News & issues

Cuba-Timor Leste: 'Our solidarity is not just words'

Granma International - September 18, 2008

Juan Diego Nusa Penalver, Havana – Never were two nations as united as Cuba and Timor Leste through links of cooperation and solidarity at such difficult moments in history; two nations so distant, geographically speaking, but both determined to face the future.

The pain and difficulties of one are shared by the other. This is how I interpret the meaning of the words spoken by Jose Ramos Horta, president of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste who, moments before concluding his official visit to the island, agreed to talk to the National News Agency (AIN).

"Our solidarity, which is not only words, has made it possible for us to contribute $500,000 for the victims of Hurricane Gustav in Cuba, despite the fact that Timor Leste, a new and small country, has barely one million inhabitants," said the president.

After describing this contribution as "modest", he highlighted the significant help that Cuba is giving to his country, despite the fact that, geographically, the two countries are very distant.

He then recalled that during the 2006 crisis, in the midst of tremendous suffering on the part of the Timorese people, certain international agencies left the country, including the US Peace Corps, which had 600 members there.

The corps received an order from the State Department to withdraw despite the fact there was no physical threat to its members.

"However," he added, "the Cuban doctors stayed with us, helping, saving lives and taking care of the wounded. And our people know this and feel this."

The head of state, who received first-hand information on the devastation caused by Hurricane Gustav and preparations underway in the face of the equally powerful Ike, said that many countries, including the rich nations, could learn a lot from Cuba's experience in prevention, organization and mobilization for evacuating people under the threat of cyclones or other natural disasters.

"I believe that it is a very good and important experience that Cuba could share with other countries in order to save lives in the face of phenomena of this kind."

During his stay in Havana, Ramos Horta met with a delegation of the close to 700 young people from that nation who are studying in Cuba, the vast majority of them medical students.

"They feel completely safe here, there are no problems and they are very happy. The hurricane has certainly affected them, given that they had to abandon their things, but the most important thing is that no one was injured or lost their life."

Cuba-Timor Leste cooperation

The Timorese president praised the work of the 231 Cuban healthcare workers and 36 teaching advisors who are promoting healthcare and trying to eradicate literacy in Timor Leste.

"There have doubtless been results, but it is a tremendous challenge in terms of the problems that we have with malaria, dengue, tuberculosis, malnutrition, and a very high level of illiteracy, but with the Cuban cooperative workers we will be able to reverse the situation within the next five years," underlined Ramos Horta, who described this contribution as effective and very generous, adding that it would also assist his country in meeting the Millennium Goals for reducing poverty, set by the United Nations in 2000.

He affirmed his belief that this effort has even greater merit given that Cuba is a small country, not a rich nation like Australia or France.

"As a Nobel Peace Prize winner, as president, as a citizen of the world, it profoundly impresses that Cuba's contribution is greater than that of nations such as the United States and those in Europe, taking into account its economic and financial dimension. "Cuba has our gratitude, our acknowledgment, our admiration, as an example of true human solidarity," he emphasized.

Against the US blockade

Ramos Horta categorically rejected the economic, commercial and financial blockade which the US government imposed on Cuba 50 years ago, and questioned Washington's motives, given that it maintains full relations with countries that have different political systems to its own.

He questioned the reasons for maintaining this policy, inherited from the Cold War, when the world was divided in two blocks and whoever was a friend of the Soviet Union was an enemy of the United States and vice versa; a situation, he stated, which brought suffering to many states.

"The United States cannot continue with its pretension of imposing its political and economic system on other nations.

"It has to accept countries as they are and leave their natural evolution to the people themselves. As a human being, I cannot possibly agree with this arbitrariness and for that reason, Timor Leste will always vote with Cuba against the embargo (blockade) on resolutions presented to the UN General Assembly," concluded the president of this Asian Pacific country, also known throughout the world as the "country of sandalwood." (AIN)

East Timor police panned for crackdown on poor vendors

Deutsche Presse Agentur - September 20, 2008

Dili – National police in East Timor, one of the poorest countries in Asia, are being criticized for a crackdown on snack vendors working a lucrative part of the capital, Dili.

No laws ban the sales across from the Palacio do Governo, or Government Palace, and the police are targeting poor people just trying to make ends meet, politicians and vendors complained.

Until two days ago, dozens of small carts loaded with drinks and snacks were stationed across from the government offices in a picnic area under shade trees that sits on the sea. On evenings and weekends, the picnic tables in one of the most popular public areas in Dili are usually jammed with couples and families, and business for vendors boomed there.

But on Saturday, only one cart dared show up for fear of the police. "They chased me away a few days ago, but I have come back," said Tios Sila. As the sole vendor, Sila was doing a brisk business in soft drinks, biscuits and cigarettes.

In East Timor, unemployment hangs around 60 per cent, and most people make less than 1 dollar per day. Sila said he could make 5 to 10 dollars from the crowds in front of the Palacio do Governo. He said he couldn't make that much anywhere else in the city.

Jose Texeira, a member of East Timor's Parliament, said he was unaware of any law prohibiting the carts.

"I don't care if there's a law or not," he said. "The fact is they have just started doing this without telling anyone. It's nonsense, cracking down on people who just want to make a living."

Acting commander of the national police, Alfonso de Jesus, said no law had been passed but, nonetheless, he ordered his officers to shoo away the vendors last week after government workers complained to him about traffic congestion in front of their offices.

Police patrolling the area said they have not yet arrested anyone but if they saw any snack carts, they would ask them to move elsewhere.

"This isn't government property," Sila said. "Lots of people come here. If you want to sell anything, you have got to find a place that's popular."

East Timor veteran lobby wants financial recognition

ABC Online - September 11, 2008

In East Timor a group claiming to represent 200 former resistance fighters is demanding financial recognition for its contribution to the country's independence struggle. They say they shouldn't have to wait until next year for government action. The group call themselves "The Petitioners" – a similar name to the group of 600 soldiers who mutinied in 2006, sparking months of bloody violence. But this new group claims to have a more honorable cause.

Presenter: Stephanie March

Speakers: Anacleto Belo, former resistance fighter and spokesperson for the petitioning veterans; Mario Reis, State Secretary for Veterans and National Liberation; Jose Sousa Santos, Youth Worker at Uma Juventude

March: In 2006 the government of East Timor was faced with a problem, 600 armed soldiers demanding action against discrimination in the military. At the time 37 people died and 100,000 people fled their homes. The trouble was blamed for the assasination attempt on president Jose Ramos Horta in February.

Many of the displaced people have only recently returned to their homes to rebuild their lives. The petitioners too are moving on. With the death of their self-appointed leader Alfredo Reinado during the attack on the president, each of the petitioners has accepted an eight thousand dollar government package, provided they give up their bid to be reinstated to the military. But now it seems the government has a new problem. Anacleto Belo is the spokesperson for the new petitioners.

Belo: I want to ask to government to take responsibility for us. We were the rebels against the Indonesian government during Soeharto's time, we are not rebels against current East Timor government. So why do those who rebels who act against government now have a good life? They are rebels but they get money to have a good life because they made trouble.

March: The group of new petitioners claims to represent 200 ex- commanders from the 24-year-long resistance struggle against Indonesian occupation who don't qualify for the pension. Current government policy says only veterans over 55 or those who fought for more than 15 years are entitled to the pension. That can be worth up to 550 dollars a month. It's more than pay of most police officers, and public servants, who earn around three hundred dollars a month. Anacleto Belo joined the resistance in 1989 at the age of 16. Using the clandestine name 'La Sudar', which means 'not afraid', he fought as a section commander in the bloody jungle war for a decade. After independence, he and fellow resistance fighters peacefully handed over their weapons to authorities, believing the government would look after them.

Belo: We tried to follow the procedure to become recruits in the new army but did not have not enough education.

March: State Secretary for Veterans and National Liberation Mario Reis says the government is working to recognise all of the nation's resistance heroes.

Reis: The government has a plan based on our constitution in article 11 which said that says we must recognize people who participated in a struggle. But many of those who can make claims are yet to because they still don't have the right documents.

March: He says he is aware of the complaints of the new petitioners, but they must be patient and accept the law as it stands.

Reis: Their demands are beyond the work of government. If you choose your government it is because [you believe] they are competent. You have an obligation respect their right to get the capacity to develop to make the nation.

March: The government says it's developing a plan for 2009 to recognize and give financial support to veterans who were involved in the resistance struggle for more than three years. But the government is missing an opportunity according to youth worker from NGO Uma Juventude Jose Sousa-Santos. He says the petitioners could be used to help deal with the tens of thousands of unemployed and disenfranchised youth who are often blamed for much of East Timor's violence and instability.

Santos: What I realize is missing in the kids in regards to identity and cultural knowledge is these role models – the examples these guys gave. Now how can I expect East Timorese youth to behave any different than the militia they have seen in '99 or the burning they have seen in 2006 if that's the only examples to them of strength of power they have seen? They don't get to see this kind of strength, this kind of discipline.

March: He says the veterans could provide much better role models than the nation's politicians.

Santos: They fought. They walked the walk, they talked the talk while politicians were enjoying their time. There is not many politicians other than Xanana that have been in the jungle. The rest of these guys were in other countries, jet setting, yeah they were doing their bit for Timor but they were not in the jungle. They didn't have to carry their mates after getting shot. They didn't have to evade Kopassus dog tracking teams where you could not urinate for up to three weeks. They didn't do it hard like these guys did.

March; The petitioning veterans say they are more concerned about receiving recognition than money. And unlike the 2006 petitioners they won't resort to violence to get what they want.

Timor's controversial gun amnesty ends

ABC Online - September 1, 2008

East Timor's six month gun amnesty has ended. The opposition is describing it as pointless, saying the government should be trying to recover the weapons taken from police during the 2006 crisis. But the government is now focusing on getting its new gun law through parliament.

Presenter: Stephanie March

Speakers: Afonso De Jesus, East Timor's Interim Police Commander; Estanislau Da Silva, former interim prime minister and current Freitilin MP.

March: The police operation to collect illegal weapons from civilians began immediately after the president was shot by a gang of armed rebels in February. Under the operation, citizens who handed in weapons of their own volition would not be prosecuted.

Interim Police Commander Afonso De Jesus says the Task Force assigned to the operation netted mostly antique and home made weapons – such as hunting tools and makeshift arrows known as rama ambons.

De Jesus: We find also some explosives like hand grenade.

March: A government spokesman told the ABC it was necessary to refrain from prosecution because if the process wasn't voluntary it would have been impossible to find hidden weapons in the districts.

The UN says the campaign provided an opportunity to educate and inform people that they will be held accountable for illegal weapons possession in the future.

But the Fretilin opposition party has criticsed the operation, saying it is futile to collect home made weapons. Estanislau Da Silva is the former interim prime minister and current Freitilin MP.

Da Silva: I think it is a bit pointless because traditional weapons they can hand in one today, and they can make two or three or four or five after tomorrow – those traditional weapons they are usually for hunting, so it's not going to make that much difference because it can be easily done at home.

March: Estanislau Da Silva says the police should focus their attention on trying to recover the many weapons taken from police and military armories during the crisis in 2006, and follow up the process with prosecutions.

Da Silva: I think the government should tell the public how many weapons are still at large, that were taken from the police arsenal, and the FFDTL the ones that were taken by Alfredo Reinado are still at large, and what they are going to do to get those weapons back, because those weapons are semi-automatic weapons.

March: Meanwhile parliament is due to resume sitting later this month, and one of the first items on the agends is the government's proposed gun law.

Earlier this year when the draft law was tabled, several parliamentarians almost came to blows over the provision that would grant licenses for civilians to carry arms.

Estanislau Da Silva says the idea is too upsetting for the people of East Timor to consider, after the country was torn apart by illegally armed civilian militias during 2006.

Da Silva: We don't agree with it. We certainly agree we should have regulation on the use of arms for security forces. This is a different thing. Not a gun law to legalise the use of weapon for civilian. This law is to legalise the use of weapons by civilians and it is very dangerous – people are still traumatized.

March: Current legislation developed by the UN transitional administration after independence in 1999 does allow for civilians to be granted licenses "in exceptional circumstances" and only if the licensed activity is in the "public interest".

A report by the Small Arms Survey, a Geneva based independent research group, warns the new draft law could "lower the threshold" for those eligible to carry arms.

A government spokesman told the ABC the draft legislation is part of updating from the UN transitional law, and is designed to ensure that licenses are only issued to those who can justify the need to carry arms for specific duties.

But Interim Police Commander Afonso De Jesus also says it's too dangerous to allow citizens to carry arms, and only the police and military should be authorized to do so.

De Jesus: because this belongs to the gov inst to use, to protect the this country but for the civilian, I myself I don't' agree with the law that pass by the parliament on this

March: do you disagree with the recent gun law put to possibly arem private citizens.

De Jesus: Yes, I disagree.

March: East Timor's Parliament is due to resume sitting on the 15th of this month.

'Timor toads'

Cane toads in ADF Timor base 'common knowledge'

The Sun Herald - September 16, 2008

John Kidman – Senior military personnel knew Australian troops were responsible for introducing cane toads to East Timor two years ago, it has been alleged.

The presence of the toxic amphibians inside the Australian Defence Force Camp Phoenix compound in Dili in mid-2006 was common knowledge, Defence Force sources have told The Sun-Herald. At the time, they were exclusive to the base and could have been eradicated but nothing was done.

It was revealed last Tuesday that Australia's most destructive pest is present throughout Dili and had also spread to several regional areas of the fledgling nation.

Defence Department officials are playing down claims the toads made the 650-kilometre jump by hitching a ride with East Timor- bound Australian military vehicles or supply shipments, arguing that it was impossible to tell how, when and exactly where they arrived.

However, soldiers formerly stationed at Phoenix say they have no doubt, and that quarantine measures which could have checked the infestation were non-existent.

Greens leader Bob Brown has described the migration as an international biological emergency demanding dramatic Federal Government intervention.

"It's evident that a wide area is already under threat and there's the potential for the toads to spread quickly to the Indonesian archipelago, Papua New Guinea and into South-East Asia," Mr Brown said.

Asked to estimate the likely cost of such a major eradication operation, he replied: "Whatever. It doesn't matter. It will be nothing compared to that of the cane toads doing their lethal worst. "It's something I'll be putting in very strong terms before the Senate this week."

Speaking in Darwin last week, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said he had yet to speak to Australian Defence Force head, Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston about the issue but believed the Defence Force had "very strict quarantine controls".

In a statement the following day, the Defence Force said both government and non-government equipment had been transported to East Timor from a number of Australian ports during the past nine years. However, troop sources were adamant the toads first appeared solely inside Phoenix between July and September, 2006.

"Everyone to the rank of brigadier was required to do night picket duty; there was no way you could miss them," one soldier, who asked not to be named, said.

"You'd be out there for two hours at the front gate or on roving patrol and, basically, they were the only things moving. One of the majors stationed there was known to amuse himself by running around jumping on them."

Another infantry source said: "There were no toads at the time over the road in Crocodile Alley, there were none dead on the roads outside the base and none at the [Air Point of Departure] camp. They were only inside Phoenix.

"Early on, if they had done a collection each night they might have caught the problem but they didn't and it was obviously then just a matter of time before they got into the open drains in the Caicoli fields next door."

Dili-based Care International spokesman Simplicio Barbosa told ABC Radio last week: "There are so many toads in East Timor; they are brought in by the INTERFET (the International Force for East Timor).

We don't know how to get them away, how to kill them." The Defence Force said it was unable to verify the latest claims. A spokeswoman told The Sun-Herald that Australian facilities in East Timor were subject to stringent environmental health checks and various eradication procedures.

However, sources vehemently rejected this, claiming there were no dedicated environmental officers assigned to Dili's Operation Astute and that the only "pests" eradicated were local cats that had ventured on to the base in search of rats.

East Timor requests cane toad help

Australian Associated Press - September 12, 2008

Dili – Australia must help East Timor deal with an exploding cane toad population, President Jose Ramos Horta says.

Australian troops have been accused of introducing the cane toad into East Timor when they arrived in 1999 to stop the violence triggered by a vote for independence from Indonesia.

Known in East Timor as the "INTERFET frog", the toads are believed to have hitched a ride on military vehicles used as part of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET).

"It is a problem that we don't need," Dr Romas Horta said today. "We didn't have it (before)."

Earlier this year Dr Ramos Horta referred to cane toads as "beautiful" and "harmless" during a mock parliamentary debate about eradication legislation at a Darwin school. But he does not feel the same when faced with the issue in real life.

"It can be devastating – even in Australia," Dr Ramos Horta said. "Australia has not been able to effectively combat it, so can you imagine for East Timor?"

Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said earlier this week he would investigate the matter further. "The Australian Defence Force does have very strict quarantine controls," he said.

Dr Ramos Horta said he previously asked the Northern Territory government to help East Timor deal with the problem. "But the most effective way, they said, is through community involvement -- no chemicals," he said.

Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown has called for the Australian Government to launch a massive cane toad eradication plan for the tiny nation.

Senator Brown called the toad problem an "international biological emergency" that could cost billions of dollars in economic losses for both East Timor and Indonesia.

The Australian Defence Force said it would be very difficult to ascertain the source of any introduced species into East Timor, and that Australian facilities in East Timor are subject to stringent environmental health checks.

Since the cane toad's arrival in Australia in the 1930s, they have spread from Queensland, where they were originally introduced to kill pests in the cane fields, to northern NSW and across into the Northern Territory.

The invading frontline is currently less than 50km from WA, having already ravaged the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, killing everything and anything that eats them, from crocodiles to quolls.

Australian military may have brought toads to Timor: report

Agence France Presse - September 12, 2008

Sydney – The Australian military may have deployed more than just soldiers in East Timor – reports said Tuesday it could also have inadvertently introduced the pesky cane toad to the fledgling nation.

The toad, which carries a poisonous sac of venom on the back of its head toxic enough to kill snakes and crocodiles in minutes, is regarded as a noxious pest Down Under because it wreaks havoc on the environment.

Local media reported that the warty amphibian could have been making its way to East Timor hidden in Australian Defence Force vehicles and equipment since the force first intervened in East Timor in 1999.

Simplicio Barbosa, of Dili-based humanitarian organisation Care International, said the toads arrived along with the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET).

"(There are) so many toads in East Timor, they are brought by the INTERFET," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, adding that the animals were killing lots of chickens. "We don't know how to get them away, how to kill them."

Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said he would investigate if the toads, which spread widely throughout Australia's north since their introduction in the 1930s, could have breached the military's quarantine controls.

"I have not had an opportunity to seek a briefing from the Chief of the Defence Force but I will certainly do so," he told reporters in the northern city of Darwin, which suffers its own cane toad problem.

Darwin's Lord Mayor Graeme Sawyer said it was likely the toads stowed away on military vehicles leaving the city, the departure point for many Australian troops heading to East Timor, and ended up in Dili.

"Cane toads are fantastic hitchhikers; they love crawling up under machinery and stuff to refuge during the day," he told the ABC. "Also, they get into loads of freight and stuff, they've turned up all over Australia in that mode, so it's quite likely."

The cane toad is extremely unpopular in Australia and some residents of toad-infested areas have taken to killing them by driving their cars over them or smashing them with golf clubs and cricket bats.

All attempts to fight the spread of the toads so far have failed and the animals, which are explosive breeders, have spread into the wetlands of world heritage Kakadu National Park.

INTERFET cops wrongful blame for hitch-hiking toads

Radio Australia - September 11, 2008

Mark Colvin: The wrong security force may be getting the blame for introducing cane toads into East Timor.

This week the Australian-led INTERFET force was accused of carrying hitch-hiking cane toads on equipment and trucks from Australia to Timor in 1999.

And an East Timorese environment group made new allegations today; it said the cane toads were first found in Timor near an Australian base in 1999 and that two locals died after mistaking the toads for edible river frogs.

But PM can now reveal that the species at the centre of the claims is a type of toad not found in Australia but common in Indonesia. Zoie Jones reports.

(sound of toad croaking)

Zoie Jones: That's the trademark mating call of the bufo marinus toad. It's the species that was introduced into Australian cane fields from South America in the 1930s.

The East Timorese environment group the Haburas Foundation has collected photos and what it says are eye-witness accounts of bufo marinus near the north-western border town of Batugade, where Australia's INTERFET troops had a base camp in 1999. The group has presented their findings to Timor's national parliament and their spokesman is Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho.

Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho: They found cane toads from '99 before they don't have that kind of species in that region. So it starts from '99.

Zoie Jones: Have you researched what kind of toad has been spotted in this north western coastal region?

Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho: Yes. Yes.

Zoie Jones: Can you tell me which cane toad it is?

Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho: Bufo Marinus.

Zoie Jones: That's the Australian toad?

Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho: Yes, I think from our comparisons to the anatomy and morphology of the cane toad from Australia, we have concluded that there are similarities. Very, very similar.

Zoie Jones: In its report to the Timorese Government, the Haburas Foundation said that two people died; one in 2005 and one in 2006, after mistakenly eating the poisonous pests.

The foundation also says some East Timorese believe the ADF (Australian Defence Force) deliberately introduced cane toad eggs into swamps as a measure to combat malaria-carrying mosquitoes around the Batugade camp.

The Defence Department has strongly denied that claim. In a statement, a spokeswoman says the ADF used a biological insecticide in the swamps around Batugade, but that cane toads were never used.

The Department has also said that because of the high traffic into East Timor from 1999, it would be difficult to pin-point the source of any introduced species.

(sound of toad croaking)

Zoie Jones: One of the photos used as evidence by the Haburas Foundation of the bufo marinus toad being in East Timor shows a large toad that's being dangled by the legs, with its back clearly in view. Cane toad expert Professor Ric Shine from the University of Sydney says it's a case of mistaken identity.

Ric Shine: The toad in the photo is a black-spined toad Bufo elanostictus. It's a much smaller animal than the cane toad.

Otherwise it's broadly similar in shape and so on. The poisons are less toxic than those of the cane toad and there's not as much of them but again broadly, chemically, they're probably relatively similar.

Zoie Jones: For a lay person would it be easy to confuse the Australian cane toad and this black-spined cane toad?

Ric Shine: Absolutely. To somebody that doesn't study toads in excruciating detail you'd have to say that a very high proportion of the toads of the world look incredibly similar.

One of the community groups here in Sydney ran a campaign when we began realised how many cane toads were coming down in building materials and so on, to report cane toads. And I think of the first 100 cane toads reported by the general public 98 were not toads and indeed one was a blue tongue lizard.

People are incredibly bad at identifying frogs in general and cane toads in particular; so it wouldn't surprise me at all if people were to be confused between a black-spined toad and the cane toad.

Zoie Jones: Three other Australian cane toad researchers have seen the photo and agree it's an Asian black-spined toad commonly found in Indonesia. Ric Shine again:

Ric Shine: It's not found in Australia. It's a species that's very widespread in Indonesia and has been expanding its range very rapidly through Indonesia over the last few years.

Zoie Jones: Do you think it's likely that the cane toad has hitched a ride aboard Indonesian forces perhaps into East Timor?

Ric Shine: I certainly think it's incredibly unlikely that it came from Australia. There's been one or two individuals found in ports in Australia over the last few years but it basically doesn't occur here.

I'd imagine there's quite a lot of traffic going on between different parts of Indonesia and East Timor, perhaps including gentlemen in military uniforms.

Mark Colvin: Professor Ric Shine from the University of Sydney ending that report from Zoie Jones.

Greens want war on Timor toads

ABC News Online - September 11, 2008

Senator Bob Brown made the call after claims that Australia's INTERFET troops introduced the pest to East Timor in 1999.

The Australian Defence Force says vehicles and equipment from a range of organisations have been transported from Australian ports to East Timor, but it would be difficult to pinpoint the source of any introduced species.

Senator Brown says it does not matter exactly who spread the toads, Australia is responsible.

"Whether or not the toads came from Australia to East Timor via the army is very secondary to the fact that it came from Australia and Australia must put every urgent means at the disposal of East Timor to get rid of them," he said.

Senator Brown says the toads pose a serious threat to East Timor's economy and environment, and Australia must act to get rid of them before the wet season.

"This is a massive, difficult, urgent and potentially costly job but the cost of not doing it is astronomical and unthinkable," he said.

Diggers blamed for East Timor's toads

Australian Associated Press - September 9, 2008

Australia's military may be responsible for introducing into East Timor the nation's worst pest – the cane toad.

The resilient and toxic toads, which have wreaked havoc across Australia, are believed to have hitched a ride on military vehicles.

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said he would investigate the matter further when asked about the claims during a brief visit to Darwin.

"The Australian Defence Force does have very strict quarantine controls," he said. "I've only seen these reports very recently in the newspapers since I've been on the road. On that basis I have not had an opportunity to seek a briefing room the Chief of the Defence Force but I will certainly do so."

Since 1999 – when the ADF first intervened in East Timor – vehicles and equipment from a variety of organisations have been transported from Australian ports to the fledgling nation.

Simplicio Barbosa of the Dili-based Care International told ABC radio that the toads arrived with the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET).

"(There are) so many toads in East Timor, they are brought by the INTERFET," he said. "We don't know how to get them away, how to kill them."

Since the cane toad's arrival in Australia in the 1930s, they have spread from Queensland, where they were originally introduced to kill pests in the cane fields, to northern NSW and across into the Northern Territory.

The invading frontline is currently less than 50km from Western Australia, having already ravaged the world heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, killing everything and anything that eats them, from crocodiles to quolls.

Toadbuster and Darwin Mayor Graham Sawyer said there was every chance the toads, who are able hitchhikers, snuck into East Timor on a piece of machinery or in a soldier's backpack.

Work was recently undertaken by the NT government building a fence at a Darwin port to stop stowaways hitching rides on barges out of the harbour.

In December 2006, one of the warty blighters was found on remote Elcho Island, off the northern Arnhem land coast. It most likely made the trip on a barge from Darwin but possibly swam the 1.5km.

February 11 shooting

Timorese president rejects rebel execution reports

Agence France Presse - September 18, 2008

Dili – East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta on Thursday rejected reports that rebel leader Alfredo Reinado was executed rather than killed in a gunbattle with police.

"Alfredo wasn't shot from one or two metres (yards) away, nor was he arrested before he was shot. He came armed to the head of state with a lot more people – this was a serious situation," he told reporters.

The government says Ramos-Horta was critically wounded and Reinado was killed by police as the rebel led an assassination attempt at the president's compound on the outskirts of Dili in February.

But The Australian newspaper said last month it had obtained the autopsy reports for Reinado and fellow rebel Leopoldino Exposto which showed they had been shot at very close range.

Forensic pathologist Muhammad Nurul Islam, who conducted the autopsies, said Reinado and Exposto were killed "at close range" with a high-velocity rifle, The Australian reported.

Exposto, who was killed along with Reinado in the same incident, was shot once in the centre of the back of his head, typical of an execution-style killing, it said.

Ramos-Horta said investigators had concluded that Reinado was shot from at least two metres (six feet) away.

"Based on reports from the prosecutor general, the shooting of Reinado was from a close range of between two to 20 metres," said the president, who was also shot during the incident and required life-saving surgery in Australia.

He said Reinado had kicked in the door of his home and disarmed his private security guards when he was shot by a police officer.

"Everybody knows that my security guards were at that time staying in different locations and some had fallen asleep. If they had been on alert Alfredo wouldn't have entered my residence," he said.

Rebels also attacked Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao at the same time in a different part of Dili but he escaped unhurt.

Former prime minister Mari Alkatiri, of the opposition Fretilin party, urged the government to release the results of its investigation.

"It should have been made public. Why they are buying time?" he asked. "I just continue to say that the investigation has to have credibility so that people will trust it and it can prevent further instability."

Indonesian ID card found on body of East Timor rebel leader

Deutsche Presse Agentur - September 17, 2008

Dili – Slain East Timor rebel leader Alfredo Reinado had an Indonesian citizenship card in his pocket when he was shot on February 11 during an attack on the president, media reports said Wednesday.

Reinado, a former commander of the military police in Dili until he left his post and took up arms against the state in 2006, led a handful of rebels to the president's home in Dili, where he was shot dead by presidential guards.

However, his men continued the shootout and 30 minutes later President Jose Ramos-Horta was shot twice as he walked toward his home.

According to the autopsy report, the card was found during the autopsy the afternoon of February 11, reported The Timor Post. With a citizenship card, or KTP card as they are known in Indonesian, Reinado could have fled Timor after the attack.

The Indonesian Embassy in Dili denied that the document was ever officially given to Reinado, diplomats told Deutsche Presse- Agentur.

Victor Sambuaga, the Indonesian head of political affairs in East Timor, said KTP cards are given only to citizens born in Indonesia.

Sambuaga said he had no idea whether or not the card was real or forged as Timorese authorities have yet to release the card to his government for inspection.

He added that after seven months of investigation, the Timorese government has yet to request any information about the document.

According to The Timor Post, Reinado's card bore the name Simplisio de la Crus.

Sambuaga said newer cards are digital and solid plastic, but an older card could have been tampered with quite easily. He suggested Reinado got a real card and doctored it. "The old type was only laminated so the photo could easily been cut open and changed," Sambuaga said.

When President Ramos-Horta returned to East Timor in April after two months of recovery in a Darwin, Australia, hospital, he accused Indonesian television station Metro TV of giving Reinado travel documents and smuggling the rebel over the border in 2007 to do a TV interview.

Metro TV has denied any illegal activity and Ramos-Horta has since rescinded his accusations, though this latest revelation could spark renewed speculation.

UN finds shooting was poorly policed

Sydney Morning Herald - September 12, 2008

Lindsay Murdoch, Darwin – Red tape delayed Australian soldiers pursuing rebels involved in the February 11 attacks on East Timor's two most senior political leaders, a confidential UN investigation has found.

The inquiry also found that troops serving in the Australian-led International Stabilisation Force (ISF) were among people "with no official function" who had compromised critical forensic evidence by walking into the crime scene where the President, Jose Ramos-Horta, was shot.

The report of a four-person investigation into the UN's response to the attacks said "no one had the time to authorise and fill out the cumbersome ISF request form" even though its soldiers were asked to pursue the rebels who had fled into the hills above Dili.

"It is difficult to ascertain whether requests made at the operational level to ISF to pursue the perpetrators and to despatch helicopters ever reached the appropriate level in the ISF chain of command," says the report, which the UN has not made public.

Despite the requests to pursue the rebels immediately, the 1000- strong ISF did not receive an official letter asking it to hunt the men until February 13, two days after the attacks, following an exchange of letters.

By then the rebels had travelled deep into East Timor's mountains, where they stayed until their surrender in April.

The report reveals that by the time a 70-person team of Australian Federal Police, most of them forensic experts, started to arrive in Dili the day after the attacks, crime scenes had been hopelessly compromised.

At Mr Ramos-Horta's house, where he was shot and seriously wounded, Timorese soldiers were "wandering about the crime scene in an agitated state".

"At one point, the soldiers actually levelled their guns at UNPOL [United Nations police] officers and told them to leave," the report says.

"Children reportedly walked up to UNPOL officers to give them shell casings. The scene also attracted visits from numerous people with no official function at the scene, including all ranks of Timorese, ISF and UN officials."

The report said important evidence, such as the mobile telephone of the rebels' leader, Alfredo Reinado, and SIM cards, were stolen after the renegade major was shot dead at Mr Ramos-Horta's house.

Seven months after the attacks, a Timorese investigation into what had happened is at a critical impasse. Investigators have been waiting for Australian experts to finish an examination of Reinado's phone, which was eventually recovered by Timorese soldiers.

Investigator called to Canberra as evidence of execution mounts

Sydney Morning Herald - September 4, 2008

Lindsay Murdoch, Darwin – East Timor's top prosecutor, Longuinhos Monteiro, is flying to Canberra to be briefed on the investigation into the February 11 dawn attacks in Dili.

Australian Federal Police forensic investigators have deciphered telephone calls that the rebel leader, Alfredo Reinado, made before he was shot dead at the home of East Timor's President, Jose Ramos-Horta.

The investigation led by Mr Monteiro is at a critical impasse. Evidence gathered over the past seven months suggests Reinado may have been set up for execution in a conspiracy that includes at least one of his trusted lieutenants.

Mr Ramos-Horta has confirmed that the man who shot him twice in the back was not Marcelo Caetano, one of Reinado's men, as had been widely reported.

The AFP investigated telephone conversations Reinado had shortly before the attacks with a Timorese-born Jakarta gangster, Hercules Rozario Marcal. The telephone taken from Reinado's body had a listing for "Hercul". Hercules, who has denied any involvement in the attacks, last month received approval to develop businesses in Dili.

The AFP has also investigated 47 telephone calls Reinado made to or received from Australia.

Potentially explosive developments in the investigation have been kept secret in East Timor, where Reinado was a cult hero.

Authorities fear an outbreak of violence if it becomes known that Reinado was not responsible for shooting the popular president, who received emergency surgery in Darwin. The official version of events is that Reinado led rebels to the homes of Mr Ramos-Horta and the Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmao, to either assassinate or kidnap them as part of an attempted coup.

Political figures in Dili have dismissed recent media speculation in Australia that Reinado and Mr Ramos-Horta had reached an impasse in negotiations at a meeting they held in the mountain village of Maubisse on January 13. The speculation was based on a tape recording of part of the meeting.

The Herald revealed four days after the attacks that during the meeting Mr Ramos-Horta offered to include Reinado in an amnesty to be announced on May 20, the anniversary of East Timor's independence. "A deal was essentially done," said Joao Goncalves, the Minister for Economic Development, who was present at the meeting.

The Government in Dili is facing increasing pressure to establish an international inquiry into the attacks as Mr Monteiro has delayed for several months the completion of his investigation.

Jose Teixeira, a spokesman for Fretilin, the Opposition, said any further delay in setting up an international inquiry "ignores the wishes of Timorese who want to know the truth behind the attacks".

Mr Monteiro has denied seeing an autopsy report that was first published on the website Wikileaks purportedly showing that Reinado was shot at almost point-blank range.

Social conflicts/refugees

IDP returns slowed by squatters occupying homes

IRIN - September 22, 2008

Dili – Efforts to return the remaining internally displaced people (IDPs) to their homes are being hampered by squatters.

Some 100,000 people were displaced throughout Timor-Leste in 2006 after an implosion of the national police and defence forces and fighting between eastern and western factions of the country over the distribution of power and economic benefits.

However, as of this month, 90 percent of 6,500 IDP families have been able to return to their original homes, the Ministry of Social Solidarity said.

Teams comprising government, UN and other agencies are working with communities to mediate between the returning IDPs and the people occupying their houses.

"Many secondary occupants have their own needs, they may well be housing insecure themselves," UN Development Programme (UNDP) social reintegration specialist Ben Larke told IRIN.

In many cases the squatters have agreed to vacate houses when approached by the returning families.

But some claim a stake, saying they spent their own money repairing or improving the houses, or feel their presence prevented further attacks and destruction. "So in some cases, they are asking for compensation," Larke said.

A common and effective solution has been for the returnees to pay some of their government relocation compensation funds to the occupants as recompense.

Verification problems

Most of the 6,500 families have received relocation or recovery packages and 22 camps have been closed since March.

While most families have cooperated with the return programmes, there has been some resistance and threats to government staff during camp closures, according to authorities. Local and UN police now accompany government staff to diffuse tensions.

Some families are frustrated with the process of proving to authorities the exact extent of the damage to their homes, which is critical to receiving fair compensation, and thus have been moved to transitional shelters while the extent of damage and amount of compensation are assessed.

Filomeno, who did not want his last name used, told IRIN that while he would rather be going home, he preferred a cement and tin transitional shelter than remaining in a tent while he verified his details with the government. "It's the solution," he told IRIN.

Underlying issues

Many of the camps that were most politically volatile and violent, such as the massive one near the airport, are among those now closed. "I think things are going better than expected," Liuz Vieria, country director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), told IRIN.

But he warned that the long-term success reintegrating IDPs to their homes would depend on communities working collectively to resolve the underlying issues of the 2006 crisis. "I don't think anyone is sure of the extent to which we have gotten to that point," he said.

He said while it would not be an easy task, examples existed throughout the world and even in Timor-Leste, where communities recognised the benefits of solidarity could outweigh those of continued division and conflict. "I don't think it's an impossible battle," Vieira said. (sm/bj/mw)

Displaced Timorese rally to return home

Voice of Culture - September 17, 2008

Matt Crook and Domingos Fernandes, Dili – Disgruntled Timorese living in one of Dili's camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) were told on Tuesday that the verification process that will allow many of them to return home will begin on Wednesday, although thousands more remain in IDP camps around the district.

About 100 IDPs marched from the Obrigado Barracks camp, which is located in a car park opposite the United Nations compound, to the Ministry of Social Solidarity to demand answers as to why they have been unable to return to their homes since being displaced in 2006 when clashes within Timorese security forces incited violence among local street gangs and youth groups.

The protesters congregated at the entrance to Obrigado Barracks at about 1 pm, locking the gates to the camp and leaving UN staff unable to remove their vehicles from the compound.

In a bid to draw attention to their plight, the protesters shook the gates and heckled passing government vehicles, a foreign source working for a local security firm said.

The source added that the protesters opened the gates and calmed down after it was suggested that they wait for journalists to arrive. UN Police officers and local security officials maintained the peace.

Ilidio Gayo, resident of Obrigado Barracks and head of security at the camp, told reporters that the families living there are ready to return home, but the government has been unable to give a definite answer as to when.

Some 322 families comprising 1,508 people are registered on the Ministry of Social Solidarity database as living at Obrigado Barracks.

"First we were told we could leave in June, then they told us August and now we are told we cannot leave," said Mr Gayo.

At about 2:30 PM Mr Gayo led a march to the Ministry of Social Solidarity, located five minutes' walk from Obrigado Barracks. There protesters rallied outside the entrance and demanded a meeting with an official of the ministry.

The group were blocked from entering the building by National Police of East Timor Officers while armed Portuguese Republican National Guard troops arrived at the scene and kept watch over the proceedings. After a brief standoff, seven of the protesters were allowed into the building and the remainder were escorted outside the grounds.

The seven protesters were granted an audience with Jacinto Rigoberto Gomes, secretary of state for Social Assistance and Natural Disasters. The two parties discussed the situation and Mr Gomes said that verification of displaced people living at Obrigado Barracks would begin the next day.

The Ministry of Social Solidarity has 15,000 people registered in its database awaiting verification, which is part of a five-part process leading up to IDPs returning home.

During verification, representatives from the Ministry of Social Solidarity travel to the homes of IDPs, often accompanied by members of international aid organizations, to assess individual circumstances.

Nadia Hadi, humanitarian affairs officer for the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that the verification process can take up to three weeks and is dependant on factors such as where IDPs lived and whether their homes are still standing after the conflict.

A government schedule dictates when verification at each IDP camp begins, although a source from the Ministry of Social Solidarity said that the march on Tuesday likely only brought forward the date for Obrigado Barracks by a few days.

Estimates put up to 30,000 people still living in Dili's 28 remaining IDP camps, the source added.

Some 22 IDP camps in Dili have been closed by the government and those living there have returned home or to host communities. IDPs typically receive a recovery package of between US$500 and US$4,500 per family, added Miss Hadi.

All but one of Dili's "big four" IDP camps have closed, with Metinaro the largest camp in Dili still housing IDPs, she said, adding that displaced persons living in the Don Bosco camp, previously the largest in the district, returned to their homes last week.

In 2006, up to 150,000 Timorese fled to rural areas or else into one of dozens of IDP camps around East Timor after violence erupted across the nation when one-third of the country's defence forces were laid off by the government.

The resulting tension accentuated the east-west divide in the country and bloody clashes ripped through the streets. IDP camps sprang up all over Dili after the arrival of Malaysian and Australian peacekeeping forces.

In March, IDPs began returning home when the internal security situation showed signs of improving after the death of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, while many of the former rebels angry with the government began negotiating settlements.

Initially many IDPs were weary of leaving behind government support and relative safety to return home, particularly as many Timorese still felt unsafe in their home communities.

East Timor closes largest refugee camp in capital

Deutsche Presse Agentur - September 8, 2008

Dili – The East Timor government on Monday began emptying the largest displacement camp left in the capital in the first step in helping 2,000 displaced people return home. The government also launched a new dialogue team to help the displaced sort out their differences with their former neighbors in the strife-torn country, which became independent in 2002.

The Don Bosco Catholic School camp has been home to thousands of people since April 2006 when police failed to stop citywide riots, which left as many as 150,000 people homeless.

Families waited Monday next to packed piles of clothes, toys and United Nations-issued tents as scores of yellow dump trucks ferried people out of the camp. Most seemed happy to go home.

Venancio Guterres said his home was looted in 2006 and he lost everything. He said the government promised him a few hundred dollars in compensation and that he's ready to get on with his life.

But not everyone was so accommodating. About 50 young male residents of the camp gathered before Social Solidarity Minister Maria Alves as she tried to address camp residents. They demanded to have their problems sorted out with their former neighbours before they left the camp.

Some neighbourhoods are loath to welcome back the exiles. In some cases, families were attacked because they were illegally occupying land or buildings.

The government has so far closed 24 camps and still has about 30 to go in Dili. The Social Solidarity Ministry said most of the returns were peaceful, but 10 to 20 per cent of returned families had problems upon return.

"Dialogue can help resolve differences within communities, and it can be used to resolve differences between people when crimes occur," Alves said. "To help people reintegrate into the communities, we are giving the victims money, but that doesn't resolve everything," she said.

To help with the refugees' reintegration, the government formed a 26-member dialogue team trained to mediate social conflicts. The ministry said it hopes to keep the team long after the refugees have gone home to prevent future problems.

East Timor is one of the poorest countries in Asia. Unemployment is around 60 per cent. With no money and little to do, tensions run high, and disagreements often end in violence as they did in 2006.

The military had then cashiered nearly 600 soldiers who had left their barracks without permission. In protest, some soldiers took up arms against the government, and some police sided with the soldiers, leading to months of unrest in the streets.

In February, rebel soldiers also carried out failed assassination attempts against the president and prime minister.

Justice & reconciliation

UN presses on with East Timor violence probes

Reuters - September 26, 2008

Dili – The United Nations aims to complete investigating nearly 400 cases related to the bloodshed surrounding East Timor's 1999 independence vote from Indonesia, the chief UN investigator said on Friday.

Leaders in East Timor and Indonesia said in July that the issue was closed after expressing regret at the findings of a joint truth commission that blamed Indonesian security and civilian forces for "gross human rights violations".

But the United Nations, which boycotted the truth commission, has said it will continue to back prosecutions through the Serious Crime Unit, which it set up to assist East Timor's prosecutors' office in probing the violence in which the United Nations says about 1,000 East Timorese died.

Several Indonesian military officials were tried in Indonesian human rights courts following the 1999 violence, but none were convicted.

"Bringing them back from Indonesia depends on bilateral agreements on extraditions. It depends also on the will of Indonesian authorities," Marek Michon, chief investigator of the UN body, told reporters.

Michon said it had submitted 20 cases to East Timor's prosecutors' office, while it could take three years to conclude all 396 cases.

Police urged to arrest East Timor collaborator

Sydney Morning Herald - September 26, 2008

Connie Levett – Guy Campos, the East Timorese man accused of high-level collaboration with the Indonesian military involving kidnapping and torture of East Timorese citizens during Indonesia's occupation, was convicted of "torture leading to death" of an 11-year-old boy, Francisco Ximenes, in 1979, according to newly uncovered East Timorese court documents.

The conviction was overturned within months in the Superior Court, in Kupang, across the border in West Timor.

Members of Australia's East Timorese community are campaigning to have Mr Campos, at present in Australia on a World Youth Day visa, arrested and tried for war crimes here. They say he will escape justice if he is allowed to return to East Timor.

Clinton Fernandes, principal analyst, East Timor, for Australia's intelligence corps in 1998-99, who saw the court documents in Dili last week, said the conviction was contained in a large court file on the death of the boy. The file is in the archives of East Timor's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation.

Dr Fernandes said Mr Campos's role as a collaborator was to identify East Timorese for interrogation and torture by the Indonesian military, and that he participated in their "disappearances".

"The Australian embassy in Dili was presented with the [commission's] report in February 2006," Dr Fernandes said, "but, more than 2 years later, they have never followed up by visiting the [commission] and asking for more information about war criminals."

He said the Immigration Department had a representative in the embassy, so it could have discovered details of Mr Campos's activities any time after February 2006.

Joanna Ximenes, the sister of the boy who died, said that on July 20 she alerted the Immigration Minister, the Attorney-General, Paul Lynch, the MP for Liverpool, the Prime Minister and the Department of Immigration Dob-In Line that Mr Campos had entered Australia.

On August 8 she gave a detailed statement to the federal police about Mr Campos' alleged role in her brother's death but has heard nothing since. Dr Fernandes has also told the federal police of the role played by Mr Campos, who belonged to Satuan Tugas Intelijen – the intelligence taskforce/implementing body -- in the Indonesian occupation of East Timor.

An Immigration Department spokesman said Mr Campos had not been convicted of any war crime and did not appear on a watch list, and that having referred the matter to the federal police, it could do nothing more. The existence of the court documents was first reported on Channel Seven's Today Tonight.

Mr Campos could not be reached for a response.

Timorese call for action on 'collaborator'

Sydney Morning Herald - September 18, 2008

Connie Levett – Jose Belo identified the face in the picture as Guy Campos, claiming the East Timorese man was present when he was interrogated and tortured by the Indonesian Special Forces on the night of January 9, 1995.

"I was very badly tortured by Kopassus soldiers while Mr Guy Campos with two other Timorese who worked as the Indonesian Intelijen [spies] were present in the room," Mr Belo recalls.

The photograph was taken on a western Sydney street, where Mr Campos was holidaying after coming to Australia on a World Youth Day visa. Some members of the Australian East Timorese community are asking how he could freely enter Australia.

Mr Campos refused, through his brother Fernando Campos, who lives in western Sydney, to answer questions from the Herald. "Find out for yourself," Mr Fernando Campos said. "As far as I know he never worked for an [intelligence] agency."

Clinton Fernandes, the principal analyst, East Timor, for Australia's intelligence corps in 1998-99, said he was "100 per cent" certain the man photographed in Sydney is the same Guy Alberto Francisco Campos who was a key collaborator with the Indonesian military during its occupation.

"[Campos] was not a low-level beater; he, along with Jose Gregorio Trindade de Melo, ran a spy network for Indonesia, in conjunction with them," Dr Fernandes said. "He would have come within the upper echelons of collaborators."

His role was to identify East Timorese for interrogation and torture by the Indonesian military, and he participated in their "disappearances", said Dr Fernandes, who became aware of Mr Campos' activities in 1994.

The Immigration Department has defended its decision to issue a visa, saying it was not aware of Mr Campos being wanted for charges or convicted of war crimes or crimes against humanity.

"We were aware of this individual and went through comprehensive screening. In the absence of any charges he was granted a visa," a department spokesman said. The department has referred the allegations to the Australian Federal Police.

Dr Fernandes said he presented a brief to the AFP before the Olympics detailing Mr Guy Campos's role in Indonesia's Satuan Tugas Intelijen (the intelligence task force/implementing body).

Jose Teixeira, an East Timorese politician with connections to the former resistance, said there was a simple reason Mr Campos did not appear on an international watch list.

"There have never been formal investigations or judicial inquiries or any similar process in Timor-Leste with respect to crimes committed during the Indonesian occupation for the period 1975 to 1999. The United Nations established a serious crime court but that only dealt with the crimes of 1999."

Mr Teixeira called for Mr Campos to be prosecuted in Australia for his alleged part in the torture of resistance fighters, saying "[Among] former resistance leaders, especially of our clandestine network, his exploits as a collaborator with the Indonesian military/intelligence repressive apparatus are openly told and [he is] cited as being a person whom all feared from reputation."

Mr Teixeira said former East Timorese political prisoners had called for Mr Campos's arrest in Australia. "We have to respect the calls of these people who were victims of atrocities and are thirsting for justice. I support them in their calls."

The claims against Mr Guy Campos's involvement in acts of torture and coercion were first made on Channel Seven's Today Tonight program. Mr Teixeira asked Australian authorities to consider the prosecution, "given the current underdeveloped state of our prosecutorial services, and the case overload, all concerned would be more speedily served by justice in a jurisdiction such as Australia".

Dr Ben Saul, the head of Sydney University's centre of international and global law, said Australia, as a party to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, had a duty to search for, investigate, prosecute and extradite any suspected war criminal found in the jurisdiction.

"If there is someone here with credible allegations it certainly triggers an obligation for Australia to investigate the allegations and decide whether to prosecute or extradite."

He said the convention was open as to whether a country should prosecute or extradite someone accused of breaching the conventions.

Mr Belo was a student leader in 1995 when he was detained. Today he is a journalist in Dili. "I am ready to talk because I am looking for justice. I want to know what happened to my friends they just killed during the occupation. Maybe Mr Guy Campos can help find out. Justice for me is the truth. I want to know what happened, when, why they did it to me."

Ramos Horta slams UN 'hypocrisy'

BBC News - September 13, 2008

Lucy Williamson, Jakarta – East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta has accused members of the UN Security Council of "extraordinary hypocrisy".

He said small, post-conflict countries like his could not pursue justice blindly, as some UN states insist. Dr Ramos Horta and Indonesian leaders say their joint Truth and Friendship Commission went far enough.

But East Timorese and others say it has failed to draw a line under the bloodshed that accompanied Indonesia's withdrawal from East Timor in 1999.

Dr Ramos Horta is a president who has been criticised, both within his country and outside it, for not bringing the orchestrators of East Timor's bloody past to trial.

He told me he had stopped calling for an international tribunal as soon as Indonesia withdrew from the country nine years ago – due to loyalty to Indonesia as it moved towards democracy, but also out of a pragmatic need for good relations with Timor's giant neighbour.

'Hypocrisy'

And he said the fact that Western governments were still publicly calling for a tribunal was hypocritical.

"If I were to be naive enough to go to them in Washington, Oslo, London, and say please support the resolution in the Security Council to establish an international tribunal, well I would call their bluff – they would not support it," the president said.

"But then they have this extraordinary hypocrisy of lecturing us about justice," Dr Ramos Horta added.

In fact, he said, in fragile, post-conflict states like East Timor, criminal justice could not be pursued blindly – that peace there often had to be bought with reconciliation rather than trials.

And that meant individual victims needed to opt for forgiveness rather than retribution.

Hard to forgive

"In our situation forgiveness is a necessity – for an individual who is a victim, to get on with his or her life, but before she or he forgives, truth has to be acknowledged, responsibilities have to be acknowledged, and then the victim feels at ease and can forgive," said Dr Ramos Horta.

But many of Timor's victims disagree. Around 1,500 people were brutally murdered during East Timor's vote for independence in 1999, many others raped and tortured, and around half the population forcibly moved to Indonesia.

Those suspected of orchestrating the violence have never stood trial.

Against this background, President Ramos Horta's stance has been controversial. Earlier this year, he used his powers of presidential pardon to free several militia members convicted of crimes against humanity during that time.

That move has brought criticism – both from the UN and those in Timor still hoping for justice.

Timorese families saddened by fruitless mass grave hunt

ABC News Online - September 1, 2008

For the part six weeks, a group of forensic anthropologists from Australia and Argentina have been in East Timor searching for a mass grave allegedly used to bury hundreds of East Timorese killed by Indonesian troops in 1991. The process has unearthed the pain and frustration for victims' families who are desperate to lay their loved ones to rest once and for all.

Presenter: Stephanie March

Speakers: Gregorio Saldanha, former East Timorese youth leader; Soren Blau, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine; Sancho Gonsalves, who lost his brother in massacre.

March: Gregorio Saldanha was one of the youth leaders responsible for orgnaising the peaceful demonstration at Santa Cruz cemetery on the 12th of November 1991, protesting against the fatal shooting of a pro-independence supporter by the Indonesian military two weeks earlier.

Saldanha: After the demonstration the Indonesian military made one massacre on us, so more of us was died in Santa Cruz.

March: During the demonstration the Indonesian military opened fire on the crowd. Victims groups estimate more than 100 people were killed. Gregorio Saldanha lost dozens of friends on that day and he feels a certain desire and obligation to finally lay them to rest.

Saldanha: Now we are free, we can move one place to other place because they spend their life for our liberation. So were are the responsible, especially me, I think responsible for me and friends, the survivor to look for them.

March: He is now working together on behalf of the victims families with a team of forensic anthropologists from Australian and Argentina, to find the location of the mass graves where the bodies were dumped.

Soren Blau from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine says they have invested a lot of time talking to victims' families about what they should realistically expect from the project.

Blau: So we have 17 years since the massacre so in this tropical environment the individuals would be fully skeletonised but there may also be issues of preservation so we talk clearly about even if we could find the remains there is still potential limitations about being able to identify their relatives, so it is always about not promising.

March: After six weeks of excavation at one loacation at Tibar, a half hour drive from Dili, the team failed to uncover any evidence of a mass grave. This particular site was chosen based on stories told by victims families, members of the Indonesian military, and the people living at Tibar.

Despite the disappointing result of the excavation, many of the victims families refuse to believe that there loved ones bodies' are not located there.

Blau: There's a huge momentum that's been raised now and the families have taken it upon themselves to keep digging out there. It's a bit haphazard, so we are trying to ask them to talk with the police to record where they are digging and this has been going on for the last week and a half and to date they have found no evidence of any remains.

March: The team explained to the families they can conclusively say soil formations and landscape show there has never been a mass grave at that particular site.

Blau: But even in the seeing, seeing is our way of thinking, you know we sort of have to have proof. So for them there was an element of deeper deeper deeper and now they have taken it into their own hands and are digging these enormous craters.

March: Gregorio Saldanha has tried in vain to explain to many of the families there is no point continuing to dig at the Tibar site. One of those who refuses to give up hope is Sancho Gonsalves.

Gonsalves: My young brother, his name is Ulyssis Cipriano Gonsalves.

He disappeared 12 November 1991.

March: The victims families have been using their own money to pay for petrol for the tractor to continue digging – no easy feat in a country where the majority of people don't have a cash income.

Gonsalves: Because we got information from the people there because they believe the bodies are there so we don't want to stop the process, we want to continue to find them, so we use every effort to find so we still use tractor to find them.

March: He says the families are frustrated by a lack of government support and funding for their cause, and while some families can afford to pay for the exploration, many can't.

Gonsalves: The other family they say 'why us?' after we already give our family to this struggle, but why we are finding again them? Why didn't the government or state didn't find? Why we give the money to find them? Why not the government? So some of them they upset with this process.

March: Forensic anthropologist Soren Blau says until now there has been little political support to locate the bodies of those killed in 24 years of Indonesian occupation, but a recent visit to the excavation site by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao could change all that.

Blau: There is frustration and sorrow but I think just that the process has been initiated is a positive thing I hope we can continue to build on.

Agriculture & food security

East Timor moves to stem inflated rice prices

ABC Radio Australia - September 9, 2008

Reports are coming in from all around East Timor that the country's poorest people are missing out on a government rice subsidy aimed at relieving the pressure of the global food crisis.

The government policy is to import rice and sell it for $16 per 32kg bag, regardless of the market price, but much of that rice has not been reaching those who live in rural areas.

Orlando Mota is a resident of Hatabaulico, a remote mountain village six hours drive from the capital Dili. Speaking through a translator, he told Radio Australia's Stephanie March, there's currently no affordable rice available for sale.

"The small shop in my town was selling the rice for $29 then the police came and said they cannot sell for $29," he said. "They said if they want to sell for $29 dollars they need to wait for permission from the ministry. So now they are not selling any of the rice."

People in very remote areas say they're not being told when cheap rice will be distributed to shops in rural centers, and arrive only to find it is sold out. Some traders are repackaging the government rice and trying to pass it off as private imports so they can charge more.

As the so-called 'hungry season' approaches, the problem doesn't appear to be getting any better.

The country director of the World Food Program in East Timor, Joao Fleuren, says his monitoring teams are reporting there is no subsidised rice available on the market. "Subsidised rice has not been available for the last six weeks or so," he told Radio Australia.

The government says while rice stocks have been lower than usual, it's still been distributing the subsidised product.

Joao Fleuren says because the market place indicates there is no rice, there is either a break in the supply line or the food is sold at different prices than was intended.

Clamp-down on rogue traders

The government has now passed a decree law banning traders from selling subsidised rice at inflated prices and there have already been arrests.

The price of rice is a touchy subject in East Timor. It's caused riots in the past, and the government has recently been criticised over allegations of nepotism and corruption due to its tendering process for rice imports.

Joao Fleuren says the government should start looking at other measures. "A system that the vulnerable who need food hand outs in the short or long term they get it for free, but other people get a subsidised quantity of rice, either 10 per cent subsidy, or 20 or 40 depending on their economic status," he said.

Over the long-term, the government plans to deal with rising food prices by increasing local production. But Joao Fleuren says long-term strategies need to be dovetailed with immediate measures or they will backfire.

"A lot of things are being done now but not as concerted strategy," he said. "For instance if you want to import a lot of food to subsidies sales on the market, in the end this short term solution goes against finding a long term solution, namely improved national local production."

UNMIT/ISF

Fitzgibbon gives East Timor troop guarantee

ABC News Online - September 19, 2008

The Federal Defence Minister has told East Timor's Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmao, that Australia will not pull its 750 troops out of East Timor until it is certain the current level of stability will continue.

Joel Fitzgibbon gave the guarantee during a brief visit to East Timor.

Both countries agreed that international forces should remain in East Timor for at least another year, but Mr Fitzgibbon says there is a chance troop levels could be reduced.

"We will be guided by the Government of Timor Leste and we certainly won't be reducing that until we can be absolutely confident that a reduction in numbers won't lead to a reduction in the stability we have enjoyed," he said.

Foreign troops are still needed to ensure security in the wake of a foiled rebel attack on the country's leaders in February, Mr Gusmao told reporters alongside Mr Fitzgibbon.

The attack, which wounded the country's President Jose Ramos- Horta and left rebel leader Alfredo Reinado dead, raised fears of a return to chaos similar to 2006 fighting among soldiers and police that killed at least 37 people.

Mr Gusmao said he was responding to "conflicting reports" at home and abroad that a reduction in troops from Australia and New Zealand was imminent.

"As a state, our security is still fragile and all must agree that the ISF (International Stabilisation Force) should remain for the next year," he said. The Australian troops in East Timor make up the bulk of the ISF.

Mr Gusmao said the scope for unrest after the February attacks "may have been even worse than the 2006 crisis" but for the presence of international forces.

The East Timorese Government would look at the security situation before deciding whether to ask for a reduction in foreign troop numbers, he said.

Last week Mr Fitzgibbon said Australia would like to reduce its troops in East Timor "in the not too distant future".

East Timor 'still needs international help'

ABC Online - September 4, 2008

East Timor's prime minister has signalled a gradual reduction in the number of international troops needed in his country. Xanana Gusmao said depending on the circumstances, troops could begin a gradual withdraw from next year. But the leaders of the international military and UN police have warned that timetable is premature.

Presenter: Stephanie March

Speakers: Juan Carlos Arevalo, UN Police Commissioner in East Timor; Brigadier Mark Holmes, Commander of the International Stabalisation Force in East Timor.

March: Six months ago Dili's waterfront would resemble a ghost town as soon as the sun went down. Today, young entrepreneurs push carts laden with drinks and snacks past dozens of young people sit along the sea wall. It's just one of the many signs in East Timor's capital the security situation is improving. New shops and houses are springing up, and tens of thousands of internal refugees are beginning to leave their makeshift camps and return home. Brigadier Mark Holmes is the Australian commander of the International Stabilisation Force in East Timor.

Holmes: The environment is healthy, the folk and Timorese people out on the street, the commerce and the vibrancy of the community in Dili and surrounding suburbs, I think the security situation is continuing to improve everyday.

March: So improved is the security situation, and the development of East Timor's national forces by the UN police and Australian and New Zealand military forces, that Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao recently indicated he would like to see the gradual withdrawal of international troops by 2009. The ISF have a duel mandate, to support the UN and national security forces to maintain stability, and to help with training of military and police. Brigadier Holmes says while local forces are showing signs of improvement, there's still a role for international troops.

Holmes: The training and support we provide is to the security and defence forces – it is not complete. So we have not finished that job, we still have a number of folk we would like to train more and obviously assist those forces to grow in their numbers and capabilities. It's not perfect.

March: Ultimately, Brigadier Holmes says the timing of a withdrawal ultimately rests with the Prime Minister.

Holmes: Our role and our work here is basically guided by the Timorese government and if they wish us to stay they will indicate that to us and we wait for them to indicate otherwise

March: The ISF was criticised for its slow response to the rebel attacks in February, but has defended its actions. The local military has also come under fire for the increase in human rights abuses in the first half of the year. A UN report recently revealed the local military has engaged in aggressive confrontations with the UN, including one incident where a local soldier pulled a gun on an international police officer. Last financial year Australian tax payers spent $120 million dollars keeping troops deployed in East Timor. Brigadier Holmes says the money, is worth it.

Holmes: The support role that we have here is high value for money in terms of what a relatively small number of people are doing with the Timorese. Providing that level of support, and when we are not required to do that high end stuff that we have been trained to do, using our training opportunities and supporting the Timorese security forces and defence forces in growing.

March: Meanwhile the UN police – who currently have executive responsibility for internal security – are looking at taking a back seat in 2009. UN police commissioner Juan Carlos Aravelo:

Aravelo: We will probably not pull out, but we will not have the responsibility for the command of the police activities.

March: He says in order rescind command and hand over responsibility, there must be signs of a manageable security situation and institutional stability. A premature exit by the UN has been partially blamed for the 2006 crisis, which saw tensions between the national police and military explode into violence.

Aravelo: I wasn't here in 2002 also in April May 2006 I wasn't here but from the records and the information we have gathered, I think you are right when you identify as a mistake the pull out of UNPOL. That is something that will not happen this time.

March: Nevertheless, Commissioner Aravelo says they hope to hand over responsibility to local forces by May, and will consider drawing down numbers in the second half of 2009. But even if they do take a back seat and things don't work out as planned, he says the government has indicated it is leaving the door open for the UN resuming command if trouble resurfaces.

Aravelo: Of course we do not expect this will be a rule, might happen in a couple of places only. But in general terms we think PNTL would be ready to resume responsibility.

Human rights/law

Timor-Leste: NGO takes on women's rights

IRIN - September 26, 2008

Dili – As a girl, Laura Pina was not expected to slave in the kitchen simply by virtue of her gender. Then she got married.

Pina was shocked when she went to visit her in-laws for the first time. "They thought women had to serve the husband's family," she said. "They thought I had to stay and cook in the kitchen for all the ceremonies. They expected me to stay in the kitchen all day and then eat last because that was their custom – even if we sometimes ate in the middle of the night."

Pina could not agree to such traditional behaviour. Her parents were teachers and they had always encouraged her to get an education and be independent. When she saw how Timorese women were treated as second-class citizens, she decided to do something about it. She started by arguing with her mother-in- law.

In 2001, she helped found the Women's Caucus, an NGO that addresses women's issues. The following year Timor ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This United Nations-led treaty guarantees the rights of women and girls worldwide.

But a signature did not change the reality for the half-million women in Timor. As part of the convention, signatory governments must send periodic progress reports to the CEDAW Committee. Timor-Leste finally submitted its first report in March this year.

The CEDAW Committee encourages local NGOs to draft a shadow report with their own analysis to get a clearer picture. Local women's rights umbrella NGO Rede Feto (The Women's Network) asked Pina to coordinate the effort.

After reading the government report, Pina realised it failed to address a number of issues. "[The government report] didn't say much regarding the reality of women in Timor-Leste and also it just gives some very basic information and misses a lot of important things," Pina said.

Pina has been working with dozens of local NGOs to gather data from across the nation for a definitive report on the lives of women in the country.

In addition to a lifetime of manual labour, many women in Timor have limited access to healthcare, drinking water, justice and influence in community politics. Many women want an end to ingrained cultural practices such as the bride-price and polygamy, which is still occasionally practised. The shadow report will tackle all these issues.

Pina knows there is a great deal at stake. In addition to the CEDAW Committee, the shadow report will be presented to the government. She hopes it will convince policy-makers that life has to change – soon.

"We want the shadow report to help the Timor-Leste government to really understand what problems the women of Timor face," Pina said. "The government here can create concrete measures which can help the women of Timor-Leste overcome some of these problems."

But Pina understands real solutions take time. Her mother-in-law is still no fan of women's rights, but at least respects her and no longer argues with her. That one tiny, personal change has taken more than a decade.

Pina's youngest child is two. She reckons it will be his generation that has a chance at equality and the government should focus on him.

Asked when she thought women might live as equals in Timor, she said that day might come when he, and young girls his age, share fully in the knowledge and other benefits of a university education. (jw/mw)

Water buffalo justice reigns in East Timor

Deutsche Presse Agentur - September 28, 2008

Dili – Justice in East Timor has traditionally been measured out in water buffaloes. A goat theft costs one buffalo and a rape of a woman is worth two, although it varies from village to village. While it has never been institutionalized, the traditional way of meting out justice has remained an underpinning of village life on the impoverished half-island, even under 400 years of Portuguese rule.

After Indonesia's 1975 invasion, courts were established but not respected because of a corrupt system and judges. Since 2002 and following two years of United Nations interim rule, East Timor has been independent and eager to abandon the Indonesian system and adopt its own judicial system.

Legal aid groups said the best hope for East Timor is a formal judicial system with trained judges and lawyers. According to the country's constitution, everyone has the right to a fair trial and an attorney, and innocence is presumed until proven otherwise. There is no mention of water buffalo in the constitution.

But even as the National Parliament moves to finalize the nation's first penal code this month, a minor government official is on a crusade to formalize terra bandu – traditional law Timorese have used to preserve natural resources and regulate other matters of daily life.

Secretary of State for the Environment Abilio Lima has already persuaded about a third of the nation's 1 million people that everything from cattle rustling to rape are crimes best resolved outside courtrooms by water buffalo justice.

Last week, Lima was in Tulatakeo, a village a few hours south of the capital, Dili, as the government representative in a ceremony to mark the acceptance of traditional justice. Now, the village chief has the authority to treat serious crimes according to local whim.

"The advantage of terra bandu is that it comes from the community," Lima said. "Because it comes from the community, they have a responsibility to it."

According to Lima, the problem with East Timor's penal code is that it relies on Indonesian laws and was last updated in 1999, three years before the country gained independence.

"People who don't like Indonesia don't respect the laws," Lima said, "so we will use traditional law until we can agree on a national law."

Many judicial authorities in Dili said they were shocked at the moves by Lima, who has no legal authority to impose terra bandu or any system of justice.

"He's very wrong because he is operating outside the constitution and outside the judicial system," said Fernanda Borges, a member of Parliament who sits on its judicial oversight committee.

Borges said she would launch a parliamentary inquiry into the matter. However, some officials in the Justice Ministry seemed unconcerned with Lima's actions.

Although not informed about the environmental secretary's push for terra bandu, the permanent secretary for the minister of justice said he supported parts of the plan.

"Rape is a crime you can't resolve through terra bandu," Crisagno Neto said. "You have to take that to court."

However, Neto said smaller crimes like minor domestic violence could be resolved using traditional justice, a statement that contradicts East Timor's penal code.

"Domestic violence is a crime at whatever level," said Mitch Dufrense, head of the UN Justice Support Unit in East Timor. "The severity of the specified level is something for the court to decide."

Yet Neto said the courts in East Timor are not for everyone. "Terra bandu is easier and faster in rural areas for people who have no money," Neto said, "but in cities and in areas where people have money, they can't use terra bandu. They need to go to court."

In East Timor, where unemployment hangs around 60 per cent and the average income is about a dollar a day, the majority of the population lives where they can farm and hunt for food. Under Neto's criteria, almost no one should go to court, and, as it stands today, virtually no one does.

The United Nations estimated that about half of all women in East Timor would be the victims this year of gender-based crimes, yet according to the local UN office, 132 of the estimated 250,000 victims have come forward to report such offenses to police. Instead of a courtroom and a judge, these women could visit the thatched hut of a village elder.

One such elder is Florindo Mesquita Lorego, a balding, snowy- bearded village chief in a hamlet hours away from Dili who, along with a dozen other village leaders, decides terra bandu cases.

"(Terra bandu) applies to people who are thieves, horse thieves, cattle rustlers and rapists," Lorego explained. "People who go into someone's garden without permission from the owner, that's a crime."

He said rape is not a big problem in his community, but it happens. "Rape is resolved with two cows, and you close the woman's wound," Lorego said.

Closing the wound means the perpetrator makes the problem better, and the problem with rape is damage to the family name. The two cows, as well as the occasional goat or pig, are given to the victim's family. Often one of the animals is killed, cooked and then the rapist and the men from the victim's family eat and drink palm wine together.

The woman is not involved, except to report what happened. The secretary of state for the environment has put his stamp of approval on such a system for about half the districts in East Timor and said he sees his portfolio as reaching far beyond ecology.

"I think the environment has a relationship with sexuality," Lima said. "When you talk about environment, you talk about the human environment, about the social environment. I focus on the total comprehensive environment."

East Timor mulls traditional justice for serious crimes

Radio Australia - September 26, 2008

For many in East Timor, access to the justice system is almost impossible. Institutions are weak and the remoteness of many villages means it can take days to reach the nearest police station. Now, one government official is travelling around East Timor promoting the use of traditional justice for all crimes, including rape.

Presenter: Stephanie March

Speakers: East Timor MP Fernanda Borges; Albilio de Jesus, Remexio sub-district police commander; Tulatakeu village chief Florindo Mesquita Lorego; State Secretary for the Environment Albilio De Jesus Lima; Chief of the United Nations Administration of Justice Support Unit in East Timor, Mitch Dufrense.

March: Tulatakeu village, is 14km from the nearest police station. It takes an hour and a half to walk there, and the road's in poor condition, and is cut off for several months of the year during the wet season. Albilio de Jesus is the Remexio sub-district police commander. He has 11 staff, and one motorbike, to police a population of 10,000.

Dejesus: According to us, that's not enough. But while United Nations police are here we coordinate with them when we go on patrol. We got to maybe one town or two towns a day. Then we will go to more towns the next day.

March: For many people in East Timor, access to formal justice is almost impossible. Institutions are weak, and it can take hours to reach the nearest police station and days to the nearest courthouse. For centuries, communities have relied on local mechanisms to resolve problems. Community leaders, from Tulatakeu including village chief Florindo Mesquita Lorego recently signed a document formalizing a committee to dish out traditional justice.

Lorego: It applies to people who are thieves, horse thieves, cattle rustlers, rapists. People who go into someone's garden without permission from the owner, that's also a crime.

March: I asked him what the penalty would be for someone found guilty of rape.

Lorego: That will depend on what the council demands, they could demand two cows, maybe three, and they have to restore the reputation of the woman's community to other communities.

March: And one East Timorese government official is traveling around the countryside, promoting the type of traditional justice adopted in Tulatakeu. State Secretary for the Environment Albilio De Jesus Lima recently visited the village to congratulate them for adopting traditional justice to include crimes like theft and rape.

East Timor is governed by the Indonesian penal code, and other laws developed during the period of United Nations administration following independence. Mr Lima says people don't trust those laws, so while the government works to establish an organic law, it's best to rely on traditional mechanisms.

Lima: I think the environment portfolio includes sexuality, you talk about environment, you talk about human environment, about social environment, I focus on a total comprehensive environment. I am a public servant, aren't I?

March: The inclusion of rape in the informal justice system is alarming for human rights advocates. Traditional law known as terra bandu is mainly used to resolve community disputes about land and resource management, not crimes against the person. Traditionally in East Timor, often the crime of rape is not considered a crime against the person, but against her family. The belief is that if a woman becomes a victim of sexual assault, the community will believe her family can't take care of her.

Chief of the United Nations Administration of Justice Support Unit in East Timor, Mitch Dufrense says the biggest concern with traditional justice is whether or not the process and outcomes meet basic human rights standards.

Dufrense: The Minister of Justice has already stated that gender-based violence linked crimes are to be dealt with in the formal justice system. Those cases have traditionally been very challenging in the traditional mechanisms and have been examples of types of cases that fall below international standards.

March: MP Fernanda Borges says traditional justice in East Timor is not set up to support victims of gender based violence.

Borges: Usually it is the men that are the nucleus of power in the local community, and women are underneath that system. It works for other things, but I think definitely for domestic violence it is not an appropriate form to engage.

March: State Secretary for the Environment Albilio de Jesus Lima says he has visited six districts that are using traditional law, which means up to one third of East Timor's population could be using this form of justice. But MP Fernanda Borges says what he is promoting goes against many of the international human rights conventions signed by East Timor

Borges: If the secretary of state is doing that he is very wrong, because he is operating completely outside of the constitution and the judical processes that are established in the country.

Five dead found near Dili airport

Australian Associated Press - September 19, 2008

The remains of five people have been uncovered from eroded soil on the boundary of Dili's international airport. Human rights campaigners claimed the people had been murdered by the Indonesian military, the ABC reported last night.

Photographs obtained by the broadcaster showed investigations at the site had uncovered the remains of at least five people.

"From the initial reports, the only thing we assume is that these remains have been there for many years," the acting United Nations police commissioner, Juan Carlos Arevalo, told the ABC.

The established cause of death was two bullets to the back of the head; and some of the victims were bound. Human rights campaigners blamed the deaths on Indonesia's occupancy of East Timor, the ABC reported.

"The whole world knows Indonesia acted against human rights at this time, but the Indonesian Government does not take responsibility for their crimes," one campaigner, Jose Luis Oliveira, said.

The Timorese President, Jose Ramos-Horta, said the victims found next to Dili airport should be honoured, but he told the ABC that reconciliation with Indonesia was more important than dredging up its former crimes.

"We must not allow ourselves to be hostage of the past, no matter how ugly that past was with relation to the Indonesian occupation," he said.

The case was now in the hands of East Timor's prosecutor-general.

Mr Ramos-Horta said the mystery was unlikely to be solved and that the prosecutor already had 4000 unresolved cases on his desk.

Catholic Church/religion

Keeping East Timor's Catholics on side

Deutsche Presse Agentur - September 15, 2008

Maliana, East Timor – A few years ago Domingos Pereira and his wife did something dangerous. They quit the East Timorese Catholic Church.

It started in 2004 when a handful of foreign Jehovah's Witness missionaries showed up in their tiny village near the Indonesian border. Every week the missionaries held services from their home and by 2006 they had converted five families, including the Pereiras.

The Catholic Church, which claims near total support in this tiny Asian country, lashed out. A couple of nuns drove to the Pereira home and accused the family of selling their faith for cash.

Domingos protested. He said he was never given money – only a Bible, which he and his wife read. After they read the Bible he said he and his wife believed what the missionaries had to say.

Domingos said the nuns were furious. "They told us, 'You can't study the Bible. If you read the Bible every day, you'll go crazy,'" he said. "They said the Bible was for the catechist, the sisters, the priest and that's it. They said it wasn't for everyone."

In August 2006 the catechist told the townspeople to throw the missionaries out. So the missionaries moved a dozen kilometers up the road to Maliana.

Five hours from the capital, Maliana is one of the most remote large cities in East Timor. Here the church, overseen by a local priest who refused to be interviewed, is the highest authority, superseding even the police.

The Pereiras say they have faced Catholic Church torment as well as abuse from their neighbors. Their story is not unique. Other members of the evangelical religion reported visits from nuns, death threats or beatings. Meanwhile the police do nothing.

After their 2006 roust, the Jehovah's Witnesses lasted two years. Last month a group of about 20 people surrounded their home and told them to get out. The mob was led by Anise Barreto, a 54-year-old grandmother and a self-proclaimed disciple of the Catholic Church. Barreto lives across the street from where the missionaries used to teach.

"We are Catholic," she said. "We have been Catholic since birth and we don't want any other religion here."

Barreto said the priest told her that, as a Catholic community, they couldn't accept any other religions in the neighborhood. Barreto and other Catholics who helped drive them out claim the Jehovah's Witnesses were giving out money in exchange for conversions.

Barreto said the Jehovah's Witnesses would take photos of their converts and, for each photo, they'd hand over money. But Barreto couldn't say how much money was given as no Catholic interviewed had attended a service.

Domingos Pereira said rumours are rampant. "People believe the foreigners gave us money so we would join them," he said. "Because we were no longer Catholic, people would ask why we'd left the Church. They assumed we were given money."

Maliana was not always that intolerant. During the 24-year Indonesian occupation, the town boasted a Protestant church, a Buddhist temple, a Catholic church and a mosque. When the Indonesians left in 1999, they took with them the Buddhists, Protestants and most of the Muslims.

Many Timorese say the Catholic Church helped them throughout the bloody struggle against Indonesia, and, they say, without the church Timor would not be independent.

To some, questioning the Catholic Church is heretical and traitorous. But the church's authority is being questioned, and not just by the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Natalia Duarte left the Catholic Church last year to be a Seventh Day Adventist. She left in a dramatic way.

"People hate me because I burned my statue of Mary in front of my house," she said. "Lots of people didn't like that because they said it went against the church."

One night, when she thought most of her neighbors were asleep, she grabbed her wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, the most sacred Catholic object in a Timorese home, took it outside and set fire to it.

A few months ago the priest and some others came to her house to ask her why she'd changed religions. They asked about the statue.

"They said, 'Give us back our statue.' I said, 'It's my right to do what I want with it,'" she explained. "They knew what I did with it."

To some she is evil. Carlito Guterres, a middle-aged man and father of four, assaulted her on the main street in town in broad daylight. He said he'd do it again, too. He said she was walking down the street and he called her over to talk religion.

"She took out her Bible and she started to quote from it. I slapped it out of her hands and then I slapped her in the face," he said. "She ran away." He said she had no authority to talk about religion because she is not a priest.

Economy & investment

East Timor fights to tap vast undersea gas field

Associated Press - September 26, 2008

Anthony Deutsch, Jakarta – East Timor is drawing up plans for a deep sea pipeline and petrochemicals plant to tap an estimated $90 billion in disputed underwater oil and gas, company and government officials said, in a rare opportunity for one of Asia's poorest and smallest countries to boost its economy.

It is the latest move in a high-stakes battle with Australia over where the oil and gas in the Greater Sunrise field – containing about 300 million barrels of light oil and 8.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas – should be processed.

It also shows that East Timor, which became Southeast Asia's youngest democracy in 2002, is intent on protecting its economic interests after emerging from 500 years of foreign occupation.

"It means a lot for this little country," said Alfredo Pires, secretary of state for natural resources, by telephone from Dili, the Timorese capital. "We are just coming out of independence. We are looking for the creation of possible industries and we really see this as part of an engine of economic growth."

Between the Greater Sunrise field and East Timor lies a deep gash in the ocean floor, the 11,000-foot-deep Timor Trough, which Australia and its largest oil company, Woodside Petroleum Ltd., have argued makes it expensive and maybe even impossible to build a pipeline running north to the tiny state's shore.

But The Associated Press has learned that East Timor has commissioned a survey that suggests the pipeline is feasible. US piping specialist DeepGulf Inc. says that so far its survey indicates that building such a 125-mile pipeline would work, Marc Moszkowski, the company's president, told the AP.

Woodside and a group of companies licensed to develop the Greater Sunrise field want to build a 530-kilometer pipeline running south to Darwin, where ConocoPhillips, of the group members, has built a $5 billion natural gas processing plant.

Australia and Woodside argue that laying a pipeline to the East Timor would undercut profits and expose supplies to political upheaval, while Darwin is stable.

The Greater Sunrise field lies almost entirely in territory claimed by both countries and neither can exploit it without approval from the other side. Under the current licensing agreement, they have until 2013 to sign a development plan.

Gunbattles between rival security forces killed dozens in Dili in 2006 and toppled the government, while rebel troops in February tried to assassinate President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. Australia has around 1,000 peacekeeping forces stationed across the mountainous nation of around a million people.

Still, the venture partners, which also include Royal Dutch/Shell and Osaka Gas, are "prepared to consider the results of the Timor Leste government's independent study," Woodside said in a statement, the country's official name.

Parts of the Timor Sea have been divided up into a complex system of revenue sharing zones with Australia, some based on boundaries drawn up more than three decades ago when the region was a Portuguese colony.

There is no permanent maritime boundary and large portions remain fiercely debated. Lawyers hired by East Timor to draw up a boundary based on international law place the entire Greater Sunrise field in its territory.

But the case cannot be heard by the UN's courts for territorial disputes – the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea – because of legal exclusions obtained by Australia months before East Timor became independent in 2002.

The Australian government is aware of the new pipeline study, said Tracey Winters, a spokeswoman for Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson.

"At the end of the day the decision on the location will be a commercial one," Winters said. Both countries "would like to see this developed as soon as possible."

Paul Cleary, author of the book "Shakedown: Australia's Grab for Timor Oil," accuses Canberra of applying cutthroat negotiating tactics.

"The pressure applied by Australia meant that the new country really didn't stand a fighting chance," wrote Cleary, who also advised the government in Dili on oil and gas policy. Winters declined to comment on those allegations.

Pires said a new commercial national oil company is being created to invest "hundreds of millions of dollars" DeepGulf said it would cost to build the pipeline. Fifteen companies from five nations have already expressed interest in purchases of oil and liquid natural gas, he added.

To bolster the argument for a pipeline to its coast, East Timor is conducting a joint feasibility study with Malaysia's national oil company, Petronas, for a multibillion-dollar liquid natural gas plant and petrochemical industry due to be released late October, Pires said.

Direct spin-off for the emerging democracy would include a new 100-megawatt power plant that could eliminate national electricity shortages, a petrochemical storage and shipping port and thousands of jobs that could cut into towering unemployment of around 50 percent.

Tax revenue from Greater Sunrise would reach around $3 billion over several decades for the plant's host country, according to estimates, on top of more than $10 billion from sales.

With all sides holding deeply entrenched positions, the fight over the Timor Sea could drag on for years.

Charity clothes smother local industry in East Timor

Deutsche Presse Agentur - September 24, 2008

Dili – It's no secret that charity clothes cast off from rich countries end up on the backs of some of the poorest people on earth.

Supposedly, that's the whole point. But sometimes the best intentions go awry. The used clothing is often sold for low prices, undercutting local clothing industries. In Asia, used clothes are keeping dozens of vendors impoverished in one of the region's poorest countries while making a single company rich.

Indonesian entrepreneur Suyanto Tan opened Intelligent Yield Trading, a used clothing outlet, in 2000 in East Timor. From its cavernous warehouse in the capital, Dili, bales of used clothes make their way across the island of Timor.

At first, there was some competition, but according to Tan, his last rival closed in 2003. So for five years, a single company has been providing clothes for more than 1 million people. Local tailors are certainly no competition, thanks mostly to First World charity.

Armindo da Silva Soares, 46, is one of a handful of Timorese tailors left in Dili. He learned his craft after Indonesia invaded and took over East Timor in 1975. "An Indonesian taught me," Soares said. "I paid him 50 dollars and bought a sewing machine."

During the Indonesian occupation, Soares ran a shop with 27 machines and 10 employees. But in the violence that has rocked East Timor since it voted for independence in a 1999 UN-sponsored referendum – first from exiting militias that torched about 70 per cent of the tiny nation's infrastructure and then in riots in 2006 between rival factions within the military and police – he has been burned out four times and has only three machines left.

He said he can no longer afford to pay any employees. The last straw was the 2006 riots, from which he said he has never recovered. "We had lots of work until then," Soares said, "but after the crisis, all my employees left, and they got jobs somewhere else."

He sits alone in his shop surrounded by his family. Bolts of dark fabric hang on a fly-specked wall. His shop is in the middle of what used to be one of the largest markets in Dili, but it was razed in the riots two years ago. Even today, most of the neighbouring shops are still shuttered.

Outside his front window, he watches dust blow across rows of empty market tables. Skinny dogs lie in the deserted market streets. Yet it's not just the dead market that's driving away his customers. To even find Soares' shop, one must first navigate a tangle of used clothing stalls further up the street.

"The used clothing market is a big worry for us tailors," he said. "Those clothes are so much cheaper. They are all old, but they are cheap."

East Timor has never had a clothing factory, and because of charity clothes, it likely never will. Used clothing stalls have mushroomed around the city since 2006, largely because it's easier to sell used clothes than almost anything else.

"I used to sell vegetables and fried snacks, but in 2006, my stall was burned down," said Felicidade Gusmao, 50. "I lost my home and everything I owned."

Gusmao sits under the shade of shirts and pants while she waits for customers. She said her family scraped together some cash in 2007 and bought its first bale of used clothes from Intelligent Yield.

She doesn't make much money selling clothes – the shirts are a dollar each and the pants only slightly more – and she said she isn't able to save anything but she makes enough to get by. "I can buy food and pay for what I need," Gusmao said.

She said she also always manages to have enough left over to make her monthly trip to Intelligent Yield for another bale of clothes.

The bales come in shipping containers delivered through an agent in Singapore. Intelligent Yield buys one container for about 2,000 dollars. This translates to about 18 dollars per bale, but Intelligent Yield sells the bales for around 150 dollars each.

When the ship comes in, it can sell more than 20 bales in a single day. In a country where the average income is less than 1 dollar per day, that translates to some serious income.

Gusmao said she hopes the bale she buys will contain good clothes.

She picks over a pile of clothes that aren't so good. She's stuck with them. Because the bales are packed in the countries of origin, no one, not the clothing agent in Singapore or Intelligent Yield in East Timor, knows the quality of the clothes inside until they are opened by the vendors. There are no returns.

Often clothes are too big to fit on tiny Timorese bodies or they are just too worn. Gusmao puts them in a pile. At the end of a month, her family dumps them in a ditch across the street. When the rains come in a few months, the clothes will wash out to sea. The tides will bear away this unwanted charity.

East Timor's wealth: blessing or curse?

BBC News - September 24, 2008

Lucy Williamson – One day, perhaps, the place where Isabel sits will be a five-star hotel, its private villas looking on the beach, its grand entrance frowning down on the western corner of Dili's beach road.

But for now, six years after independence from Indonesia, there is just Isabel. Her flimsy bamboo stall shades her from the sun's glare, her tiny piles of tomatoes and garlic are waiting naked in the afternoon heat for a sale.

Six years of independence, and East Timor's capital city is holding its breath.

Two governments, multinational forces numbering thousands, billions of dollars of international money – and yet people like Isabel are still saying life was better under the Indonesians.

"People could afford to buy things then." she said. "Now we just sit here at the stall all day, and perhaps we'll earn a dollar or two."

Economic lifeline

It is ironic, then, that East Timor has been held up in the past few years as an economic role model – ironic, too, that it has done this by sitting on a large and growing pot of oil savings.

Oil and gas – buried under the Timor Sea – are what give East Timor a future. They underwrote its independence after the Indonesian army left, taking with them the area's economic lifeline and destroying its sparse infrastructure on their way out.

So far East Timor has built up a fund of about $3bn (#1.63bn). It may not sound like a lot but for a population of fewer than a million people, in a country where a budget of $300m has proved hard to spend, it is a fortune.

But this economic blessing also comes with a warning. No country like East Timor has ever managed to use a sudden influx of oil money to create a stable and transparent economy.

The developing world is dotted with examples of what economists called the Resource Curse – too much easy money flooding the system, bringing with it inflation, corruption and the death of any private enterprise.

Can East Timor prove that it can, in fact, be done? That taking oil and gas out of the ground can be good for the host country as well as its customers?

Spending spree

Until now, it has largely avoided the usual tripwires. East Timor's Petroleum Fund was modelled on Norway's – considered to be perhaps the best in the world – and wrapped in safeguards that prevented governments from frittering away the country's future.

But as the account grows, and the frustration of people like Isabel begins to nag at their leaders' consciences, the money is starting to burn a hole in the government's pocket.

This year, for the first time, the government dipped into the fund itself. In addition to withdrawing its usual sustainable amount – basically the interest on the savings – it took a slice of the capital to help fund a 122% increase in the annual budget. Spending some of East Timor's oil money is not necessarily a bad idea.

Oil and gas revenues currently make up more than 95% of the government's income and there is a pressing need to create a more stable mainstream economy for when those resources run out.

But most of the extra money in this year's budget was to enable the government to subsidise rice and fuel prices – not exactly a contribution to Timor's long-term growth. And the finance minister herself admits this was more about avoiding potential instability than building a future economy.

Budget race

East Timor's beauty is startling. But you do not have to drive that far south of where Isabel sits at her market stall for the road to peter out into a mountain track.

And try paying for that long and bumpy journey by credit card, or even arranging a taxi after dark, and it is obvious why the five-star hotels are not being built.

East Timor needs roads, electricity and education – and the government knows it. But red tape and lack of capacity have made it difficult to spend here.

So Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has recently dismantled some of that bureaucracy, issued tight budget deadlines and started a private ministerial spending race – with a bizarre scoring system based on fruit.

Each ministry now lives in fear of this surreal internal ritual. Spend more than 80% of your budget and you are labelled with a durian fruit – the Timorese government equivalent of a gold star. No-one wants to be a banana – the lowest spenders in the cabinet.

The result, critics of the scheme say, is a raft of rushed, badly thought-out projects, many of which seem to have stalled. The tender processes have often been very short – sometimes a matter of weeks.

Civil society groups – and the opposition – complain they are being kept in the dark, and ministry insiders say corners are being cut, opening the door to corruption.

All of which has landed a few strongly worded letters on the prime minister's desk – some of them from Timor's international partners, worried at the precedents being set.

But this young country still has a shot at getting it right and showing the world the curse can be avoided, and that is really because it has two things going for it.

One is a strong and vocal civil society and a vibrant opposition. The other is its size.

Ironically, East Timor's lack of development and its small, scattered population allow it to look for what some experts term a "21st Century solution" to development – nimble, decentralised programmes that focus on training and mobile services.

So much advice, so much criticism – many ministers sound a little inured to it now.

As the deputy finance minister told me recently: "Sometimes we worry too much. If we worry too much about expenditure, then you also have no result in the end." True enough. But worry too little, and the result might also be the same.

Small business still suffering in East Timor

ABC Online - September 18, 2008

A new report by the World Bank shows it's no easier to run a business in East Timor now than it was a year ago, despite the government's efforts. The survey shows small businesses have trouble getting lines of credit and foreign investors still face many hurdles.

Presenter: Stephanie March

Presenters: Rainer Venghaus, Country coordinator for international finance Corporation; Mario Mendes, director general of BNU; Joao Gonsalves, Minister for Economy and Development; Jose Teixeira, Fretilin opposition MP.

March: A key priority for the AMP coalition government led by Xanana Gusmao is to develop the private sector.

Tax cuts came into effect on July 1 and new investment legislation is expected to go before the Council of Ministers in coming weeks. But the recent Doing Business survey by World Bank agency the International Finanace Corporation or IFC says there's still a long way to go. The annual survey rates the ease of doing business in 181 economies and this year's it shows East Timor failed to improve on it's 2008 rank of 170.

Country coordinator for the corporation Rainer Venghaus says it has been working with the government and private sector to develop possible reforms.

Vebghaus: And one message we got was to have a clear mapping exercise to know what is happening and how to actually register a business, how to get a license, how to pay taxes. And we are in that process now which I think shows quite a sign where the problems already start, or to put it positively where we can have fairly quick improvement.

March: But for small entrepreneurs in East Timor even getting to the stage of registering a business is proving to be a challenge. Following the 1999 referendum violence and bloody political crisis in 2006, many borrowers defaulted on their loans due to loss of income or assets. Mario Mendes is the director general of BNU, the largest of East Timor's three commercial banks. He says it's a huge risk to lend to small businesses.

Mendes: But the risk? It's a big risk.

March: There are a handful of small microfinance organizations in East Timor, but to get lenders and small entrepreneurs back on track, Economy and Development Minister Joao Gonsalves is asking groups like the World Bank and the IFC to help start a National Development Fund.

Gonsalves: That we can use and then negotiate with the three commercial banks some terms and conditions that would involve low interest rates and certain mechanisms that can support. I believe the private sector need this initiative to try to improve and develop because this is one of the biggest problems. We have a weak private sector but I think the main problem they face is access to finance.

March: Rainer Venghaus from the IFC says the idea needs to be scrutinized, and could be problematic.

Venghaus: What we find, and that is not just IFC, generally the finding from other agencies is that a national development bank the experience is not very favorable.

March: Fretilin opposition MP Jose Teixeira agrees.

Texeira: Providing state funds, government funds, for loans is fraught with danger because people will see it as money they don't necessarily have to pay back because it is theirs any way.

March: He says the problem for entrepreneurs in East Timor is not about a lack of available money.

Texeira: There is a law for licensing banks, but yet you have very few banks applying for it. That is because there are still problems with enforcing contracts, there are still problems with getting securities registered, and of course you still have uncertainty about security situation. All of these things are what contribute to a lack of credit and access to credit. It is not the absence of money itself.

March: Along with investment and tax reform, the government is working on a nation-wide project to establish a formal land titling system, to increase foreign investor confidence. Minister Joao Gonsalves says he is not worried about the results of the Doing Business survey, as next year's survey would more accurately reflect the impact of AMP government reforms.

Opinion & analysis

Timor-Leste: Security handover raises concerns

IRIN - September 5, 2008

Dili – Rosalina Soares has no idea who cut off her fingers. She also has machete scars across her upper back and neck. The middle-aged mother of two lost everything. Her home was destroyed -- smashed and looted – and her body mutilated, but she has no idea why.

"The police know what happened to me, but they don't know who did it and I don't know who did it," Soares said. "The police took my photo, but I haven't heard anything more." She has no idea if the people who attacked her ever went to jail.

Two years later, Soares lives in a tent, one among hundreds across the street from the UN mission in Timor. She has lived here since 2006 when thousands of families fled their homes as gangs burned or simply ripped apart houses.

During the worst of the attacks many police fled the city and security was handed over to the army, which failed to stem the violence.

After a call for international help, security forces poured in. Within months troops from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal were patrolling the beleaguered capital while UN police were tasked with the day-to-day security of the country.

As part of a deal signed with the government, control of the local police was given to UNPol so the UN police could mentor and certify local officers. That certification course is set to end early next year. If all goes as planned, by February local forces will resume power for the first time since before the crisis. By then the government expects the 30 remaining displacement camps to be empty and the country to be back to normal.

Yet many displaced people worry that without UNPol, things will get worse, not better. At the Don Bosco compound, the largest displacement camp in the country, four elderly women discuss their experiences in 2006. Three had their homes torched and another said a gang of youths destroyed her home. Not one knows who to blame, or whether any of the perpetrators are in jail. Now that it is time to move back, they worry that the local police will not be able to protect them.

"We are just simple people," said one. "We have no idea if the police are any better or not. We hope they are. We would like better security." They say they are going home because their neighbourhood chief told them to.

But did he promise them security? "No, he just said come on back," said another woman.

About 41,000 people have returned but there have been cases of violence as neighbours reject the returnees in some areas.

Readiness in doubt

For the past two years the UN has been trying to get the local forces in shape, but doubts remain. Tony McLeod, UNPol's acting deputy commissioner of police operations, told IRIN he has been impressed with some efforts by the local police, but that they still have some way to go.

I cannot say that I'm 100 percent certain that the January 30 deadline will be met; however, we're still working toward that," McLeod said. "That's always been a challenging deadline in my opinion."

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao would not say whether the police would be ready for next year's handover, but he insisted it was time for local police to get back out on the streets – alone.

"I have to believe that the national police will be able to go it alone, but I also know I have to keep after them to get better," Gusmao told IRIN. (jw/mw)

East Timor: Who shot J.R. Horta?

Asia Times - September 4, 2008

Simon Roughneen, Dili – East Timor's post-independence politics have confounded outside observers, and for the most part the Timorese themselves. Simultaneously transparent and opaque, what was thought to be a mono-cultural, impoverished, Western-backed, state-building poster-child has morphed into a divided half- island, with obscure tribal-linguistic rivalries once considered dormant since stirred by political rivalries and manifested in quasi-mysterious gangs.

The Timorese political elite remain at odds along familiar regime lines, demarcations so old that these rivalries were, broadly speaking, established when Richard Nixon was still in the White House and more sharply honed in the 1980s – when soap opera addicts spent months wondering who shot J.R. Ewing, the fictional Texan oil mogul in Dallas.

But East Timor may now have its own Watergate, or at least a watershed political moment depending on which version of the events of February 11 finally emerges as the truth. That day, Dili's usual idyllic dawn was shattered by shots ringing out along the seaside valleys just a few miles east of the city, close to the white sand beaches favored by Timor's affluent expatriate community.

In what was regarded as either failed assassination attempts on President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, or perhaps instead a meeting-gone-awry between Ramos-Horta and former Timorese soldier Alfredo Reinado, the shoot-outs put the president in the hospital for two months and left rebel leader- cum-assassin Reinado in an early grave.

Reinado led the Petitioners, a group of disenchanted soldiers from the western half of the country who felt discriminated against by army top brass from the country's eastern regions. Prior to being dismissed from the armed services, he was pivotal in a chain of violent events in 2006 that led to over 100,000 Timorese being driven from their homes and the resignation of then-prime minister Mari Alkatiri. The army split, the police force disintegrated and Reinado took to the hills.

Some of Reinado's colleagues that fateful February morning have offered confusing and contradictory versions of what led up to the incident and what finally happened when their flamboyant front man died. Ramos-Horta himself has revised his initial recollection – that one of the rebels, Marcel Caetano, fired the bullets that almost killed him – after visiting the imprisoned would-be assassin in Dili's Becora jailhouse.

So who really shot Ramos-Horta and why? Considering the political machinations that preceded the shootings, it now seems unlikely it was Reinado who pulled the trigger. Ramos-Horta had repeatedly offered olive branches to the flashy rent-a-quote rebel, who had been dismissed by the Australian-led international forces and the ruling Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) coalition headed by Ramos-Horta's ally Gusmao, as a de facto criminal with no political status.

Another rumor doing the rounds was that, behind the scenes, Ramos-Horta had given up on the recalcitrant fugitive and that Reinado had set out in a huff for Dili to confront the president. That would have been suicidal unless it was followed by a coup attempt, hence the apparent simultaneous hit on Gusmao led by Gastinho Salsinha, Reinado's deputy. However, that too now seems unlikely given the lack of men and hardware at Reinado's disposal that morning.

In any case, Ramos-Horta survived, Reinado died, and the political fallout was until now minimal. That was until The Australian newspaper revealed it had reviewed the top-secret report drafted by Muhumad Nurul Islam, Timor's leading forensic pathologist, saying it indicated that Reinado and his sidekick Leopoldinho Exposto were shot at close or point-blank range in an execution style that does not tally with the prevailing shoot-out version of events – namely, that Reinado was taken out at a range of 10 meters or so by one of Ramos-Horta's snipers.

Nurul reported that Reinado had blackening and burning around each of his four bullet wounds and said he had been shot with a high-velocity rifle "at close range". Nurul added that Exposto was shot squarely in the back of his head, also at close range. David Ranson from the Victoria Institute of Forensics was quoted by The Australian saying that the blackening and burning mentioned in Nurul's report only appears when a gun is fired at almost point-blank range.

Ramos-Horta later raged in a Timorese newspaper against The Australian newspaper and the forensic scientists that the newspaper consulted. Attorney General Longinus Montero disputed The Australian version of events, telling reporters in Dili that "It's not right, that information isn't right. The case is still under investigation." He added that the results could not yet be made public.

Apart from the apparent contradictions, much of what apparently transpired on February 11 seems strange. Most glaring was why, with gunfire ringing around his house, Ramos-Horta returned home, or more to the point, why his security detail let him do so. Much has been made of the delay in the army and police response to the shooting, and it appears that Reinado's body was moved around the crime scene, and that police present even answered his mobile phone as he lay dead.

Confusion and conspiracy

Some of Timor's other political grandees appear set to capitalize on the confusion. Mario Carrascalao, a key member of the ruling coalition, said on August 17 that "we still don't know what happened". "For me, all the stories that have been told here – I don't trust them," he said. He called for the immediate release of the prosecutor-general's report into the attacks and the establishment of an independent inquiry into "what happened and more importantly why it happened".

Prime Minister Gusmao has so far resisted calls for any independent inquiry. Before the February shootings, Ramos-Horta's house stood alone at the corner of the route heading uphill from Dili and east to Timor's second city Baucau, no more than a few feet from the roadside, and with some of the gardens easily visible from inside cars and trucks winding uphill to breathtaking views of the Wetar Strait.

The standard version of events, summed up by James Dunn in a paper written for the Australian Human rights Council, took a best-case view that Reinado did not actually intend to kill Ramos-Horta during the fateful encounter: "Almost certainly it was a botched attempt by the rebel leader, Alfredo Reinado, to corner the president and seek further assurances that the proposed surrender conditions, culminating in his pardon, would in fact be carried out."

The report continued: "The plan went tragically wrong because Reinado's target was not there. The President was not at home, but out on a very early beach walk. Reinado's men disarmed the guards and occupied the residence grounds, but two soldiers turned up unexpectedly and shot Reinado and one of his men at what was apparently point blank range. Hearing the shooting, Ramos-Horta hurried back to the residence where he was shot by one of Reinado's men, a rebel enraged at the killing of their leader. It is likely that this angry reaction caused another rebel party to fire on Prime Minister Xanana some time later."

Still, the rumor mill went into overdrive after the shootings. Questions have arisen about the provenance of a US$700,000 bank account in Australia that Reinado allegedly had access to. Other sketchy details surround the links between the rebels and Joao Tavares, who was once described by the UN as the top militia commander in East Timor in 1999. Three rebels were arrested in April in Indonesia-ruled West Timor while staying at his personal residence.

Reinado had a fake Indonesian identification on his person when shot and, bizarrely, Ramos-Horta later railed against Desi Anwar, a well-known Indonesian broadcast journalist who interviewed the fugitive in Indonesia in 2007, for facilitating Reinado's clandestine cross-border travels. In January, an obscure group linked to Reinado known as the Movement for National Unity and Justice (MUNJ) withdrew from moribund talks between the government and the rebels, a failure that Ramos-Horta and Gusmao blamed on Reinado's girlfriend, Angie Pires.

Depending on which rebel account you believe, however, MUNJ representatives were with Reinado right up to February 10, allegedly supplying the vehicles that took the rebels to the capital's outskirts the day of the reputed assassination attempt.

Another notable and as-yet-unexplained detail emerged from a contact number found on the dead Reinado's mobile phone under the name "Hercul". That's led some to believe the Jakarta-based, Timor-born Hercules Rozario Marca was in contact with Reinado prior to the events at Ramos-Horta's residence. Weeks later two of the rebels linked to Reinado were arrested at Marca's home.

Marca visited Dili in late January and met with Reinado, according to Gusmao's AMP coalition partner and former East Timor governor Mario Carrascalao. During his January visit, Marca also reportedly discussed investment opportunities with various Timorese officials, including both Ramos-Horta and Gusmao, according to the Sun Herald.

With government approval, Marca is now primed to invest in a new swimming pool along Dili's docklands, across from the Parliament House, a remarkable rehabilitation for a man that once allegedly provided muscle to Jakarta's attempts to cow East Timor's independence activists. He has joined other former Jakarta businessmen once linked to Indonesian strongman Suharto who are now cutting government-brokered business deals in Dili, including one for a new casino.

Some say it is no coincidence that those deals were completed around the time an Indonesian-Timorese Commission fudged issues of justice and accountability for crimes committed during Jakarta's brutal quarter-century occupation of the former Portuguese colony, to the chagrin of many Timorese.

The Commission on Truth and Friendship (CTF) was established in 2005 by the Timorese and Indonesian governments to examine violence perpetrated by Jakarta's troops and its Timorese proxies during the 1999 violence that marred the vote for independence from Indonesia.

However, the CTF had no powers to prosecute, prompting criticism that it served to whitewash atrocities. Its final report, issued on July 15, concluded that Indonesia also had responsibility for gross human rights violations, such as murder, rape, torture, illegal detention and forced mass deportations, that were committed by militias with the support and participation of Indonesian institutions and their members.

While Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his "deepest regret" for the victims, he quickly dismissed the notion that those responsible should be brought to justice.

After the April shooting, before being released from hospital, Ramos-Horta said Indonesian officers should "come clean" and acknowledge their responsibility for 1999 violence, and that both countries would need to read the commission's report calmly and "see whether we need to take further steps to address the events of 1999".

Earlier, the apparently traumatized Ramos-Horta had visions of a crowd trying to suffocate him, and separately he alleged Indonesian involvement in the assassination attempt on his life. Yudhoyono rebuked that claim, and by the time the CTF report came out Ramos-Horta had completely changed his tune, saying that the victims' legacy would be used to build stronger links between the two countries and that Timor would not be seeking an international tribunal to try those responsible. He was joined by Gusmao in declaring, "We are determined to bring a closure to a chapter of our recent past."

Dormant lightning rod Reinado's cult-like status led some to fear he could be seen as a martyr and his death become a lightening rod for political discontent. An Australian-led attempt to apprehend him at his southern redoubt in Same in 2007 led to riots in Dili, as his supporters torched buildings and cars. But Reinado's cause seemed to die with its leader, at least in the public eye, although the east-west regional divide inside the Timorese army that prompted Reinado to rebel in the first place remains unsolved.

With illiteracy rates at 60% and child malnutrition 40%, many people are wondering when Timor's some $3 billion in oil revenues, accrued since the establishment of a national petroleum fund in 2005, will start to filter down to the impoverished grassroots. East Timor is listed by the UN as the poorest country per capita in the Asia-Pacific region. More political strife means that potentially lucrative tourism from Australia seems unlikely to take off anytime soon, despite Timor being a closer, cleaner and relatively untouched alternative to Bali, a line Gusmao peddled while on an official visit to Australia last week.

Instead, soaring food and fuel prices are making life even harder for Timor's poor. An official move to give 100,000 hectares of land to the production of bio-fuel crops in a furtive deal with the Indonesian company GT Leste Biotech irked many, not least because it was brokered in January but did not become public until June. That controversial deal with the island state's former occupier was followed by the arrest of around 60 students protesting a decision to buy cars for each of the Timor government's 65 MPs.

The run of government slip-ups only adds to the growing divide between East Timor's politicians and its people, particularly among the restless and unemployed youth. How more contradictory versions of Ramos-Horta's shooting will affect perceptions remains to be seen and reactions will be hard to predict.

Timor has confounded outside observers since independence, with few anticipating the 2006 security meltdown, for example, and others following up with doomsday predictions for the 2007 elections, which in actuality passed off peacefully. What is clear, however, is that since Reinado's demise and the dissolution of his rebellion, the 100,000 internally displaced people have started to return home.

Yet Timor's political top brass have seen their popularity steadily decline in the years since independence. Ramos-Horta attributed Gusmao's disappointing showing in the 2007 parliamentary elections as due to the former fighters "losing touch with the people". FRETILIN, the socialists now in opposition and who were at odds with Gusmao since the early days of Indonesian occupation, saw their vote halved in the same 2007 vote.

Months before the disputed shoot-out, Ramos-Horta did much better in securing around 70% of the votes in the second presidential poll, albeit in a straight run-off against a weak FRETILIN candidate. Now military roadblocks mark the road on both sides of the once-popular president's home, where before the February shootout the Nobel Peace Prize laureate often went for his early morning jog greeting fishermen and bar owners with an easy and secure familiarity.

[Simon Roughneen is a roving freelance journalist. He has reported from Africa, Southeast Asia the Middle East and Pakistan.]

East Timor daily media

Daily Media - September 24, 2008

World leaders pleased with Timor-Leste's situation - RTL, 24 September

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Zacarias Albano da Costa, said heads of state and Government of all the countries have welcomed positively the development of Timor-Leste's current situation which had been gradually returned to normal.

The minister said stability being reached by the nascent country would be attracting foreign investors coming to invest. Da Costa stressed Timor-Leste had reached its stability, yet the UN keep extending its mission for another year.

The Government and the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) will make an assessment over the country's necessity to define modality of the UN in the country. UN secretary general opens the UN Assembly session - Radio Timor- Leste, 24 September

The UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon has officially opened the UN Assembly for session of 2008, starting on Wednesday (24/9) in New York.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Zacarias Albano da Costa in a telephone interview said all members of the UN were pleased with issues discussed, such as global fuel price and food security issues which had affected people's lives worldwide.

Da Costa said the UN would stand firmly with all of its members to make a joint effort combating such global issues. President Jose Ramos Horta is scheduled to convey Timor-Leste's position over the global security and food shortage issue being faced by the country.

Public Prosecution to summon Lere and Falur - TVTL, 24 September

East Timor's Prosecutor General Longuinhos Monteiro said Wednesday (24/9) that the office of Public Prosecution had summoned Colonel Lere Anan Timor and Lieutenant Colonel Falur Rate Laek to face inquiry in relation to the 2006 crises.

Monteiro said that the two F-FDTL officers were summoned to simply give their testimonies but not as suspects. Lere and Falur are scheduled to give their statement to the public prosecution on September 29 and October 1, 2008.

Meanwhile, Monteiro also informed that in the near future two F- FDTL and an UNPOL officer would be called to give their statements in relation to February 11, as he was also on board with the PM Xanana Gusmao's convoy.

Longuinhos explained that after the hearing, the office of Prosecutor General would make accusation which is likely to be done in December 2008 or January 2009. Thus far, the office of Prosecutor General had identified 23 suspects; all of them were followers of the former rebel leader Alfredo Reinado Alves.

ISF hands over facilities to Alola foundation - STL, 24 September

The International Stabilization Forces (ISF) from Australia has handed over school facilities, such as books, pens and shirts to the Alola Foundation to be distributed to schools throughout the country.

Advisor for Alola Foundation, Marydith Budge said the facilities were contributed by Australian students who won a writing competition where a student wrote about Timor.

Budge said the Australian students wanted to contribute to the schools in the county which less facilities. She added the school facilities were currently being kept in the office of Alola, because students were still on holiday.

'Shut up' to those who don't know procurement systems - STL, 24 September

The National Director of the Procurement Services Francisco Soares 'Borulako' said Tuesday (23/9) those who do not know the working procurement systems should stop questioning the procurement services.

"We have a lot of criterion about bidding systems which we often give out to our contractors and if they are eligible then we give them the tender," Borulako said. He, therefore, urged the members of the Parliament who know nothing about the procurement systems to shut up.

Borulako explained that the single source mechanism which became a common polemic is also regulated in the law to be applied during emergency situation such as the purchase of weapons.

Recently, an AMP MP, Aderito Hugo of CNRT, accused the procurement services for what he called as conspiracy with contractors in implementing certain government projects.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman Sebastiao Dias Ximenes said that in most cases the bidding systems and procedures are only to fulfill formality by the procurement already identified or even chose the winners of the biddings.

Parliament to initiate anti corruption law - STL, 24 September

The second Vice President of the National Parliament Maria Paixao said Monday (22) that in order to fight and eradicate corruption in the country the parliament would urgently initiate a draft law on anti corruption.

"PN also sees that it is extremely urgent to initiate a draft of anti corruption law and to be urgently approved by the same parliament enabling the judiciary system to start prosecuting those involved in corruption," Paixao said. She also encouraged the office of Prosecutor General to courageously do their functions in eradicating corruption in the country regardless of mounting threats against the office.

She stressed that she is in favor of the establishment of the new anti corruption commission by the government and urged the office of Ombudsman to specifically focus on the issue of human rights.

Meanwhile, Estanislau Aleixo da Silva, an MP from FRETILIN, said that the office of Prosecutor General should take necessary legal measures against those who threaten the office via telephone because the law permits the office to have access to the telecommunication system.

There should competition between TT and new operator - DN, 24 September

Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) and Fretilin MPs have agreed with the Government's policy of inviting other telecommunication operators to compete with Timor Telecom Company (TT) in the country.

The MPs said the Government had the power to invite other companies coming to invest, yet the Government should learn profoundly the contract for TT by the former Fretilin Government. AMP MP Vital dos Santos said TT had not been professional in the treatment of its clients, because there were no competitors.

Fretilin MP Estanislau da Silva said it was good when the Government had approached TT, but the Government should also look at condition for new operator and should look at as well on the contract made by the former government for TT.

Government to decriminalize defamation - DN, 24 September

East Timor's Justice Minister Lucia Lobato said the government will decriminalize defamation in the proposal of penal codes presented the National Parliament Tuesday (23/9) if the Parliament authorizes the government to do so.

"If the National Parliament authorized (the government), when the new penal codes to be presented to in May, defamation would not a crime," said Lobato. Lobato explained that if anyone felt defamed then the person could file civil process against the person.

Domingos Sarmento, a FRETILIN's MP in the Parliament disagrees with the proposal of decriminalizing defamation in the future penal codes, arguing that those who are poor may not be able to pay for compensation.

Meanwhile, MP Vital dos Santos from Democratic Party (PD) said that he entirely agreed with the proposal. However, he suggested the government to create special condition if defamation is to be decriminalized.

Court names Lere Annan Timur and Falur as suspect in 2006's crises - STL, 24 September

Dili District Prosecution has named Timor-Leste Defense Force Chief of Staffs, Lere Annan Timur and Falur Rate Laek as suspects of the country's recent crises of 2006. The prosecution's decision was made through notification to summon Lere Annan Timur and Falur Rate Laek to be inquired in the upcoming September 29.

Lere Annan and Falur said they recognized the notification from the Prosecution Office, yet they were still yet to know about the reason why the Court had named them as suspects.

Lere Annan said he respected the notification and that he would cooperate with the Court and would respond it. "I think justice is for all, we all are under the law and the Court has its power to ask whoever to respond it," Lere Annan said.

Parliament sends official letter to warn ambassador - RTL, 24 September

The Timorese Parliament has sent an official letter to Minister for Foreign Minister and Cooperation, Zacarias da Costa for warning the country's Ambassador to Portugal, Manuel Abrantes.

Deputy Parliamentary President Maria Paixao said the Parliament was concerned about the ambassador who had not welcomed well the delegation of Timorese MPs in Portugal. Paixao said the Parliament had also informed this matter to Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to take it into consideration.

Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Zacarias da Costa, said it was not the ambassador's fault, but it happened because the Parliament had never coordinated them about the Parliament delegations' visit to Portugal.

The minister said the Parliament should first coordinate with his ministry, as everything related to overseas visit was dealt by them. He therefore called on the country's politicians and the Government officials to a have good coordination before departing.

US ambassador holds a visit to Baucau - TVTL, 24 September

The US Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Hans Klemm has held an official visit to the eastern district of Baucau for looking closer directly at USAID funded Candlenut Project.

The ambassador said they were here to help support skills of the country's people in the field of social economy. "We are here to help you in improving your skills in the field of social economy, practically in the field of agriculture for more than 15 years," Klemm said.

Baucau CRS Program Manager, Adelio Lopes said in increasing the candlenut products in the eastern region, CRS and USAID cooperated to set up groups for improving both quantity and quality of candlenuts. Group member, Dulce da Silva said she involved in the group to learn about how to increase and improve the quality of their products.

Making strategic planning for women's participation - TVTL, 24 September

State Secretary for Professional Training and Employment started making strategic planning for the state budget which was allocated to gender equality programs.

State Secretary for Professional Training and Employment, Bendito Freitas, said his department and State Secretary for Promotion and Equality cooperated with the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and International Labor Organization based in Jakarta held a seminar to have proper strategy on managing budget in the process of development.

Freitas said the two departments wanted to help support the country's women by improving their skills, because women also being part of unemployment in the country.

State secretary for Promotion and Equality, Idelta Maria Rodrigues, said they would hold a strategic planning which would prioritize women's participation in the country's development.

Daily Media - September 23, 2008

Six months provisional sentence for homicide suspects - RTL, 23 September

Suai District Tribunal decided Tuesday (23/9) to hand in six months provisional sentence to two suspects involved in the murder of a teenager in Raifusan sub-village in Betano, Same. The decision to give the provisional imprisonment was made during the first hearing on the killing of Jorge dos Santos Reis.

The body of 18 years old man killed last Sunday (21/9) has been handed back to the family to be buried after the post mortem autopsy. The two suspects have been transported to the Becora Penitentiary Center.

Govt submits proposal of penal codes to parliament - RTL, 23 September

East Timor's Justice Ministry Lucia Lobato submitted proposal of penal codes to the National Parliament Tuesday (23/9). After the submission of the proposal, Lobato said the Government wanted to listen to various opinions from the members of the parliament.

She also mentioned that in the near future, the ministry would organize series of public hearings in order to have opinions from various entities regarding the proposal of the Penal Codes. The proposal will be firstly discussed by the standing Commissions of the Parliament.

Recruitment for new soldiers can be postponed - TVTL, 23 September

State Secretary for Defense, Julio Thomas Pinto, said recruitment for new Timorese Defense Force soldiers could be postponed to January next year if the law for the recruitment was yet to be approved.

"If law for the recruitment is yet to be approved by the Parliament, the recruitment can be postponed to January next year. If it would be approved soon, the recruitment would be held this year," Pinto said.

Pinto said draft of the law was still in the Council of the Ministers and later to be submitted to the Parliament for approval. According to the Government's plan, the defense force will recruit only 150 military officers this year.

Daily Media - September 22-23, 2008

PDHJ staff to the Philippines for comparative studies - TP, 23 September

Three staffs of the Office of Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman working in the area of human rights went to the Philippines on Friday (19/9) to attend one-month- comparative studies there.

Silverio Baptista Pinto, Vice Ombudsman for Human Rights Division, said the objective of the comparative studies is to learn from other nations their systems and procedures and how to work in partnership with Non-Governmental Organizations. He explained, the office of the Ombudsman and the Philippines Human Rights Commission have cooperation and the comparative studies for the staff is a fruit of such cooperation.

Pinto also said the current dispatch is the third group to the Philippines and the program is supported and financed by the UNDP and the UN Human Rights Commission. The participants of the comparative studies are Silvino Saldanha Pereira, Antoninho da Silva and Maria Verdial.

Telecom not to negotiate with Government about change - TP, 23 September

East Timor's Finance and Planning Minister Emilia Pires said Monday (22/9) though the government had tried its best to negotiate with Timor Telecom (TT) Company regarding the possibility of bringing in other new telecommunication operators to compete with it, the TT decided not to negotiate with the government.

"For the part of the government, we already sent them (TT) a letter to do negotiation but the Timor Telecom did not want to negotiate with the government," said Pires. She also said that in the near future the government would consult with civil society organizations with the view whether to go on with the existing telecommunication operator or to liberalize telecommunication sector.

She explained, if Timor-Leste wanted liberalization of telecommunication, then we would like to see more than one operator in the country so that there is no monopoly of telecommunication is allowed here.

Task Force Police in protest - TP, 23 September

Task Force Police of Timorese National Police (PNTL) has protested police command, urging to provide them per diems of joint operation for the manhunt of former rebel leader Gastao Salsinha and followers.

The Police Task Force officers said they had not received any per diem during and after the joint operation was held. They also unpleased with the police command, as based on the fact the Task Force Police had been successfully doing their tasks, mainly in responding emergency situation, yet they had received nothing.

They therefore urged the police command to give their right and called on the Dili Police Commander to respond their demand.

Police commander should not be appointed based on feelings - TP, 23 September

President of Parliamentary Committee B for Defense and Security, Duarte Nunes has urged Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to not use feelings in appointing someone for Timor-Leste's police commander.

Nunes said in nominating someone to become the country's police commander ought to be based on criterion and internal law within the police force. "The law can define criteria how someone could be nominated as police's top commander," Nunes said.

Nunes was referring to the Government's plan of appointing general commander for Timorese police in the upcoming November.

Poland to train future F-FDTL air force - STL, 23 September

Polish Ambassador to Indonesia, who is also accredited Timor- Leste, Tomasz Lukasz has promised that his country is ready to train the future Air Force of the East Timor's Defense Force (F- FDTL) to develop the institution as a proper modern defense force.

The Secretary of State for Defense Julio Tomas Pinto made the statement Monday (22/9) after holding an official meeting with the Polish diplomat. "We will send our force to be trained in the area of air force in Poland according to the 2020 plan," he explained.

He said, the training for the defense force would be an important step in the creation of the country's Air Force. Ambassador Lukasz said the cooperation is important to help developing the defense sector in the country, hoping to see a better future for the Defense Force.

However, the Memorandum of Understanding for the cooperation is yet to be elaborated by the counties Defense Ministries in the future. He explained, the Defense Ministry had also proposed for the participation of the Timorese Defense Force in the Peacekeeping Operations in the world.

Longuinhos should resign, says Luta Hamutuk - STL, 23 September

East Timor's Attorney General should resign because he is not serious in carrying out his functions according to the Constitution, says Luta Hamutuk's Program Manager Mericio Akara Monday (22/9).

Akara made the statement in relation to the results of the case of the December 4 and other cases that are still not known to the public. Akara argued that the resignation of Longuinhos Monteiro is also because the current Prosecutor General lacks integrity and he has cast public doubt over the Public Prosecution Office.

He said only the resignation of Longuinhos will secure the public trust in the institution and the access of the public to important cases affected the country such as December 4 and February 11. He stressed that a person with moral integrity and capacity is needed to maintain the office's function according to the Constitutions. However, he said the case of December 4 is the responsibility of the UN.

Caritas holds dialog for youths - TVTL, 23 September

Australian NGO Caritas yesterday held one-day-dialog for youths in the Capital Dili, aimed at strengthening the Government's program of reintegrating the IDPs with residents. The dialog involved youths from Comoro and Lahane suburbs to build good relations between them, mainly how the youths could create peace and stability.

Caritas Project Officer, Carlito Gonsalves said this program they made for supporting the Government in returning the IDPs homes. Comoro Village Chief, Eurico da Costa, said he was pleased with the dialog, because it could strengthen relationship among the youths and how could they trust in each other.

Government to hold public consultation on new TV operator - TVTL, 23 September

Government has planned to invite other telecommunication company, coming to invest in the country, but should consult first with the public, Minister for Planning and Finance, Emilia Pires says. The minister made the comments yesterday in connection with the Government's plan to invite new telecom operator in Timor-Leste.

Pires said the Council of Ministers had made plan to set up a task force looking at policy for new operators in the country. Pires stressed if the country only had one telecommunication company, it would be harder for the people, because it was too expensive.

She added draft of telecommunication policy had been made and later to be consulted with the public for feedback. Government also has officially urged Timor Telecom Company to get involve in negotiation, but there was no response.

Police seizes illegal beverages - RTL, 22 September

Liquica District Police has seized 150 boxes of illegal beverages on board of a truck on last Saturday in Liquica. Police District Commander, Inspector Afonso dos Santos said the police seized the referred beverages from two businessmen who attempted to smuggle them into the Capital Dili.

Dos Santos stressed those beverages were illegal, because there were no supporting document, such as invoice from the Department of Customs. Those beverages with the trade mark known as "General" comprised 100 boxes and 50 boxes of wine. Government postpones debate on the penal code - RTL, 22 September

Deputy Parliamentary President Maria Paixao, said the Minister for Planning and Finance, Emilia Pires who was one the speakers in the Penal Code session had postponed coming to the Parliament, because she had to attend overseas meeting.

"Unfortunately we cannot hold the debate on the Penal Code, as the minister has no time and she should attend an oversea meeting," Paixao said. She added Minister for Justice, Lucia Lobato would come to the Parliament for defending draft of the Penal Code.

MP wants the results of December 4, 2002 case released - TVTL, 22 September

A Democratic Party's Member of Parliament, Rui Menezes, called on the current government to release the result of the investigation into the case of December 4 2002 if the country is committed to establishing justice and peace in the nascent democratic country.

Menezes made the statement in relation to the public outcry for the release of the results of investigation into the February 11. He stressed, we should not only demand for the results of February 11 but demand also for the other related cases such as December 4 because it is considered as the beginning for those cases.

He said that the most recent cases such as 2006 crises and even the February 11 case are not independent of the December 4 and therefore if the people really want to seek justice, then they should demand also the release of the results of the case to the public.

Daily Media - September 22, 2008

TL still needs FSI and UNPOL, says PM - DN, 22 September

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao affirmed that the International Stabilization Forces (ISF) and the United Nations Police (UNPOL) would maintain their presence in the country because Timor still needed many things from them.

Head of the executive made the statement after having meeting with his counterpart Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon here Friday (19/9) in relation to the contradictory statements made about the presence of the ISF and UNPOL in the country.

He also said that Timor-Leste still needs the presence of the International Stabilization Forces because if unwanted things happened it would be hard to call them back.

He also reminded that the presence of the ISF and UNPOL were needed here to help the security and defense sector reforms. Gusmao reiterated that Australia is a long-terms partner for East Timor.

Australian Defense Minister Fitzgibbon said Australia is always willing to help the security and defense sectors of the country. He also said that Australia could help the training of the F-FDTL and PNTL if it was asked by the Government.

Government vowes not to intimidate the future anti-corruption commission - DN, 22 September

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao reaffirmed Friday (19/9) the commitment of his Government that there would be no intimidation against the future anti-corruption commission because the commission itself would not be responsible to his office.

"If the anti corruption commission was under the Prime Minister, that would be the case; however, what we are preparing is that the commissioners would be elected by the Parliament, like the Ombudsman," said Xanana.

During the conference, the ousted Prime Minister Marm Alkatiri argued to simply strengthen the existing systems such as the Ombudsman Office and the office of the Inspector General, instead of creating a new anti corruption commission.

The Director of Human Rights and Justice (HAK) Association, Jose Luis Oliveira said the establishment of the new anti corruption commission would weaken the existing bodies dealing with corruption. He also said that one condition to put in place in relation to combating corruption was a law on public access to information.

Meanwhile, the office of Ombudsman is reportedly saying that the office is fully committed to serving the interest of the people in fighting corruption regardless of the huge challenges it faces.

Timor's situation is far better than other countries, says PM - DN, 22 September

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao said Sunday (21/9) the country's situation was better than the situation of other countries because level of violence occurred was not as high as other countries' level of violence. "I believe that international community would agree with me on this," during the commemoration of international peace day here.

Xanana stressed the state of Timor-Leste should not be swayed by the relatively calm situation in the country because the people of the country deserve to live in a country where there was freedom and no violence.

"The Timorese people deserve to live in a community where is no fear about the security, in a community where there is no rush to avoid themselves from being victims of violence," said Gusmao.

He said the 2006 crises, the IDPs and the attack of February 11 represent red records in the sense of conquering a long-standing peace in the country. However, he highlighted, the people were happy now as the current government succeeded in halting the circles of violence and in finding peaceful solutions to some of the conflict-related issues.

Xanana Gusmao pleased with martial art clubs - STL, 22 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has called on martial art clubs in the Capital Dili to strengthen peace and stability in the country. The prime minister made the call yesterday during a speech marking ceremony for commemorating the World Peace Day, falling on (21/9). Gusmao said he was pleased with the martial art clubs who had spent their times to join a peaceful long march held yesterday in Dili.

"I am pleased because today the martial art clubs are taking part in this event and is showing that the martial art clubs want create peace and stability in the country.

We are threatened, says deputy prosecutor general - TP, 22 September

Deputy Prosecutor General, Ivo Jorge Valente, said they had been threatened by certain people through telephone during the process of handling corruption cases. Valente recognized certain people had threatened them when they talked about corruption practices in the country.

Valente said although they were threatened, yet they had always consulted with Timorese Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman and Inspectorate General on the issue. He added the Public Prosecution had also investigated a corruption case in Oecusse district and had been tried in the court and the verdict was successfully taken.

Situation in Timor-Leste still volatile, says Gusmao - TP, 22 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said Timor-Leste was a new country and had just reached its independence; therefore situation and peace in the country were still volatile. The prime minister said Timor-Leste had experience in the process of peace building, showing either good or bad outcomes.

"We have experience in the process of peace building, showing some of good and bad outcomes. We therefore should not hide the reality that we have just reached peace within the country's independence," Gusmao said during speech marking ceremony for commemorating the World Peace Day yesterday.

He called on all Timorese people to put hands together in the process of democracy building, so that the country could remain calm.

Bishop of Baucau Diocese also called on all Timorese politicians to make proper politics of criticizing each other, yet the criticism ought to be constructive in restoring peace and stability.

Peace should not be separated from human rights - TP, 22 September

Chief of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, Atul Khare said peace and human rights should not be separated from each other, because was no one could live in peace if his/her right was not guaranteed.

Khare made the comments yesterday during a speech marking ceremony for commemorating the World Peace Day, falling on (21/9). "We cannot separate peace from human rights, because no one can live in peace if his/her right is not fully guaranteed. We also cannot make our efforts to stay away from war, as maintaining peace is harder than making war," Khare said.

Khare said they all had made efforts to restore peace and stability through pamphlets, saying what you did for peace. Adding that acts of crime had been reduced, problem of the petitioners and IDPs were resolved, and situation of the country from day to day continued improving to consolidate democracy building.

US to continue supporting Timor-Leste - TVTL, 22 September

Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres said the US would continue supporting Timor-Leste in the sectors determined. The deputy prime minister made the comments after participating in a seminar on Timor-Leste National Security Development Policy in Honolulu of US.

Guterres said the issues discussed in the seminar were defense and security within the country and the result was positive where the US had stated good will to keep supporting Timor-Leste. Guterres added Timor-Leste kept building good bilateral ties with the US, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Indonesia.

The seminar was the first one when the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) Government is power.

Timor needs anti-corruption networking, says Paixao - TVTL, 22 September

Deputy Parliamentary President Maria Paixao said the facts showed there were corruptions found in Timor-Leste, therefore the country really needed an anti-corruption networking. "De facto there are corruptions in Timor-Leste, therefore the Parliament is making efforts to combat them," Paixao said.

Paixao made the comments last Friday after participating in the international conference on setting up national anti-corruption networking at Hotel Timor.

Parliamentary President of Anti-Corruption Committee, Cipriana Pereira said the objective of setting up the proposed anti- corruption networking was to reduce corruption practices in the country. She added the country's state bodies were committed to supporting the establishment of national anti-corruption networking.

After holding the conference, there would be possibility of drafting an anti-corruption law, so that the country could stay away from corruption practices.

Daily Media - September 16-17, 2008

Government presents strategies for security sector reform - STL, 17 September

State Secretary for Security, Francisco Da Silva Guterres has presented strategies for making change to the structure of the Timorese National Police (PNTL) in the high level meeting held yesterday. The state secretary said the PNTL was currently making amendment to the organic law for the police, career regiment for improving rules, staff welfare and ranking systems.

Guterres said he would inform president draft of the law about reforming the structure of the PNTL and would be discussed in the Council of Ministers' meeting. Guterres said model of the police would be defined after a joint workshop by the Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL) and PNTL had been conducted.

He added the new PNTL commander would be appointed in the upcoming November and the promotion would be made by internationals from New Zealand, Australia Portugal and Singapore. All police officers have the right to nominate themselves and this are the criterion to be followed by all the candidates.

Government urged to take a courageous decision - DN, 17 September

The Program Manager of the Luta Hamutuk (Struggle Together) organization, Mermcio dos Reis Akara said Tuesday (16/9) that if Woodside Company disagreed with the proposal of the government to build the pipelines from Greater Sunrise in Timor-Leste, then the government should be courageous to take decisions.

"From the outset the principle of Luta Hamutuk has been clear that the pipelines from the Greater Sunrise Gas and Oil fields have to be brought into Timor due to two main reasons.

According to Akara, the first reason was that the distance from Greater Sunrise to East Timor's land was relatively closer than to Australia's land. And secondly, if the pipelines are taken to East Timor, then it would give a lot of economic benefits to the people of East Timor Akara said.

He also added the stubborn of the Woodside indicated that the oil company did not have willingness and therefore the government should stop the development of oil and gas in the Greater Sunrise with the company.

Akara urged the government to keep maintaining its current position to land the pipelines in Timor and that all components of the society should support the government's efforts.

Timor-Leste still needs UN, says Fretilin president - DN, 17 September

Former President of the National Parliament who is also the President of the FRETILIN party Francisco Guterres 'Lu Olo' said Tuesday (16/9) Timorese people and the state still need the presence of the UN forces here.

Lu Olo said the Timorese just came out of a big crisis and therefore the presence of the UN forces in there should be prolonged. "I have different opinion from the Prime Minister but in terms of making decisions they have right to do so because they are leaders", added Lu Olo.

According to Lu Olo, the UN forces and its police could leave the country if the defense and security institutions are already in the right tract and if the country is already stable. He also explained that unless the defense and security institutions were used by politicians to attack here and there then it would be unreasonable to keep the ISF and UNPOL here in Timor-Leste.

An MP from the ruling CNRT party, Natalino dos Santos said he totally agree with the statement of the Prime Minister to send the UN forces home. Dos Santos said that the East Timor's Defense Force (F-FDTL) and the National Police (PNTL) are able to deal with security and defense of the country and therefore it is the now the time for the UN forces to leave the country.

Public Prosecution firmly to fight against SDSB gambling - TP, 17 September

Deputy Prosecutor General, Ivo Jorge Valente, said although the Government had decided to reopen illegal gambling known as SDSB next month, yet the Public Prosecution was firmly fighting against this kind of gambling, because it breached the law. The Government's decision of authorizing such illegal gambling was against the Timorese Penal Code, article 303, Valente said.

Valente said according to the law the SDSB gambling was a kind of illegal activity by the two companies in the country. Meanwhile, Director for National Investigation Development, Eugenio Pereira said the decision made by the Government was political decision, yet the police would keep maintaining law and order in the country.

PM should investigate his ministers, says Carrascalao - TP, 17 September

Social Democratic Party (PSD) President Mario Viegas Carrascalao, said the ongoing inspection held by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, showing that he did not trust in some of the ministers in doing their tasks.

Carrascalao said the prime minister should not directly hold the inspection into the ministers' works and it was better to be held by the minister for finance. Carrascalao stressed the inspection held by the prime minister and this showed him [PM] was suspecting his ministers of doing something wrong. He added distrust could appear, because the state budget was not executed properly by some of the ministries.

Thirteen firearms of PNT yet to be recalled - TP, 17 September

Timorese Police Operational Commander, Mateus Fernandes, said a recent audit report had found that thirteen of the police's automatic weapons went missing during the country's recent crises were yet to be recalled. The commander said those weapons went missing were seven pistols, five HK 33 high-powered weapons and one caliber 12 high powered weapon.

Fernandes said many of the weapons went missing in the police headquarter during the country's crises had been recalled by the joint operation command after the attempted assassination on February 11. Fernandes added the police would make efforts to recall the referred weapons by cooperating with the residents.

Government to continue purchasing ships from China - TVTL, 17 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said the Government was committed to purchasing ships from China to help support the country's defense force for watching over Timor Sea. "Looking at illegal fishing by foreigners in Timor Sea, the Government through the Council of the Minister has decided to buy ships from China to be used for watching over the country's sea," Gusmao said.

Gusmao said it was being the Government's obligation to purchase the ships soon, although the policy was protested by certain people, as the country had lost plenty of riches from the sea. He added the Government had cancelled to not buy ship from Australia, because it was too expensive.

East Timor to remember 25 years of Kraras Massacre - RTL and TVTL, 16 September

East Timor is going to commemorate the Kraras Massacre taking place 25 years ago in the Kraras village in Vikeke on September 17, 2008 in Kraras Vikeke. Speaking to the local population, the President of the National Parliament Fernando 'La Sama' de Araujo said Timor-Leste had to honor those were slain during the massacre. He added, the National Parliament would make September 17 as a national holiday to remember those who fell. The Ministry of Solidarity would provide also 50 solar cells the widows of Kraras, which is known as the village of widows. The massacre took place on 17 September 1983 and it is reported that around 50 people were killed by the Indonesian Armed Forces.

39 maladministration and corruption cases registered with public ministry - TVTL, 16 September

East Timor's office of the Attorney General said Tuesday (16/9) that around 39 cases of maladministration and corruption have been registered at the public ministry in order to be processed according the applicable laws.

Ivo Valente made the statement in relation to the recent press conference by the office of the Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman. Valente added that three of the cases were accusations and some of the accusations had been heard at the Suai District Court.

He informed that the cases are pending due to lack of human resources. However, he said, in the near future four national defenders would be appointed as definite public defender to quickly process the cases.

IDPs launch peaceful protest against MSS - TVTL, 16 September

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been staying in Origado Barrack Kaikoli launched a peaceful protest against the Ministry of Social Solidarity Tuesday (16/9) demanding their quick reintegration.

The protest was done because earlier this year, the Ministry of Social Solidarity said the reintegration process for the IDPs in Obrigado Barrack would have been done in August.

Responding to the demand, the Secretary of State for Natural Disasters Jacinto Rigoberto de Deus had meeting with the representatives of the IDPs, assuring them that the verification team would start tomorrow with the IDPs living in and around Obrigado Barrack.

De Deus said the reintegration process for the IDPs at Hera Port finished today and the next is the IDPs from the Obrigado Barrack. An IDP representative said they have been in the camps for almost three years and now it is the time for them to go back to their houses.

The meeting of the representatives of the IDPs and the Secretary of State for Natural Disaster was also attended by Dili District's PNTL Commander, Inspector Pedro Belo. The peaceful demonstration of the IDPs was closely monitored and secured by UNPOL, PNTL and International Stabilization Forces (ISF).

Daily Media - September 18-19, 2008

Good to set up an anti-corruption commission: KKP president - STL, 19 September

President of Indonesian Anti-Corruption Commission President Antasri Azhara, said good will of the Timorese Government in combating corruption was positive to enliven the country's economic development.

Azhara made the comments during the international conference held at the Hotel Timor on combating corruptions. "The Timorese Government's policy of setting up is showing a positive signal, because corruption is an error committed by the Government officials to enrich themselves," Azhara said.

Azhara added corruption appeared, because there were interests from those who had power aiming at enriching themselves with the people's money which should actually be spent for facilitating people's lives, such as constructing school building and clinics.

State is committed to combating corruptions - STL, 19 September

Parliamentary President Fernando "Lasama" de Araujo said the state bodies, such as presidency, parliament and Government were committed to combating corruptions in the country. "The president of the republic, prime minister and parliamentary president and NGO's participation in the conference, shows that we have commitment to combat corruptions in the country," Lasama said.

Lasama made the comments yesterday during a speech marking the opening of two-day-international conference on anti-corruptions held at Hotel Timor. The conference was financially funded by both Timorese Parliament and the Government of Australia.

Parliament holds conference on corruption - TP, 19 September

Timor-Leste is urged to clean up corruption, collusion and nepotism known as KKN, due to is like terrorism and narcotics that would only damage the country's economy and image. Parliamentary President of Committee C for anti-corruption, Cipriana Pereira, said if the corruption was growing up in the country and that would destroy the politicians and public development, as well as private sectors.

Pereira said corruption was being major challenge in the world and that needed to have proper strategy to deal it well. She added the conference was aimed at gathering ideas and thoughts for setting up national network of anti corruption.

Parliamentary President Fernando "Lasama" Araujo said he agreed with producing a special law and having good commitment were two main keys of combating corruption in the country.

Police should tell the truth, says acting police commander - TP, 19 September

Timorese Acting police Commander, Inspector Afonso de Jesus, said the police force he was currently leading had the responsibility to talk about the firearms which were still at large in the community. The commander was responding the recent comments made by the former police commander, Paulo de Fatima Martins, saying there were no firearms belonging to police went missing during the country's recent crises.

"PNTL should tell the truth, should not tell falsehood. The police should uncover things have gone missing," De Jesus said. De Jesus added the security forces would make efforts and seek for proper mechanism to recall all the firearms which had gone missing.

State Secretary for Security, Francisco da Silva Guterres, Acting Police Commander, Inspector Afonso de Jesus, F-FDTL Commander, and Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak had discussed about mechanism of recalling those firearms.

Security situation returns to normal: PM Gusmao - TP, 19 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, said security situation throughout the territory of Timor-Leste had gradually returned to normal. The prime minister made the comments yesterday after participating in the meeting of the State Security Council at the Palace of the president.

Gusmao said during the meeting he was presenting the country's security situation to the President Jose Ramos Horta. "The consultative body informed the president on the security situation in the country, saying generally security situation has returned to normal," Gusmao said. He added during the meeting some of his minister also conveying problem of the IDPs and food shortage problem.

PDHJ urges government for strongest support - TVTL, 19 September

Timorese Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman known as PDHJ has urged the Government to provide them a strongest support in combating corruption within the country. PDHJ Director, Sebastiao Diaz Ximenes said the two-day-international conference held was very important, as it was on corruption which had been raised in the Parliament.

Ximenes said the conference was another way to gather and exchange opinions of producing relevant laws. He called on the Government to give them more power to hold investigation into the corruption practices and hope the Government could make proper recommendations to the court on corruptions.

PSD nominates three candidates to replace Papito Monteiro - TVTL, 19 September

Social Democratic Party (PSD) Mario Viegas Carrascalao, said his party [PSD] had presented three names to replace former state secretary for cooperative and rural development, Papito Monteiro who had resigned from the post recently. Carrascalao said PSD had presented those names to Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, yet until now the Government was yet to decide.

Carrascalao said the decision was yet to be made, as his party would also make consultation with the minister for economy and development. In response to whether there are some other names from the other political parties, Carrascalao said it was the prime minister's power to decide.

UN to commemorate world peace day - Timor Newsline, 18 September

UN Police Representative, Caesar Ranawera, said the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) would commemorate the World Peace Day, falling on the upcoming September 21. Ranawera said activities would be held in the commemoration were peaceful long march, addresses from the UN secretary general, the prime minister, the parliamentary president and bishops.

Ranawera made the comments today (18/9) during a press conference held at the office of UNMIT, Obrigado Barrack, DiliMartial art clubs, students, veterans, children and deformities would also be participating in the peaceful long march.

Meanwhile, Aniceto Neves from HAK Foundation said the Timorese people began to remain calm, as the petitioners and IDPs problems had almost been resolved and there had been some changes, but they were not enough in restoring peace and stability in the country.

Corruption appears within state institutions - RTL, 18 September

President Jose Ramos Horta, said corruptions were found within the state institutions, however there had been no strong evidences. The President called on the media to keep updating news stories related to corruption, so that it could awake the leaders to not commit corruptions.

Horta made the comments today (18/9) after participating in international conference on national network for anti-corruption at Timor Hotel. Horta said Timor's media had worked positively in publicizing corruption practices to the public in the country. He added Timor-Leste should learn corruption prevention from other countries to produce an anti-corruption law for avoiding corruption during the implementation of decentralization.

No execution to Reinado, says Horta - TVTL and RTL, 18 September

President Jose Ramos Horta said there was no execution to former rebel leader Alfredo Reinado Alves and one of his men, they [Reinado and Leopoldo] were shot because they were well-armed, trespassing into residence of the president. The president made the comments today (18/9) in connection with the report findings of the Hospital, saying Reinado and his follower, Leopoldino were shot in closer distance.

Horta said it was impossible for the defense force soldiers to capture those rebels, as they were carrying weapons. Horta said the president guards shot at Reinado and his followers, because they had disarmed first a solider at the main gate of the president's residence and attempted to enter into the president's room.

Horta said the distance between the scene of Reinado's dead body and the position of the defense force soldiers were about 20 meters and the shootings were last choice to save the president. He added he was ready to testify in the court, if the court needed him to explain about the attack on his residence.

State Security Council holds meeting - TVTL, 18 September

President of the Republic Jose Ramos Horta held a meeting of State Security Council at his residence in Farol, Dili Thursday (18/9). After the meeting, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said that during the meeting the Council members discussed issues such as general security situation, returnees, food security, and 2009's state budget.

In relation to security, the Secretary of State for Security Francisco Guterres said during the meeting a provision was set to enable PNTL and F-FDTL working together if there is any urgent situation. Guterres also explained the government had plan with international organization to deal with illegal fishing in the territory of Timor-Leste.

Daily Media - September 17-18, 2008

AMP and Fretilin have ways to recall weapons - DN, 18 September

Following the recent news that the Timorese National Police (PNTL)'s weapons went missing during the country's recent crises, MPs from both Fretilin and Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) propose to cooperate with the residents and search into the residents' houses.

Social Democratic Party (PSD) MP Mario Viegas Carrascalao said the police should cooperate with the residents in recalling the illegal weapons. Carrascalao urged PNTL to make a strong appeal for the residents, saying those who did not want to hand in illegal weapons they would be given strong sanction.

Fretilin MP Francisco Miranda Branco said the security forces should search into the residents' houses, so that people could uncover anyone who was still hiding weapons.

Internal conflict within KOTA is due to Tilman aligning himself with FRETILIN - TP, 18 September

The internal conflict within the KOTA party happens because the current KOTA President, Manuel Tilman, made unilateral decision to come into alliance with Fretilin, declared the acting President of the party, Pedro da Costa Ramalho.

According to Pedro, due to Tilman's personal interest, he made alliance with the Fretilin party and because of this Tilman's standing as president of the party was now questioned by the party's followers. He added the founder of the party was not Manuel Tilman but Pedro da Costa Ramalho.

Commenting on the political move, Manuel Tilman said that he would not allow the party to be taken by other irresponsible people.

Government needs to regularize gambling - TP, 18 September

A member of parliament from the PD bench, Vital dos Santos, said the government had to regularize gambling such as lottery (SDSB) to make sure that the gambling is in the right tract as gambling will also benefit the nation.

Vital added, the SDSB had to be legalized so that government can control it. "I think (government) should regularize illegal gambling," he said. He also admitted that the current penal codes adopted, gambling such as lottery or SDSB was not allowed here. He suggested the government to make a law especially to regularize the gambling in order to prevent illegal gambling.

Paulo denies PNTL's weapons went missing - TP, 18 September

Former East Timor's PNTL Commissioner Paulo Martins disagrees with the information saying that during the 2006 crises many PNTL weapons were missing and they ended up in other people's hands. Paulo is now a CNRT's MP in the East Timor's National Parliament.

The actual Operational Commander of the PNTL, Mateus Fernandes, said that based on the recent audit into the weapons of the institutions, it was reported that 13 weapons were still missing. However, Paulo said no single weapon missing when he was in charge of the PNTL. He added when he was in charge, those who wanted to take revolver of weapon with them, they had to fill in a form which was to be kept by the administration of the PNTL.

"Weapons that were distributed by the former Interior Minister to Rai Los were not of the knowledge of the Command, for other weapons there was knowledge about them," he said.

Asked about the missing weapons of the PNTL, he responded that he did not know anything about those 13 weapons. "You should go and ask the commander of the PNTL or the logistics of the PNTL; that's it," Paulo stressed.

Meanwhile, PSD's MP, Mario Viegas Carrascalao said the government should take strong measures to make sure that missing weapons were collected provided that civilians having weapons was a very dangerous idea.

Horta launches Kararas monument laying foundation - RTL and DN, 18 September

President Jose Ramos Horta has officially launched laying foundation of Kararas Massacre Monument yesterday in Bibileu, the eastern town of Viqueque. During a speech marking the ceremony, President Horta said the state recognized all the tragedies occurred during the country's resistance, yet no time for evaluating the existing data.

Horta said the massacre of Kararas in 1983 was part of the innocent people's struggle to reach the country's national liberation. Horta also said there were insufficient data for the country to reach justice, however the state would make efforts to pay attention to the orphans and the widows by the war.

Horta called on the residents to respect as well the Indonesian soldiers who were killed in Kararas, as they worked under the Indonesian military regime.

The ceremony was also attended by the UN Secretary General's Special Representative, Atul Khare, the Timorese Defense Force Commander, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, Government officials and diplomatic corps.

Recruitment for new F-FDTL soldiers will be cancelled - RTL, 17 September

State Secretary for Defense, Julio Thomas Pinto, said recruitment for the Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL) soldiers in the upcoming October might be cancelled, because the law for the recruitment had not been approved yet. The state secretary said this would a challenge for the Government to recruit new soldiers in this year.

Pinto said the decision would be made by the Council of Ministers. "It might be cancelled, if the Council of the Ministers decide to cancel it and then will cancel it and we will wait for next year," Pinto said. Pinto added if the recruitment would be made next year, they would not only recruit 150 or 300, but would recruit 600 new soldiers.

Joint marine team operates in southern coast - RTL, 18 September

Joint Marine Team consists of the Timorese Defense Force Naval Unit, the Timorese Police Marine Unit and a unit from Fisheries Department is currently doing operation in the southern coast of Manufahi to watch over Timor Sea from illegal fishing.

Director for Fisheries and Agriculture Department, Lourenco Dos Reis Amaral said the Joint Operation Team had removed to Ainaro, because fishermen informed that there were two suspicious boats appeared in the southern coast of Ainaro. The Joint Operation Team started holding its operation on the ten of September and would end on Thursday (18/9).

Horta receives credentials from Fijian ambassador - TVTL, 18 September

Fijian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Ratu Isoa Delemisi Tokoa, said the Fijian Government was committed to supporting Timor-Leste in the field of technique. The ambassador made the comments yesterday after handing over credentials to President Jose Ramos Horta at the Presidential Palace in Farol.

Ratu Tokoa urged called on the Timorese Government to make an agreement with the Fijian Government to realize the support. President Horta thanked the Fijian Government for its support by sending soldiers, joining the UN peace keeping force to be deployed in Timor-Leste.

Government denies news about reopen gambling - TVTL, 18 September

Minister for Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Gil Alves has denied the recent news that the Government had made decision to authorize Totoy Timor Draw to reopen illegal gambling known as SDSB. The minister said the Government was yet to allow any kind of gambling to be reopened, because the Government was still discussing it.

Alves was responding to the recent comments made by certain people that the Government had allowed the SDSB gambling to be reopened, but it would be discussed profoundly by the council of the ministers. Minister for Justice, Lucia Lobato, said the country had no law yet to regulate all kind of gambling, such as SDSB and Casino.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prosecutor General, Ivo Jorge Valente, said there should be proper laws to regulate such gambling and until now the gambling had not been legalized.

Daily Media - September 16, 2008

Xanana doesn't need ISF-UNPOL any longer - STL, 16 September

East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said Monday (15/9) that he does not need any more the presence of the International Stabilization Forces (ISF) and the United Nations Police (UNPOL) here as these forces often create difficulties for the country's Defense Force and its National Police to carry out their services.

"Timor should not accustom itself of getting into a situation where the people disturb each other the solution has to come from foreign forces and in order to deal with arguments we have to ask for help from foreign police and then after that they start to accuse each other," Xanana explained.

Xanana added, "We see ISF wandering around East Timor though our force only stays in their headquarters; we see the United Nations Police wanted our police to ask permission from them should they want to deal with a problem, only complicating the problem."

CNRT party's bench leader in the National Parliament Eduardo Barreto 'Dusae' said that Timor-Leste does not need the presence of the ISF here as the situation gets back to normal.

However, Fretilin's MP Estanislau Aleixo da Silva said, the works of the PNTL are extremely challenging there it needs continued capacity development and support. He also suggested the government to choose a particular country to have comparative study for the officials of the PNTL.

Meanwhile, the UNPol's Acting Commissioner Juan Carlos Arevalo believed that the PNTL are capable of taking the security responsibility.

However, he added, UNPOL will keep monitoring the development of the PNTL in maintaining law and order here.

Government to cancel the purchase of patrol boats - TP, 16 September

Minister for Defense and Security Xanana Gusmao said Monday (15/9) he had ordered Secretary of State for Security Francisco Guterres to cancel the agreement of buying two patrol boats from China. The reason for the cancellation of the patrol boats purchasing is due to the increase in its original price.

"I have asked the Secretary of State for Security to cancel the agreement me made with China in relation to the purchase of two boats and asked to give back the money we had paid previously," said Gusmao.

Xanana also explained that during his current visit to Australia he was frequently asked why Timor-Leste only want to buy boats from China. "Australia nation questioned me why we always want to buy boats only from China however I told the Australian that we Timor-Leste would like to buy two boats for maritime police but since China keeps increasing the price we then decided to cancel it," he added.

Feb. 11 ballistic examination to arrive next week - TP, 16 September

East Timor's Attorney General Longuinhos Monteiro informed Monday (15/6) that next week the results of the ballistic examination into the event of February 11 which had been done by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) would arrive in Dili, paving the justice process at the tribunal.

Longuinhos visited Australia last week to closely monitor the investigation process where he found out that the investigators had found many things, including the type of weapon used to fire the President of the Republic.

He said that the user of the weapon has also been identified but due to existing law he could not tell the public while the investigation is yet ongoing. However, he added that once the results of the ballistic examination arrive, he would present them to the tribunal.

66 newly recruited PNTL underwent basic training - TVTL, 16 September

At least 66 newly recruited members of the East Timor's National Police underwent a basic training in Dili recently in order to improve their knowledge and capacity to better serve the people and the country.

The Director of the PNTL Academy Police Carlos Jeronimo said that the training was designed for 250 new members of the PNTL who could not complete their training due to 2006 crises. He added that similar training would be given to 3,196 members of the active PNTL in the immediate future.

Jeronimo stressed that those who did not take part in the training would have lost their rights to be members of the PNTL. Though the training itself is not easy, the participants were happy to take part in it as it would help them to improve their capacity in the future.

"I am happy because though the training is hard it is designed to improve our capacity, to have confidence building and to listen to each other and to respect each other in serving and protecting the people and the country," said Teodolindo Alves Correia. Four of the participants are women and the training itself was carried out of the members of the PNTL.

IDPs demanded government attention for their plight – RTL, 15 September

Around 180 families of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Matahoi village in Watulari demanded the attention of the state for their plight as they have been IDPs for more than two years but there is no humanitarian assistance provided to ease their pain.

A spokesperson of IDP groups, Augusto da Silva, said Monday (15/9) that they have been IDPs since the 2007 post election political crises. However, he added, no state institutions had helped them out. He explained that there were lot promises, including from the President of the Republic, to help the group but to date those promises are still kept unfulfilled.

Traditional laws to be upheld - RTL, 15 September

The head of Tulatakeu village in Remexio, Aileu said Monday (15/9) the village would apply traditional laws to regulate criminal acts such as homicide; stealing and destruction of environment should these things happen in the village.

Adolfo Mendonca said that based on the traditional laws there are two categories of penalties to be imposed. He explained, for a serious offense, the perpetrator would be given penalties which include a water buffalo, a cash of US$50, a box of alcohol and a box of cigarettes. However, for petty crimes, a perpetrator is demanded to pay a goat, a pig, a sack of rice, and US$25 cash.

He said that such penalties are agreed upon to restore law and order and respect for environment in the village. The adoption of the local traditional law was also witnessed by the Secretary of State for Environmental issues, Abmlio de Jesus Lima.

Border Police commemorate fifth anniversary - RTL, 15 September

Border Patrol Unit of the East Timor's National Police commemorated its fifth anniversary Monday (15/9) in Salele, Kovalima. Some sport events such as volley ball and football marked the commemoration, involving around 14 clubs in Kovalima. Amaro Amaral, the head of Salele Border Patrol Unit said the fund for the sport activities are from the Secretary of State for Security.

$36 million in losses due to illegal foreign fishing - RTL, 15 September

East Timor is estimated to lose more than US$35 million every year due to illegal fishing in its national territory by foreign ships.

National Director for the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Lourenco dos Reis Amaral, made the statement Monday (15/9) in relation to the loss on the Timor side due to illegal fish catching in the Timor Sea areas belonging to Timor-Leste. The figure is made based on the number of ships illegally fishing in the territory of Timor-Leste.

Daily Media - September 15, 2008

217 UNPOL posted in Dili - DN, 15 September

Dili District PNTL's Acting Commander sub-inspector Delfim da Silva said that there are about 217 United Nations Police (UNPOL) posted in the district of Dili. He added, UNPOL are working closely with the National Police in doing patrolling. Da Silva said generally Dili is back to normal though there are still sporadic skirmishes in the district.

UN urged for adoption of law on domestic violence - DN, 15 September

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in East Timor, Atul Khare said during a women's congress in Dili that as a developing country East Timor should adopt a penal code in relation to domestic violence in order to reduce violence against women in their life time. According to Khare, domestic violence against women is a violation against fundamental human rights.

He then encouraged the National Parliament to quickly start the legislative process of the law. In relation to the question, Fernando Lasama de Araujo said the National Parliament would remind the government to process again the law to be approved by the National Parliament.

'Woodside should stop being too big mouth' - TP, 15 September

East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta said Friday (12/9) Woodside Company should stop being too big mouth by claiming that the pipelines from the Greater Sunrise would be taken to Darwin, Australia because the decision on whether to land the pipelines in Darwin or in Timor would be determined by technical and commercial factors.

"I therefore ask the Woodside Company not be big mouthed because this has to be in line with technical and commercial data; there should no unilateral decision," he said. Horta also said he had not get any information from the country's Prime Minister if there was any discussion on pipeline issues during his current visit to Australia.

However, he stressed he is firm on his position, the position he previously held when he was still the country's Foreign Minister. He said that leaders of the country are united in defending the legitimate national interests to bring pipelines to East Timor.

"Any big county should not impose their own decisions, neither do any big oil companies," Horta said. He said, often times big companies make a lot of money but they contribute almost nothing to East Timor. Horta also said he had no friendship relationship with oil companies.

Timor condemns US economic embargo against Cuba - TP, 15 September

President Jose Ramos Horta said Friday (12/9) that he is against the economic embargo of the United States against Cuba as the embargo had negatively affected the country of Raul Castro. "Every year, Timor-Leste votes in favor of Cuba against the embargo of the United States" said Horta.

He said, the economic embargo of the United States against Cuba had given huge negative impacts on the Cuba's economy, which has also exacerbated by the recent hurricane. He also said that in the near future he would have meeting with Nobel Peace laureates such as Nelson Mandela to send a letter to the new elected president of the United States to make changes in its foreign policy in relation to Cuba.

The government of Timor-Leste recently decided to give US$500,000 to Cuba as part of its humanitarian assistance to the socialist country.

Daily Media - September 9-10, 2008

Timor-Leste not to bow to Australia, says PM - STL, 10 September

East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao reaffirmed Tuesday (9/9) that East Timor as a state would not bow itself to Australia in the efforts to land Greater Sunrise's pipeline in East Timor. "I said that East Timor should weigh the decision; it is not entirely the decision of Woodside Company," said Gusmao.

He explained to his Australian homologue Kevin Rudd about the existence of the national petroleum authority and the secretary of state for natural resources was also initiating feasibility studies from East Timor's side. He added the studies reveal the possibility of having pipe lines in East Timor's territory. "Don't be swayed by the decision that it is impossible to bring the pipe line in because it has to be a joint decision," Gusmao reiterated.

The Minister of Oil and Natural Resources further assured the results of the studies indicate that it highly likely to land the pipe line in the country.

Don't expect the result of Feb. 11 investigation yet, says AG - DN, 10 September

East Timor's Attorney General Longuinhos Monteiro said the investigation into the February 11 attempt which is done in Australia is not yet conclusive. "To date there is no result yet to the case of February 11 attempt against Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and President Ramos Horta," said Monteiro.

However, he declined to make further comments about the process of the investigation as the investigation itself is still ongoing. Mr Monteiro recently visited Australia to know the process of the investigation carried out by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Ex-SRSG congratulated Xanana's government - DN, 10 September

A professor of the Hosey University in Tokyo, Japan Sukehiro Hassegawa who is also a former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in East Timor congratulated the AMP's government led by Xanana Gusmao because of its efforts to start transforming and changing Timor-Leste into a stable and peaceful country. "I congratulate and am delighted to see Timor- Leste reemerge as a stable and peaceful country after the February 11?," said Hassegawa Tuesday (9/9) at Hotel Timor, Dili.

However, Hassegawa added in order to further maintain the level of stability and peace in the country, the government has to focus its attention to national development such as provision of basic services, a society free of corruption, rural and agricultural development, laws on land and property, and security and judicial system reforms.

F-FDTL to use Portuguese army's equipment - RTL, 10 September

East Timor's Secretary of the State for Defense Julio Tomas Pinto said Tuesday (9/9) 21 members of the East Timor's Defense Force (F-FDTL) who to take part in a CPLP joint military exercise would have to use Portuguese Army's equipment.

Mr Pinto said that the Defense Ministry had come into an agreement with Portuguese government to let the F-FDTL members using their equipment during the joint military exercise held in Alverio, Lisbon (Portugal). He explained that such agreement had to be made given that the distance to be traveled by the members is too far to make them carry along with them their equipments.

Timor-Leste to use Aussie patrol boats - RTL, 10 September

Secretary of the State for Defense Julio Tomas Pinto said Tuesday (9/9) East Timor is considering of using two Australian patrol boats to deal with recurring illegal fishing in the national maritime territory of East Timor until our own patrol boats arrived.

Mr Pinto made the statement in relation to a proposal to be discussed during Wednesday (10/9) Council of Minister. He added that there is also possibility of hiring these boats to curb illegal fishing by foreign national in the maritime areas belonging to East Timor.

MSS to investigate the case of human trafficking - TVTL, 9 September

The Ministry of Social Solidarity has been alarmed by a media report yesterday that family in Oecusse district was forced to sell its child to pay its huge loans imposed by a micro-credit organization. Minister Maria Domingas Alves said that her ministry had taken necessary measures to conduct investigation into the case as it is a classic example of human trafficking.

On Monday TVTL reported that there was a family selling a child for US$29,000 in order to pay back loans of an NGO called 'Moris Rasik'. A representative of the UNICEF in Dili said the organization is not aware of the case and urged the protection of children. The leadership of the referred NGO said it is also trying to gather information about the case.

PDHJ criticizes government for not considering its recommendations - TVTL, 9 September

East Timor's Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman criticized the government for not taking into consideration its recommendations related to maladministration and corruption cases found within the government's institutions. Sebastiao Dias Ximenes made the statement during a press conference held by the office of Ombudsman Tuesday (9/9) in Dili.

Mr Ximenes added, the office of the Ombudsman urged the government to take disciplinary measures but the government and its institutions failed to do so against the individual involved in the practices of maladministration and corruption. "According to the law, they have to implement the recommendations of the PDHJ," he said.

Out of the 14 cases, eleven of them involve maladministration and corruption whereas the rest relates to human rights violation by government institutions. Mr Ximenes explained the cases of maladministration were found in the ministries of finance, state administration and foreign affairs.

Daily Media - September 10-11, 2008

Parliament would not help if PDHJ's investigation secretive - TP, 11 September

President of the Committee A of the National Parliament Fernanda Borges said the National Parliament would not be a help for the office of Ombudsman to demand the contribution of the government to fight corruption if many reports on investigations done are inaccessible publicly. "We would not help them to demand the government or any ministries to consider their reports of investigation if they never give the reports to the National Parliament," said Borges. She added the committee does not know what the PDHJ had done and what kind of investigation and consequently the results of those investigations.

The president of the PUN party also mentioned that thus far the works of the Ombudsman has been secretive as none of the results of its investigation is known to the Committee A of the National Parliament.

Recently, PUN and other representatives of civil society organization submitted a petition to the office of Ombudsman in relation to the pardon given by the President to more than 80 criminals to be followed up but unfortunately there was no measures taken.

She explained that the National Parliament is committed to support the works of the office but the Ombudsman itself has to be transparent in carrying out its works.

PDHJ is 'zero' in human rights: Xanana - STL and TP, 11 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao considered the works of Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman (PDHJ) in the field of human rights, particularly violations against women, is 'zero'. "What has PDHJ achieved? Its work is broad; not only to focus on corruption and politics," said Gusmao.

He further explained that the scope of the PDHJ covers also good governance, corruption and human rights but thus far he viewed the Ombudsman's office does not set as priority human rights, especially violence against women.

However, the head of the Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman Sebastiao Dias Ximenes commented that the field of human rights is a big success for the PDHJ compared to other areas such as corruption.

Ximenes added that internationally the PDHJ is praised for its works in the field of human rights, especially during a recent international meeting held in Malaysia. "Grade A for the PDHJ of East Timor means the PDHJ has been working hard in the area of human rights," said Ximenes.

The Ombudsman also made several recommendations related to the human rights violation committed by the PNTL and F-FDTL to be followed up the ministry of defense and security.

Ximenes stated, as a the minister of defense and security and also the country's Prime Minister, he had to do at least disciplinary actions against those members involved in the violation so that the same things cannot be repeated.

UN promotes women's equality, says SRSG - STL, 11 September

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General Atul Khare said during a women congress in Dili Wednesday (10/9) that it is the commitment of the Untied Nations to promote fundamental principles of equality since its inception.

Mr Khare explained equality faces strong challenges in many cultures of the world where patriarchal systems are very dominant. He mentioned that UN had organized four women conferences and the last one was Beijing Conference from which 12 critical areas were identified in the area of promotion of equality and women empowerment.

Mr Khare further explained the Timorese women's national congress had taken into account Beijing platforms and had developed eight objectives and strategies. He suggested the participants of the congress to look carefully into the issues participation of women in politics and capacity development programs for women, including budget allocation in these areas.

PNTL thrives to improve professionalism - STL, 11 September

The Operational Commander of the East Timor's National Police (PNTL) Inspector Mateus Fernandes believed that in the future the PNTL would be more professional due to strong supports from the people. "We have courage to keep making efforts to improve our service to the people in the areas of law and order," said Fernandes Wednesday (10/9).

Fernandes did not agree with the public opinion saying some PNTL members act like bandits as they beat as they wish. He argued if police members are under threat, they can use techniques to arrest the people. He explained these techniques are learned at the police academy during their training. PM meets UNPol and PNTL on weapon collection – RTL, 10 September

East Timor's Prime Minister who is the minister for defense and security, Xanana Gusmao, Wednesday (10/9) met with the United Nations Police (UNPOL) and PNTL to discuss the illegal weapon collection campaign.

After the meeting, Gusmao thanked the population for their cooperation with the law enforcement in handing in illegal weapons, both hand-made and modern ones. He also informed that during the campaign, there were some explosives found and that in the immediate future the ministry would work together with the International Stabilization Forces (ISF) to help destroying those explosives. The date for the detonation of the explosives is yet to be set, Gusmao added.

Police to control alcohol vending - RTL, 10 September

Dili District PNTL Acting Commander, Sub-Inspector Delfim da Silva said Wednesday (10/9) during a press conference that in the near future the police would call a meeting with bar and restaurant owners to control the vending of alcohols.

He said the police would inform the bar and restaurant owners on the effect of alcohol consumption hoping them to limit the sale of alcohol in the capital. He stressed that the measure is taken to prevent alcohol-related violence in the country as alcohol triggers violence. "Violence happens due to alcoholism," Da Silva reiterated.

UN to gradually hand over security to the PNTL - RTL, 10 September

The United Nations Police (UNPol) Acting Commissioner Juan Carlos said Wednesday (10/9) the United Nations would gradually hand over the security responsibility to the East Timor National Police (PNTL) by May 2009.

However, the UNPol will keep monitoring the development of the institutions by giving them advices and on-job training. Mr Carlos explained by this gradual hand over of responsibility the UNPol would delegate more responsibilities to the PNTL to do policing tasks.

Women's organization urges govt to improve its mechanisms - TVTL, 10 September

The Coordinator of the Rede Feto (Women's Networking), Uvalda Alves, urged the government to improve its working mechanism to make the programs of the government benefit women in remotes areas. Alves made the statement during a congress of Rede Feto held in Dili's Gym.

Alves said the Timorese women are working hard in many aspects of development of the country despite of daunting challenges the women have. Speaking after officially opened the congress, Acting President of the Republic Fernando 'La Sama' de Araujo told women organizations to define their new strategy, plans and structure in order to really promote equality, even to the most remote areas in East Timor.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in his speech reminded the participants of the congress to clearly define their roles in the development and to be able to translate those roles in practice. The third congress is attended by almost 250 representatives of women organizations from all the districts in East Timor.

Daily Media - September 8-9, 2008

Lawyers to pay an urgent visit to military prison - TP, 9 September

Lawyer for the case of May 25, 2006 massacre, Arlindo Sanches, said Monday (8/9) in a short time the advocacy team for the referred case will pay an urgent visit to the Military Prison in Tasi Tolu to directly observe the two suspects of F-FDTL, Raimundo Madeira and Armindo da Silva who have suffered for illnesses.

If during the visit found out that clients Raimundo Madeira and Armindo da Silva really suffered from illnesses and then the lawyers would take some measures to write authorization letter to the court in order to bring these two clients to the hospital for medical treatment, he said. "So far, we are not sure yet about our clients suffered from illnesses in the military prison. But I think tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we will pay a visit to the prison and find out that if they are sick and then we will find the way for them to get medical treatment," he said.

Widow of May 25 massacre has not got salary yet - TP, 9 September

A widows of May 25, 2006 massacre, Rosalina Ximenes, said Monday (8/9) she and her children with an ex-PNTL, Paulo da Costa, who died on May 25 Massacre in front of Justice Ministry, have not get any salary yet from the government. She said the government had violated the agreement made because the government promised to always look after the widow and orphans.

She said that her husband was shot by Timor Leste Defense Force in the military political crises and the government promised that if the situation turns into normality, it would pay attention to the widows and orphans, including to build permanent houses for them. However, in the reality the government never fulfils the promise made though the widows and the orphans have left IDP camp to their original place. She felt sad because the person who she trusted passed away in the hard situation and the government did not put this in into consideration.

MSS and UNDP established a dialogue team IDP return - STL, 9 September

East Timor's Ministry of Social Solidarity and the United Nations Development Programs (UNDP) established a Dialogue Team Monday (8/9) to facilitate safe return of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) into hosting communities in Dili. The team, consisting of 26 people, is expected to find solutions to find solutions to existing social problems among the IDPs and local communities since 2006.

The minister of Social Solidarity Ms Maria Domingas Alves said dialogue is an important instrument to establish peace in the country. "Peace is not the absence of war, conflict or violence but it is everyone's fundamental right to take part in development, in speech, to get education and so forth," said the minister.

Meanwhile, the UNDP's country director Akbar Usmani said the dialogue team was formed to help local communities to accept the returning IDPs. He also reiterated the continued commitment of the UNDP to support the process of dialogue for IDPs reintegration. UNDP allocated around US$620 thousand for the project. The team is going to hold community dialogues to ease the reintegration of the IDPs into the hosting communities.

Many leaders involved in February 11 attempt - STL, 9 September

Leadership of the country starting from the Attorney General, Prime Minister, President of the Republic, including ex-Prime Minister Marm Alkatiri are believed to be involved in the February 11 attempt which severely wounded PR Jose Ramos Horta and killed former Military Police Commander of the F-FDTL Major Alfredo Reinado.

"They all involved in a game where in the end they make a laundry where they put in their dirty clothes to wash in the single event," said President of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Baukau Diocese Fr. Martinho Gusmao Monday (8/9) in Dili.

He said, the February 11th attempt was not more than a form of theatre on the East Timor's side where leaders used various means available to get rid off it. Gusmao added everyone has right to mistrust the leadership as there are indications that some principal actors of the event had to get medical treatment outside of the country though the ailment suffered is not so complicated.

"We may suspect them that they had dealings outside the country while they on the treatment; that is why everyone has right to suspect," he commented.

Julio Pinto not to attend the congress in Hawaii - STL, 9 September

East Timor's State Secretary for Defense, Julio Tomas Pinto, could not travel abroad to attend a security conference in Hawaii, US due to his health condition. A press release of the State Secretary for Defense said State Secretary for Defense would not attend the conference in Hawaii because his health did not permitted him.

He has been sick for one week; however, he is still coming to do the work; and therefore, he will not attend the conference in Hawaii but he delegated one director to represent him in the conference.

UN presented medals of honor to Brazil's MP - TVTL, 9 September

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Timor-Leste Atul Khare presented UN medals of honor to 6 Brazilian Military Police joining the United Nations Police (UNPOL) in the country. The presentation of medals was done during 186th celebration of national independence of Brazil held at the Hotel Timor, Dili Sunday (7/9).

Among the dignitaries presented during the celebration were Atul Khare, Zacarias Albano da Costa, Marm Alkatiri, Francisco Xavier to Amaral and other national and international figures.

FRETILIN holds first general assembly of militants - RTL, 8 September

The FRETILIN party held its first general assembly of militants in Letemumu village of Quelicai sub-district, Baucau Sunday (7/9) to strengthen its structures at the grass-root levels.

A Quelicai-born FRETILIN's Member of Parliament, Inacio Freitas Moreira, said the assembly was intended to elect the party's local leadership. "The seminar is aimed at strengthening the FRETILIN's structure at the grass-roots levels to adequately respond to the existing challenges," said Moreira.

He further added the strengthening of such structure is important to organize the party's militants in the wake of incoming peace rally. Around 200 delegates from 15 villages in Quelicai attended the assembly.

Former combatants, veterans challenged govt on veterans' law - RTL, 8 September

Former combatants and veterans from the districts of Baucau, Manatuto, Lautem and Viqueque challenged the government of Xanana Gusmao to thoroughly explain the content of the existing law of former combatants and veterans of resistance to them as the law does not benefit them.

Spokesperson of the region Albino Saco made the statement Sunday (7/9) during one-day seminar in Baucau. They also questioned the process of drafting such law and urged the process had to be participatory in that it better reflects the needs of all former combatants and veterans of resistance in the country.

PNTL asked to take measures against food company - RTL, 8 September

East Timor's State Secretary for Security Francisco Guterres asked the General Command of the National Police, known locally as PNTL, to take necessary measures against the company that provides bad quality of food to the members posted at various police stations in Dili.

Mr Guterres stated the Ministry of Defense and Security had appropriated budget to the PNTL for that purpose and that it is now the responsibility of the PNTL to take necessary measures against the company so that a change can be made in terms of good food quality for the members. He reiterated, "The money has been allocated? so now they have to make decisions to make changes and I look forward to hearing from them about the results."

PNTL members to attend training on law and human rights - TVTL and RTL, 8 September

Around 33 members of the East Timor's National Police are to attend a five-day training sessions on law and human rights organized by the Ministry of Justice and its partners at the PNTL's District Training Center in Caicoli, Dili. District Dili's PNTL Interim Commander, Sub-Inspector Delfim da Silva, said there is a common perception in the community that the police are violators of human rights and the reason for the training is to dissipate such perception as the police carried out their tasks based on law and human rights.

The training had started Monday (8/9) and will end on Friday, September 12, 2008. The training is attended by 33 members of the National Police, four of whom are women.

One-week training on law and human rights is realized through a joint cooperation of the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman, HAK Association, UNMIT's Human Rights Unit, Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality, Fokupers, Rede Feto and the Police Academy. Four of the 33 participants of the training are women.

F-FDTL to take part in joint military exercise in Lisbon - TVTL, 8 September

21 members of the East Timor's Defense Force (F-FDTL) had set for Lisbon Sunday (7/9) to take part in an annual joint military exercise of the states whose official language is Portuguese (CPLP).

The joint exercise is aimed at strengthening relations of the member states of the CPLP in dealing with terrorism and peace- keeping. The delegation led by Major Diaz Quintas is set to be in Alverio, Lisbon from September 16 until September 25 to join their counterparts from other seven member states of the countries who official language is Portuguese.

PNTL's raids raised concerns among local population - TVTL, 8 September

The local population of the Faularan sub-village in Bebonuk, Dili strongly condemned the excessive use of power by the East Timor's National Police Saturday (6/9) in capturing two local young men believed to be involved in local gang fighting.

The mother of the men apprehended by the PNTL, Marta Soares, said that the police got into her house without any arrest warrants and that the police acted like Ninjas. The family's door was smashed and its oratory was destroyed during the raid by the police.

According to Agustinha Ribeiro, a sister of the two young men arrested, the police came early in the morning around 6:30 with nine cars to seize two local houses in searching for the suspects.

District Dili's PNTL Interim Commander, Sub-Inspector Delfim da Silva, said he did not anything about the raid. Mr Da Silva appealed to the population to lodge complaints about the event but not to simply manipulate the flow of information in the society. The local population urged the government to take the matters seriously.

Daily Media - September 8, 2008

Trilateral cooperation needed to prevent illegal fishing - TP, 8 September

In order to prevent unwanted illegal fishing in the national territory of East Timor, the government should establish cooperation with neighboring countries Australia and Indonesia in the near future.

The president of Committee B of the National Parliament on Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security, Duarte Nunes, made the statement Thursday (4/9) in relation to the recent reports about foreign ships in the area of Viqueque.

Mr Nunes added, "It is important for the government to establish cooperation with Australia and Indonesia to deal with recurring illegal fishing problems in the country." He commented also the government had allocated budget to buy ships for this purpose and in terms of training on how to operate the ships had been provided by the United States Pacific Command.

Timor-Leste to participate in Congress on Security in US - TP, 8 September

In order to strengthen political security in the country and to anticipate both external and internal threats, a Timor-Leste's delegation led by Vice Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres had left East Timor Friday to the United States to attend a conference on security.

The delegation consists of members of the government, members of parliament and representatives of civil society organizations.

During the conference, Secretary of State of Security Francisco Guterres is scheduled to be one of the speakers during the conference, covering topics such as security situation in the country and the policy of the government to do security sector reform. The conference itself will start on September 9th and will end on September 12th, 2008.

Rate child involvement in crimes very high - TP, 8 September

According to Forum Tau Matan's monitoring to places like police detention centers and prisons, number of children involved in the crimes committed between 2006 and 2007 in Timor-Leste is very high.

The Director of the NGO, Joao Pequino, made this statement during one-day workshop held at the office of Fokupers in Farol, Dili. "We would like to inform that according to the monitoring to certain places such as police detention centers and prisons from September 2006 to September 2007 indicated that the crimes that involve children are very high," said Pequino.

Out of 1,272 cases filed, there are 132 cases (about 10.37%) where children involved and out of these 132 cases, only four cases (1.7%) where children under 12 years of age are directly involved.

No need to establish KAK but to reinforce PDHJ - TP, 8 September

The chief of Fretilin bench, Francisco Branco, said to combat against corruption in Timor Leste no need to establish Anti- Corruption Commission (KAK) or High Anti Corruption Commission as wanted by the government.

In the reality Timor Leste has faced many problems; especially in Human Recourse is very low, he said. It is better to reinforce and make revision for structure of Provider of Human Right and Justice (PDHJ) and to capacitate PDHJ to be able to combat corruption in Timor Leste, he explained.

"If we want to establish another institution, I think it is not efficient and effective because this country is small and only has few populations," he added. He said this from Parliaments on September 6.

UNPol urged not to wash their hands - STL, 8 September

Parliament Vice President for Security Issues, Paulo de Fatima Martins called for the United Nations Police (UNPol) not to wash their hands from the failure that involved PNTL members. He said the failure that has been done by PNTL is the responsibility of UNPol because UNPol so far has accompanied or tutored the institution of PNTL.

"The failure of PNTL is the failure of UNPol. If it is only to suspect PNTL, means that UN wanted to wash their hands or stay away from the case. This is because PNTL was trained by UN and therefore not only to suspect the PNTL" he said. He said this from Parliament house on September 5.

Australia delivers technical training for Timorese - STL, 8 September

State Secretary for Professional and Employee Training, Bendito Freitas, said Australian Government has shown it willing to help Timorese people, especially in Professional Technical Training and possibility for them to get some work in the referred country (Australia).

He added that Australian Government has supported Timor Leste through International Labor Organization (ILO); and last month Australia's Bob Mabmalam came to Timor Leste to approve 6 million to promote employees especially for the young people. He said this from his office on August 29.

Gusmao visits F-FDTL Training Centre - RTL, 8 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has held an official visit to the Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL)'s Training Centre and museum for Timorese heroes' remains who were killed during the country resistance. Speaking to journalists, the prime minister said the conditions of the bones were good and the Government would continue making efforts to put them in proper place.

Gusmao said they would continue constructing place for them and was initiated by the former Government. He added the Government would keep taking into consideration requests made by the relatives to burry their loved ones according to their own traditions.

Daily Media - September 5, 2008

House construction for veterans not in line with agreement - DN, 5 September

The construction of houses for veterans from the district of Lautem which was scheduled to finish by this year is not finish yet according to the existing agreement. A national Non- Governmental Organization Luta Hamutuk (Struggle Together) which closely monitors the reconstruction process urged the government to clarify this matter to the public.

A spokesperson for the organization Joaozito Viana made this statement during a press conference held at the office of Luta Hamutuk in Farol, Dili. "We urge the Secretary of State for the Veterans and Combatants to clarify to the public why there is slowness from the Ministry of Finance in financing the project," Joaozito said.

The construction of 100 houses for veterans started in July 2007 and was financially supported by the People's Republic of China with the total amount of US$1 million.

Accordingly, about 19 houses are built for the veterans in Lautem and according to the agreement the houses had to be transferred to the veterans on November 27th, 2007. He also said the veterans do not want to stay in those houses due to the size of the houses is too small.

TFC report no different from the CAVR - DN, 5 September

Vice-President of Committee A Carmelita Moniz said though the report of the Truth and Friendship Commission had been submitted to the National Parliament the report itself is not different from the report of the CAVR.

Ms Moniz added the Parliament had obtained the report though the members have not read the report yet. However, she thinks that generally the recommendations are similar in content to the recommendations of the CAVR.

She commented the state to pay serious attention to the rights of the victims. "I have a big expectation (on that, red) because it is the state's responsibility to attend the needs and interests of the victims," she said.

She added that in the near future, the Committee will discuss the recommendations of the TFC to come up with resolutions that the government should act upon in terms of legislating to accommodate the 1999 victims' rights.

National entrepreneurs meet with PM - DN, 5 September

National entrepreneurs from Timor-Leste's Chamber of Industry and Timor-Leste's Forum of Entrepreneurs met with the East Timor's Prime Minister Thursday (4/9). The representatives urged the government to improve tender process and to provide legal protection for their economic activities.

Secretary General of the Timor-Leste's Forum of Entrepreneurs Jorge Serrano said that the meeting was a regular meeting between the government and local business association.

One of the businessmen, Rui Castro, said during the meeting, "We suggested on how to improve tendering system to make it more transparent."

Rui also added, the government needs also to put in place legal frameworks necessary to protect local businessmen as government bids are normally won by international businessmen. He also said that the flow of communication between the government and local business association is poor.

Japan provides US$88,000 for Timorese suffering deformities - TP, 5 September

The Japanese Government helps support Timor-Leste's deformities with US $88,000. The funding support will be spent for construction office building for deformities.

After signing the agreement, Japanese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Kenzi Sumiji said the funding support would help the Timorese deformities in the country to exercise their own rights. The ambassador said based on the data collected by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that 45% of Timorese deformities in the rural areas were yet to get supporting aid. Director for Avaliasaun, Mario Cardoso was pleased with the funding support by the Japanese Government, as it would be useful for the deformities.

Gusmao should also face inquiry, says Fretilin - TP, 5 September

Following the inquiry made by the Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman (PDHJ) to the minister for agriculture in recent days, Fretilin MP Francisco also urges the PDHJ to have similar inquiry to Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.

Inquiry to the Minister for Agriculture, Mariano "Asanami" Sabino Lopes was made, because he was alleged of involving maladministration by signing a MOU with Indonesian Company on land deals for planting sugar can. Branco stressed the PDHJ should have inquiry to Gusmao, because the Indonesian Company had relationship with Gusmao's political party.

UN concerns about human rights violation by PNTL - TP, 5 September

The UN Acting Police Commissary, Joao Carlos Arevalo, said the UN Police would hand over mandate to the Timorese National Police (PNTL), but was still concerned about human rights violation committed by the PNTL officers.

"According to the plan our mandate would come to end in May 2009, yet the UN Police is still concerned about human rights violation committed by the PNTL officers," Arevalo said. Arevalo said the UN Police would help strengthen the discipline of the PNTL, so that people would have police that could better serve them.

F-FDTL proposes US$10 million for defense force programs - TVTL, 5 September

State Secretary for Defense, Julio Thomas Pinto, said in the state budget of 2009, F-FDTL proposed US $10 million to be allocated to the activities of the defense force in future.

Pinto made the comments yesterday after meeting with the F-FDTL's official, talking the defense force plan based on fiscal envelope year which was determined by the ministry of planning and finance. The F-FDTL Chief of Staffs, Lere Anan Timur, said the proposed budget was adequate to be allocated to F-FDTL's programs.

Possibility of recruiting national advisors - TVTL, 5 September

State Secretary for Defense, Julio Thomas Pinto, said there was possibility to recruit national advisors to help support the defense force.

The state secretary made the comments yesterday after meeting with the Timorese Defense Force officials, talking on activities would be implemented in 2009. "We can recruit Timorese who are capable to be national advisors for the defense forces to help develop the country," Pinto said.

Pinto added currently F-FDTL had international advisors from Australia and Portugal, but the Government should now recruit national advisors based on their capability and this was made to avoid expenses of the sate budget.

UN will handover mandate to Timorese police - Timor Newsline (Online News), 4 September

The UN police will hand over mandate to the Timorese National Police known as PNTL and hopes that the Government will help support PNTL with adequate logistics based upon four criterions before taking up responsibility.

During a press conference held today (4/9), the UN Police Commissary Joao Carlos Arevalo said the four criterions were institutional stability, security management, certificated police officers and logistic supports.

The commissary said the UN police would continue advising and monitoring the PNTL officers during their working time and called on them to be responsible for doing their tasks.

The UN will keep improving skills of the PNTL officers by providing them training, so that they could better serve the people, the commissary said. He added the UN police will hand over mandate to the PNTL next year and was still being planned.

PM Gusmao thanks residents - TVTL and RTL, 4 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has thanked the residents for their initiative of handing in illegal weapons to the security forces. The prime minister made the comments today (4/9) after participating in a trilateral meeting between the Timorese Defense Ministry, the UN police and the International Stabilization Forces (ISF) at the Palace of the Government.

Gusmao said the campaign of recalling illegal weapons had reached positive result, as the residents wanted to contribute to the peace and stability in the country.

"Today we talked about general situation of the country. The situation is stable, because our people from day today hand in home-made weapons and other explosive things to the security forces," Gusmao added.

Daily Media - September 3-4, 2008

UN has no relation with establishment of international investigative commission - DN, 4 September

Parliamentary President Fernando 'Lasama' Araujo said the United Nations (UN) had no relation with the resolution of setting up an international investigative commission into the attempted assassination to President Horta on February 11. Lasama was referring to the disagreement of the UN on the establishment of the proposed investigative commission where the UN was not given power to make recommendations.

Lasama said the Government should make an effort to execute the approved resolution, as only investigation could identify those who had engaged in the assassination attempt. He added the Government continued cooperating with the UN in setting up the proposed commission, yet the power was in the hands of the Government.

Asanami faces inquiry - STL, 4 September

The Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman 'questioned' Eng. Mariano Sabino Asanami Wednesday (3/9) in relation to a memorandum of understanding that he signed with an international company to grow sugar cane.

Some members of the national parliament filed complaints to the office of the Ombudsman alleging that the signing of the memorandum is a proof of maladministration.

Asanami said that the MoU was based on the Constitution of the Republic particularly articles 115, 117 and 30 about the competence of the ministry to manage resources in terms of agriculture and fisheries to increase production and for the benefits of the people. Asanami added, though the memorandum was already signed feasibility studies and environmental impact analyses were yet needed to be carried out.

PSD nominates candidate to replace Papito Monteiro - STL, 4 September

The Secretary General of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Fernando Dias Gusmao said Wednesday (3/9) that the party had nominated a candidate to replace the position left by Papito Monteiro.

The former Secretary of State for Rural Development and Co- operatives tendered his resignation to the Prime Minister through the Minister of Economy and Development, Joao Goncalves.

In relation to the candidate is going to replace Papito, the Party had identified a candidate but it's not yet final as we need to consult with the Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, he said.

Monteiro resigned due his health status that might debilitate him to carry out the work and that his resignation was not because of any political motivation.

The competence to nominate an official for the government's structure rests with the head of the executive.

Government to produce new investment law - TP, 4 September

Minister for Economy and Development, Joao Goncalves, said the Parliamentary Majority Alliance Government (AMP) led by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao would produce new investment law to replace the old one produced by the former Fretilin government.

The minister said this law would be sent to the Council of the Ministers to discuss it profoundly before submitting to the Parliament for approval. He added the contents of the law would be similar to the old one, but there were only some changes to the incentives.

US to hold workshop to support security development - TP, 4 September

The US Government has pledged to keep showing its support to Timor-Leste to be a strong and democratic country in future, mainly in the field of security.

The US Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Hans Klemm, said next week the US would conduct one-day-workshop in Honolulu of Hawaii about Security Development in Timor-Leste.

The ambassador said the workshop was financially funded by the US Government and Timorese Government officials, MPs and political parties' leaders would participate in that workshop. The workshop will also be attended by the friendly countries, such as Portugal, Indonesia and Australia.

Court does not accept request of cancelling of pardons - TP, 4 September

President Jose Ramos Horta is pleased with the decision made by the Court of Appeal, giving pardon to the prisoners on May 20, 2008. In a press release, president Horta said the court had not received any request made by certain people with Ms. Fernanda Borges from the National Unity Party, urging to cancel the pardon.

The decision taken by the Court of Appeal was legal, because the decision was based upon an official request of the president, the press release said. In line with this issue, the president has made consultation with all sides before making request to the Court of Appeal.

Horta called on all the country's people to express their ideas and thoughts and be responsible for respecting the country's state bodies.

Difficult to intervene in market prices, says Gusmao - TVTL, 4 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said it was so difficult to intervene prices which were currently staying in high in the market, because Timor-Leste was yet to have commercial and industrial council.

The prime minister made the comments yesterday in response to President Horta's request of taking action to businessmen who had manipulated prices in the country,

Gusmao said the country needed to set up council of commerce and industry to watch over fair and balanced competition in the business sector.

"We need a proper statistic data for the sake of business competition in the country," Gusmao said. Gusmao added he had met with all the businessmen in the country to seek for solution to the prices which were still hike.

UNDP provides US$200,000 for biodiversity project - TVTL, 3 September

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) provides US $200,000 to support the project of biodiversity in Timor-Leste. Representative of the UNDP and Minister for Economy and Development, Joao Gonsalves have signed agreement about the funding support.

After signing the agreement, Minister Gonsalves said this funding support would be allocated to biodiversity project which would be implemented in Timor-Leste. He added the 18-month project would directly be implemented by the state secretary for environment shortly.

Baukau Police borrow fuel from EDTL - TVTL, 3 September

Baukau district Police has borrowed fuels from Power Supply Station (EDTL), because they had no more fuels for supporting their activities.

Baukau Police Commander, Sub Inspector Aderito da Costa Ximenes Abrao said they had made an official request to the police national headquarter, but there was yet no response.

The commander said the police in Baukau also lacked of transport and communication radio to help support their operations. In response, State Secretary for Security, Francisco da Silva Guterres said he was surprised with such information, because each month all the police stations were provided with fuels by the Tiger Fuel Company, but he would make a cross check on this matter.

Guterres said it was true that the police were facing shortcomings, such as communication radio, but they had contacted an Australian Company to provide it.

Around 4,000 weapons collected in three districts - RTL, 3 September

Around 4,000 traditional and automatic weapons collected in the districts of Aileu, Baukau and Manufahi, mostly darts and home- made weapons or rakitan.

From the district of Aileu there were about 200 traditional and home-made weapons handed in by local and community leaders to the local police Wednesday (3/9). Meanwhile, from the district of Baukau there were about 3500 weapons collected during the campaign. Most of these weapons are dart (256), home-made weapon (53), air-gun (38), Molotov cocktail (1), including two communication radios.

From the district of Manufahi, the weapon collection campaign which was done from July 15 up to August 31 netted more than 300 home-made and automatic weapons. These weapons include air-gun (31), darts (70), hand grenade (2) and others. In the sub- district of Kristu Rei of Dili some traditional and automatic weapons were also handed in by the community leaders to the National Police Wednesday.

Governemnt not responsible for removal of IDPs - RTL, 3 September

Secretary of State for Natural Disasters said the Ministry of Social Solidarity is not responsible for the IDPs currently occupying the former Police Dormitory known as AsPol (Asrama Polisi). Jacinto Gomes added his part had informed the IDPs not to return to the place knowing that there was a notification letter from the Land and Property Department to vacate the place.

However, an IDPs leader Valdemor de Fatima Sarmento denied the information that the IDPs were instructed not to return there.

Instead the Ministry only told the IDPs to return to the places where they stayed, either in Dili or in the districts. Sarmento urged the government to create pre-conditions first before moving them out.

Only two house-holds have been removed thus far from the disputed area.

Daily Media - September 3, 2008

PNTL still needs UN - DN, 3 September

Timorese Acting Police Commander, Afonso de Jesus, said the Timorese National Police (PNTL) was yet to think of urging the UN to hand over mandate soon to the national police. "We need the UN's presence to professionalize Timorese police in the security sector," De Jesus said.

The commander said cooperation between the UN and Timor-Leste was going on and there had been no problem with the mandate, as the country was still facing challenges. He added police needed to be trained more by the UN, as the UN's assistance would be useful for the police when they left the country.

Verification team of MSS beaten - STL, 3 September

Verification team of the Ministry of Social and Solidarity were attacked and then beaten in the sub-village of Anin Fuik, Beto on August 22, 2008. During the attack, a digital camera and other important documents were also confiscated from the MSS staff. The incident has been reported for the National Police to be followed up.

All component should support the effort to bring pipeline to Timor - STL, 3 September

PSD's party bench leader Fernando Dias Gusmao urged opposition parties and civil society at large to support the government's efforts to land the pipeline from the Greater Sunrise in Timor- Leste. "As a Timorese, I really want to see the pipeline in Timor-Leste because, if it is realized, it would give huge economic impacts".

He added. "The Government is committed to bring pipeline to Timor-Leste and that this has to be supported by all"."Fretilin, AMP, the government, civil society should have one voice only to have power, if the government wants to bring the pipeline to Timor by 2009", Gusmao said.

Corruption cases not yet registered at Dili court - STL, 3 September

Though there are indications of corruption registered at the office of Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman and General Prosecutor's office to be followed up, until now there is no single corruption case registered at the Dili district Tribunal.

Natercia Maria Gusmao Barbosa informed up to date there is no single case registered by the public prosecutor at the court. "Thus far, we from the tribunal have not received any accusation of corruption. So, if there was any information saying the tribunal had process some corruption cases, the information is not true," Barbosa said.

Meanwhile, a CNRT's Member of Parliament Arao Noel de Jesus C. Amaral said the tribunal is more focused on prosecuting criminal cases in that it is slow in prosecuting corruption cases. Recently, the Deputy General Prosecutor Ivo Valente informed that public prosecutor had registered 35 corruption-related issues.

Dili's bishop visits Kiwi's base - STL, 3 September

Bishop of Dili Mgr. Alberto Ricardo da Silva Tuesday (2/9) paid a visit to the New Zealand's military base in the capital.

The Kiwis have been using the property of the Church for the last two years and in the near future new located will be given to the Kiwis. The International Stabilization Forces from New Zealand thanked the Church for allowing them to use the property.

Bishop Ricardo thanked the forces for their contribution in restoring peace and stability in the county after the 2006 crises erupted. The bishop also praised the soldier for their professionalism in carrying out their duties here.

Papito forgets party, says Fernando Gusmao - TP, 3 September

Social Democratic Party Secretary General, Fernando Gusmao, said former state secretary for Cooperative and Rural Development, Papito Monteiro had never consulted the party about his resignation from his post.

The former state secretary should have consulted the PSD party about his resignation, because he was nominated by the party, Gusmao said. "Until now the PSD party has not officially known about Papito Monteiro's resignation," Gusmao said.

Meanwhile, MP Jose Manuel Carrascalao from Timorese Social Democratic Association (ASDT) said Papito Monteiro's resignation was positive and reasonable, because his health condition did not permit or might be incapable of doing his works.

Prosecutor general visits Australia - TP, September 3

Timorese Prosecutor General has held an official visit to Australia for looking directly at the ballistic examination to the evidences of the attacks on President Horta's residence and an ambush to Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao on February 11. In this official visit, Prosecutor General, Longuinhos Monteiro will make a working coordination with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissary in Canberra.

The Prosecutor general would also urge the Australian Government to speed up the process of ballistic examination. "In this visit, I will make a working coordination with the Australian Federal Police's Commissary and we have agreed with this plan," Monteiro said.

Parliament disagrees with UN's request on investigative commission - TP, 3 September

The Parliament has discussed an official request from the UN on setting up proposed international investigative commission into the assassination attempt to the president on February 11.

Fretilin MP Inacio Moreira said preliminary discussion had showed the Parliament stood firmly, defending the redaction to the resolution of setting up the international investigative commission. "We do not know whether the UN's interpretation to our resolution is correct or not. Although the UN has good will to establish the proposed investigative commission," Moreira said.

Moreira said many MPs had stated that the proposed investigative commission was yet to be set up, because the UN disagreed with such form of the investigative commission.

Security forces set deadline illegal weapons handover - RTL, 3 September

Security forces have set deadline for the residents in the capital Dili to hand over all the illegal weapons which is being threat for people's lives. District Dili Police Commander, Inspector Pedro Belo said the police would hold an immediate operation against residents who were still hiding weapons.

Belo called on all the residents to hand over all the illegal weapons to the security forces within one week; otherwise they would search into the residents' houses.

Daily Media - September 2, 2008

Metinaro youths calls on government to continue recalling illegal weapons - RTL, 2 September

Metinaro youths have called on the Government to continue operation of recalling illegal weapons which are currently still at large in the community. The youths also urged the country's security forces to capture those who did not abide by the law during the recall of weapons was going on.

Spokesperson for the youths, Juliao Amaral, said the operation of recalling the weapons was positive, as it could help residents to avoid acts of violence. Amaral added they were currently cooperating with the security forces to contact the residents to hand over the illegal weapons they were hiding.

No action taken yet against illegal fishing in Viqueque - RTL, 2 September

Commander of Naval Component of the East Timor's Defense Force, Lieutenant Colonel Donasiano Gomes Pedro Klamar Fuik said lack of proper equipments remain a tangible obstacle for the component to take an immediate action in dealing with illegal fishing in the national territory of Timor-Leste.

Meanwhile, Viqueque's PNTL District Commander Sub-Inspector Gaspar Pinto stated there was no measure taken against foreign ships operating in the area of Viqueque due to inadequate equipment. Seven foreign ships are still doing their illegal fishing there.

My speech in SC meeting approved by the council of ministers - RTL, 2 September

Timor-Leste's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Zacarias Albano da Costa said Tuesday (2/9) his speech to the United Nations Security Council's meeting was approved by the prime minister and the president of the republic.

Da Costa made the statement in response to a press release made by the opposition party Fretilin on August 22nd questioning the content of the speech as it failed to make a reference to the resolution of the National Parliament on the establishment of an international inquiry commission to reveal facts around the incident of February 11th.

The minister further argued the speech was made in consultation with the President and the Prime Minister. Da Costa said there was no question raised during the meeting relative to the February 11th incident, however member states praised the measures taken in relation to the attack.

Lautem residents hand over illegal weapons - TVTL, 2 September

Residents of five sub districts in the eastern district of Lautem have voluntarily handed over illegal weapons, such as traditional, home made weapons and ammunitions to the police in that district.

Lautem Police Operational Commander, Sub Inspector Leonildo Cristovao the police in Lautem had recalled about more than 100 illegal weapons.

Cristovao said the residents handed over the weapons due to the policy and decision made the Government, as well as announcement made by the police during the operation. He added the activity of recalling the weapons was a proper way for the people to stay away from the acts of violence.

Daily Media - September 1, 2008

Timor Leste can sign agreement on MCC funds in 2009 - TP, 1 September

US Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Hans Klemm, said if the Timorese Government kept fighting against corruption, collusion and nepotism practices in the country, there would be possibility for the country to sign agreement with the US on the Millennium Challenge Corporation funds next year.

The Government should continue combating corruption, collusion and nepotism in the country to get the MCC funds, Klemm said. Klemm said the MCC Board team would hold a meeting with the Government officials in December this year to look at progress of the Government in combating corruption practices in the country.

The MCC funds are saved in the bank and are not owned by the US Government, but belong the US people.

Government pledges 24 hours of electricity - STL, 1 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has pledged that electricity will be on for 24 hours not only in the capital Dili, but also in the villages throughout the country. Gusmao said Timor-Leste would soon have a greater electricity city power in the northern part of the country with 120 mega watt and 60 mega watts in the country's south.

Gusmao said the president would officially inaugurate the referred power station by next year. Gusmao made the comments during a speech marking ceremony for opening international expo in Dili. Gusmao added the Government was currently making efforts to better manage the country's gas and oil revenue to make investment in the country.

Building pipeline to Timor Leste needs to be debated - TP, 1 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said whether there was possibility or not in building Timor's Greater Sunrise Oil and Gas Field pipelines to the country needed to be debated profoundly with the Woodside Company.

The prime minister said only through debate Timor-Leste could express its ideas on the costs of technology and commerce which had been the major factors to both countries.

Gusmao made the comments during a press conference held at Nicolau Lobato Airport after returning from Australia. Gusmao added the Government would be officially announcing the result of building pipeline next year.

Gusmao apologizes for not commemorating popular consultation - TP, 1 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has expressed apology to Timorese people for not commemorating officially the UN ballot referendum which led the country's people separating from Indonesia.

The Prime Minister said the Government could not able to commemorate all the national days, because the Government had many works and should be prioritizing the country's national interest.

Gusmao pledged to commemorate the people's popular consultation day next year where all Timorese people would celebrate it.

Gusmao called on all the county's people to pray for all Timorese heroes who were killed during the Indonesian Occupation and after the referendum's result was announced.

CNE signs agreement with RTTL - TVTL, 1 September

Timorese National Electoral Commission (CNE) has signed an agreement with Timorese Public TV and Radio known as RTTL in broadcasting civic education program. President of CNE, Faustino Cardoso said civic education was important for the country's people to better understand process of elections.

RTTL Board President Expedito Dia Ximenes expressed thanks to the CNE for trusting in them to broadcast its program. Diaz added the program would be on air each week in the program called civic education of RTTL.

[Compiled by Timor-Leste Daily Media . Abbreviation of source: DL - Diario Nacional, RTL - Radio Timor-Leste, STL - Suara Timor Lorosa'e, TP - Timor Post, TVTL - Televisao Timor Leste.]