Wednesday, 04 July 2007 - UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING

National Media Reports

Horta calls on F-FDTL to respect human rights
At an F-FDTL workshop on Human Rights on Tuesday (03/7) in Dili, President José Ramos-Horta called upon the F-FDTL to ensure the respect human rights, following their involvement in the crisis last year.

“F-FDTL and police officers wear the national uniform, carry weapons and should promote law and order and respect human rights,” said Mr. Horta. (STL and TVTL)

Close competition between CNRT and Fretilin
The preliminary elections results show that [ruling party] Fretilin has a slight lead with 101,699 votes (28, 86%), however 141 ballot boxes still remain to be counted.

From the remaining boxes, it is expected that the votes will either go to CNRT or Fretilin – Fretilin to receive the majority of the votes from Baucau and Ermera Districts while CNRT hopes to have a majority in Dili, Bobonaro and Liquica. (STL)

The Indonesian language will not replace Portuguese in Timor-Leste
In response to queries regarding the official language of Timor-Leste, the Minister of Culture and Education, Mrs. Rosaria Maria Corte-Real, reportedly said that Indonesian will not replace Portuguese as the official language of the country.

However, she also said that knowledge of the Indonesian language would be beneficial for maintaining good relations -- political and economic -- with its neighboring country. (STL)

Rerden: “ISF conducted patrols across Timor-Leste”
The Commander of International Stabilization Forces (ISF), Brigadier Mal Rerden, reportedly said that prior to the parliamentary elections on 30 June, the ISF supported UNPol and PNTL in preparing the elections security plan.

Mr. Rerden mentioned that the ISF provided 20 helicopters for the operation and 800 ISF officers from Australia and New Zealand cooperated with UNPol to conduct 140 patrols across Timor-Leste. (DN)

UN provides 123.500 tons of food to Timorese people in need
At an UNMIT press conference held on Tuesday (3/7) in Dili, DSRSG Finn Reske-Nielsen stated that the UN will provide 123.500 tons of food to assist the people of Timor-Leste. (DN)

WFP and FAO report identified six districts in danger of facing a food crisis
At an UNMIT press conference on Tuesday (3/7) in Dili, DSRSG Finn Reske-Nielsen said that the WFP/FAO report identified six districts which are in danger of facing a food crisis from October 2007 until March 2008.

“Manatuto, Baucau, Bobonaro, Ermera, Lautem and Oecusse districts have been identified by the WFP/FAO as the risk areas,” said Mr. Reske-Nielsen, who was accompanied by the Acting Director of WFP, Ms. Angeline Rudakubana and the FAO Director Chana Epeskorku. (TP)

Horta: too early to define the status of Alfredo
At an F-FDTL workshop on Human Rights on Tuesday (03/7) in Dili, President José Ramos-Horta said that the status of former military Police Commander, Major Alfredo Reinado Alves, will be decided after the proposed dialogue with him. (DN and TP)

ISF: Mission Impossible to arrest Alfredo
The ISF Commander, Brigadier Mal Rerden, acknowledged that the operation to capture former military Police Commander, Major Alfredo Reinado Alves and his men was complicated. He said that the difficult terrain made it difficult to use modern military equipment.

“I think the Timorese people understand that owing to the difficult terrain in this country, it was difficult to find their hide-out,” said Mr. Rerden. (TP)

Counting of Votes will end on 15 July
At a CNE press conference held on Tuesday (3/7) in Dili, the CNE Spokesperson, Maria Angelina Sarmento, informed the media that the counting process for the parliamentary elections will end on 15 July 2007.

“An end date has not been determined by the law but the CNE expects that all votes will be counted by the 15th of July,” said Ms. Sarmento.

She also appealed to the media to confirm their information regarding statistics and preliminary results prior to publishing. (TP)


Security:

This is a broadcast of the UN Police in Timor-Leste to provide you with information about the security situation around the country.

Wednesday, 4 July 2007

The security situation across the country has been calm.

Today in Dili, UNPol were required to attend five incidents. None were major. An international woman was robbed of her handbag at knifepoint on the Beach Road. The suspects fled, but Police managed to catch and arrest them later. Separately, a vehicle caught fire on Comoro Bridge. The Fire Brigade was called and they extinguished the blaze and removed the burnt car from the bridge.

Yesterday in Dili, a sergeant from the F-FDTL was involved in a fist fight with a taxi driver in Bidau over a traffic incident. UNPol intervened and resolved the situation before anyone was injured. Also in Dili, unidentified people threw rocks at the house of a government employee, smashing three windows and a table. The Dili investigation unit is looking into the case.

UNPol in Dili yesterday received reports of a stabbing that took place in Makadiki, Viqueque district, on 3 July. Two teenagers were fighting, and one received minor injuries to his left hand and right arm. The suspect has been arrested and PNTL are investigating further.

The UNPol Election Security Plan is currently in Phase Four, the post-polling phase. UNPol, PNTL and Formed Police Units remain deployed and are on stand-by for any post-polling clashes or victory processions. The International Stabilisation Forces are also on stand-by, ready to be deployed on request.

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