UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING - Wednesday, 07 March 2007

National Media Reports

State Is Not Implementing Dictatorship
MPs Josefa Pereira (Fretilin) and Rui Menezes (PD) believe that the means
the State is applying to stop the violence in the country does not mean the
beginning of dictatorship as Timor-Leste is an independent and democratic
State. They said the country is heading towards anarchism and should not be
tolerated. Pereira said that since the statement was made the situation is
starting to settle and people are gaining their consciousness and respect
for each citizen’s right to live.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Jacob Fernandes reportedly said the statement
of the President of the Republic to use force to stop the violence is
constitutional as it would enable the country to return to normal
conditions and put an end to the violence which has been increasing. (DN)

State's Decision To Use Force Follows The Condition
The decision taken by the State to use force against violent actions is
based on the ongoing conditions and the existing penal code and it must be
implemented professionally in the field, said Timorese human rights
advocate, Aderito de Jesus Soares. According to de Jesus, the State’s
decision was clear and correct as some groups have not respected the State
and continue to engage in public disturbances. Aderito is referring to
President Xanana Gusmão’s official address to the nation on Monday noting
that the State would use force to put an end to violence in the country.
(TP)

Major Alfredo Is In Good Condition
According to reports, the raid by the Australian-led international forces
of the hideout of the Military Police Commander, Major Alfredo Reinado
Alves in the southern town of Same has not affected Alfredo's psychical
condition, said Alfredo's follower, Amaro da Costa alias 'Susar'.
When questioned why he is not with Alfredo, Susar reportedly said that they
separated during the attack. Another member who asked to remain anonymous
also affirmed that Alfredo is in good condition and that they are in
regular contact.

Susar has further stressed that as a smaller group than International
Security Forces they managed to escape but that they are not afraid of ISF
because they want to fight for the rights of the people. (TP)

Australia Rejects Support
An ISF officer in Dili rejects reports that Australia has sent one hundred
SAS to Timor-Leste before the operation to apprehend Alfredo and his
groups. “Not SAS but replacements,” he said. Meanwhile, the Australian
Defence Forces on Monday (05/3) refused to comment on whether SAS had been
sent to Timor-Leste. However, The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday (05/3)
reported that SAS had been sent to Timor-Leste.

ISF Arrest Galucho In Ermera
Nelson Galucho, one of UIR Officers who has been involved in Major
Alfredo’s group was arrested while on duty in the District of Ermera,
Wednesday (28/2) in the afternoon in his residence in Gleno. Galucho was
taken to Dili by ISP helicopter. However, due to pressure from the people
and youth of Gleno, Galucho was taken back to Fatukero, Gleno, (01/3) at 2
o’clock in the afternoon. Galucho’s arrest followed information that he had
weapons and fire arms which he gave to the petitioners. Galucho rejects
such allegations. The detention of Galucho has been considered illegal by
his supporters as the ISF did not have an arrest warrant to detain him.
According to STL, ISF have apologized for the mistake and promised not to
further arrest members of the petitioners or Alfredo’s group. (STL)

5 Members Of Alfredo Died
ISF has reportedly found one more dead body of Alfredo’s group in Same on
Tuesday (06/3) raising the number to five people killed during Sunday’s
operation to apprehend Reinado on Sunday (4/3) morning. According to Timor
Post, ISF Spokesperson reportedly said via mobile phone in Dili that the
dead body has been identified as one of Alfredo’s member killed during the
operation based upon the authorities of Timor-Leste. He underlined that no
ISF soldiers were wounded during the operation contrary to reports by some
local media.

In the meantime, Antonio Caleres Junior, the Director of the National
Hospital said that all the dead bodies have been autopsied and are waiting
identification from the families. The five people killed are: Calistro
Tilman, Deolindo Barros, Henrique Marques, Natalino Fereira alias Meta
Kiak, and Quintao Tilman. (TP)

Local Government Activities Disrupted
The local government activities have been disrupted for about two weeks as
the buildings were first occupied by Major Alfredo and his men then by the
ISF, Timor Post correspondent in Same reported. TP correspondent in Same
said that the situation is under control even though many government
activities have not fully returned to normal. Brigadier General Mal Rerden
said that the ISF priority is to help and assist Timor-Leste and the UN to
stabilize a good environment in preparations for the election process in
Timor-Leste. (TP)

Oecussi Court Not Functioning
Sebastiana Pereira, coordinator of Oecussi Women’s Centre said the
population of Oecussi has been unhappy about the court process, as it has
not been functioning since January this year. According to Pereira, some
of the court cases have been pending for the last 10 months. She said she
does not want to blame the authorities in charge of the judicial system but
there can be many factors contributing to the situation such as lack of
accommodation, clean water and electricity which are keeping the
prosecutors and judges from working in Oecussi. She said the population
tends to approach the police, the head of village and the community’s
elderly to resolve their problems nowadays, as they no longer trust the
judicial system. (STL)

Court Verdict On Lobato’s Case
According to schedule, the Court of Appeal and the Prosecutor’s Office will
announce the verdict on Lobato’s case today (Wednesday). The verdict should
have been announced on February 15, but it has been delayed, as the court
required further time for an in-depth analysis of the statements by
eyewitness on alleged distribution of guns by the former Minister of
Interior to civilians. Based on UNTAET Regulations 5/2001, Lobato could
face up to 30 years in jail if found guilty. (DN)

Fretilin Mudansa Will Hold National Convention
Fretilin Mudansa will hold a national convention on March 17 to break away
from Fretilin group of Lu-Olo and Alkatiri. Members of the group, Victor da
Costa, Minister Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Jose Luis Guterres and
former Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia, Jorge Teme met with President
Gusmão Tuesday to present their support to Ramos-Horta candidacy as well as
the convention. Da Costa said the group would also discuss about
Alfredo’s case during the convention but would not reveal anything further
about it. (DN)


CPD RDTL Must Register With STAE
Prime Minister Ramos-Horta has requested CPD RDTL members to register with
STAE and not to use the ones they have in their possession now if they
want to participate in the 2007 elections. Ramos-Horta told the group not
to dispose of their cards but also not to use them. A few days ago it was
reported in the media that Prime Minister Ramos-Horta had authorized CPD
RDTL members to use their own registration cards to participate in the
elections. (DN)


Rice Distribution In Baucau District
The Ministry of Development decided to increase the distribution of rice
for sale in Baucau District to 35 tones as the first 15 tones was
insufficient to cover the areas in need of food. The same amount of rice
was also distributed to the district of Liquiça. In Ermera, the government
increased 20 tones of rice on Friday, making a total of 50 tones of rice
distributed in that area. According to Timor Post, a 62-year-old man died
as a result of food shortage in Trilolo, Baucau district. The man had been
eating only palm flour and aidak fruit. Two babies also died as result of
food shortages. They were dependant on only their mother’s milk for over 40
days. (DN)

Government's Policy Will Not Normalize Food Shortages In Market
MP, Jose Nominando from Democratic Party said yesterday in the Parliament
House that the government is trying to deceive the people by using ways of
manipulating documents of imported rice.

He said such policy would not help normalize the rice shortages in the
markets, adding that the government should be allocating imported rice to
the stores in the capital Dili in order to sell them to the people.

Timor-Leste is facing rice shortages and the government has made efforts to
distribute rice to sell in the capital and the districts. (STL)