UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING - Monday, 11 June 2007

National Media Reports

Fretilin’s “Movement group” encourages voting for new party
Fretilin’s “movement group” led by Pedro da Costa and George Teme, reportedly appealed to all their supporters to vote for CNRT, a new party led by former President Kayrala Xanana Gusmão.

“Voting for the CNRT would be the same as voting for Fretilin.” (STL)

Horta’s statement could raise instability
Christian Democratic Party (PDC) member, Antonio Ximenes, said that the statement made by President José Ramos-Horta on the involvement of some PNTL members in the incidents that took place in Viqueque could raise instability in the country.

“During our campaign in Viqueque, we gathered information from PNTL members that the people had lost their confidence in the PNTL,” said Mr. Ximenes on Saturday (9/6).

He added that President Horta should withdraw the comments he made at the PNTL academy in Dili last Thursday (7/6), as such statements could create instability in the country. Last Thursday, President Horta said that he had lost confidence in the PNTL. (STL)

Democratic Party: Fretilin should be responsible for Viqueque incidents
The Democratic Party (PD) representative, Julião Mausiri, called on Fretilin to take responsibility for the fatal shooting that took place in Viqueque last week (3/6).

Mr. Mausiri said that Fretilin supporters in the area disrupted the activities of the other political parties. (STL)

Urahou case: PD has not received letter from CNE
In response to the rumors that Democratic Party (PD) members were involved in burning houses in Urahou Lisapat, Ermera district last 30 May, PD Spokesperson Rui Menezes said on Friday (8/6) at the National Parliament that PD has not received any letter from the CNE in reference to the case.

Mr. Rui also said that the party objected to such violence, as well as other information stating that PD has split up. (STL)

Tribunal decides to imprison the man responsible for Viqueque’s fatal shooting
The Dili District Court during the first interrogation on Friday (8/6) decided that the suspect of the fatal shooting in Viqueque and PNTL member, Luis da Silva Guterres, should be imprisoned while the investigations on the case proceed. (STL)

President asks UNPol to improve PNTL
Following the fatal incident that took place in Viqueque last week (3/6), President José Ramos- Horta called on the UNPol Commissioner to make an extra effort to improve the PNTL.

“I have given the UNPol Commissioner two-three days to reflect on ways to improve the PNTL,” said Mr. Horta after meeting with the members of the political parties, the SRSG, DSRSG Rieske Nielsen and the UNPol Commissioner on Thursday (6/6) at the UNMIT Headquarters, Dili. (STL)

The suspect gives reason behind fatal shooting in Viqueque
At the first judicial interrogation at the Dili District Court on Friday (8/6), the suspect of the fatal shooting that took place in Viqueque, Luis da Silva Guterres, declared that he shot the victim after Kudalai (the victim) hit him. (TP)

Fugitives Alfredo and Salsinha call for dialogue
The former commander of military police, Major Alfredo Reinado and the petitioners’ Spokesperson, Gastão Salsinha, called on the Government to organize a meeting soon.

“We are very patient, however, if this meeting continues to be postponed, we will end the opportunity for dialogue,” said Reinado and Salsinha on Tuesday (10/6) at the border of Suai, Covalima. (TP)

Political parties asked to avoid speculating on the Viqueque case
While attending the swearing-in ceremony of the Vice Minister of Health on Friday (8/6) at the Palacio da Cinzas in Dili, Prime Minister Estanislau Aleixo da Silva called on all political parties and the Timorese people not to speculate on the Viqueque incident, which led to the death of CNRT member, Afonso Kudalai. (DN)

International Media Reports

Adjusting to the Reality of a Democratic Indonesia
June 8, 2007
By Walter Lohman
The Heritage Foundation
In Washington, inertia often carries the day on even the most anachronistic policy ideas. Congress proved this axiom on June 5 when appropriators in the House of Representatives slashed and conditioned the Administration's request to provide military assistance to Indonesia.

Indonesia today is a large, vibrant democracy and a key piece of the geostrategic puzzle in Asia. It is also among the United States' most important partners in the War on Terror. Approached wisely, the U.S.-Indonesian relationship embodies a convergence of interests on values, geopolitics, and security that is rare among U.S. relationships in the developing world.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations has charted a strikingly unwise course. Under the leadership of Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY), it has covered its collective ears to the history of the last decade and has forged ahead with a policy that ignores reality and the vital American interests at stake in the region.

Roots of Contention

Military assistance to Indonesia first became a matter of contention in Washington following the Dili Massacre of 1991, in which hundreds of protestors in East Timor were murdered by the armed forces of East Timor's erstwhile ruler, Indonesia. The debate was stoked in 1999 by the scorched earth reaction of Indonesian troops and pro-Indonesia militias to East Timor's overwhelming vote in favor of independence. For good reason, these unconscionable abuses strained relations between the United States and Indonesia.

Democracy in Indonesia

But since 1999, the world has been turned upside down. An emerging, unstable democracy then, Indonesia is now a flourishing democracy. In October 1999, Indonesia elected a president--albeit indirectly--for the first time in 50 years. Five years later, an astounding 350 million votes were cast in three national elections--including a direct election for president. The final round of the 2004 presidential election, involving 117 million voters and 77 percent of eligible voters, was the largest single election day in history. Among the many remarkable facets of Indonesia's democracy, the 2004 elections produced 61 women members of the 550-seat lower house and 27 out of 128 in the upper house.

Acknowledging that elections do not necessarily equal democracy, it should also be pointed out that Indonesians have taken to vigorously exercising their civil liberties. There are 16 political parties, hundreds of newspapers and magazines, independent television and radio outlets, and countless web sites commenting on Indonesian politics. Lively political debate reverberates across many forums and media. According to Freedom House, Indonesia is the freest country in Southeast Asia.

Symbolic of Indonesia's progress, in 2005, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited the site of the 1991 Dili Massacre to pay his respects. The East Timorese Prime Minister reciprocated by telling his countrymen to "Forget the past and look to the future." Today, Indonesia and East Timor enjoy a close, cooperative relationship due in major part to the effort of former president and independence-hero Xanana Gusmao. The same week that House appropriators were taking Indonesia to task, in fact, the current president of East Timor, Jose Ramos Horta, was in Jakarta echoing the same sentiment offered by his government in 2005, saying, "The important thing is we don't allow ourselves to be hostage of the past but look forward with courage."

Despite its searing, up-close experience in the 1990s, East Timor has come to peace with Indonesia. Yet, its well-meaning supporters in the U.S. Congress seem unable to acknowledge new realities.

Strategic Concerns for the United States

Two other things have changed since 1999.

First, the meteoric rise of China has made the presence of a strong, U.S.-friendly ASEAN--the association of 10 Southeast Asian nations on China's strategic doorstep--a critical U.S. interest. Indonesia, straddling waters that accommodate half of the world's commercial cargo transit, is an important part of U.S. geopolitical calculations in its own right. But, as a nation of 235 million people and 17,000 islands, it is also ASEAN's indispensable power.

Every day, China becomes a more effective competitor for the region's interests. Particularly since 2002, its focus in Southeast Asia has shifted from its territorial claims in the South China Sea to lavishing the region with diplomatic attention. Without due vigilance, commitment, and wise policy choices, the time is not far off when the U.S. role as guarantor of regional security and stability will be up for grabs. The United States needs friends in the region; and Indonesia, by whole-heartedly embracing universal democratic ideals, has made being friends as easy as any nation in the world.

Second, the United States is six years into waging the good fight on global terrorism. Indonesia and the U.S. share fundamental interests in this war. Indonesians themselves have been victims of terrorism. Terrorists have directed major acts of violence against the country's tourism industry and foreign communities, killing many innocent foreigners as well as Indonesians.

For many years, the terrorists have sought to inflame sectarian divisions in the same way that al-Qaeda has done so effectively elsewhere in the world. Terrorists have also sought to establish training beachheads in Indonesia's far-flung territories. But the terrorists in Indonesia are losing: There have been no major acts of terrorism in Indonesia since October 2005.

Moderation is in the DNA of Indonesia's national character. Certainly, there is a battle going on for Indonesia's soul, as is being waged in much of the Muslim world. But in Indonesia, the extremists are faced with an extraordinarily resilient foe in Indonesia's famously syncretism, diverse, and tolerant culture. Congress can help strengthen the Indonesian government's hand through assistance and partnership, or it can hamper it by coveting its assistance. Indonesia will fight the war against terror without the United States; but American cooperation certainly improves its prospects. It is in the national interest for the United States to be there for its natural partners.

Conclusion

None of this is to suggest that the United States does not have differences with Indonesia. Indeed, Representative Lowey's concerns about accountability for past human rights abuses and the proper role of the military is legitimate. But the United States needs to get to a point where it addresses these concerns with the same respect it affords other democratic partners, like the Europeans or the Japanese. Limiting and legally conditioning military-to-military relations are not the best way to address differences; it is a page from the past. The recent action by House appropriators is counterproductive and damaging to vital American interests in Asia.

Walter Lohman is Director of the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation.

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RI to open cultural centre in Timor Leste
06/09/07 21:26
Antara

Batugade, Timor Leste (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Embassy in Dili will build an Indonesian Cultural Center in Timor Leste’s capital in cooperation with the central government, a spokesman said.

Kiki T. Kusprabowo, counsellor at the embassy, told ANTARA News via phone on Saturday most Timor Leste people were quite able to converse, write and communicate in the Indonesian language.

Thus, he said, an Indonesian cultural centre in Dili would not only serve as a place to introduce the Indonesian language but also Indonesian culture comprehensively.

"At present, we continue to communicate and coordinate with Jakarta on this matter," he added.

Since Timor Leste gained independence on May 20 seven years ago, only one country had opened a cultural centre in Dili, namely Portugal.

Within its cultural complex, Portugal was displaying exhibits on its culture, many aspects of which were absorbed by the local people.

Officially, or based on its constitution, Timor Leste uses three languages, namely Tetum, Portuguese and English. In various official documents, it is often found that the texts are written in Tetum and Portuguese.

But in daily activities, members of the old and younger generations use the Tetum and Indonesian languages.

Herman da Silva, 26, a Dili resident who once studied at Diponegoro University in Semarang, said over the phone that it was difficult for Timor Leste people to master Portuguese. (*)

Timor-Leste eyes new military

Published: June 8, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Source: United Press International

CANBERRA, Australia, June 8 (UPI) -- Timor-Leste is mulling creation of a new national army, air force and missile-equipped navy to protect oil and gas interests in the Timor Sea.

According to The Australian, recommendations for the forces appear in a report produced by Timorese defense planners and their Portuguese and Malaysian advisers.

Australia was apparently not informed about or asked to contribute to the compilation of the report, which has not been made public in Timor-Leste and is in only limited diplomatic distribution.

The Australian said it had seen a copy of the report, titled Force 2020.

Timor-Leste was previously known as East Timor and gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 via a 1999 U.N.-sponsored referendum.

That referendum came after years of violence between Timorese nationalists and Indonesia, which invaded and annexed the former Portuguese colony in 1975.

The report is sure to stir controversy in Australia, which provides the Dili government with economic aid as well as police and military personnel to help the country maintain internal security. Indonesia, a key U.S. ally in Asia in the war against terror, would also not look favorably on a Timorese move to build a national military.

"The people who wrote this report made sure the Australians were kept right out of this because they don't trust them," an unidentified Western analyst was quoted in the newspaper report.

An Australian-led peacekeeping force deployed to Timor-Leste last year after ethnic tensions and violence ripped apart the country's 1,500-man self-defense force.
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This is a broadcast of the UN Police in Timor-Leste to provide you with information about the security situation around the country.

Monday, 11 June 2007

The security situation in the country as a whole has been calm.

Today in Dili, UNPol conducted 41 patrols and attended to a total of seven incidents. In the morning, rocks were thrown at a convoy of approximately 20 microlets travelling from Comoro station to the Government building to protest about the price of petrol. Some of the drivers also threw rocks at other microlet drivers who did not participate in the convoy.

In Viqueque yesterday, UNPol recovered items that were stolen from the house of two UNPol officers on Saturday, including one firearm. An investigation is underway.

Also yesterday, UNPol reported providing security to ten political rallies in the districts of Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Ermera and Manufahi. There were no reports of any security incidents related to the campaigning.

The Police advise to avoid traveling during the night to the most affected areas. Report any suspicious activities and avoid traveling the areas affected by disturbances. Call 112 or 7230365 to contact the police 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This has been a daily broadcast of the UN Police in Timor-Leste, for the people of Timor-Leste