According to a description by the source, the victims were suspected of passing information to the FRETILIN-FALINTIL resistance; they were subsequently rounded up and detained in Uatolari and then disappeared. A witness to their execution provided location of their mass grave in 2011 and their remains exhumed yesterday. More photos here.

Mass graves and remains of victims of the Indonesian invasion and occupation continue to be uncovered and exhumed on a regular basis in Timor-Leste. The perpetrators of these crimes continue to be free with little prospect for justice.

Crimes against humanity trial continues in Dili District Court

East Timor Law and Justice Bulletin - September 29, 2013

The East Timor Judicial System Monitoring Program has released the English translation of its report on observations of a trial in the Dili District Court concerning alleged crimes against humanity committed in 1999. The text of the translation follows.

In the trial of serious crimes allegedly committed by the AHI militia witnesses testify that they did not see events first hand

Between 17-19 September 2013 the Dili District Court continued its trial of crimes against humanity allegedly committed by 8 defendants (TM, AP, ASC, MC, JdA, JP, MdA and DP). This case allegedly occurred in 1999 in Aileu District.

The trial of serious crimes allegedly committed by the AHI Militia (Aileu Defenders of Integration) continued over three consecutive days to hear the testimony of witnesses.

During the trial of this case, the public prosecutor identified 144 witnesses. Based on JSMP monitoring, approximately 36 witnesses have been asked to give testimony before the court, however not one of these witnesses has direct knowledge of the events that occurred at that time.

Several other witnesses also testified that they did not know about the acts committed by the defendants because at that time they had taken refuge in the jungle to save themselves and their families.

The witnesses testified that it was true that the defendants present in court were members of the AHI Militia and were responsible and actively involved in this militia in 1999, with the support of the Indonesian Army and Police. However the witnesses testified that they did not witness first hand that the defendants were involved in the criminal acts of arson, murder and forced removal of the population to Atambua.

"Crimes against humanity are crimes that are massive and wide scale in nature, especially in relation to those who suffer as the result of such crimes, and those who lost their lives or their families. Therefore, JSMP urges the Office of the Public Prosecutor and the Office of the Public Defender to ensure that when identifying witnesses every effort is made to obtain witnesses who have direct knowledge about the events" said Luis de Oliveira Sampaio, Executive Director of JSMP.

This hearing was presided over by a panel of judges comprising Jose Maria de Araujo, Paulo Texeira (international), and Julio Gantes (international) and the Public Prosecution Service was represented by Jose Luis Landim (international) and the Office of the Public Defender was represented by Jose da Silva.

The trial will continue on 30 September 2013 at 9am to examine testimony from more witnesses.

[Source: JSMP Press Release 24 September 2013 Edited by Warren L. Wright.]

Media & journalism

In Timor Leste, young journalists seek to boost professionalism

Jakarta Post - September 16, 2013

Ina Parlina, Dili, Timor Leste – Tito Filipe, 30, started as a reporter in Dili, Timor Leste, when he was 21 just after he finished high school.

He is now a coordinator of a Tetum (local language) unit at state-funded Radio Television Timor Leste (RTTL). "Many reporters in Timor Leste are high school graduates," Filipe said.

Rosa Garcia, 40, started her career as a journalist in Dili when she was 20 years old. At that time she was also a correspondent for Kyodo News, Reuters and the BBC. In 1999, she, along with 13 others, published a newsletter, Timor Post, which later became one of the country's biggest private daily newspapers.

Lack of education and low literacy, together with poor infrastructure and Internet access, mean that journalists in the country – which gained its independence from Indonesia in 2002 – struggle to improve their quality.

The main problem was human resources, Timor Leste State Secretary for Communications Nelyo Isaac Sarmento said during a discussion last week in Dili attended by journalists from Timor Leste and Indonesia, as well as Indonesian experts.

"Almost all journalists are young and many [started their jobs] after high school. They directly entered professional journalism with only one or two weeks' training. That's not enough," Sarmento said.

Timor Post, with a daily print run of around 3,000 copies, has 11 reporters and nine editors. Suara Timor Lorosae, another private daily newspaper with a circulation of around 2,000 and which operates a radio and television station, has nine reporters and six editors, while RTTL has around 55 people in their newsroom. Their offices are modest compared to those of the Indonesian media.

The study of journalism is also rather new in Timor Leste, whose National University established a communications degree in 2008.

The 2013 Press Freedom Index by Paris-based NGO, Reporters Without Borders, ranks Indonesia at 139th of 179 countries, 49 positions behind Timor Leste. However, it appeared that Timorese journalists were more enthusiastic than their Indonesian counterparts during the discussion as they wanted to learn more from Indonesia. Questions on ethics, press freedom and independence were brought to the floor by them during the event.

Due to the absence of a common code of ethics and no specific laws on media, or on freedom of information, the Timorese media have no clear guidelines in carrying out their mission as watchdogs.

Pending a draft media law, the only legal guidelines are set in Articles 40 and 41 of the Timor Leste Constitution on freedom of expression, information and the press.

Many of the newspapers – which use four languages; Tetum, Portuguese, English and Indonesian – for example Timor Post and Suara Timor Lorosae, simply copied and pasted stories from leading Indonesian media, Garcia said.

The crowd laughed when an expert at Indonesia's Communications and Information Technology Ministry, Teguh Himawan, said Indonesian journalists also often "cloned" other journalists' stories.

In a controversial move, the Timorese government decided to subsidize distribution of four dailies – Suara Timor Lorosae, Timor Post, Diario Nacional and Independente – and a weekly Tempo Semanal in districts across the country as their circulation did not extend beyond Dili. Filipe, who is also head of the Journalists Association of Timor Leste, said his organization had criticized the policy as it could undermine media independence.

Sarmento said the government acknowledged that risk but said that the policy was meant "to promote media to the people to trigger their interest in reading".

"As a new country, we are focused on improving all sectors," he said. "The government wants to make press freedom an essential necessity. We want to see a professional press. We are aiming to form a news agency, to have regulations on press, training institutions and a press council."

During the discussion, Garcia also raised a question as to whether political affiliation would hamper the Indonesian press ahead of the 2014 elections as the owners of three major media groups in Indonesia led political parties.

Two Indonesian journalists said they would try to maintain their ideals even if it went against their companies.

Indonesia, Timor journalists told to help forge countries' partnerships

Jakarta Post - September 11, 2013

Jakarta – Journalists from Indonesia and Timor Leste are expected to help forge partnership between the former foes, according to a bilateral dialogue.

Speakers at the Dialogue Forum for Indonesia and Timor Leste Journalists held in Dili on Wednesday encouraged journalists to partake in improving the relationship between the two countries in a number of fields.

Timor Leste State Secretary for Social Communication Affairs Nelyo Isaac Sarmento said that there should be a transfer of knowledge through internship programs for reporters between Indonesia and Timor Leste. He made the remarks during Wednesday's forum, which was opened by Indonesian Ambassador to Timor Leste Primanto Hendrasmoro.

"We think we should provide training for reporters in order for them to be able to disseminate quality information. Human resources in the social communication field in Timor Leste should be improved," Nelyo said as quoted by Antara news agency on Wednesday.

During the dialogue, a senior editor at the Antara news agency, Rahmad Nasution, encouraged journalists from the two countries to prioritize the peace journalism concept, especially when it concerned the relationship between the two countries.

"Reporters should be a bridge, not a barrier between Indonesia and Timor Leste," Rahmad said.

One of the speakers in Wednesday's forum, Teguh Imawan, an expert at the Communication and Information Technology Ministry, told Timor Leste journalists attending the event that competition among media outlets was unavoidable, thus, it was very important for all journalists to comply with the code of conducts.

"The media should not become 'spokesmen' for their owners and political parties," the media consultant said. (hrl)

Labour & migrant workers

MP: $115 minimum salary not enough

Dili Weekly - September 12, 2013

Ezequiel Freitas – Member of National Parliament Mateus de Jesus says the $115 minimum salary for workers is not enough to cover basic necessities, as the price of goods continues to rise.

SEPFOPE Director General Jacinto Gusmao recognized the minimum salary of $115 was insufficient to pay for everyday necessities. The CNRT MP said based on his observations the cost of basic necessities increased every day.

"I believe that with $115 you can't do anything, especially living in Dili," said MP de Jesus in National Parliament. According to him, $115 could be enough for those who are single but it was very difficult for those who already had a family.

Meanwhile, the General Director at the Secretariat of State for Professional Training and Employment Jacinto Barros Gusmao said based on the law setting the minimum wage, every two years they would review the law.

"We conducted research and decided on a minimum salary of $170... but the Council of Ministers said we should look again at the public service level one, and we adjusted it to become $115," he said.

He acknowledged a salary of $115 was not enough based on what he felt and saw. "I eat one sack of rice in three days as there's a lot of us, so we eat ten sacks of rice in one month," said the General Director.

Environment & natural disasters

Indonesia concludes environmental audit training program for TL officials

Xinhua - September 19, 2013

Jakarta – Indonesia concluded the second batch of training program intended to hone up the skill of Timor Leste officials in carrying out Environment Feasibility Assessment (AMDAL) essential to assure sustainable development in latter country, the Indonesian environment ministry said here Thursday.

The program was carried out in the ministry's education and training facility in Serpong, Banten province since Sept. 2 under the South-South and Triangular Cooperation between Indonesia, Timor Leste and Japan, endorsed by a MoU on Environmental Cooperation between Indonesia and Timor Leste signed in May 2011.

"Capacity building on AMDAL skill was essential for the new-born country Timor Leste that declared its independence in 2002 and now is intensifying its development in infrastructure and energy sectors. AMDAL is very essential to assure sustainable development in Timor Leste and reduce impact of development that may risk the environment," the statement said.

Japan that acts as the donor country in the training program. Besides that, the option to choose Indonesia to hold the training program was based on little difference of development gap in the two countries and convenience of technology transfer.

The statement said that on geographical aspect, Indonesia and Timor Leste have communal responsibility in assuring the sustainability of environment that would eventually beneficial to efforts in attaining prosperity in the two neighboring countries.

The second batch of the training program constituted 19 Timor Leste officials from its National Directorate of Environment (NDE), trade ministry and Commerce, Industry and Environment (MCIE) ministry.

The conclusion of the training program was conducted by Capacity Building and Environment Technical Development Deputy Minister Henry Bastaman, at the presence of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Indonesia representative Kanji Usui and Timor Leste MCIE Director General Joao Carlos Soares.

Conservation In Timor-Leste

VOA - September 3, 2013

The Timorese government is creating protected areas in the waters of the Coral Triangle, called "no-take zones," where fishing is prohibited.

The goal is for fish to grow to healthy sizes, improving the chances that species will survive. This is important not only for Timor-Leste's fisheries, but also for global fisheries.

The United States is supporting Timor-Leste's efforts to anticipate and adapt to climate change and natural disasters through the Coral Triangle Support Partnership program implemented by the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID.

On a bright morning, nearly 200 people gathered in Manatuto, Timor-Leste, to share ideas about how to conserve the region's marine resources. Local fishermen, community leaders, representatives from local government, and a team from USAID discussed the conservation program.

By the end of the meeting, there was a mutual understanding that fishing could not happen in protected areas for three years in order to allow the fish to regain their numbers and remain plentiful for future generations, but that in the meantime, people could still catch fish in other areas to support their families.

By acknowledging community concerns and seeking input, the United States Agency for International Development and Timorese government were able to integrate local knowledge and customs more effectively into their work to protect the environment.

As Mr. Cristovao Guterres, who serves as the Development Outreach and Communications Specialist at the USAID Timor-Leste Mission, observed "Community participation in and support for this process is crucial, because so many people depend on the marine environment for income."

Women's rights

Song Martina degrades women

Dili Weekly - September 19, 2013

Paulina Quintao – The Advocacy Manager of the Women's Communication Forum Timor-Leste (FOKUPERS) Honorio Lopes said the language used in the song was an insult to women.

According to him, the song could cause conflict in society because of the bad language used. "We like the intonation but the words are not good as they degrade Timorese women," said Lopes in Farol, Dili.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Maria Angleica Rangel said this happened because there were no laws to stop it. The MP said there were a lot of songs spreading in the community that use bad language and insult women, like the song Martina.

According to her, Timor-Leste as a new country is in a phase of education and people have the right to express their feels through a variety of ways, but they should be critical of the words used.

"We still don't have a law to regulate these things, I think generally music has not discriminated against women but going forward we need to fix this," MP Rangel said in National Parliament.

Based on TDW's observations, at the fourth National Women's Congress those in the women's movement were upset and demanded the government create a law to regulate the work of singers, as many Timorese songs degrade women.

They were also concerned about the pictures drivers put on mikrolets and taxis and how this would affect young children.

These demands were handed over in an action platform for the government about gender equality in the country. Meanwhile MP Rangel said parliament would prioritize laws that benefit the people, like the land law, but that did not close the path to creating a law about this in the future. "We will look into things like this one day," she said.

UNFPA: TL government should strengthen marriage age laws

Dili Weekly - September 7, 2013

Paulina Quintao – The United Nations Population Fund recommends the Timor-Leste government should create a new law or strengthen existing laws that set the age people can get married.

Executive Director of UNFPA Babatunde Osotimehin said getting pregnant at a young age could hinder girls' rights, health and education and could cause fatal complications for the mother and baby.

"The government needs to promulgate and strengthen the national laws about increasing the age of marriage to 18, and needs to promote community efforts which support the rights of young girls and discourage child marriage," said UNFPA Director Babatunde Osotimehin in Dili.

At the same place, Priest Jose Tacain said this was also a big concern of the Catholic Church, as in church people can get married at 14 years old.

"So we recommend the government cooperates with the church in order to decide on the marriage age, if not, health authorities say they should be 20 years old and the church says they can marry at 14," said Priest Tacain.

In regards to cases of children as young as 12 years old having sexual relations, he said this was bad and they should create strong laws to regulate things like this.

Meanwhile, the Head of Youth Reproductive Health in the Ministry of Health, Luisa Barros, said they talked to Bishops at the Dili, Baucau and Maliana Dioceses to create guidelines and to look into the issue.

She added from a health perspective the proper age for girls to get married was 20 and for boys 25 years old, because they are physically and mentally ready to become fathers or mothers.

In another part, National Commission for Children's Rights technical professional Jose Coreia da Piedade said parents should be in control and must have a conscience themselves.

"I think we can create a law but if the family and the individual don't care, even if we create a law they will continue to violate it," he said.

Women's congress identifies nine priority areas

Dili Weekly - September 1, 2013

Paulina Quintao – The participants of the fourth National Women's Congress identified nine priority issues for the government to work on.

President of Rede Feto Timor-Leste Ivete de Oliveira said some of the priorities were strengthening family values and preventing disharmony in families, divorce, abandonment and human trafficking.

Other priorities include tackling school dropouts amongst female students, climate change and the environment, strengthening the family economy, improving the conditions for workers and a increasing the involvement of women in the decentralization process.

She said the action platform would become part of the strategic plan of the women's movement from 2013 to 2017, and said it would be handed over to the government to implement through recommendations.

"Because our government has the power and policies to implement the action platform through the existing recommendations," said the Rede Feto President at the end of the fourth Women's National Congress at Delta Nova Hall.

According to her, civil society, as a partner for the government in the field, was ready to pass on the information and fill in the gaps for the government because the action platform is everyone's responsibility, not just the government.

The fourth National Women's Congress was held from August 12 to 14, with participants from different backgrounds and from all the 13 districts. The government and donors like HIVOS, the American Embassy and GIZ funded the congress with a total budget of $127,477.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of State for Professional Training Policy and Employment Ilidio Ximenes da Costa congratulated the organizers of the congress and promised to hand over the recommendations to each ministry to empower women.

"We will consider the action platform and receive it to complete programs we have in each ministry and secretariat, to take action," he said.

The Secretary of State also encouraged the women's movement to advocate for vulnerable women and to take concrete action on the challenges they face.

At same place, the Baucau district delegate Francisca Monica said it was important for the government to pay attention to the nine issues, in order to improve women's lives. "I hope we achieve what we have put in the congress," she said.

Sexual & domestic violence

Nine sexual abuse cases resolved in court

Dili Weekly - September 7, 2013

Paulina Quintao – Only 49 of the 288 sexual abuse cases involving children registered with the organization Legal Assistance for Women and Children (AlFeLa) have been resolved with a final decision in court.

ALFeLa gave legal assistance to 288 minors but only 49 of the cases have been resolved through a final decision in court. ALFeLa Director Marcelina Correia said sometimes the decisions were good and in accordance with the law.

"For example, in an incest case recently in Lospalos the Baucau District Court gave a penalty of 16 years, which is a big penalty, as he committed incest against his two daughters, and another incest case also received 16 years," said Director Correia in Vila Verde, Dili.

But she said sometimes the decisions were inadequate as the decisions depended on the evidence they had.

ALFeLa gave assistance to a total of 288 victims from 2008 to July 2013, including eight cases in Aileu, 17 cases in Ainaro and 33 in Baucau.

From the total number of cases, 27 are still registered with the Public Prosecutor because they don't have strong evidence and other cases were closed because the victim was mentally ill or the accused died.

Apart from this, they also gave assistance to victims of gender-based violence and accompanied victims who defended themselves in court.

"We also have two friends who have received qualifications at the Judicial Training Centre, so now we can litigate in court when victims defend themselves, we have a duty to give them assistance," she said.

On the other hand, the Coordinator of the Women's Communication Forum Timor-Leste (FOKUPERS) shelter home Judith Ribeiro said from 2007 to 2012 they gave assistance and refuge to 84 underage victims of sexual violence and incest.

She said based on the cases, many victims came from Ermera and LIquica and were brought to the shelter home by partners like JSMP, ALFeLa, the police, local leaders or the victims themselves.

Meanwhile, Senior Project Officer for Justice and Wellbeing Issues Capriano das Neves acknowledged that sexual violence happens to young girls but said there was no organized data on it because civil society pays little attention to children's issues.

She said several children living at the shelter home were there because the perpetrators of the sexual abuse were in their family.

"While monitoring in remote areas we identified some cases where an economic situation turned them into victims of sexual and physical abuse," she said. She said sexual abuse against minors happened most in Oe-Cusse, Viqueque, Alieu, Ermera and other districts.

Graft & corruption

US Ambassador: Big threat of organized crime in TL

Dili Weekly - September 11, 2013

Ezequiel Freitas – The US Ambassador to Timor-Leste Judith R. Fergin says there is a big risk of organized crime, money laundering and financial terrorism in Timor-Leste.

Ambassador Fergin made these statements at a seminar about money laundering and combating corruption. She said based on its current size the Timorese economy could bring about money laundering.

"The land and maritime borders also give an alternative way for criminals to easily move between nations," said Ambassador Fergin in Dili.

She explained money laundering did not just come from other nations, but citizens from within the country could also launder money. She said the process of laundering money could also create a black market for things like human trafficking, illegal gambling and drugs.

"Experience in other nations shows that combating crimes like money laundering and corruption is not just the work of one agency alone, but it needs the collaboration of all agencies like the police, the community and the judiciary within the nation," she said.

Meanwhile, the Director of FOTI Timor-Leste, Eduardo Flores Trejo said USA FOTI was an international organization that partnered with the Timor-Leste government to implement activities promoting accountability and combating corruption.

"The event today was to respond to these objectives using the specialists we have, initiatives we can debate and instruments we can use to combat offences like money laundering," said Director Trejo.

He said there was the possibility that witnesses on a legal board in Timor-Leste could combat it through discussion.

At the same place, the Vice Minister of Justice Ivo Valente said the fifth constitutional government was commitment to combating crimes like this. "We know the efforts we've so far made have not been good enough and we still count on international support," said the Vice Minister.

He said as Timor-Leste was in a phase of construction, there would be big consequences for the future if it becomes a place for people to get involved in crime, money laundering or terrorism.

The government has sent a lot of Timorese masters students to attend training in Portugal, Brazil and other European nations in order to build the capacity of human resources in this area.

"We also learn from some of our friends from other nations, like the United States of America, and we hope that we can implement what we learn in our daily work," Vice Minister Valente said.

On July 16 the Council of Ministers held an in-depth discussion and analysis about establishing a Financial Information Unit, to look into financial transactions suspected of coming from an illegal paths.

"Our embassy has cooperates well with the nations we work with and they also need some information from the justice sector," he said.

Armed forces & defense

Progress and challenges for Timor-Leste's defence cooperation efforts

East Timor Law and Justice Bulletin - September 27, 2013

Fundasaun Mahein has released the English translation of its report and recommendations on international defence cooperation. The text of the translation follows.

This report examines defence cooperation efforts between Timor-Leste and neighboring countries such as Australia and Indonesia, countries in the ASEAN region, countries in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLC), and other countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Timor-Leste has active partnerships with countries in these areas and hopes to strengthen cooperation in F-FDTL related activities through bilateral channels, to continually help promote the F-FDTL's visibility and presence in the international community. However, it should be recognized that defence cooperation has been achieved along with challenges.

Defense partnerships among ASEAN countries and other economic-partnership countries in the ASEAN and Asia Pacific region have not yet been officially recognized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). To date, they have only been agreed upon between military institutions. This has concerned the F-FDTL's leadership, who have requested that the government consider legal agreements to recognise Timor Leste's defence cooperation with foreign countries.

The legal agreements (MoU) will decide the form of cooperation and guarantee all activities that are to be conducted by Timor-Leste and partnership countries. Though certain progress has already been achieved in defence cooperation, this legal agreement will provide official recognition and legitimacy to these activities.

Recommendations:

1. Recommend to the government to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation with countries in the ASEAN region, Asia Pacific region and countries in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLC) in order to further develop the F-FDTL. The government should create a clearly defined F-FDTL advanced training policy in order to better respond to global threats in the ASEAN and Asia Pacific region.

2. Recommend to the government to review the Status of Foces Agreement (SOFA) accord between Timor-Leste and the United States, which includes approving the signing of an MoU by the National Parliament.

3. Recommend to the government to change from soft cooperation to hard cooperation, specifically with regard to the military's strategy to increase the F-FDTL capacity to equal the military capacity of other countries in the ASEAN and Asia Pacific region.

[Source: FM Press Release 27/09/2013 Edited by Warren L. Wright.]

Celebrations of the 38 anniversary of FALINTIL

East Timor Law and Justice Bulletin - September 1, 2013

As the flag of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste was hoisted at 5:00am on the 20th of August in a ceremony in Betano, the official state celebrations of the 38th Anniversary of FALINTIL began.

The commemoration of the historical day of the Armed Forces for the National Liberation of Timor-Leste occurred throughout the nation as the people paid homage to the heroes that defended Timor-Leste so that it could be independent.

Three major celebrations took place in Betano in the district of Manufahi; the Celebration of the 38th Anniversary, the Ceremony of Demobilization and Recognition of the Combatants of the Armed Resistance and the Inauguration of the Betano Power plant.

The President of the Republic, H.E. Taur Matan Ruak, the Prime Minister, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, President of the National Parliament, H.E. Vicente Guterres, members of National Parliament, President of the Court of Appeal, Commander in Chief of the F-FDTL, members of the Diplomatic Corps and many distinguished national and international guests joined with the F-FDTL, PNTL, local government, local authorities and the people of the Manufahi district on this important occasion.

The state of Timor-Leste has a program to recognise, demobilize and support former National Liberation Combatants. This ceremony held in Betano was the Second Demobilization, the first having occurred in 2011. In line with the Decree Law No 37/2011 Ceremonies will be ongoing, taking place in a phased manner with priority given to those with more years of participation in the struggle for liberation.

In Betano 219 combatants were honoured and demobilised in an "official, public and solemn ceremony" that included the presentations of uniforms and bivouacs and the conferring of insignias of rank, commemorative medals and a diploma of honour.

The President of the Republic in his address saluted those in all the resistance fronts, Armed, Clandestine and Diplomatic, "who never stopped working towards building a new country".

He thanked combatants for "their dedication to the struggle and their resolve to pursue the ideals of freedom and prosperity of the Nation" and noted that the Timorese People must now "show the same determination today in fighting for the development of our country, as we did during our liberation struggle."

After the completion of the Demobilization Ceremony, which included a parade, lunch and harnessing of the flag, the ceremony of Inauguration of Central Electric Betano began. The Betano plant is the second but most powerful of two new power plants that are a foundation of the National Electrification Project. Betano power station is set to produce 136 MW of electricity, whilst the station in Hera has capacity to produce 120 MW.

[Source: Government of East Timor Media Release 29 August 2013 Edited by Warren L. Wright.]

Police & law enforcement

East Timor bans martial arts clubs

Associated Press - September 23, 2013

Dili – East Timor police say there will be zero tolerance against those who continue to practice a local martial art after the government banned all clubs following deadly gang violence, an official said on Monday.

At least 12 East Timorese have been killed and more than 200 injured in the past two years as a result of fighting among rival pencak silat clubs, said Armando Monteiro, National Police detective chief.

Two were killed in neighbouring Indonesia, while other deaths and injuries have occurred as far away as England and Ireland. He said the number of casualties is likely higher since many people are afraid to report gang activity or go to the hospital for treatment.

"Any martial arts clubs members that violate the government resolution will be dealt with under the law," Monteiro said. There will be "zero tolerance for martial arts activities in the country."

Schools and clubs for pencak silat, an adapted form of the Indonesian martial art, have a long history in East Timor, with many students in the past fighting against Indonesia's military occupation.

They also became active clandestine members in supporting guerrilla fighters and some made significant contributions toward winning the country's independence in 2002.

Later, martial arts students became rivals and began killing each other in the streets as happened in 2006 during a violent political crisis that left dozens dead and tens of thousands displaced in the tiny half-island nation.

Hand cut off

In many villages across East Timor, students start learning pencak silat at age 13. Less popular martial arts, such as karate, kung fu, taekwondo and judo, are not banned.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao issued a resolution outlawing the popular clubs two months ago. He said he has tried to work with the groups for years to allow them to continue to operate peacefully, but said the original purpose and philosophy of martial arts has been lost in East Timor.

"I have no more mercy and no more patience," said Gusmao, who added he has tried to work with the groups since becoming the country's first president in 2002. "I cannot tolerate the situation anymore, and I cannot permit it anymore."

Gusmao said police and members of the military have been told to leave martial arts groups or be fired.

Some clubs have publicly handed over their uniforms to police in front of government officials, but police say some members continue to conduct their training secretly at night.

Monteiro said anyone caught violating the resolution will be punished under the law. Seven martial arts clubs were registered, but many others exist without the government's knowledge making it difficult to estimate the number of members nationwide.

Last month, one East Timorese student was killed at Widyagama University in Malang, Indonesia, and another had his hand cut off with a samurai sword by a martial arts gang member.

"I need justice because the suspects who cut off my hand have not yet been captured by the police," said Jacinto Cipriano Ximenes, aged 25, a final- year telecommunications student who plans to return to school and finish his studies this year.

Zero tolerance for police involvement in martial arts

Dili Weekly - September 12, 2013

Venidora Oliveira – The General Commander of the PNTL threatened to dismiss any police officers still involved in martial arts groups.

Third Deputy of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), Superintendent Julio Hornai said the Minister of Defence and Security sent out a 12 point resolution to say there would be zero tolerance for police officers involved in martial arts.

He added that command sent out a circulation to all district commanders and departments calling for police officers involved in martial arts groups to resign.

"They should present themselves to command to choose, whether the want to continue to serve the nation or resign and return to martial arts," said Superintendent Hornai.

According to him, if they continued with the groups then command would make the decision to dismiss them. "There is no offer," Superintendent Hornai said.

He said the resolution would be positive for the police, as when people become police officers they should be ready to serve the nation neutrally, rather than getting involved in a party or group.

Meanwhile Member of Parliament Mateus de Jesus said the resolution was good, so that PNTL members could work independently and neutrally. "Because to join the police or F-FDTL is to serve the nation and the people, to show neutrality towards all people," he said.

On the other side, resident Rio Oliveira agreed with this decision because the PNTL, which protects the nation, has an obligation to stand independently and not get involved with any martial arts organizations.

Foreign affairs & trade

Timor Leste-Indonesia bilateral relations improve

Antara News - September 27, 2013

Otniel Tamindael, Jakarta – Most of the basic necessities for the people of Timor Leste, formerly known as East Timor, are sourced from Indonesia.

The country located in the eastern half of the Timor Island integrated with Indonesia in 1975 through the Balibo Declaration after having remained a Portuguese colony for more than three centuries.

Following 23 years of integration, the vast majority of Timor Leste people voted for seceding from Indonesia through a referendum held on August 30, 1999, and finally gained independence on May 20, 2002.

However, Indonesia has played a pivotal role in bringing progress to the people of Timor Leste, even after it becoms an independent state for more than 11 years. In reality, Timor Leste remains economically dependent on Indonesia as a source of foodstuff.

"The economic dependence of Timor Leste on Indonesia is high because all our foodstuffs are bought from Indonesia," Timor Leste Home Affairs Minister Jorge da Conceicao Teme stated in Oecusse last Saturday.

Teme pointed it out that it was therefore necessary to maintain security and political stability in Indonesia, so that the countries food delivery could be guaranteed safe passage.

He also expressed his hope that Indonesia would continue to remain stable and peaceful because if there was political instability in Indonesia, it would prevent the distribution of foodstuffs to Timor Leste.

"We really hope that Indonesia will remain peaceful because 90 percent of the basic necessities of the people of Timor Leste are fulfilled by Indonesia," he noted.

During an international conference in Dili on investment in Timor Leste in March, the country's Transportation and Communications Minister Pedro Lay da Silva had also admitted that Indonesian businessmen and investors were playing an important role in bringing progress to the country.

"It is undeniable that many Indonesian state firms are now investing in Timor Leste for the progress of the country, which gained independence only on May 20, 2002," Da Silva had said at the conference.

The conference had brought together participants from eight countries, with Indonesian firms, such as state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura and surveyor company PT Sucofindo, taking part.

The two Indonesian companies have signed a cooperation agreement with the Dili-based Kabiran Group to develop an international airport in Dili and a seaport in Tibar some 10 kilometers west of the Timor Leste capital.

Till date, 54 Indonesian corporate bodies have become involved in development projects located in Timor Leste. They include eight state-owned companies, namely PT Merpati Nusantara, PT Bank Mandiri, PT Wijaya Karya, PT Perusahaan Perumahan, PT Telkom Internasional, PT Pertamina, PT Angkasa Pura and PT Sucofindo.

Describing Indonesia as a close neighbor and older brother, da Silva stated that the country, particularly its businessmen and investors were badly needed by Timor Leste to develop its economy. Therefore, he expressed the hope that cordial relations with Indonesia, particularly with the people of West Timor, would continue.

Despite an ongoing border dispute between the two countries, Timor Leste Home Affairs Minister Teme said such issues should not hamper friendly relations between the people.

"The border dispute is the business of Dili and Jakarta. Therefore, the people of East Timor and West Timor can continue with reciprocal visits because we are brothers and sisters as fellow Timorese," the minister noted.

Teme added that he was disappointed with a district head in East Nusa Tenggara, who had forbidden his people from visiting their brothers and sisters in the Timor Leste enclave of Oecusse because of the border dispute at Naktuka and other locations in Oecusse.

The Timor Leste minister, who is an alumnus of the Salatiga Satya Wacana University in Central Java, said efforts to resolve the border dispute between the two countries should continue.

He reiterated that the border issue was the business of Dili and Jakarta, and said there was no reason for any official to forbid his or her people from visiting Timor Leste.

At a bilateral meeting held between President Yudhoyono and his Timor Leste counterpart Taur Matan Ruak, during the latter's state visit to Indonesia, the two countries had reached an agreement on border demarcation at Dilumil Memo.

The two countries have resolved one of three border demarcation points under the agreement. The other two demarcation points are Bijael Sunan and Noel Besi, located between the Kupang and Timor Tengah Utara districts in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province, which borders the Oecusse district in Timor Leste.

The two countries also signed a joint statement allowing the opening of the Haekesak/Turiskain-Tunubibi, Builalo-Memo and the Haumeniana-Passabe entry points, as part of the deal.

According to Wilhelmus Wetan Songa of the Nusa Cendana University in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, senior officials of the two countries had held meetings numerous times in the past but failed to reach an agreement on border demarcation.

"As a result, border violations have continued," he said, adding that the land border between Indonesia and Timor Leste in the western part of East Nusa Tenggara was 268.8 kilometers long covering the districts of Kupang, Timor Tengah Utara and Belu.

"The total land border in the districts of Kupang, Timor Tengah Utara and Belu, which is 268.8 kilometers long might expand or contract after there has been a follow up to the agreement," Songa pointed out.

He added that the total land border between Timor Leste and Indonesia falling in Timor districts was 149.9 kilometers long, stretching from Motaain in the north to Mota Masin in the south.

Songa further said that the agreement reached by Indonesia and Timor Leste on the border demarcation between the two countries could serve as a step forward step in relations between the two countries, which they should soon follow up on.

"The follow up action is important to give legal certainty and convenience to the people of the two nations living near the border demarcation. It will also prevent a horizontal conflict that might arise at any time, which may disrupt bilateral relations," he noted.

President of East Timor pays tribute to Jose Marti

ACN - September 27, 2013

Havana, Cuba – The President of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, Taur Matan Ruak, placed a wreath on Friday by the Monument to National Hero Jose Marti located at the capital's Revolution Square, as part of his official visit to Cuba.

During the ceremony, the head of state was accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra, a representation of the embassy of the Asian nation to Havana and officials of the Foreign Ministry of the Caribbean nation.

Health, education, energy, agriculture and mining are the main sectors currently included in Cuba's cooperation with East Timor, a small Asian country of 24,000 square meters and a little over one million inhabitants. (ACN)

Timor Leste's president to visit Cuba

Prensa Latina - September 26, 2013

Havana – The President of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak, will arrive in this capital today, after attending the UN General Assembly, in which he condemned the US blockade against this country.

During his official visit to the island, the statesman will meet with his Cuban peer Raul Castro, and develop other activities.

Taur Matan Ruak, joined his voice yesterday to that of many presidents in the United Nations Assembly, to reject Washington's unilateral blockade to Cuba. (sus/iff/ari)

Indonesia, Timor, Australia hold meeting, agree to enhance connectivity

Xinhua News - September 26, 2013

Jakarta – Senior officials from Indonesia, Timor Leste and Australia held a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 68th United Nations General Assembly, in a bid to enhance connectivity, a statement released by Indonesian Foreign Affairs ministry said here on Thursday.

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said that trilateral relations between Indonesia, Timor Leste and Australia has been constantly improving, marked with deepening cooperation among those three countries in various sectors.

He added that the relations has stepped into maturity as the discussions have developed into concrete initiative and cooperation.

"This time, the meeting discussed efforts to enhance regional connectivity that would eventually strengthen social and economic ties," the minister was quoted by the statement as saying on the sidelines of the meeting on Wednesday in New York.

He said that the three countries apparently have common interests in several issues that need joint efforts to address them. Among the issues are environment, natural disasters and connectivity.

Natalegawa said that discussions among those attended the trilateral meeting led to the efforts to improve the connectivity between the three countries by increasing the flight routes and infrastructure development in the region.

"We discussed work program, or the action plans to increase our cooperation (to address the connectivity improvement)," the minister said. He added that direct flights from Australia's Darwin to Denpasar in Indonesia's Bali and from Darwin to Timor Leste's capital of Dili have been running in the last one year.

The three countries intended to expand direct flights between Darwin, Dili and Kupang, the capital city of Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province. The flight route expansion was considered important to boost up tourism and economy dynamism among those cities.

To do so, the three countries agreed to push forward wider contribution of private sector in developing the connectivity and intensifying tourism promotion in Indonesia's eastern region, Timor Leste, Western and Eastern Australia, the minister said.

The trilateral meeting between Indonesia, Timor Leste and Australia has been conducted annually since 2002 on the sidelines of UN general assembly meeting.

Timor wants fraternal relations with Indonesia maintained, says minister

Antara News - September 21, 2013

Oecusse, Timor Leste – Timor Leste Home Affairs Minister Jorge da Conceicao Teme has expressed his hope that brotherly relations with Indonesia, particularly with the people of West Timor, would continue.

Despite an ongoing dispute regarding the border between the two countries, Jorge said this issue should not harm relations between the two countries.

"The border dispute is the business of Dili and Jakarta. Therefore, the people of East Timor and West Timur should visit each other because we are brothers and sisters as fellow Timorese," the Timor Leste home affairs minister noted.

Jorge said he was disappointed that a district head in East Nusa Tenggara forbade his people to visit their brothers and sisters in the Timor Leste enclave of Oecusse because of the continuing border dispute at Naktuka and other locations in Oecusse.

Jorge, an alumnus of Salatiga Satya Wacana University in Central Java, said efforts to resolve the border dispute between the two countries should continue to be made by each government.

He reiterated that the border issue was the business of Dili and Jakarta, and that there was no reason for any official to forbid his or her people to visit Timor Leste.

Vietnam, Timor-Leste vow to promote bilateral ties

Shanghai Daily - September 4, 2013

Hanoi (Xinhua) – Vietnam and Timor-Leste pledged to further strengthen cooperation in fields of politic, economics, trade and investment, agriculture, forestry and fishery, energy and education.

The consensus was reached by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his visiting Timor-Leste counterpart Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Wednesday.

The two prime ministers agreed to assign relevant ministries and agencies to accelerate the signing of the agreements on investment promotion and protection, cooperation on food security, education and training, oil and gas, tourism and people-to-people exchange as well as to speed up the implementation of the framework agreement on economic and technical cooperation which signed on April 2010.

During the talks, the two sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, affirming to continue cooperating at multilateral forums and organizations.

After talks, the two prime ministers witnessed the signing of the trade agreement between Vietnam and Timor-Leste, which is assessed by the two sides as a legal foundation to facilitate bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Vietnam and Timor-Leste established their diplomatic ties in 2002, however, the two countries' relations began in 1975 when the Fretilin (Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor Leste) unilaterally declared independence. Vietnam was one of the first countries to recognize Timor-Leste's independence.

In 2012, the two-way trade turnover reached 34.4 million US dollars, with Vietnam exports mainly rice and seafood to Timor-Leste.

Mining & energy

Eni plans $230 million Timor Sea drilling

Upstream - September 12, 2013

Eni plans to spend up to $230 million on offshore drilling in the Timor Sea over the next 18 months, according to the managing director of its Australian division.

Ernie Delfos said operations will take place in the Evans Shoal area, the Blackwood area, the Kitan area, in deep-water Timor-Leste, in the Vesta- Swan area, and the Blacktip field.

Eni is investing heavily in Australia and the Far East because energy demand in the region is strong, Delfos told delegates at the South East Asia Australia Offshore Conference in Darwin.

The first well for the Italian energy giant is the Evans Shoal North exploration-appraisal well in Block NT/P48 which is being drilled using the jack-up Ensco 104.

Eni will also take delivery of the semi-submersible drilling rig Stena Clyde in the coming weeks for other elements of its programme. Evans Shoal is a big resource, containing about 7 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas but it has a high carbon dioxide content of 28%.

The joint venture partners are Shell (32.5%), Eni (32.5%), Petronas Carigali (25%) and Osaka Gas (10%), all of whom have liquefied natural gas positions in Australia that they want to grow.

Eni will then move on to the Blackwood-2 well in Block NT/P68 where the company is trying to build a gas resource alongside the Heron discovery.

After that, two development wells are due at the Kitan oilfield in the Timor joint petroleum development area, plus two exploration wells in JPDA 11-106.

An oil feature is due for drilling in Block AC/P21 near the Vesta-Swan discoveries, followed by near-field targets at the Blacktip gas field.

East Timor offers up funds for onshore gas processing

ABC Radio Australia - September 3, 2013

Mark Colvin: East Timor's government has made a new bid to resolve a dispute over the stalled Greater Sunrise gas project in the Timor Sea. It's offering to put up $800 million to build a pipeline so the gas can be processed onshore on East Timor's south coast.

Field developer Woodside wants to process the gas on a floating platform at sea. Yesterday the company confirmed it would pursue the floating technology for another major project, the Browse gas fields off the West Australian coast.

Sara Everingham reports.

Sara Everingham: East Timor's making a new offer to break the deadlock on the Greater Sunrise field. The petroleum minister Alfredo Pires says the government is willing to put up money to build infrastructure to pipe the gas to East Timor.

Alfredo Pires: So what Timor-Leste is saying is that if the pipeline is an issue we're able to take up some of the risks by actually investing in the pipeline.

Sara Everingham: For years, the development of the Greater Sunrise field has been on hold because of a dispute over how the field should be developed.

The field operators, led by Woodside Petroleum, want the gas processed on a floating platform at sea. It's the option being pursued by Woodside and its joint venture partners for the Browse fields off the West Australian coast, much to the disappointment of the West Australian government.

But East Timor is insisting a pipeline be built to East Timor's southern coast for onshore processing to create jobs and economic benefits for the country. Alfredo Pires says East Timor is willing to put up $800 million for the pipeline to make it happen.

Alfredo Pires: This is about an investment. That money is not money that's going to go to waste.

Sara Everingham: The $800 million would come from East Timor's $14 billion petroleum fund, which is made up of revenue from the country's finite oil and gas reserves.

Alfredo Pires argues East Timor would make the money back and the investment would yield a higher return than if the money continued to sit in the petroleum fund, which is mostly invested in international bonds. Mr Pires insists it would be a worthwhile investment.

Alfredo Pires: We are not throwing that money away; we will be putting the money into a business that the returns are there.

Sara Everingham: But resources analyst David Lennox doubts the offer will shift Woodside's position.

David Lennox: I would suspect that Woodside would be considerate of the idea but it would probably not follow up on doing an on-the-ground LNG (liquified natural gas) in Timor.

Sara Everingham: Mr Lennox says East Timor's offer won't make a significant change to the economics of the onshore option.

David Lennox: When you have a look at the overall potential costs for developing Sunrise, to put in an on-the-ground LNG train would probably cost upward of say, $18 billion at this particular point in time.

Woodside have in fact suggested that they would go down the floating LNG road, which would probably save them something like $5-6 billion on 18 billion. So when you put that into comparison of $800 million, really, the pipeline is not significant in the scheme of the costings of the total project.

Sara Everingham: And he says Greater Sunrise faces increasing competition.

David Lennox: We do believe that Woodside is committed to Sunrise at some point in time, but the investment matrix on the project at this point, and with the uncertainty of US shale gas coming in, in the next few years, they will have to tread carefully with developing Sunrise.

Sara Everingham: East Timor's government disputes Woodside's figures. It's been commissioning studies to show that piping gas to East Timor for processing is a viable option.

Woodside declined to comment on the latest offer from East Timor. In a recent statement the company said: "We value our relationships with the East Timor and Australian governments, and seek tripartite alignment to allow the timely development of this resource for the benefit of all stakeholders."

East Timor and Australia are also in arbitration over the revenue sharing agreement for the Greater Sunrise field. East Timor has accused Australia of bugging East Timorese officials during the negotiations over the agreement. A date is yet to be decided for the first hearing.

Mark Colvin: Sara Everingham.

Economy & investment

East Timor hungry for investors

Free Malaysia Today - September 22, 2013

Arno Maierbrugger, Singapore – A Southeast Asian country quite off the radar of the international community is East Timor.

The former Portuguese colony gained independence from Indonesia in May 2002 after a freedom fight that involved heavy losses.

However, East Timor in the past 11 years has not been dormant and the fighting was done for a reason. The country sits on substantial oil reserves in the Timor Sea which are jointly exploited with Australia.

On Aug 14, 2013 it announced that its sovereign wealth fund – the Timor- Leste Petroleum Fund – had reached a value of US$13.6 billion (RM40.8 bil) surpassing the oil fund's value of both Bahrain and Oman.

This is an amazing amount for an almost forgotten country of just 1.2 million people where around 40% still live below the poverty line of US$1.25 (RM3.75) a day.

The fund alone could, straight away, grant every citizen more than US$11,300 (RM33,900) as a one-time payment from the oil wealth. In fact, the money can be used in a better way.

The nation now plans to upgrade its infrastructure with state investments of up to US$1billion (RM3 billion), according to the country's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. Gusmao said the country is in dire need to rebuild its non-oil economy that was completely crippled during the independence war.

Infrastructure development

The government said it will be upgrading about 3,000 kilometers of roads and plans to build two ports in the next five years.

It will also have to rebuild schools and hospitals as well as the power grid and the irrigation system, much of which was destroyed during a rampage by Indonesian militia in 1999 after the country voted in a referendum to end 24 years of Indonesian occupation.

This is where opportunities for foreign investors come into play. The infrastructure investment is part of a 20-year development plan initiated by Gusmao that aims to establish a more diversified economy and turn the nation into a middle-income country.

The government also has introduced an investment law that provides incentives for foreign investors in fields such as mining, aquaculture, forestry, agriculture and food processing.

Several areas on East Timor's territory have also been marked as industrial parks that can be accessed by foreign investors and are eligible for tax incentives.

It is worth mentioning that East Timor's non-oil sector is also in need of diversification.

Coffee currently accounts for around 90% of non-oil merchandise exports, and Starbucks is one of the largest customers. There has been little onshore minerals exploration, but gold, manganese and marble have been identified as potential resources.

These industries are under-developed and would greatly benefit from international investment and development – once the infrastructure is in place.

[This report first appeared in http://www.investvine.com.]

US group General Electric plans to invest in East Timor

Macauhub - September 5, 2013

US group General Electric plans to invest in East Timor (Timor-Leste), the country's minister for Public Works, Gastao de Sousa said Tuesday as he welcomed a delegation headed up by the head of the Association of South- East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Kristin Paulson.

According to a statement, Paulson reminded Gastao de Sousa of the US group's presence in ASEAN nations such as Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Minister de Sousa noted the importance of the US group wanting to be involved in the development of East Timor and mentioned the Tasi Mane project, which is intended to develop the country's south coast via the oil industry and includes construction of three industrial groups, which will be the backbone of the sector in the country.

Tasi Mane includes the Suai supply base, the refinery and a group of petrochemical industries in Betano as well as a gas unit (supplied by the gas pipeline that the Timorese authorities want to build from the Greater Sunrise field) in Viqueque/Beasu.

The special economic zones, which will be established in areas close to ports and airports, parts of the south coast and the city of Dili, are intended to attract the financial sector including banks, insurance companies and professional services companies. (macauhub)

East-Timor looking for investors in Macau

Macau Daily Times - September 2, 2013

The former Prime Minister of East-Timor, Mari Alkatiri, has visited Macau in the hope of attracting investment for the special zones project under development in his country.

Last Friday, he presented the project to various Macau businessmen, in the name of the government of Timor-Leste. The special zones project shares similarities with the MSAR, with select regions of East-Timor being granted executive, administrative and financial autonomy. One of these zones will be created in Oecussi and the project may later be extended to the islands of Atauro or Lautem.

Mari Alkatiri believes that Macau can participate in the development of these special zones in East-Timor. "If Macau has such an economy, such a private sector and such a dynamic private investment, it certainly has investors and doors are open for that," he told Radio Macau.

The former Prime Minister added that Macau is a partner of Timor-Leste, representing "an input and output door for China" as well as "a platform for the relationship between the Portuguese-speaking countries community."

According to Radio Macau, the former Prime Minister hinted he that had already received several intention letters from partners in Macau, regarding the first phase of the project. However, he did not disclose further details concerning the names and sectors of those entrepreneurs willing to invest in Timor-Leste.

However, Alkatiri was willing to confirm that Chinese investors have already demonstrated their interest.

"I was approached by potential investors from China before coming to Macau. So great entrepreneurs and state companies have already gone there [Timor- Leste], alongside the Bank for External Development," he explained.

According to Mari Alkatiri, the legislation allowing for the development of the project will be ready by December. A total of EUR2 billion will be invested by the private sector, while EUR950 million will be provided by the public sector. The return on investment is expected to be between 9 and 12 percent by 2030.

Balibo 5

Sister of Balibo Five journalist returns to Timor Leste

ABC News - September 26, 2013

Lily Partland – Anne Stewart's world changed in 1975 when her brother Tony was killed – along with four other Australian-based journalists – by Indonesian troops as they invaded East Timor.

She visited the developing country and in particular the town of Balibo for the first time 10 years ago, and has just returned from her second visit. "I've got to say it's a pretty emotional ride for me when I go back, because you think that's where we lost our dear brother."

The purpose of Anne's first visit to Balibo was to attend the reopening of Balibo House – where the Balibo Five sheltered and painted a flag on the wall – as a community learning centre.

"It was such a moving experience, you almost felt like the spirits of the boys could now lay at rest, because so many people came. They'd walked for four days because everybody loves Xanana [Gusmao] and he was there with Steve Bracks."

Trust takes on major project

This time, the Balibo House Trust – established by the Victorian Government in 2002 – opened the Fort House, which will be developed as accommodation, a restaurant and a heritage centre.

"If you know a bit of the history of East Timor you know that up on the Portuguese fort that's where the boys saw the Indonesian navy massing off the shore, so it's a pretty significant spot.

"But it was crumbling and falling down and the Balibo House Trust commissioned some architects to do it up again and I believe they employed local people from Balibo to do it up and it looks beautiful."

Anne says the project is ambitious and is not sure the demand is there from tourists.

"It's a long drive [to Balibo] and the roads are shocking, and the people of Balibo are so poor that you wonder whether it's really going to work. But there's a lot of people behind it now and people bringing more money into it."

She says up to 15 locals will be employed as part of the development and says it's important to include the people of Balibo in the process. "It will take a real talent to make sure that the people think it's still their own. But if it's accommodation for white people they might think it's lost to them."

Anne says it's important to remember everyone who died during the conflict with Indonesia. "When those six white boys died, 200,000 Timorese were killed. So it's nice to honour them but we wouldn't like our story to be the dominant one."

Slowly getting better

She says while Timor Leste is still an impoverished developing country, things are getting better. "There's been a lot more interest in education, because for most people education is the way out."

Anne says her all her siblings have a connection to Timor and are doing what they can to help.

"I'm on a committee Libraries for Timor Leste, my brother Paul is always up there with different projects, my brother Greg's a doctor and goes up and works there regularly, and my sister's involved in the environment and corporate speak. "So we all try to do our things in our own way."