Wednesday, 31 January 2007 - UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING

THE UN INTEGRATED MISSION IN TIMOR-LESTE DOES NOT VOUCH FOR THE ACCURACY OF THESE REPORTS

National Media Reports

Conflict Left Property Damaged And Burnt

Following the recent violence, on Monday three small shops and a house was
burnt in Bairro Pité around 23 hrs, reported STL today. According to this
daily, it is not yet known which groups are involved in the destruction and
whether it is related to martial arts groups. The house set on fire
belonged to Joaquim Pereira who according to an eyewitness is a member of
PSHT but gets on well with the neighbourhood. The fire spread from
Joaquim’s house to the three kiosks. Joaquim told STL he is not sure why
his house was targeted because he has not made enemies with anyone. He
said his house was set on fire following a gun shot in Maloa Bridge and
the people involved fled the scene when police arrived. Timor Post reported
that five people sought medical assistance at the national hospital on
Monday evening from the same area but none were in serious condition. (STL,
TP)

STAE Updates Census

The Technical Secretariat for the Electoral Administration, started to
update its electoral registration, on Monday, targeting specific age group
between 17-18 and those who have lost their electoral registration cards.
Director of STAE, Tomás Cabral said registration will close on 16 March
2007, just before the elections. He said this activity would allow his
department to estimate the numbers of voters registered.
In relation to the elections, President Gusmão reportedly said that around
50 international observers are scheduled to take part in the elections at
the government’s invitation and if everything goes well, the European Union
would also send observers. (TP)


Ramos-Horta Refuses To Meet Protesters

Prime Minister Ramos-Horta has refused to meet members of the MUNJ group
protesting in front of the government palace and has reportedly asked them
to go home and rest. He also asked them not to waste their time and to
stop making noise in that area as he would keep his door closed.
In the meantime, MUNJ coordinator, Agosto Junior Trindade said Prime
Minister Ramos-Horta is cultivating a culture of dictatorship in
Timor-Leste by given a mandate to UIR as well as using the word ‘those
animals’, [referring to people involved in crimes] which was broadcast on
TVTL on 29 January and not welcomed by some members of the population.
(STL)

Public Hearing In Indonesia

Commissão Verdade e Amizade (CVA) is planning to hold a public hearing in
Indonesia, starting in the month of February. Former Indonesian General
Wiranto is scheduled to testify in relation to the violence of 1999.

President Xanana is also expected to participate in the hearing as well.
According to Dionisio Babo, head of the Commission, witnesses and victims
will also participate. The Commission plans to hold hearings in Dili as
well. (TP)

International Media Reports

Concern at Timor army conscription
Mark Dodd
31jan07
The Australian

EAST Timor's parliament is to vote on a conscription bill that aims to fill
the ranks of the country's ethnically divided defence force, but which
critics say could trigger renewed social upheaval.

Interim Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta on Monday addressed parliament to
formally present the draft bill on military service. A vote is expected
either today or tomorrow.

The law challenges Australia's and the UN's preference for East Timor to
stick with a small, affordable, all-volunteer light infantry force. And it
short-circuits a UN security sector review into the defence force and its
future in the wake of last year's political violence.

"The majority of people protesting last year against the Government and
F-FDTL (East Timor Defence Force) were youths, so how can you expect to
conscript young men and women to serve in an institution like the F-FDTL
that has such a big problem with its reputation?" said one senior
Dili-based Western diplomat.

The new law proposes an 18-month mandatory conscription period for all East
Timorese, a radical solution for clearing Dili's troubled streets of angry
unemployed youths.

Despite the presence of an 800-strong Australian military taskforce and
hundreds of UN police, clashes between rival ethnic martial arts gangs have
continued to erupt on Dili's streets, in violence that has left more than
40 dead and a tenth of the population displaced.

UN officials estimate as many as 40,000 East Timorese could be eligible for
the draft.

Reliable Dili-based diplomatic sources speaking on condition of anonymity
warn the law could trigger widespread rejection and unrest among ethnic
westerners, so called Loromonu people, who blamed bias by eastern-born
commanders for deserting the force last year.

The mutiny involving about 600 soldiers snowballed into full-scale
political violence and brought the tiny country to the brink of civil war.

If the conscription measure is passed, it would boost the depleted
720-strong F-FDTL to about 3000 men and women. But it raises questions
about future funding for arms and equipment.

A spokesman for Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said the Government was
watching developments, but said Australia would continue to work in support
of the development of East Timor's defence force.

Australia has provided the bulk of funding to train East Timor's defence
force. In 2001, it opened an army training centre at Metinaro, east of
Dili, built at a cost of $7.5million.

The previous year Canberra announced a five-year $26million defence
co-operation program, which the federal Opposition claims has been a waste
of money.

NATIONAL NEWS SOURCES:
Timor Post (TP)
Radio Timor-Leste (RTL)
Suara Timor Lorosae (STL)
Diario Tempo (DT)
Diario Nacional
Seminario
Lia Foun (LF)
Televisaun Timor-Leste [TVTL]

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