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East Timor News Digest 10 – October 1-31, 2007
Green Left Weekly - October 31, 2007
Annolies Truman – Two thousand people rallied in the East
Timorese capital of Dili on October 17 to demand food sovereignty
for East Timor. The demonstration was the culmination of three
days of activities to mark World Food Day.
The majority of the demonstrators were university students who
joined farmers from different districts and sub-districts.
Protesters marched to Parliament House and Government House,
taking MPs and government officials by surprise.
The protesters continued on to the ministry of agriculture
building, which a delegation of farmers' representatives entered
to present their demands to the minister. These included
increasing production and supply of food through sustainable
agriculture and government policies prioritising community
autonomy, environmental stewardship and cultural integrity.
The demonstration was organised by HASATIL (Strengthen
Sustainable Agriculture in Timor Leste), a network comprised of
27 local NGOs and farmer groups. It advocates for farmers' rights
and sustainable agricultural practices.
HASATIL's representative in Australia, Ego Lemos, told Green Left
Weekly that the demonstration was a success. "A lot of people are
very enthusiastic and impressed with the action", Lemos said.
"The number of demonstrators was significant and they represent
the thinking of a large section of Timor's population. Eighty per
cent of the population's livelihood is based on agriculture. They
want government agricultural policies that will benefit small
farmers and not hurt the environment.
"We are already alarmed at the effects of colonialism and neo-
colonialism on our agricultural system."
East Timor was colonised first by Portugal and then Indonesia.
Traditional agriculture, comprised of a variety of root crops and
leafy vegetables, was partially replaced during the period of
Indonesian rule by large areas of rice monoculture.
Lemos explained that soil and water pollution have been
increasing since Indonesia introduced high-chemical-input farming
methods, leading to pest resurgence and rising livestock and crop
losses.
"Since independence, farmers have been increasingly forced to
compete in a free market economy. Farmers are becoming more
dependent on external inputs, leading to less available income",
he said. With cheap agricultural imports from Australia and
Indonesia growing annually, demand for local, more expensive
produce is decreasing.
Lemos told GLW that large multinational corporations have been
introducing genetically modified crops under the guise of
research institutions, such as the International Research Rice
Institute and the Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research.
"There have been GM trials of Bt corn [corn modified to
incorporate herbicide- and insect-resistant traits], for example.
The corporations claim these are for research purposes, but there
is no regulation; the government is weak. It is 100% possible to
grow these crops commercially."
An official event took place in Dili on October 16, organised by
the government and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO). World Food Day originated in 1945 to
highlight access to food as a basic human right. However, since
the event was launched, the number of people unable to regularly
access sufficient, nutritionally adequate and culturally
acceptable food has grown.
According to Chana Opaskornkvl, Dili's FAO chief, some 850
million people worldwide are going to bed hungry every night.
Speaking at the October 16 event, Opaskornkvl emphasised that
"the right to feed oneself in dignity, rather than the right to
be fed" – highlighting a major issue in East Timor and across
the underdeveloped world.
According to Lemos, food has been coming into East Timor as so-
called "aid" with the ulterior purpose of creating dependency on
foreign imports. "Fifty per cent of Timorese are still
functionally illiterate, most of them living in rural areas. This
combined with the poverty and dependency of our country makes our
nation more vulnerable to exploitation by multinational
companies."
President Jose Ramos-Horta gave a speech at the official event
stressing market-oriented production. He recommended the
government invest in road projects and other transportation
infrastructure for farmers to access markets. Ramos-Horta also
stated that East Timor will borrow money from International
Monetary Fund (IMF) to develop the country. Protesters displayed
banners with anti-World Trade Organisation messages, promoting
local food and claiming food sovereignty is the way to resolve
hunger and poverty.
Lemos stated, "The government is keen on developing the country
by borrowing money from the IMF and encouraging agri-businesses
to invest in Timor Leste. This is really against our principles.
We want people-centred and sustainable development."
In contrast to the official "celebrations", HASATIL marked World
Food Day with three days of activities throughout East Timor,
including seminars and workshops focusing on food as a human
rights issue, as well as the protests.
ABC News - October 18, 2007
The Australian Defence Department has rejected allegations that
six Australian soldiers beat a civilian Timorese security guard
in Dili last Sunday.
A Fretilin party MP reportedly told East Timor's Parliament that
the guard was beaten by the soldiers at a government warehouse.
The MP also said two other people were assaulted by the
Australian troops.
Defence spokesman Brigadier Andrew Nikolic says Australian
soldiers did intervene in a fight between two of the men.
"The patrol approached the men to stop them fighting and one of
those men started to abuse the ISF [International Security Force]
soldiers," he said.
"There was a scuffle between the men trying to get to the ISF
soldiers but at no time did the ISF soldiers touch the men or
indeed at no stage did they assault anyone, and after the men
left the ISF continued on its patrol.
"Now we are obviously extremely disappointed that these
allegations have been made. I can tell you the allegations are
totally false and misleading and we reject them."
Politics/political parties
Truth & friendship commission
Social/communal conflicts
Justice & reconciliation
Government/civil service
Human rights/law
East Timor media monitoring
News & issues
East Timor: Protests call for food sovereignty
Defence Department denies Timor beating claim
Politics/political parties
Tape prompts calls for prosecutor general's dismissal
Southeast Asian Times - October 18, 2007
Dili – East Timor's major political party Fretilin has called on President Jose Ramos Horta to dismiss the Prosecutor General Longuinhos Monteiro following new evidence that he conspired to bring down the former Fretilin government.
The call was made after the national parliament listened to a tape recording of a mobile telephone conversation between Monteiro and two anti-Fretilin political figures. The recording was obtained by Dili newspaper Jornal Tempo Semanal which published the transcript on October 1.
Heard speaking with Monteiro were former Member of Parliament Leandro Isaac, a close ally of army rebel Alfredo Reinado, and Herminigildo "Agio" Pereria, the former chief of staff to then president Xanana Gusmao who is now prime minister. Herminigildo Pereria is now Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers in the Gusmao government.
The United Nations Independent Special Commission of Inquiry in October last year reported that Leandro Isaac – armed with a Steyr rifle – was present during an attack on the home of army commander Brigadier General Ruak on May 24 2006 and recommended the Prosecutor General investigate "whether Leandro Isaac had any culpable involvement in the crimes committed."
"Prosecutor General Monteiro ignored the UN recommendation to investigate Leandro Isaac, and now we understand why," FRETILIN parliamentary leader Aniceto Guterres said yesterday.
Guterres told parliament that the intercepted phone conversation revealed Monteiro, who was appointed by former president Gusmao, had "extremely close ties to politicians involved with the 2006 crisis aimed at bringing down the Fretilin government and creating instability which resulted in almost 150,000 Timorese becoming internally displaced and nearly 6,000 homes destroyed, as well as deaths and injuries."
"Mr Longuinhos Monteiro no longer has the requisite trust to continue to perform the functions of the prosecutor general with independence, in accordance with the law and without political interference," Guterres said.
He told parliament President Ramos Horta must remove Monteiro and initiate an investigation into his role during the 2006 crisis.
He said the involvement of Herminigildo Pereria in the conversation "shows everyone that another institution of state sovereignty – the Presidency of the Republic through his Chief of Staff – was involved with groups who took action to bring down the Fretilin government."
Guterres told parliament that following publication of the transcript of the phone conversation, Prosecutor General Monteiro had abused his power and position by threatening the journalist who wrote the story and also threatening to initiate an investigation into a non-government organization which accused Monteiro of corruption.
Guterres said Monteiro had taken no action on a formal complaint by Fretilin of unlawful use of its party symbols during the recent parliamentary election.
"This case had grave consequences and prejudice for Fretilin during the election campaign and created confusion amongst the voters. But until this day, (our complaint) has not moved forward at all. Is it because the case involved a complaint by Fretilin, whom the Prosecutor General has been conspiring from the beginning to bring down?"
| Truth & friendship commission |
Jakarta Post - October 29, 2007
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Members of the Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) may decide by vote if gross violations of human rights occurred before and after the 1999 referendum in East Timor if they fail to reach a consensus on the matter.
CTF co-chairman from Timor Leste Dionisio Babo Soares said the commission would consider the stance and opinions of individual members to determine the commission's final conclusions.
The commission's report is due to be submitted to the Indonesian and Timor Leste governments in January.
"We are now discussing the substance of the report so I can't say if we have made a decision on whether or not gross human rights violations were committed at the time. If we fail to reach a consensus then we will vote," Soares told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
He said as each commissioner's opinion was important, the CTF would include notes on the opinions of individuals in the report to demonstrate to the public the democratic decision-making process the commission follows.
After almost two years of work, the CTF is moving closer toward submitting its conclusions about alleged human rights abuses in Timor Leste, with the final public hearing held last Wednesday.
The hearing featured the testimonies of Lt. Gen. (ret) Kiki Syahnakri, the East Timor province military commander in 1999, and Col. Aris Martono, who headed an army battalion deployed to the province that year.
CTF commissioners are currently attending a series of meetings to conclude Tuesday, during which the substance of the commission's final report will be discussed.
The report is to be based on public hearings, submissions, research and document reviews.
CTF co-chairman from Indonesia Benjamin Mangkoedilaga said the report had to be completed by its January deadline to avoid criticism, as the commission had already been granted a year-long extension.
"Whatever happens, we must finish the report by January as more delays will only invite public criticism. At this stage, we must decide first whether gross human rights violations occurred based on our hearings and reviews before moving to other matters, such as determining which party was responsible," he told the Post.
Benjamin also refused to comment on whether the commission had made a decision on the occurrence of gross human rights violations in the former Indonesian province.
During the public hearings, several witnesses testified that they were tortured or that members of their families were killed by armed civilians supported by the Indonesian military.
Kiki Syahnakri, who was also the martial law commander in East Timor in 1999, confirmed at Wednesday's hearing that Timor Leste civilians armed and trained by the TNI had formed people's self defense groups known as wanra, which are still recognized in defense law. However, he maintained the military and police were not involved in human rights violations.
International relations expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies Bantarto Bandoro said if the CTF report denied the occurrence of gross human rights violations in East Timor it would be met with harsh criticism from the international community.
He also said if such a decision was made, the credibility of the commission would be at risk, casting further doubt on improving relations between the Indonesian and Timor Leste governments.
"If the CTF report concludes that human rights violations occurred, then both governments must follow up on the commission's recommendations with actions. But if the commission fails to establish that gross human rights violations occurred, the UN should take over the investigation," he told the Post.
In July, the UN prohibited its officials from testifying at the commission due to the fact the CTF was given the mandate to recommend individuals for amnesty.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said last Friday that the CTF should again summon former officials of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) to testify.
Reuters - October 26, 2007
Ahmad Pathoni, Jakarta – A commission investigating bloodshed during East Timor's 1999 vote for independence from Indonesia will offer United Nations officials another chance to testify, its co-chairman said on Friday.
The United Nations, which sponsored the vote, has boycotted hearings held by the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF), arguing that the body set up by Indonesia and East Timor could recommend amnesty for those found guilty of gross human rights violations.
"We will invite them again because obviously information from UN officials and its former officials will contribute to the search for truth," commission co-chairman Benjamin Mangkoedilaga told reporters after meeting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono following the completion of its final hearings this week.
Hearings with United Nations officials can be conducted before the commission submits its final report sometime at the end of this year or in January, 2008, he said.
Pro-Jakarta militiamen, backed by members of the Indonesian army, rioted before and after the vote that ended 24 years of Jakarta rule, destroying much of the territory's infrastructure.
The United Nations estimates about 1,000 East Timorese were killed but Indonesian officials have told the truth commission that only about 100 people were killed.
The CTF was set up to promote reconciliation between Indonesia and East Timor, but critics say the commission is toothless because it lacks the power to punish those found responsible for abuses.
Some Indonesian officials and military officers testifying at CTF hearings have accused the United Nations agency organising the balloting of having rigged the vote in favour of independence.
They said anger among pro-Jakarta East Timorese over the perceived cheating triggered the mayhem.
Mangkoedilaga said East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta had told the commission not to be concerned about UN officials' boycotting the hearings and criticism of the body.
"He said just ignore the voices of those United Nations bureaucrats, because they are not the United Nations. The United Nations comprise countries including East Timor and Indonesia," he said.
"The findings of the CTF will be credible if they are accepted by the peoples of Indonesia and East Timor," he said.
Predominantly Catholic East Timor became fully independent in May 2002 after more than two years of UN administration.
Reuters - October 24, 2007
Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – The United Nations and Portugal must share responsibility for violence that marred East Timor's 1999 vote for independence, a former general told a truth commission investigating the bloodshed.
Kiki Syahnakri was appointed commander of the Indonesian military in East Timor in September 1999 after pro-Jakarta militiamen went on a violent rampage in the wake of the independence vote.
Syahnakri told the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF), set up by East Timor and Indonesia to delve into the violence, that the United Nations had conspired to sway the vote in favour of independence and should share the blame for the mayhem.
"Indonesia can't, and does not deserve to be, entirely held responsible for the riots, because Portugal, elements in the international community and the United Nations played some role in bringing about the riots," he told the commission's final hearings in Jakarta.
Indonesia, former colonial ruler Portugal, and the United Nations signed an agreement that authorised the vote.
The CTF was set up to promote reconciliation between Indonesia and East Timor, but critics say the commission is toothless because it lacks the power to punish those found responsible for abuses.
Syahnakri said international pressure on the Indonesian military was "unreasonable". "Since the beginning, the United Nations and elements in the international community had an agenda for an independent East Timor and were not interested in a fair and impartial vote," he said.
The United Nations has boycotted the commission's hearings, arguing that the body could recommend amnesty for those involved in gross rights violations. Pro-Jakarta militiamen, backed by members of the Indonesian army, rioted before and after the vote that ended 24 years of Jakarta rule, destroying much of the territory's infrastructure.
The United Nations estimates about 1,000 East Timorese were killed but Indonesian officials have told the truth commission that only about 100 people were killed. Predominantly Catholic East Timor became fully independent in May 2002 after more than two years of UN administration.
-------------------------------------------------
TNI 'armed' East Timor civilians
Jakarta Post - October 25, 2007
Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – The former martial law commander in East Timor has acknowledged the existence of military-trained armed civilians in the former Indonesian province, but said they were legally justified "civilian defense groups".
Lt. Gen. (ret) Kiki Syahnakri told a public hearing here Wednesday that the wanra groups were civilians who were armed and trained by members of the Indonesian military (TNI).
In response to a commissioner's question on armed civilians, as cited in earlier testimonies, Kiki said that this probably referred to the groups of wanra (perlawanan rakyat, people's resistance), "which were part of the Indonesian defense system at that time."
"Wanra units were everywhere (in the country) including in East Timor," said Kiki. The groups in East Timor, such as Alfa and Makikit, he said, "were trained in discipline and who were bound to certain rules."
The groups "were supplied with weapons but only to safeguard their neighborhoods," Kiki told the sixth public hearing held by the joint Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF).
The right and obligation of civilians to defend the state, including through basic military training, is still recognized in the defense law.
Kiki was martial law commander in September 1999 until he handed over authority to international forces later that month. Martial law was declared in East Timor on Sept. 6 following widespread violence after the Aug. 30 referendum, which led to the independence of East Timor (Timor Leste).
Militias supporting both independence and integration with Indonesia have been accused of violence, but representatives of "pro-integration" groups testified earlier that they were trained by Indonesian military members.
Kiki said the civilian groups were formed on their own request following "intimidation" by fellow Timorese who were "pro- independence."
Commissioner Felicidade Guterres also questioned Kiki about a leader of the pro-integration militias who was a member of the army's special force, but Kiki said he had retired in 1997.
Kiki repeatedly denied the involvement of police or military officials in gross crimes against humanity in Timor Leste. "There was no evidence of such actions. So why do these allegations keep cropping up?" He cited reports in the Guardian and Washington Post denying earlier reports on massacres.
If anyone should be held responsible, he said, one party would be the United Nations, which he alleged was part of the "international conspiracy" for Timor's separation from Indonesia.
In response to commissioner Achmad Ali, who asked who he would recommend for amnesty, Kiki said it was irrelevant. "We were in East Timor on state duty, without committing any betrayal to our country," Kiki said.
The Wednesday session also heard the testimony of Col. Aris Martono, head of an army battalion deployed to East Timor's Los Palos regency in 1999. Aris denied earlier allegations that military members raped several women in the area. The commission is scheduled to wrap up with a final report in January.
Jakarta Post - October 24, 2007
Abdul Khalik and Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – The Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) is moving closer toward submitting its conclusions about alleged human rights abuses in Timor Leste, with its final public hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
At the sixth and last public hearing, Lt. Gen. (ret) Kiki Syahnakri, the East Timor province military commander in 1999, and Col. Aris Martono, who headed an army battalion deployed to the province that year, will explain their version of events. The hearing will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Central Jakarta.
"Col. Aris will clarify accusations of violence made against him during the hearing in Dili, while Pak Kiki will clarify several issues," Lt. Gen. (ret) Agus Widjojo, a commissioner representing Indonesia, said.
After the hearing, commissioners representing both countries will gather until Tuesday to discuss what will be included in the commission's final report, which will be based on public hearings, submissions, research and document reviews.
CTF co-chairman from Timor Leste Dionisio Babo Soares said he was optimistic the commission would produce a credible report after two years of investigations. However, many people remain skeptical about how credible the report will be.
"We will announce the extent to which human rights violations occurred and we will also name individuals who committed abuses. However, we agreed institutions would be held responsible," Soares told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
"We hope we can submit our final report (to the governments of Indonesia and Timor Leste) in January or February at the latest," he said.
Soares said he was unable to reveal which institutions or people might be blamed for human rights violations during and after the 1999 referendum that let to the creation of Timor Leste as an independent state. "We are still discussing the situation and have not yet decided which institutions will be held responsible. All commissioners must agree on this," he said. "But we do have a list of people connected to human rights violations," he added.
The credibility of the CTF was put into question in July when the UN prohibited its officials from testifying at the commission due to the fact it was seen as offering amnesty to those who had committed serious crimes.
An alliance of non-governmental human rights organizations criticized the commission's performance Tuesday, saying it would not be able to reveal the truth behind the violence that followed Timor Leste's split from Indonesia.
"The CTF should have explained in more detail who those testifying were, why they were summoned and whether their testimonies were relevant to the incident," impunity division head at the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Haris Azhar said Tuesday.
Representatives from the NGOs claimed the CTF's performance proved the commission was only established to conceal the truth behind the incident and manipulate the facts about what they considered gross human rights violations.
Jakarta Post - October 11, 2007
By January, Indonesia and Timor Leste should have a shared acknowledgement of the violence-filled year of 1999. During the recent public hearings of the Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) in Dili, The Jakarta Post's Ati Nurbaiti talked to Lt. Gen. (ret) Agus Widjojo, the only commission member with a background in the Indonesian Military. The following are excerpts of the interview with the former chief of territorial affairs.
Question: What's your sense of the process so far?
Answer: The commission is a political process, not a legal one. At first the challenge was in the interpretation of our terms of reference. There were legal terms like amnesty, rehabilitation, while we're not a legal process.
Second, the challenge was to convey to the public that it is political, while most people expect legal results.
Third, how to get a concrete operational agreement. We needed time to convince ourselves and each other that the CTF is a hybrid commission originating from a review of four legal documents, working to reach a non-judicial document. This is a first-ever inter-country commission not related to a legal process.
What's your personal feeling?
Progress has been very slow; commissioners have had to come to a common understanding despite various backgrounds, especially those from Timor Leste who have a strong emotional attachment (to 1999) given their experience.
Are uncooperative witnesses an additional problem?
Not really. It's how we can manage all the analysis to reach the truth of what happened and why; whether there were gross crimes against humanity; findings on institutional reform (and) the lessons learned to prevent similar incidents as a basis for friendship.
This sounds hard to understand for victims.
We must struggle even with one another and with ourselves to obtain an analysis designed to differ from a judicial one. When we listen to testimony and study documents, many of us still slip into merely finding who was guilty.
How to prove gross violations, or crimes against humanity; which institution should be responsible for all the violence in 1999 and what are the lessons learned; not all these aspects would be revealed in a judicial process. We're doing a study, like an academic study, to reconstruct what happened in 1999.
How can it be an academic study when there is the political intention of friendship between the two countries?
We cannot satisfy all parties. There are two misled expectations. One is that the commission is expected to come up with a recommendation of prosecution. Second, that it can directly handle the healing of old wounds by directly confronting victims and perpetrators. Third, the CTF is expected to handle victims' compensation. All this is beyond our mandate.
Who will take care of the victims?
Because the commission is bilateral, attention to victims would be materialized through the policies of both countries. We seek to restore the dignity of victims to return to society – and this also applies to those who are considered perpetrators.
What were your feelings or thoughts of the many accounts involving the TNI?
There were first, baseless accusations. Second, perhaps the accounts were fairly logical and reliable, but there would be a context. In 1999 Indonesia was in the initial phase of transition, the police were still part of the armed forces (ABRI, now TNI); but the police were the party put in charge of security in East Timor.
Second (ahead of the referendum), ABRI had to quickly change its mindset and mentality; from treating the (independence movement) as a movement disrupting security in the integrated republic to a component to be treated equally in the referendum.
Third, ABRI still upheld the doctrine of "dual function", dwifungsi, which pushed it to the forefront of all national issues. It was used to handle East Timor in its social and political role. So it could be understood if all this led to excesses.
If such excesses were not limited to one or two cases, wouldn't the violence be better explained by, say, loss of command control over security personnel, or impunity?
If there were cases involving security personnel, every case would have its context; (among others) whether it occurred when East Timor was part of the republic; when the two options (for autonomy or separation) was announced; or at the time of the referendum, and when the results of the vote were announced.
(Also,) the pro-independence and pro-autonomy groups had engaged in armed conflict, after which they both had to adjust in a relatively short time as participants of the vote....
The violence during the referendum was undeniably a period of uncertainty as to who was the law enforcer... There was virtually a vacuum of authority caused by a drastic, unplanned transfer of power which spun out of control.
So both parties engaged in violence based on their own rationale, without the ability to seek a peaceful way out....
Impunity doesn't exist in isolation, but is a result of a political policy.... What if the facts show that what happened was largely on the orders of the state or a state body?
State responsibility would follow the hierarchy of authority; we'll see if the TNI can decide for itself what it can do. Maybe the decision of the political authority was right but differed in its implementation, or was it the political decision itself which contained flaws.
Isn't this just repeating statements that it was president B.J. Habibie's fault for announcing those two options for East Timor?
It's not our goal to say who's wrong and not. What we're looking for is where the institutional responsibility lies, a responsibility which is moral and/or political.
Friendship between the two countries cannot be burdened too much by the perception of wrong or not wrong. But it should be placed within the moral and political responsibility, to agree to seek a closure on past mistakes and build friendship based on reconciliation.
Green Left Weekly - October 3, 2007
Jon Lamb – Human rights activists from East Timor and Indonesia have slammed the latest round of the Indonesia-East Timor Truth and Friendship Commission (CTF), which began hearings in Dili on September 24.
The CTF was established with the support of the Indonesian and East Timorese governments in 2005, with the aim of establishing the truth of the events of 1999 in East Timor, when a reign of terror by Indonesian military-backed militias occurred before and after a vote in favour of independence in the UN-supervised referendum. To achieve this, amnesty is offered to perpetrators of human rights abuses in exchange for their testimonies.
Around 70 protesters demonstrated on September 25 outside the Hotel Timor where the CTF was meeting, demanding an accountable and transparent process of justice for the human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian military and pro-integration militia gangs. "The CTF only defends the criminals and stands in the way of justice", a September 25 Reuters report quoted protester Xisto da Costa as saying.
The protest was organised by a coalition of human rights and justice organisations associated with the Non-Government Forum of East Timor (FONGTIL). The coalition also initiated an "Alternative Public Hearing to respond to CTF" held on September 25 -27.
The CTF heard submissions from East Timorese political leaders including president Jose Ramos Horta and prime minister Xanana Gusmao. Former prime minister Mari Alkatiri appeared at an earlier session in Jakarta. Their submissions, along with prominent Indonesian political and military figures such as former president BJ Habibie, have been heard in private. Such closed sessions have deeply angered many East Timorese.
A statement released on September 24 by East Timorese human rights organisations and the Indonesian human rights coalition KONTRAS (Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence) titled "Discriminating between those responsible for crimes and the victims" condemned the closed hearings as a violation of "the principle of rights of the victims, above all the rights of victims to the truth, justice and for reparations".
The statement further noted that: "Hearings involving top leaders of this nation that are closed to the public is clear evidence that the CTF is an instrument for impunity and a means to set aside accountability to victims. We reject the CTF and call a halt to all activity by it that carries the title of 'seeking the truth'."
| Social/communal conflicts |
Agence France Presse - October 12, 2007
Nelson da Cruz, Dili – Jacinta Barros, an East Timorese mother of eight, sits on a bed in her new temporary home, a one-room affair that sleeps 13 of her relatives, refugees from unrest last year who still cannot go home.
By day, the spartan room bakes in the searing tropical sun and by night it gets chilly as a wind blows under the eaves where ceilings should be.
It is a step up from the camp they have moved from, but only just, as tiny, impoverished East Timor still struggles to shift thousands of people displaced by the violence that flared among security forces back to their homes.
Some 155,000 people, or about 15 percent of East Timor's population, were estimated to have fled their homes amid the sudden bloodshed that followed the sacking of deserting soldiers.
Divisions arose among people from the east and west, dividing previously harmonious neighbourhoods. At least 37 people were killed. According to government figures, 62,000 are still living in camps in Dili and across the predominantly Catholic nation.
The 60 families at this complex of three-by-three metre (yard) rooms are in a kind of limbo, moving from the camps ahead of the onset of the rainy season, but still lacking homes or fearing security is too lax for them to return.
Their plight illustrates the ongoing difficulties East Timorese authorities face in coping with the displaced despite the presence of thousands of international peacekeepers and UN police despatched in the wake of the unrest.
Barros' home and shop were torched and her family evacuated with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The bed she sits on is one of just two pieces of furniture her family managed to salvage from their home – by paying neighbours to retrieve them.
"We had to flee because there were serious threats to our lives, because we come from Baucau" in the east, Barros said. "Every night we have to sleep together, the 13 of us, in this small space. My children have to sleep on plastic sheets as we have no carpet," said Barros, describing the room as little more than a "stall at the market".
The room, adorned with a poster of the Virgin Mary, is built of a traditional bark and while there are roofs, they lack ceilings for insulation, Barros said. "When the wind blows, dust enters the room making our things dirty and my one-month-old baby cough," she complained.
The family cooks in the open, in front of their room, sharing the space with five neighbouring families, while they share a bathroom with one other family.
Neighbour Antastacia Wonga, 29, is from Indonesia's Flores island. She shares her room with her husband, mother-in-law and four children.
"This room is okay, I guess. It is just a little bit better than that in Canossa (the convent where they sheltered previously), because we can now be protected from the rain and wind," she told AFP. "The problem is our family has to eat, change clothes and sleep in the same room."
Wonga and her East Timorese husband also fled Dili with nothing but what they were wearing. "Everything else was burned along with our home. Even our pets were killed or stolen," Wonga said.
The complex is just a few hundred metres from a church and a police station, and a UN police patrol vehicle is parked nearby, but still rock-throwing sporadically breaks out, residents said.
Such low-level violence persists in erupting between rival groups -- it is not always clear just what the disputes are – across Dili and other areas of the country, disrupting the lives of ordinary people.
Temporary homes were built at three locations in the seaside capital last year and provide shelter for 300 families, said Joaquim Paulo, an official who assesses the potential of reintegrating people into their old neighbourhoods.
No more will be built, however, as the monsoon will soon hit, said manpower and community reinsertion minister Dominggas Alves.
"The IDPs (internally displaced people) themselves also do not want to stay in these transit places because what they want is to return to their own places," he said.
Many homes however were destroyed, or security remains a concern, but the government plans to help them, he said.
"But as to how we will do that I cannot tell you yet. If we can return them all to their homes next year, that would be great. But we have to see that their numbers are great, therefore priorities will have to be set."
Voice of America - October 11, 2007
Marianne Kearney, Dili – At a camp behind the Lucidere Monastery in Dili, more than 50 families are crowded into what was once the monastery's garden.
Maria da Costa, a 23-year-old, has been living in a small tent with eight family members for a year and a half. Despite the cramped conditions, she says she cannot return to her home in Dili's northern suburbs. "We can't return because we are still afraid, and we don't have a house: it was burned," she said.
Around a 150,000 people fled their homes in April and May of last year during street unrest that left at least 37 people dead.
Rival military and police factions waged battles against each other, and then youths began fighting in the streets. Since then, hundreds of international peacekeepers have patrolled Dili's streets alongside the Timorese police.
A government department has been trying to return refugees to their homes. But so far, the government and an aid agency have only managed to rebuild four of the 6,000 houses that were damaged or destroyed in last year's crisis.
Most of the refugees are from Timor's east. They say gang attacks on easterners were sparked by Army Major Alfredo Reinado, who claimed there was bias against westerners in the military.
Aderito da Sperada, a refugee, says even if his house had not been destroyed, it would not be safe for him to return.
Reinado escaped from prison last year, and fought off Australian peacekeepers attempting to arrest him. He and others responsible for the violence remain at large, and da Sperada wants the government to provide protection from them.
"We came here because of Reinado and Salsinha, who turned us into refugees," he said. "All us refugees in Dili want to return home, so we ask the government to guarantee the security and peace, so we can return to our houses and live normally, like we did before."
Armandio Freitas of the government's Mutual Acceptance Secretariat says it is not that easy. For one thing, there are 70,000 internally displaced people, or IDP's, in Dili alone, and an estimated 100,000 outside Dili trying to get into the capital.
"Basically right now, in Dili, each month, we are feeding 70,000 of IDP's," he said. "And... it's very hard for us to maintain the number, from one month to another month, because almost each month the number increases."
A second problem is that home ownership is not clear-cut. Disputes have arisen because many families moved to Dili and occupied vacant homes after thousands were killed in two major episodes of violence.
The first was in 1975, when Portugal gave East Timor its independence and Indonesia invaded the territory. The second came in 1999, when the Indonesian military and local militias fought to keep people from voting for independence from Indonesia.
Now many of the original owners have returned to Dili to claim their land.
Alfredo Zamudio with the Norwegian Refugee Council says it is essential for the displaced to gain community approval for their return, or they could spark more conflict. He says the only way to do this is negotiate with local communities in what he calls dialogue sessions.
"You have 6,000 destroyed houses, so you need 6,000 sessions of dialogue for the return," he said. "For the return you need to solve two things: you need to solve dialogue and you need to solve the land property thing. That will take time."
Zamudio says that given the difficulties, more temporary shelters are needed, such as the one called Becora, located behind a university.
"Instead of being in emergency camp, these families are moved to the transitional site of Becora," said Zamudio. "Here you find 156 families living in small rooms of about 16-square meters. Two families, they share a bedroom and an individual communal kitchen. We've built up to now 472 of these shelters and we are finishing the construction of 500 and we are going to build, we think we need one thousand more."
At the temporary camp built by the Norwegian Refugee Council, residents have clean water, sanitation and – most importantly – security provided by United Nations police.
But the council, the only aid agency currently building houses, says it can only build 300 houses a year. At that rate, East Timor's refugees could be stuck in camps and temporary shelters for many years to come.
Courier Mail - October 9, 2007
Marianne Kearney – East Timorese youths have been paid to kill people during periods of political unrest, a Catholic priest has alleged.
Father Martinho Gusmao has told The Courier-Mail that provocateurs have a graded scale of fees for for rock throwing, burning houses and murder. His information comes from hearing the confessions of dozens of youths.
"According to estimations, they say if they throw a stone, they will get $20, if they burn a house: $50, if they kill a person: $100," Fr Gusmao says. "I think this is very terrible."
The Dili-based priest says he has a strong suspicion who has been paying the youths but refuses to name names. Young men were paid before and after the June national elections to commit acts of violence, he adds.
Confessions relating to such acts were still being made as recently as last week.
"They come to talk to us, they want to have counselling because they feel guilty," said the priest, who is also a member of the church's Justice and Peace Commission. There were outbreaks of rioting surrounding the June polls in which no single party won enough votes to form a government.
After much negotiating Xanana Gusmao formed a coalition government with smaller parties. However Fretilin, the former ruling party, initially argued that the new government was unconstitutional as Fretilin was the largest vote-winner.
While Fr Gusmao would not point a finger at who might still be stirring up unrest, Miguel Manetelo, the newly appointed State Secretary for Youth and Sports, does not hold back.
"In Timor Leste, many youths if they receive some money from someone, some groups or some political parties, they make trouble and violence," he says. "It's because they don't have work, so it's very easy to politicise them."
Mr Manetelo says political parties have been manipulating the youths to create unrest.
Unemployed young men loiter on Dili's hot and dusty streets and jump out at passing cars waving mobile phone card top-ups. Unruly youths are much feared. Taxi drivers say guarding their beaten up sedans is their first priority, and most refuse to drive after 5pm.
"If I drive at night, I never know when I'll be hit, maybe there'll be someone down this road, or jump out here," said one driver.
| Justice & reconciliation |
Jakarta Post - October 16, 2007
Ati Nurbaiti, Dili – Mario Goncalves hides a missing earlobe below his white hair because East Timor is independent.
Goncalves' brother – whose son was behind the injury – told Goncalves he would pay for corrective surgery if the 1999 referendum showed that most Timorese wanted to stick with Indonesia.
Ahead of the vote, the old man was attacked because he rejected the political views of his nephew, a member of a militia group struggling to keep Timor a part of Indonesia. It "was thrown to the ground and I was told to eat it", Goncalves said of the bloody act.
The Timorese voted against continued integration and now, when he lifts his long white mane, Goncalves' disfigured right ear becomes visible.
The former village chief, who says he supplied logistics to Timorese guerrillas, related the bitter family dispute and showed his scar during the latest public hearing of the Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF).
His account was one of several heard amid the chirping of birds and whirring fans at the fifth series of CTF hearings in the shady backyard of Dili's former prison from Sept. 25 to 27. Previous hearings have taken place in Denpasar and Jakarta.
If he met his nephew today he "would embrace him and forgive him 100 times", he said through an interpreter. "I'm old. I'm not capable of anger anymore. I just want the best for Timor Leste."
The best for the country, its leaders have said, is to try to move on – but not before Indonesia acknowledges what happened before and after the 1999 referendum that lead to Timor's independence.
The CTF has a January deadline for issuing a final report and CTF members are sounding rather desperate.
"What do you expect of the CTF, Mr. Goncalves?" a member asked. The deadpan reply: "Man lives and dies, that is nature. But it is also very rare that a man has his ear cut off and is told to eat it."
His message: yes, he would forgive, but no, he could not forget.
Johny Marques, a young leader of the Alfa militia group who was convicted on various counts of murder and is serving 33 years in jail, said certainly he was paying for his deeds – but he wanted to know who else was.
"For the sake of friendship between the two nations, why should it be only Alfa members like myself who are singled out for accountability?" he told the public hearing.
Marques pointed to Indonesia, whose special forces troops, he said, had been involved in forming his militia group.
Amid messages that crimes cannot be forgotten, and that accountability cannot be limited to mere foot soldiers, commissioners have said they are at a "crucial stage" ahead of the deadline.
Even while they are about to put pen to paper, they still differ on exactly how to approach their task, which is to seek the truth and strengthen friendship between Indonesia and Timor Leste.
Their mandate is "not to find who is guilty", but instead to answer questions about how it happened and how similar crimes can be prevented in the future. The tricky part: since both parties want to be friends, the villain must not be made to look too bad.
As Indonesians, we have grown to believe that our troops parachuted into Dili in 1975 to defend against communism and help build up a poor neglected former Portuguese colony; and that we received nothing in return but international scorn.
Critics say the CTF is an attempt to whitewash acts of the Indonesian security forces. The UN boycotted the process, refusing to allow UN personnel who had served in Timor to testify.
But commissioners draw strength from those who disagree. War crimes researcher David Cohen, a CTF advisor, points to the fact that South Africa's truth commission also resulted in amnesty for many perpetrators. "But I don't see the international community condemning South Africa's commission," he said.
The CTF, he said, is an "interesting experiment", given the failure of the legal process in both Indonesia and Timor Leste. Referring to the trials for crimes against humanity, he put partial blame on "the miserable failure of the UN" which, he said, did not support the process.
Commissioners express commitment, but also consternation. They're even unsure of what to say in the section of the report that describes the background to the violence.
To strengthen friendship, commissioner and former UN diplomat Syamsiah Achmad says, one must be mindful of what language one uses. Members say they are still unsure whether they can use "occupation", or must chose a "more neutral" term.
Just imagine – as Indonesians, would we allow the history of colonialism to be described in terms of Dutch "administrators" or a Japanese "presence" in Indonesia? Our elders still vividly recall the sirens, scurrying to the bunkers and parents who were taken away and never came back.
Perhaps it is simply the distance between the experience and the recollection has allows friendship to exist between Indonesia and its former rulers (although issues remain, of course).
The CTF however, does not have time on its side. Some of the Timorese commissioners still have fresh memories (only 10 years old) of fleeing from destruction and shooting, with the dead lying around. Of course, the Indonesian members of the commission have no such memories.
The CTF members are struggling to overcome their differences – the difference between representing a people who witnessed and experienced decades of suffering, and representing a nation whose citizens are miffed to learn that anyone thinks they ever oppressed, let alone occupied, anybody.
One commissioner, Indonesian Bishop Petrus Turang, sums up what must be done – at the very least. "We'll complete this report by January" and the two governments can decide, once the storm has passed, on what follow up actions to take and when.
Among the report's likely recommendations, commissioners say, are reparations for victims (including hundreds of refugees stuck on the border), more houses, family reunions and efforts to rewrite official histories.
One gets the sense that the CTF is a mission impossible. Then again, says one of the people behind the idea – former Timor Leste prime minister Mari Alkatiri – "Who would have thought Indonesia could reach a settlement with Aceh?"
Despite the criticism, the commissioners have no choice but to hunker down and work to reach the deadline.
[The author is a staff writer with The Jakarta Post.]
| Government/civil service |
Agence France Presse - October 15, 2007
Dili – East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta has sworn in the country's State Council, saying the advisory body faced the challenge of restoring stability to the young nation.
Speaking in Portuguese, one of the country's two official languages, Ramos-Horta said there were "many priorities which will soon have to be on the agenda of the state advisors."
"We need to restore stability and guarantee security and peace," he told the council, which provides advice to the President when asked, and has the constitutional authority to announce the dissolution of the parliament or government and declare war.
Its 12 members include Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, House Speaker Fernando de Araujo, former health minister Rui Araujo, and former house speaker Fransisco Xavier do Amaral. Five members of the council are directly chosen by the President.
"Looking to the future, this council will work to advise the president when needed and will accord its attention... and make use of its competence to guarantee stability for Timor Leste," Mr Araujo said after the ceremony.
One member of the council, Merita de Jesus-Marques, did not attend the ceremony. No reason was given for her absence.
Agence France Presse - October 6, 2007
Dili – East Timor's parliament on Saturday passed a transitional period budget proposal of 112 million dollars on a split decision.
The budget was passed with 36 votes for, 21 against and six abstaining, one day after Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao presented the parliament with a budget proposal for the transitional period before entering the next financial cycle. It is proposed for six months, from July to December 2007.
Lawmaker Pedro da Costa from Gusmao's CNRT party told reporters "the budget is urgent and programmes should be implemented immediately. I am certain that the government will soon realise all their (proposed) programmes."
Gusmao said the budget's priorities would be refugees, reducing poverty and the tightening of security to "equip the police force to be able to work more professionally."
Meanwhile, Fretilin secretary general Mari Alkatiri said that they voted against because "we do not agree with the government's and the budget commission's answers in the debate." Fretilin continued to view the current government as unconstitutional.
The government inherits 119 million dollars of unused funds carried over by the past administration.
East Timor's parliament in August last year passed the 2006-7 fiscal year budget, the young nation's largest ever at 315 million dollars, after a delay caused by violence and political upheaval in May.
| Human rights/law |
Melbourne Age - October 4, 2007
Lindsay Murdoch – A former East Timorese guerilla at the centre of allegations that forced Fretilin prime minister Mari Alkatiri from office last year has been arrested in Dili.
United Nations and Timorese police took Vicente da Conceicao, alias Commander Railos, into custody early yesterday and charged him with offences relating to gun fights at the height of violent upheaval in Dili in May last year.
A UN investigation into the violence found that Railos led 31 fighters in ambushes against Timorese soldiers where as many as nine people were killed.
It found that Railos' group had been supplied uniforms and weapons on the orders of the country's then Fretilin interior minister, Rogerio Lobato, who was subsequently jailed for seven years before leaving the country for medical treatment.
Police arrested Railos at a house in the seaside town of Liquica after Fretilin militants warned they would capture him themselves.
Claims by Railos that Mr Alkatiri was involved in setting up a hit squad to eliminate political rivals forced him to resign as prime minister.
Mr Alkatiri strenuously denied the allegations and prosecutors later said there was no evidence to substantiate them. Coverage of Railos' claims won the ABC's Lateline program a Gold Walkley Award.
Fretilin, the former ruling party that lost power at national elections in June, claimed last week that Railos had been responsible for continuing acts of violence while carrying a travel authorisation letter signed by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
Meanwhile, President Jose Ramos Horta has announced plans for East Timor to become a tax-free country while spending more money on projects to lift Timorese from poverty. He said Timor Sea oil and gas revenues now exceed $A112 million a month.
Agence France Presse - October 3, 2007
Dili – A former East Timorese guerrilla fighter was arrested on Wednesday and charged in connection with deadly unrest that flared here last year, the United Nations mission said.
Vicente "Railos" da Conceicao was among a number of key protagonists in a complex plot surrounding East Timor's descent into chaos in April and May last year that is still being unravelled by investigators.
At least 37 people were killed when fighting between various factions of the security forces and gang warfare erupted following the sacking of deserting soldiers. Thousands of foreign peacekeepers were deployed to restore calm.
Da Conceicao and his civilian followers alleged they received weapons from them interior minister Rogerio Lobato, who was jailed for his role in distributing arms, and were paid to kill their political opponents.
"He was arrested pursuant to an arrest warrant issued on September 13, 2007 for his alleged role in the events of the 25th and 26th of May last year," the UN mission said in a statement.
"Railos has been charged for violating Articles 338 and 55 of the Penal Code, related to homicide, and is expected to appear in court in Dili later today," it said.
Da Conceicao and his 34 followers eventually handed over their weapons – 14 assault rifles – to then prime minister Jose Ramos-Horta in July last year in a ceremony attended by hundreds of people outside the capital.
The ex-fighter apologised publicly for keeping the weapons and maintained they had not been used to carry out the alleged orders of Lobato and then prime minister Mari Alkatiri.
Ramos-Horta hailed the group at the time as setting an example of patriotism in the tiny nation, saying they had not used their weapons against the people. Alkatiri resigned in the wake of the violence.
Ramos-Horta served as interim prime minister until Xanana Gusmao, the country's former president, assumed the post following elections this year.
The UN's top official here, Atul Khare, welcomed Da Conceicao's arrest as being a sign of "the continued strong commitment of the authorities of Timor-Leste to implement recommendations of the UN Special Commission of Inquiry Report issued in October last year."
That commission had recommended that Alkatiri be investigated for his role in the violence, but prosecutors found there was no evidence to support laying criminal charges against him.
Lobato, who was jailed in March, has since travelled to Malaysia for medical treatment and Dili has asked for international assistance to ensure he returns to serve out his seven-year term.
UN and local police along with the International Security Forces (ISF) have been positioned in sensitive locations to maintain order following Da Conceicao's arrest, the UN mission also said.
| East Timor media monitoring |
Bishop Basilio: CTF public hearings are positive
The Bishop of the Baucau Diocese, Basilio Nascimento, said that the public hearings of Indonesian and Timor-Leste Commission of Truth and friendship (CTF) held over three days in Dili are a positive thing for the Timorese people.
"If we talk about the incidents, they will not be ignored," said Bishop Basilio. Bishop Basilio also said that the reaction of the civil society against CTF is a normal thing, but that civil society should give time for the CTF to conduct the process of justice. Separately, the Director of Justice and Peace of Baucau Diocese, Fr. Martinho said that the process may move forward, but the important is that leaders are not trying to damage the victims' future. Commenting on the position of UN about CTF, Fr. Gusmao said that UN should show its position concretely, not by talking. (TP)
Alfredo should also submit himself to the justice
The 12 accused members of the F-FDTL in relation to the crisis in May last year, who have participated in justice through their lawyers Tommy Zeronimo and Arlindo Dias Sanches, have said Alfredo Reinado should do the same. "The collaboration of F-FDTL shows that the military respects the law and not just dialogue. For me, crimes could not be solved through dialogue alone," said Mr. Sanches. Mr. Sanches also said that the state and government are giving every opportunity to Alfredo Reinado to solve the problem. (TP)
Ratify the presence of ISF, PN to find reference from the state of TL
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security Paulo Martins has confirmed that the presence of International Security Forces (ISF) will agreed between the Governments of Timor-Leste and Australia. "We are not taking any decision yet to have ratify the continued presence of the ISF. That will be decided between Timor-Leste and Australia," said Mr. Martins. Mr. Martins said without that decision, it does not mean that the presence is illegal as there is already an agreement signed by the sovereign organs of Timor-Leste in place. (TP, DN and STL)
GNR and ISF to capture Railos
The GNR and International Security Forces (ISF) captured Mr. Vicente da Conceicao alias 'Railos' on Tuesday in Liquica district. Mr. Railos is alleged to have led armed civilians in an attack on the F-FDTL in Tasi Tolu during last year's military and political crisis. Mr. Railos is now in the preventive prison of Dili district with other five young men. Longuinhos Monteiro, the Attorney General reportedly said that the arrest made by ISF and GNR based on evidence relating to the alleged trading of illegal weapons during last year;s crisis. "The process of justice will be executed quickly" said Mr. Monteiro. (DN and STL)
UN, considers Railos arrest has legal base
The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) has confirmed that Vicente do Conceicao, alias "Railos" was arrested early this morning at his residence near Liquica. He was arrested pursuant to an arrest warrant issued on September 13, 2007 for his alleged role in the events of the 24th and 25th of May last year. Railos has been charged for violating Articles 338 and 55 of the Penal Code, related to homicide, and are expected to appear in Court in Dili later today.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor- Leste, Mr Atul Khare, welcomed the arrest as a continued sign of the continued strong commitment of the authorities of Timor-Leste to implement recommendations of the UN Special Commission of Inquiry Report issued in October last year. UN police officers, assisted by the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) and the International Security Forces (ISF) have been positioned in sensitive locations to maintain a calm situation. (DN)
Benevides: withdrawal of mandate to capture of Alfredo does not mean Alfredo will not submit himself to the justice
The Lawyer for Alfredo Reinado, Benevides Correia Barros said on Wednesday that the declaration of the president of the Court of Appeal, Claudio Ximenes calling upon all authorities to obey the law regarding to the mandate of capturing Alfredo Reinado, is incorrect. According to Mr. Barros Mr Ximenes has misunderstood the situation because the withdrawal of the arrest warrant for Reinado does not mean that Reinado will not submit himself to the justice. President Jose Ramos-Horta has stated that to solve the Reinado problem, military operations should be halted and the arrest warrant should be withdrawn. (TP)
Mario Carrascalao: we need a military court to process the F-FDTL case
The MP from the Social Democratic Party (PSD) of the national parliament, Mario Viegas Carrascalao, said that there should be a military court to solve F-FDTL cases. "The military case that is currently in the court is a military crime that should be brought before a military court, not a civil court," said Mr. Mario on Tuesday (02/10) in Dili. He added that the military's case has to be judged in a military court based on the military's law. (TP)
Claudio Ximenes: "The law doesn't allow me to give a statement"
The President of the Court of Appeal, Claudio Ximenes, said that the law gives him no room to give any statement about the letter issued by the judges with regards to the capture Alfredo Reinado Alves. "I am not allowed to give any statements on cases already in the court process, because the court will make decision based on law; the court should not make a political decision," said Mr. Claudio on Tuesday (02/10) in his office Caicoli, Dili. (TP)
Jose Neto Moc: UNPol should present facts to the court
The intelligent director of the PNTL, Inspector Jose Maria Neto Moc called on United Nations and UNPol to provide facts to the court following the incidents of 25 May 2006. According to Mr. Neto, UN and UNPol have some facts regarding such incidents as UNPol members disarming PNTL. "I am also a victim of the PNTL institution, so the UN and UNPol should state the facts," said Mr. Neto on Tuesday (02/10) through a letter to the press. (STL and DN)
Alfredo has the right to insist on justice
Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato said that as a citizen, Alfredo Reinado has the right to insist upon justice for himself. Ms. Lobato said that Reinado's case has already been submitted to the government, and the government has also formed a task force to find a solution acceptable to all parties, including Alfredo Reinado. Upon the request of Alfredo that his case should be judged by Timorese judges, Ms. Lobato said that at the present Timor-Leste does not have enough suitable Timorese judges to fill all of the judicial system. (STL)
Joaquim dos Santos: it is not the responsibility of Ramos-Horta to reduce poverty
Joaquim dos Santos, MP from Fretilin said that it is the responsibility of the government to reduce poverty in Timor- Leste, because the president cannot present initiatives to the parliament. "The government is responsible for the allocation of the budget because it has exclusive competency to allocate the budget of the state," said Mr. Joaquim on Tuesday (2/10), in response to the promise of President Jose Ramos-Horta that wants to be the lawyer for the poor and reduce the poverty. (STL)
UN Secretary General and members of Security Council to visit Timor-Leste
President Jose Ramos-Horta said that the Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon and an African-led delegation of the Security Council will visit Timor-Leste in the near future. Speaking to the journalists at a press conference on Saturday (610) after returning from New York, he said that the visit is already confirmed and will be announced. "The Secretary-General told me that he wants to visit Timor-Leste in the near future. He has the opportunity to visit Asia and use that time to visit Timor- Leste," said President Ramos-Horta. (DN)
Prime Minister Xanana, IDP and veteran's problem is very complex
The Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said that the problem of IDPs and veterans are not the major priority for the new government and they are very complex to solve. Speaking about the IDPs, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said that the government has promised to solve the issue with responsibility and sensibility. On the issue of veterans, the Prime Minister said that a Commission had been established in the national parliament to discuss any possibilities to give pensions to the veterans based on their services to the nation. (DN)
Ramos-Horta, arrest mandate to capture Alfredo does not impede the dialogue
President Jose Ramos-Horta said that the mandate issued by International Judge Ivo Rosa to capture Alfredo Reinado and his groups will not impede the process of dialogue between Reinado and the government. "The mandate to capture will not impede the process of the dialogue, because the process of the dialogue may bring him to submit himself to the justice. So, it will take sometime; I prefer it to take longer than for it to happen quickly. Justice will come," said President Ramos-Horta on Saturday (610). (DN)
Proposal of Transitional Budget Passed
After a two day debate, the members of the National Parliament approved the general budget bill for transitional period. The Fretilin party, voted against the budget proposal in line with it's anti-government stance since its formation. (STL)
Government will pay $2 Thousand for Veteran Subsidy
The Government will pay $2 thousand as a subsidy to veterans even though it was not included in government proposal of budget bill for transitional period. Most of the Parliamentary Members accepted the proposal to pay the veterans (STL)
Pipe Line to Timor-Leste, Woodside Present the Option to Government
The Woodside Company has presented five options -- that include submissions from civil society – to government in relation to the gas pipe line to East Timor. "Now we want to talk about the options, regarding Great Sun Rise exploration", said Mr. Alfredo Pires, Secretary of State for Natural Resources. (STL)
Julio Thomas: "Government has priority to consolidate F-FDTL"
The State Secretary for Defense, Julio Thomas Pinto said it's a government priority to consolidate the Falintil Defense Forces of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) to provide[...] Speaking to journalists on Fridayin the national parliament, Mr. Pinto said that while there is no fund for the F-FDTL during the transition period, consolidation will be important. Furthermore, Mr. Pinto said that next year the Government will create infrastructure for the institution to pay for salaries and the construction of new headquarters for the military police. "To develop the F-FDTL, there will need to be infrastructure including law to ensure that soldiers execute their duties well," said Mr. Pinto. (DN)
Prime Minister Xanana: Government Defend Budget for Oecusse
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has reassured the public that his Government will continue to defend the budget allocated to the Oecusse district in order livelihood in the district. (STL)
Government Prepared Prison for Crises Master Mind
The Government says it is ready to repair and renovate the prison to ensure it has the capacity to accommodate those convicted for masterminding last year's crisis. "There will be places for between one and two hundred people," said the Minister for Justice, Mrs. Lucia Lobato. (STL)
National Parliament Approves Budget for Life Pension
The National Parliament has approved pension payments for the first President, Members of the National Parliament and former Government Members totalling US$175,00. Fernanda Borges, the Member for the National Unity Party opposed the budget stating it is unfair for those living in poverty. "People representing the public should look after the interests of the public before their own," she said. (STL)
Fretilin Compels Parliamentary Majority Alliance Repeat Its Bad Precedent
The Government has approved a figure of 10 million dollars to allocate to internally displaced persons. The Fretilin party has unsuccessfully opposed the figure insisting the figure be increased by 9 million dollars.
Government Should Reduce Poverty
The Parliamentary Majority Alliance led by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao needs to work hard to reduce the poverty in this newborn country. "Approving the transitional budget of $116 million USD is a good sign that the Government is trying to reduce the number of people in poverty, which is currently increasing", said Ricardo Cardoso, as chairman of Trade, Commerce and Industry body of Timor-Leste. (STL)
Church Considers That Life Pensions Enrich Only Ex-High Level Officers
The Church Peace and Justice Commission member, Fr. Natalino Maia da Costa, said that by approving life pensions for the ex- President, Members of Parliament and the Government, the National Parliament members have shown that they only look after themselves and not the poor people living in misery. (STL)
FRETILIN Anticipate Election
Fretilin Party Secretary General, Mr. Mari Alkatiri, said that he has no doubt that the current government will collapse in the next two years. Mr. Alkatiri stated that another election could happen because the government will not carry out its program to restore people's lives with the huge sum of money totalling $116.409 million USD. (STL)
FRETILIN Worried about Government Transitional Budget
FRETILIN National Parliament spokesperson, Mr. Aniceto Guterres, declared that the transitional budget for the period between 1 July and 31 December 2007 is bigger than the government can execute in the short term. "The Government have said that they have no capacity to spend large amounts of money in the short- term, yet they have allocated a lot of money to big goods and services without a plan to use it," said Mr. Aniceto. (DN)
Fernando "Lasama" Believes the Transitional Budget Reflects People's Needs
The Chief of the National Parliament, Mr. Fernando "Lasama" de Araujo, said that the transitional budget reflects people's needs because the government is being transparent. "I believe that the Government will respond to people's needs in the short-term by spending the transitional budget properly", said Mr. Fernando "Lasama".
UNPOL Responsible for 25 May 2006 Crisis
Inocencio da Costa Maria, the PNTL logistics director, told a judge in court that UNPOL is responsible for the F-FDTL firing on them on 25 May 2006 because an UNPOL officer told him that UNPOL had coordinated with the F-FDTL, will escort the PNTL officers to Obrigado Barracks, and will not be responsible if any PNTL stay in the PNTL headquarters. (DN)
Maria Domingas Alves: Budget is $2 million USD for IDPs
The Minister of Social Solidarity, Ms. Maria Domingas Alves said that the Government will devote 2 million dollars to Internally Displaced People for two months. The Government, through the Ministry of Social Solidarity, took the initiative to invite other organizations including the United Nations agencies in Timor-Leste to discuss mechanisms to bring internally displaced people home. (TP)
Buying New Tents Does Not Mean Refugees Are Staying Permanently
The Minister of Social Solidarity, Ms. Maria Domingas Alves, said that government also will buy new tents to replace the current ones provided by IOM last year. "The Government will provide new tents in anticipation of the upcoming raining season, it does not mean refugees may stay permanently, using these tents," says Ms. Maria. (TP)
National Parliament Has No Obligation to Consult with the Petroleum Fund Consultative Counsel
The Chief of Commission C on Finance Economy and Anti Corruption affairs, Mr. Manuel Tilman, stated that according to the Constitution, Parliament has no obligation to consult with the Petroleum Fund Consultative Counsel while defining the budget from the fund. (TP)
Mario Carascalao: Anticipate Election If there is Insecurity
The Social Democrat Party President, Mr. Mario Carascalao said there will only be elections if the Government fails to create a secure nation. However, he added that instability should not be created to force an election. (DN)
Taur Matan Ruak Believes Situation Back to Normal
The F-FDTL Brigadier-General, Taur Matan Ruak said that the security situation in the country is returning to normal. He said that this is due to continued collaboration between all entitled including the government, UNMIT and the ISF. "The situation in eastern part is back to normal and due to this, the F-FDTL will be withdrawn and return to headquarters," said the General. (DN)
"Jardim" Refugees Demand National Parliament Ten representatives of the Internal Displaced Persons camp located in Jardim-Colmera-Dili have demanded the Government speed up solving the problems that are preventing them from returning home. "Refugees are demanding that they want to leave the camps very soon," said Fernanda Borges, member of Commission C. (STL)
Paulo Martins Ready to Be Witness for the PNTL Massacre
Former PNTL Commander, Paulo de Fatima Martins, now as member of National Parliament said that he is ready to be witness in court regarding 25 May 2006 case. Mr Martins has been formally requested by the Court to be a witness. (TP)
No Impunity for Mari Alkatiri if Involved in Crime
The Chief of Commission A for the National Parliament, Ms. Fernanda Borges has stated that if the former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri is named within the hearing for Vicente da Conceicao, alias Railos, then Mr Alkatiri should respond. "The impunity afforded to members of the National Parliament is invalid for personal criminal actions," said Ms. Borges. (TP)
Fretilin Requests President of Republic to Discharge Longuinhos Monteiro
The Fretilin Party bench in National Parliament had officially requested the President of the Republic to discharge the Prosecutor General, Mr. Longuinhos Monteiro due to his alleged abuse of power in relation to last year's crisis. "Based on a telephone transcript, the Fretilin Party condemns him without impartiality," said the Fretilin Party spokesperson. (TP)
Xanana Should Have Conviction to Resolve Reinado Case
The Social Democrat Party's parliamentary member, Mr. Mario Carascalao, said that President Xanana Gusmco should demonstrate his conviction to solve the Reinado issue to the public. (TP)
The PNTL Ready to Secure Government Sites if F-FDTL Return to Headquarter
The PNTL will secure the government sites if F-FDTL withdrew and returned to their headquarters. "The PNTL is still in process of screening and under UNPOL supervision therefore PNTL could not decide it alone. PNTL will coordinate with UNPOL," said Mr. Afonso de Jesus, the PNTL Interim Commander. (TP)
President of Republic Sworn In State Counsellor Members
President of Republic, Josi Ramos Horta has sworn in 12 State Counsellor members, whom will defend the nation's interests. "State Counsellor members will decide and make collective decisions to resolve the nation's problems," said the Chief of National Parliament. Mr. Fernando "Lasama" is one of the members. (TP)
Taur Matan Ruak Testifies In Court
The lawyer for both the F-FDTL General Commander, Taur Matan Ruak and Colonel Lere Anan Timor should have the opportunity to testify in court on 25 May 2006 case. "The Court had heard witnesses from the PNTL side and the families of those who died at the the entrance of the Ministry of Justice. The Court also needs to hear from Taur Matan Ruak, Lere Anan Timor and Maukalo", said Arlindo Dias Sanches, the lawyer for F-FDTL officers. (DN)
Civil Society Asks for the Truth and Friendship Commission to be Dissolved
Civil society in Timor-Leste has asked for the Indonesian and East-Timorese Presidents to dissolve the Truth and Friendship Commission. Civil Society representative, Mr. Francisco Vasconcelhos, declared that National Parliament has not ratified the Commission's budget for the 2008 to 2012 period. He said that the Commission's does not meet the needs of victims in relation to justice for crimes against humanity. He said the Government is spending money only for political interest and to spread the impunity virus. (DN)
Horta: If Timor Telecom Involved, It's Serious Issue
The President Josi Mr. Ramos-Horta has stated that if Timor Telecom has been involved in tapping phone conversations, it is a serious matter. "It is a serious issue if Timor Telecom had involved directly in recording conversation between the Prosecutor General, Longuinhos Monteiro, the former Member of National Parliament, Leandro Izaac and the former Chief of Xanana Gusmco's Presidential Cabinet, Mr. Hermengildo Pereira." (STL)
Fretilin: Send the International Security Forces (ISF) Home
The Fretilin Party bench in National Parliament has called for the ISF to leave Timor-Leste so as to stop the torture and violence against the East Timorese people. Fretilin also stated that the ISF has interfered in the internal politics of East Timor. Fretilin also considered that the ISF does not respect East Timor's sovereignty and that they are illegally staying in East Timor. (STL)
International Security Forces Still Needed
Mr. Aderito Hugo, a member of the National Parliament, has opposed the Fretilin Party's request to send the ISF home. "East Timor still has hidden agitators. They could be a member of government or from a parliamentary party. We declare that the security situation is back to normal; however people living in Dili still feel unrest. Dili is still under the control of hidden agitators. We mustn't lie to ourselves, we still need International Stabilisation Forces," said Mr. Aderito Hugo. (STL)
Taur Matan Ruak Ordered Lere Anan Timor for Self Defence
The F-FDTL General Commander, Taur Matan Ruak, has told Court for 2 that he ordered Colonel Lere Anan Timur to ambush the PNTL Headquarters in self defence so they could exit the F-FDTL Headquarter in Caicoli, Dili. The General Commander was giving his testimony in the case regarding the crisis on May 25, 2006. (STL)
IDPs Concerned About Security Issue
The Minister for Social Solidarity, Maria Domingas Alves said that internally displaced people refuse to go home due to security situation. IDPs are asking the Government to resolve the issues related to Alfredo Reinado, the Petitioners, martial arts groups and the Fretilin party flag hanging in IDP camps. (TP)
National Parliament Received the Formal Request from Court
The President of the National Parliament, Mr. Fernando Lasama has declared he has received a formal Court request for the former PNTL Commander Paulo Martins to testify in front of court. "We received the formal letter days ago and we need to look at it and discuss in the plenary," said the Chief of National Parliament. (TP)
Alkatiri: Xanana Did Conspiracy to Tackle Down Fretilin Government
The Fretilin Secretary-General Mari Alkatiri has alleged the former President of the Republic Xanana Gusmao was actively involved in a political conspiracy to depose the Fretilin Government in 2006. "The conspiracy also involes the former Chief of the Presidential Office who was recorded in a Timor Telecom conversation. Don't hide your involvement and don't accuse others," said Mr. Mari Alkatiri. (STL)
Fretilin has Defamed Longuinhos
The Prosecutor General of the Republic, Mr. Longuinhos Monteiro has stated that although Fretilin has defamed him, he will not take political action but he may take legal action. "Fretilin's public statements about my involvement in a phone conversation are defamatory. I have a right to reclaim my good name through legal procedures." said Mr. Longuinhos. (STL)
UNPOL Officer Not Allowed to Testify in Court
The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste will not allow a former UNPOL officers testify as a witness in case before the Dili District Court in relation to the events of 25 May 2006. "The absence of UNPOL officers as key witnesses in court could hinder the judicial process for this serious case. It means that the UN has showed no political will to comply with recommendation sof Independent Special Commission of Inquiry published on October 2006," said Timotio De Deus, Director of Judicial System Monitoring Programme. (STL)
International Security Forces Reject Fretilin Allegation
ISF has rejected a statement from the Fretilin Party accusing the ISF of hitting and torturing two people in Dili on Sunday night. ISF Commander, Mr. John Hutcheson, asked for local media to confirm first with ISF before publicising such claims. He said the accusation is not true and that the ISF presence in East Timor is to secure East Timorese people to allow them to resolve problems and differences. (STL)
Alkatiri Believes Xanana behind the tapping of phone conversation
The Secretary General of the Fretilin Party, Mari Alkatiri has stated that he believes the former President, Xanana Gusmao, was behind the phone tapping of a conversation between the Prosecutor General Longuinhos Monteiro and the former member of parliament Leandro Isac and government staffer, Agio Pereira. "I believe that through Agio Pereira, who was part of the conversation, Xanana will have to face justice. As a President, he has always the knowledge of everything that Agio does", Said Alkatiri. (TP)
Horta Ready to Have the Debate about the Presence of ISF
The President Jose Ramos Horta, is ready to have debate on the presence of International Security Forces in the country. "I am ready to go to the Parliament because the presence of the ISF should be with the consent of the Parliament." said the President on Wednesday. (TP)
UNPOL Presence Gives Difficulty for PNTL's Action
Timor Leste National Police (PNTL) is concerned about UNPol, which at times is complicating their policing tasks. "It is very difficult because everything is under an Agreement that states we need to go through a screening process and then continue work within a mentoring process. This creates difficulties within our jobs," said Inspector Afonso de Jesus at his office yesterday. (TP)
Government Should Promote the Local Product
The NGO HASATIL together with other national NGOs' and agricultural students have staged a peaceful protest in front of parliament requesting the Government to promote local products to reduce poverty. According to organiser Arsenio Pereira da Silva, their objective is to diminish poverty in Timor- Leste through stimulating national products. (TP)
Giving subsidy for the Petitioners according to the policy of old government
The Government's plan pay a pension to the Petitioners will be administered by the Ministry of Social Solidarity, but will be paid according to old government policy. "We would like to pay the subsidy according to the old government policy. But we would also like to say that there is no change in the total amount of the subsidy," said the Minister of Social Solidarity, Maria Domingas Alves. (TP)
Too Early for the ISF to leave
The President of the Republic, Jose Ramos-Horta, said there is no hurry to ask the ISF to return home because their presence is still needed until the reformation of the security sector. He also added that if the Fretilin party would like ISF to go, then they should argue this in the parliament because the parliament is the only entity able to legalise it. (DN) No Law to Prohibit Prosecutor General's Private conversations
The Prosecutor General, Longuinhos Monteiro, said Fretilin is engaging in cheap propaganda because there is no law against private phone conversations. "I see that the publication which is done by the FRETILIN leaders serves as a defamation for my credibility and to have concern on my private life which protected by the constitution". (DN)
National Parliament Should Ratify ISF Mandate
The Chief of the ASDT Party in the National Parliament, Mr. Jose Manuel Carascalao stated that National Parliament should ratify the ISF mandate in order to give it legal force. "The ASDT is ready to support the presence of the ISF in East Timor," said Mr. Jose Manuel Carascalao. (DN)
Timor Telecom is defending itself
The recording of the phone call is false: Timor Telecom Company (TT) reacted strongly to the recording of the conversation between the Prosecutor General, former Parliament member Liandro Izack and former Chief of Cabinet, Mr. Hermengildo Pereira. They rejected the issue, saying that TT does not have the kind of equipment needed to record phone calls. They added that if anyone has the evidence to the contrary it should be presented to the court. (TP)
Massacre on 25 may 2006: the witnesses don't know who fired first
Three F-FDTL members, named Joao da Silva, Olderico da Silva, and Sabino dos Santos, who are the witnesses to the killing of eight PNTL members in front of Ministry of Justice office, gave their statement during the trial yesterday, 18 October. They all stated that no-one knows who first fired shots.
Horta authorizes foreigners to visit Atauro with a travel permit
The President of Republic Ramos Horta has authorized fishermen and Indonesian businessmen who work near the border to be able to come and do their business in Atauro with only a travel permit (TP)
Mario tells Alkatiri not to talk too much
The MP from the PSD party Mario Viegas Carascalao asked Alkatiri not to talk too much, since the FRETILIN Government fell due to people not being happy with Fretilin. (STL)
National Parliament makes false accusation against Timor Telecom
The executive chief of Timor Telecom, Jose Berdao de Souza stated that MPs made false accusations against his company, because Timor Telecom doesn't have the equipment to record clients' conversations. (STL)
The Youth from Kintal Boot threatening to take the ISF to Court
Youth from Kintal Boot are threatening to take ISF to court if it does not present strong evidence in its defence regarding the alleged "torture" of victim Abilio Fatima (STL)
Alkatiri: Horta is a dictator
MP Alkatiri said that since Ramos Horta has responded to the conversation recording issue by calling FRETILIN communist, the appropriate response is that he is a dictator. (STL)
The Government needs to fix the immigration framework
Chief of Municipal Commerce Ir. Ricardo Nheu stated that the Government needs to fix the framework provided by the Immigration Department and used by the PNTL Immigration Unit. (DN)
Carascalao: "If I were PM, IDP problem would have been solved"
In National Parliament, Carascalao said if he were the PM he would solve the IDP problem within three months. (DN)
The Victim from Kintal Boot rejects the statement of the ISF
The community of Kintal Boot rejected the statement of the ISF in which they deny that they beat the two victims, Abilio and Januario. (DN)
The Rainy season is coming, and IDPs ask the Government to change the tents immediately
IDPs asked the fourth constitutional Government to fulfil the promises they made that they will change the tents before the rainy season.
Nuno Anaia's testimony: PNTL disarmament had accord with Taur Matan Ruak
UNPol officer, Nuno Pasqual Anaia testified in the Dili District Court on Tuesday (23/10) that there was an accord between the Commander of the F-FDTL, Taur Matan Ruak, and UN Commander Reis and David Mann to disarm the PNTL officers. "I know that Commander Reis made an accord Commander Taur Matan Ruak at the F-FDTL Headquarters to disarm the PNTL before walking to Obrigado Barracks. The information was provided through radio by Reis," testified Anaia.
However, Commander Taur Matan Ruak told the Court on Tuesday (16/10) that he never made any accord with the UN Commander to disarm the PNTL. "The UN representative explained to me that PNTL would surrender and wanted to evacuate to Obrigado Barracks. I replied that we didn't need any more shootings or to attack F- FDTL headquarters. We ommanded the F-FDTL to stop shooting, and it stopped," said Taur Matan Ruak. (STL and DN)
National Parliament recommends investigating Longuinhos
The National Parliament has recommended that the General Prosecutor, Longuinhos Monteiro be investigated in relation to an alleged political conversation with the former national parliament member Leandro Isaac. MPs from CNRT, Fretilin and the Democratic Party (PD) agreed that the conversation impacts upon Longuinhos' judicial indepdence. "We need to pay attention to this case as Mr Longuinhos may or may not have had the conversation so we need to investigate," said Cecilio Caminha from the CNRT. We feel sad that this issue is now before the National Parliament. We ask the Court to investigate the case thoroughly," said Arsenio Bano from Fretilin. However Aderito Hugo a CNRT parliamentarian said that there is not strong enough evidence to investigate Mr Longuinhos. (TP)
European Union promises support fund to Timor-Leste
The Vice Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres attended the Pacific Islands Conference on Monday (15/10) in Tonga and said that the European Union is promising to support a development fund for Timor-Leste. "The meeting's objective was to discuss the tenth development fund of the European Union that will offer funding to Pacific Islands, including Timor-leste," said Mr. Guterres. According to Mr. Guterres, Timor-Leste will sign the accord with the European Union in November. (TP)
Ramos-Horta promising to reduce poverty
The President Jose Ramos-Horta has promised that through his program, named "Fight Against Poverty" poverty will be reduced in the country in the coming five or ten years. "Fight against poverty, as a struggle for peace, has become a national campaign," explained Ramos-Horta on his visit to the various sub-districts in Manatuto. (TP)
Duet Salsinha-Alfredo will never solve the petitioners' case
On Tuesday (23/10) Major Tara, an officer of the F-FDTL said that as long as Salsinha is still together with Alfredo Reinado, the problem of the Petitioners will not be resolved. "According to my point of view, Mr. Salsinha together with Alfredo Reinado will prolong the time needed to solve the case of 600 or more Petitioners," said Major Tara. Major Tara also said that when President Jose Ramos-Horta was sworn in he stated that the problem of Salsinha, the Petitioners and Alfredo Reinado is different. He said that while Alfredo's case should be solved through justice, that of the Petititioners should be solved through dialogue. (STL)
National parliament protesting: ISF destroyed protected zone of environment
The International Security Forces (ISF) from New Zealand are being accused of destroying the sands at Cristo Rei IN Dili, a protected zone for recreation. "Last week, at the protected zone, THE ISF loaded the sand into their cars. They are in this country to assist us and follow the law," said Francisco an MP in the national parliament on Tuesday (23/10) while showing the photos of ISF taking the sand. (STL)
Ramos-Horta congratulates UN
The President Jose Ramos-Horta, on behalf of the state and people of Timor-Leste, has congratulated the United Nations on its 62nd anniversary on Wednesday (24/10) in Memorial Hall, Dili. The President also paid tribute to the work of the UN in Timor-Leste and in other countries with dedicated UN peacekeeping missions. "My message is to congratulate the UN and former Secretary- General Kofi Annan and the current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as well as the SRSG for Timor-Leste, Atul Khare. Everything we have got from UN, even though we are a small nation with less strategic relevance than other nations such as Afghanistan and Iraq we have got with thanks to the Security Council," said the president. (STL)
Atul Khare, together working for the future of Timor-Leste
"All of us observing United Nations Day today are unified by the common goal of "working together for the future of Timor-Leste. The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste has a broad range of tasks as it seeks to deliver the goals expressed by Security Council Resolutions 1704 and 1745 in the areas of security, economic and social development, human rights and rule of law, and strengthening state institutions.
On a global scale, the demands on the resources of the United Nations are growing as increasingly multilateralism, as expressed and embodied by 192 member states, is accepted as the preferred approach in assisting nations to achieve independence, stability, development and global integration.
Timor-Leste in turn, is making its contribution on the global scale as demonstrated by the Timorese police officers now working in Kosovo as well as East Timorese nationals working as United Nations volunteers in other peacekeeping operations.
The work of the United Nations in Timor-Leste is a concrete expression of the collective-will of the international community to move noble goals from words to deeds. As the United Nations system in Timor-Leste, we are dedicated to accomplishing the mandate entrusted to us by the member states of the United Nations: promotion of peace, democracy and human rights, while supporting efforts to secure food, clean water, health care and the right to education and employment for all.
We will continue to work hard to make these goals reality for all Timorese citizens. Together, we work for the future of this country," said the SRSG, Atul Khare as quoted by STL from UNMIT News Release. (STL and TP)
The Alliance government does not want to have IDPs in 2008
The Alliance government has prioritized solving the IDP problem and wants to see a solution by 2008. "I would say that in 2008 the IDP will be in a better place than where they are now as they will be home where they belong," said the Minister of Finance, Emilia Pires at the Government Palace on Wednesday (24/10). Ms. Pires stated that there will need to be long and short term solutions to get the IDPs to leave their camps. (STL)
Jose Luis: preparing F-FDTL to participate in UN mission
The Vice Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres said that the Alliance government is beginning to prepare the Falintil Defence Forces of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) to take part in the United Nations mission if needed. "Our PNTL participated in UN Mission, so it needs to prepare our military forces F-FDTL to do the same to give stability and peace to other nations that may need the presence of a UN peacekeeping force," said Mr. Guterres on Wednesday (24/10) on UN Day in Memorial Hall, Dili. On the same occasion, the President of National Parliament Fernando Lasama de Araujo said that many Timorese people are involved in UN missions around the world. The participation could further enhance the development of Timor-Leste in the future. STL)
ISF apologizes for taking sand from a protected area
The case of some members of the International Security Forces (ISF) taking sand from a protected zone of Area Branca (White Sands) has been acknowledged by the ISF. "The ISF stated that the sand was used in their knapsacks and that there was no intention to destroy the environment of Timor-Leste," as stated by ISF Press Communique signed by Lieutenant Col. Rob Barnes on Wednesday (24/10). (STL) (TP)
Longuinhos to give annual report to the national parliament
The National Parliament will soon invite the Prosecutor-General, Longuinhos Monteiro, to give his annual report to the parliament. This will include details and clarification about any alleged cases relating to the nation's security and how the judicial system may or may not have interfered. (TP)
Alfredo doing secret job in Suai
The State Secretary of Security, Francisco Guterres said Alfredo Reinado and his men have been working on a "secret job" in the district of Suai. "I am not aware that Reinado is moving in Suai however I know that he is working in Suai." The solution to the problem will soon be made public because the problem of Reinado is an important one to solve," Mr. Francisco told journalists. (TP)
President of national parliament, asking UN to have reflection
Speaking to the journalists on Wednesday (24/10) on UN Day in Memorial Hall, the President of the National Parliament, Fernando Lasama de Araujo asked the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste to continue its good work. "The work of UN in the nation is going well, it still needs to give more for more work for the future of Timor-Leste," said Mr. Lasama. (TP)
More UN support needed for the justice sector
The Fretilin parliamentarian, Domingos Sarmento has called upon the United Nations to provide more assistance to Timor-Leste in the area of justice sector reform. Speaking to the journalists on Thursday (25/10) in the national parliament, Mr. Sarmento said that the UN needs to give its support, especially in the area of training Timorese judges and prosecutors. "The current support is not sufficient, as illustrated by the large number of pending legal cases," said Mr. Sarmento. (DN)
High level commission: no decision on Reinado
According to the Prime Minister, the High Level Commission, appointed to solve the issue of the former military commander, Alfredo Reinado, has not made a decision. Speaking to journalists, the Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said several meetings have been held, although none have focused on the political principles at the heart of the problem. However, he said a major milestone happened last weekend when President Jose Ramos-Horta met Reinado along with a dialogue expert Joaquim Fonseca. According to Prime Minister Gusmao, the government with other representatives will meet the Petitioners in November. (TP)
Xanana: the government and Alfredo has commitment to end the crisis The Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmao said there are positive signs after a meeting between the State Secretary of Security Jose Guterres, the dialogue expert Joaquim Fonseca and Alfredo Reinado and his men in Suai district and Gleno. Mr. Gusmao said that both Reinado and the Government have commitment to solve the problem promptly. "We discussed all things including solving the issue with respect to political and legal principles as contained within Timorese law and the Constitution," Mr Gusmao said.
PNTL members will be rotated
The Interim Commander of the PNTL, Afonso de Jesus has announced that all PNTL officers will be rotated to different locations across the country. He added that the rotations will commence once the construction of six new barracks is completed. "So far there are six barracks of PNTL in the six different districts; this constructions means more barracks in more districts to facilitate PNTL duties," said Mr. de Jesus. He added that these barracks also will be used by new members of PNTL and will mean that police officers can live within their districts, closer to their families. (STL)
Solving IDPs problem, PM Gusmao leads the intermediary commission
The Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao will lead a Special Commission to oversee the fund that will administer the IDP problem. The announcement follows a meeting of Ministries on Thursday that met to discuss the IDP problem and how to prioritise a response across all Government departments. The State Secretary for Council Ministry Affairs, Agio Pereira said that the Government is looking for solutions for IDPs and will take advice from the Technical Team comprised on national and international advisors. (STL and DN)
The national parliament to revise the electoral law
The Commission A of the National Parliament has received a plan from the electoral specialist organization, IFES and UNMIT and how to revise the electoral law. The President of Commission A, Fernanda Borges said that the Commission now has a plan for how to assist in the area of electoral law revision. (STL)
PM Xanana Gusmao: "Never say that the presence of ISF is illegal"
The Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said that never say that the presence of International Security Forces (ISF) is illegal as it was based on the request of a sovereign government. The statement follows concerns raised by Fretilin about the legality of ISF presence. Mr Gusmao added that the document authorizing the presence of the ISF was signed by the former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, the President of the National Parliament Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo and himself as the former president of the republic. (DN, TP and TVTL).
Ramos-Horta calls for political leaders to respect common interests
The President Jose Ramos-Horta has asked all political leaders to support the interests of national development, rather than individual or group interests. However the meeting was not attended by Fretilin leaders due to their retreat in Same. "The ruling party should also have contact with the people. Sometimes we are busy then forget those who cast their votes for us," said the president. The President also pledged to dedicate time to meeting with political leaders to ensure consistency in developing national priorities. (STL)
Fretilin to mobilize peaceful protest in Dili
The Secretary-General of Fretilin, Mari Alkatiri, said that in 2008 Fretilin will mobilize its supporters from 13 districts to hold a peaceful action highlighting the defence of democratic rights, justice, liberty and national integrity. Mr. Alkatiri said all supporters of Fretilin have a right to peaceful protest, and it is the responsibility of the police and state to control any violence. Furthermore, Mr. Alkatiri said that Fretilin does recognize the state as constitutional, but continues to believe that the government is not and will continue to vote against it in the national parliament. (DN)
Longuinhos: telephone conversation, an investigation-not proposed by parliament
The General Prosecutor of the Republic, Longuinhos Monteiro has proposed an investigation to the President of the Court of Appeal, Claudio Ximenes, about his alleged involvement in a taped telephone conversation.
His statement follows calls for Mr Monteiro to provide evidence to the national parliament about any alleged involvement. "There is no law stating I must make a declaration to the national parliament. As a prosecutor, I can have conversations with any people," said Mr. Monteiro. (DN)
HASATIL disagrees with the policy of the Alliance government
The non government organization, Strengthen Sustainable Agriculture of Timor-Leste (HASATIL), said it is against a proposed policy to give rice subsidies to public servants, and members of the PNTL and F-FDTL. "We do not agree with this policy because it seems that the policy gives no advantage to local product of local people," said Arsenio Pereira, the coordinator of HASATIL Secretariat. (DN)
The future of Timor Telecom investment
The administrator of Timor Telecom, Jose Brandao Sousa said the telecommunications company will fulfill its contract with the Government over the agreed five year period, despite debate about a new telecommunications company entering the market. "I guarantee that we will honour our contract with the state and we are not worried about any other than what is written in the contract," said Mr. Sousa. (DN)
Timor-Lost lost MCC fund from USA
The Government says that Timor-Leste will not get assistance from the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from United States of America because the country's corruption rating. The minister of Economy and Development, Joao Mendes Goncalves said that the crisis in Timor-Leste has made the corruption rating higher. He said this means Timor-Leste will lose its opportunity to get assistance in infrastructure development from the fund. (TP)
Hutcheson: "You asked, we came"
Brig. Gen. John Hutcheson, the commander of International Security Forces (ISF) asked the Timorese to understand that the presence of ISF in the nation is legal. "We have come because we were asked. Our presence here is constitutional and legal based upon the trilateral accord between Australia, Timor-Leste and United Nations at the time of President Xanana Gusmao, President of National Parliament Lu-Olo, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and Minister of Foreign Affair Jose Ramos-Horta," said Mr. Hutcheson on Monday (29/10) at Heliport, Dili when President Jose Ramos- Horta visited the ISF medical center. Furthermore, Mr. Hutcheson said, the presence of ISF is to establish peace in Timor-Leste while working with UNMIT, UNPol, PNTL and F-FDTL. (STL and TP)
PM Xanana: Motamasin incident has no influence on Indonesia and TL relations
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said that Lucas Meno (40), a citizen of Timor-Leste who was shot to death by the Indonesian military at the border on Friday (26/10) in Motamasin will not destroy relations between Indonesia and Timor-Leste. According to Prime Minister Xanana, the victim is not originally a Timorese but he has been in Timor-Leste and he crossed the border to Indonesia illegally. After a meeting with F-FDTL on Monday (29/10) in Comoro, the Prime Minister said that selling goods through illegal crossings might make some people rich, but it could also cause a lot of sadness. The prime Minister appealed to those living across the border not to cross the border line illegally as it has consequences. (STL and TP)
Judge of Court of Appeal to investigate Longuinhos
The President of Court of Appeal, Claudio Ximenes delegated judges from the Court of Appeal to investigate the General Prosecutor, Longuinhos Monteiro in the case of the telephone recording in which Fretilin has accused Mr. Monteiro as being involved in the 2006 crisis. "The process of the case is going on as requested by the General Prosecutor, Longuinhos Monteiro, who wants to be investigated by the Court of Appeal, not the National Parliament," said Mr. Ximenes. Mr. Ximenes also said that based on the Rule of Law, the General Prosecutor should be investigated by a judge from the Court of Appeal or a judge from the Attorney General in such cases. (STL)
IMF-WB refutes having published corruption report about Timor-Leste
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) refuted that they reported on the percentage of corruption in Timor-Leste since the first Government existed. IMF and WB said this in relation to a statement by the Minister of Economy and Development, Joao Goncalves, who said that Timor-Leste lost its opportunity to get assistance from Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from the United States of America because Timor-Leste has been identified as having a high rate of corruption.
The Resident Representative of IMF, Tobias Nybo Rasmussen, on Monday (29/10) said that IMF has no relation to the MCC and that the MCC is a project of United States (USA). He said that IMF has never published a report on corruption about Timor-Leste. On the other hand, former Prime Minister Estanislau da Silva said that actually this is not about corruption, but rather about the process and difficulties being faced by the US related to its presence in Iraq and the amount of money being spent on the war. (TP)
Fretilin accuses the Alliance: there is impunity for some organs
The Fretilin members of National Parliament have accused other members from the Alliance of having impunity from what they say is their clear involvement in crimes. Fretilin said that until now the case of telephone recording about the conversation between the General Prosecutor, Longuinhos Monteiro, former Parliamentarian Leandro Isaac and former Chief of Presidential Cabinet Hermenegildo Pereira, is only focused on the one who recorded the conversation and not the people who held the conversation.
"Actually we have to find out why the conversation was held. As representatives of the people we should not try defend each other from justice," said MP from Fretilin Antoninho Bianco. Fernanda Borges, MP from National Unity Party (PUN) also said that there should be a competent institution to find out who distributed the recorded conversation and a thorough investigation of Longuinhos Monteiro who might not be involved in any political conversation as an independent person. (TP)
President Ramos-Horta asking for thorough investigation into the TNI action
President Jose Ramos-Horta has asked for further investigation into the shooting incident at the border by National Military of Indonesia (TNI) who shot a Timorese to death. The President will call upon the Ambassador of Indonesia in Timor-Leste to provide clarification on the case; he is also waiting for more information from UN, PNTL and Border Police Unit (BPU). "There was also an incident last year when our police shot to death an Indonesian citizen and then clarified it," said the President. The President said that the situation has been calm with the collaboration between BPU, UNPol, ISF and TNI. (TP)
Fretilin rejects Kristy Sword to be Ambassador
MPs from Fretilin totally rejected the nomination of Kristy Sword Gusmao to be Goodwill Ambassador for Education saying that there are many Timorese that could hold the post, rather than a Minister's spouse. MPs from CNRT argued that during the time of Prime Minister Alkatiri, Marina Alkatiri (Alkatiri's spouse) was Ambassador for Mozambique and Djafar Alkatiri (Alkatiri's elder brother) was Ambassador for Malaysia, and no body voiced rejection on that. President Ramos-Horta said that the model of nominating a Goodwill Ambassador comes from United Nations and the post is dedicated to an important area. Ramos-Horta had the idea to nominate Ms. Sword Gusmao to be Goodwill Ambassador in the area of education and to cooperate with other nations in the area of education.
Fretilin to mobilize pacific action in Dili
The Secretary-General of Fretilin Mari Alkatiri said that in 2008 Fretilin will mobilize its supporters from 13 districts to hold a pacific action for the defence of democratic rights, justice, liberty and national integrity. Mr. Alkatiri said that all the people have the right to peaceful protest and it will be controlled by the police. Furthermore, Mr. Alkatiri said that Fretilin recognizes the State as a constitutional State, but the Government is not constitutional so Fretilin will use its vote against the Government in the National Parliament. On the same occasion, the President of Fretilin, Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, gave statements to all of Fretilin's militants not to cooperate with or give support to the Alliance government since it is a de facto government not a constitutional government. (TVTL)
Mario: electricity case is related to the statement of Fretilin boycotting the Government
The member of national parliament from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Mario Carrascalao said the electricity problem in Dili could be related to Fretilin's pledges to boycott the alliance government. "We could associate this issue with the statement by Mari Alkatiri, but it needs to be proven," said Mr. Carrascalao on Tuesday (30/10) in the National Parliament. (STL)
Electricity problem, a test for the Alliance Government
Prime Minister Kayrala Xanana Gusmao said that the electricity problem could be considered as a test for the Alliance government. "The electricity problem is a test for the recent government, but some officers of the power station are still defending the problem. This should be investigated further," said the Prime Minister after meeting with the officers of power station on Monday (29/10) in Comoro, Dili. (STL)
Police to hunt for the actors of violence in Dili The State Secretary of Security Francisco Guterres said that he will give instructions to the police department to hunt for the actors involved in the violence in Dili. "The police will hunt for the actors or anyone else who was involved in violence. Now the PNTL will deploy the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) to work together with GNR in a joint patrol to attend to any violent activities," said Mr. Guterres on Tuesday (30/10). Mr. Guterres also said that the Government has discussed with United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) to establish more police stations which will be functional in a short time. (STL)
May 25 2006 case: Paulo Martins to obey the decision of the court
Former General Commander of National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), Paulo Martins has agreed with the decision of Dili District Court to reject his written testimony in the case of May 25, 2006. "This is the competence of the court; I have to act upon it," said Mr. Martins on Tuesday (30/10). Paulo was asked by the court to give his testimony directly or in written form, but the Court decided not to have his testimony in written form. (STL)
Alkatiri making political accusation
The Secretary-General of Fretilin, Mari Alkatiri said that the current Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao was behind all the violence that has occurred. The newspaper (STL) said that the statement of Mr. Alkatiri is different from the statement of President Jose Ramos-Horta during the Presidential election campaign. "Fretilin is creating propaganda to make me and Xanana step down," STL quoted the President as saying. (STL)
Claudio Ximenes: "There is still no law for the private lawyer"
President Court of Appeal Claudio Ximenes said that until now there is still no law for private lawyers to work on cases. Mr. Ximenes also said that there is no law to regulate the private lawyers in assisting their clients or suspects. The President of the Court of Appeal revealed that there should be more training for judges. (DN)