 patients are hospitalized with high fever.

The Administrator of the Sub-District of Maubisse, Jose Mendonca, said that the population in Koto Morok, sub-district of Maubisse are desperately waiting for the establishment of clean water system, sanitation and electricity for their communitiesTimor- Leste International and Local Media Monitoring

The Timor Post reported that a report released by the National Hospital of Timor-Leste shows that 38% of kids under the age of five who are hospitalised suffer from pneumonia. The report also shows that the cause of the high level of mortality in kids (16% ) is not from pneumonia alone but also the result of cerebral malaria and malnutrition.

The Brigadier General of F-FDTL, Taur Matan Ruak, said that there are no immediate plans to work in close cooperation with the Special Police Force. He added that if a situation needs support, F-FDTL will give it upon their request.

The exit poll conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) about well known figures and Timorese politicians shows that Bishop Belo leads the poll with 95% of the votes followed by D. Basilio do Nascimento and Xanana Gusmao with 94%.

Suara Timor Lorosae reported that Zacarias da Costa, member of PSD, said that after the closing ceremony of the National Congress, the former Vice-President of PSD, Leandro Isaac, was sacked by the party for not complying with the party's guideline in the Parliament of Timor-Leste. Mr Costa said that Lucia Lobato was elected as the new vice-President replacing Leandro Isaac.

A Member of the Parliament of Timor-Leste, Francisco Branco, said that the task of the Special Police Force is to fight criminality and not to defend the Government. He added that as a Special Police Force, like those in any other country in the World, their role also is to prevent any act of terrorism in Timor-Leste.

The Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rui Manuel Castro, said that the decision taken for Timor-Leste to have its own Central Bank was a wise decision. He added that with the establishment of the Central Bank, Timor-Leste can have a better control of its budget.

Australian troops have embraced Timor-Leste's new currency as coins started circulating this week. Over the recent weeks, the Government of Timor-Leste have promoted the incorporation of the new centavos and Australian troops will be the first UN Peace Keepers to adopt the currency.

The Defence Minister of Australia, Robert Hill, said to a Senate committee hearing that the May 20 date for the conclusion of the latest UN peacekeeping operation in Timor-Leste might be extended. Mr Hill said that there is an informal debate within the UN at the moment about what should follow the completion of the existing mandate. He added that the Timorese Government would like to see a continuation of security support in some form or other.

[Compiled by Jose Filipe External Affairs World Bank, Dili Office.]