Xanana Will not Seek Second Term as President

Wednesday, 17 January, 2007 14:32 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Dili: President of Timor Leste Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao yesterday (01/16) announced he would not seek a second term as president.

“On May 20, the mandate of the State Sovereignty Council will come to an end, and I will not run for presidential office in the next period,” said Xanana.

“Let someone take the position for the sake of the country's success,' said Xanana after delivering a final message to the diplomatic corps of Timor Leste at the Presidential Office in Dili.

After five years as President, this is the second time that Xanana has stated his reluctance to seek a second term.

Previously, in an interview in the January 4 edition of Time magazine, Xanana also stated that he would no longer run for presidential office.

In the meeting with the diplomats, Xanana also discussed the political situation in the upcoming general election.

He has asked both them and the international community to still help his country run the process of democracy.

Xanana has also asked that the UN forces in Timor Leste do not only assist in terms of human rights and justice aspects, but also the process of the general election.

He also thanked the countries that have helped his security officers in recovering the country's stability.

In addition, President Xanana has also thanked the Republic of Indonesia.

“Although the country is being surrounded by troubles, it still aided the people of Timor Leste during the political crisis,” he said.
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UNMIT Daily Media Review - Thursday, Tuesday, 16 January 2007

National Media Reports:

TP - Timor Post
DN - Diario Nacional
STL - Suara Timor Lorosae
RTTL - Radio e Televisao de Timor-Leste

Swearing-In Of Members of Commission

Members of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) were sworn-in yesterday in a ceremony held at the National Parliament. Dr. Faustino Cardoso Gomes, who was elected as the President of the Commission, told the media that the team is composed of people with elevated capacity that can carry the work effectively. One of the topics the commission would discuss, is its own budget, said Gomes. Addressing the ceremony, Speaker of the House, Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo" reminded members of the commission that the role of the NEC is to also assure equal treatment of the citizens in the census and electoral process as well as equal opportunities and the freedom for the candidates to campaign during the elections. A total of 27 people, 15 effectives and 12 substitutes are part of NEC. Bishop Basilio do Nascimento said the swearing-in of the NEC members is a positive step towards the democracy process in Timor-Leste. (DN, TP)
KOTA Doubts Fretilin's Win

The Statement of Fretilin's Secretary General, Mari Alkatiri affirming that his party will win the 2007 elections with absolute majority has been rejected by opposition parties like PSD, KOTA and UDT. Clementino do Amaral of KOTA said he doubts Fretilin will win with the majority of the voting, noting that politically, members of the parties can make such statement provided that they do not distribute guns to destroy their own people. Amaral further said the Timorese people have woken up and are aware of the developments of the government in the country in the past five years. (DN)

MPs Rejects CVA Recommendations

The recommendation of Comissao Verdade e Acolhimento, (CVA) for amnesty to the authors of human rights violations in Timor-Leste has been rejected by MPs Cipriana Pereira (Fretilin) and Maria Paixao (PSD). Both are of the opinion that the sufferings of the victims should be considered and that the authors must face justice. Pereira stated that the last decision would be from the Parliament following consultation with the Timorese people on the recommendation. Paixao said the justice process is the solution to identify who had been right or wrong. (DN)

Court Proceedings

The presence of armed F-FDTL members in the court can be interpreted that militarism is on the rise, said MP Clementino Amaral of KOTA. He said solidarity shown to the three members of F-FDTL on their preliminary court hearings by their colleagues in uniforms and armed, would give a bad image to the country, hence appealed to Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak and other officials of the Defence Force not to allow the same attitude to be repeated.

Fr. Martinho Gusmao said the presence of armed members of the Timorese Defence Forces in the court has violated the public services ethics. Jose Luis Oliveira, Director of Hak Association is of the opinion that the presence of some members of F-FDTL in the court last Friday in uniform and armed, gives a negative impact to the country. Three members of F-FDTL who had been on preventive detention requested the Deputy Minister of Justice, Isabel Ferreira to speed up their case and not to delay it like the case of Oan Kiak and Abilio Mausoko, following a visiting meeting with them.

The three have expressed that their detention would serve as an example to better the justice system in the country and want to seek the truth. Following the meeting with the three military members, Isabel Ferreira informed them that Brigadier General Ruak have asked two layers, Sanches and Jose Guterres to take overt and focus on their case since lawyer Paulo Remedios has a very tight agenda.

Timor Post reported that the court would call all the people whose name has been mentioned during the trial in relation to allegations of distribution of guns. Paulo Martins and police agent Pascoal Ximenes are some of the people scheduled to appear in court. (TP, DN, STL)

Alfredo Schedule To Meet PM

Major Reinado Alfredo told Timor Post that he was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Ramos-Horta on Tuesday as a continuation to previous meeting to try and resolve the current crisis. He did not reveal the agenda of the meeting, saying he was still waiting confirmation from the Prime Minister's office. Questions have also been raised on the bazooka in Alfredo's possession. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, 14/1, the Australian Defence Force has lost a similar type of weapon from its security centre and there are doubts it might have falling into the hands of the terrorists. (TP)

Majority Of IDP's Are From The East

Based on the data from the Public Works Ministry, the majority of a total of 3000 IDPs who have decided to return to the districts, are from the eastern part of the territory, said Deputy Minister of Public Works, Raul Mousaco. He said those who have returned included public servants who hold jobs in the capital, adding the reason for their return is due to the security situation. He said the government is working to strengthen security in the neighborhoods.

Meanwhile Bishop Basilio asked why there continues to be the lack of capacity to maintain law and order in Dili, despite the increasing number of international forces and PNTL officers. Basilio said that in the districts it has been peaceful but in Dili only four or five neighborhoods has kept the capital awake. He added that many people have questioned that if there are so many numbers of police including PNTL why can't they contain the situation in Dili. (TP)

RTTL news headlines

Prime Minister returns to Timor-Leste from ASEAN meeting

Prime Minister Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta returned from ASEAN meeting in Cebu Philippines. Speaking to journalists yesterday Ramos-Horta said that Timor-Leste received a special invitation from the Secretary- General of the Council of Ministers of ASEAN to participate in the meeting. "The presence of Timor-Leste was important to prepare ourselves to be member of ASEAN in the near future," said Horta. He also stressed that security is an issued considered extremely important for any country to be part of the ASEAN membership. Therefore he invites everyone in the country to fill in the security requirement before joining the forum. During his visit, he added that he met with 10 heads of States including both Presidents and Prime Ministers and held a separate bilateral meeting with the President of the Philippines to sign the cooperation agreement in the area of education.

Two witnesses present their testimony in the court

Rogerio Lobato, the former Minister of Interior cour proceedings continued with statements from two members of PNTL namely Carlos da Costa and Afonso do Santos as new witnesses. According to TVTL, Da Costa was asked by Lobato to distribute the uniform and cars to the group of Railos. Do Santos was questioned by the judge on how he handled the petitioners during the demonstration and the incident in front of the office of Minister of Justice on 25 May 2006. At the time, Carlos da Costa was serving as the messenger of Rogerio Lobato while Afonso do Santos was responsible for PNTL Operational Command in handling the demonstration held by the petitioners in front of the Palace of Government from 23 - 28 October 2006.

Preventive Prison for Lobato

The National Movement for Peace and Justice, expressed their discontentment on how the court is handling the trial of Rogerio Lobato. They lamented that why can't the court change the status of Lobato from suspect to accused. The Movement spokesperson, wants the court to change the status of Lobato from suspect to accused and put him in a preventive prison in order to avoid manipulations of facts and other maneuvers as well as protecting the evidence for truth and justice. They also demand the court to immediately bring in the new witnesses like Mr. Mari Alkatiri and Paulo Martins. The same movement suggested to the court to have a professional translator in order to ensure clear translation message to the victims, the accused, witnesses and those presence in the court proceeding room.

UN Security Council - 12 January 2007

SC/8940 - 2006 Round-up

Security Council Confronts Ambitious Agenda In 2006, Brokering Ceasefires,
Easing Difficult Transitions, Blunting Relapses Into Conflict

Major Concerns Addressed Include War in Lebanon, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Sudan, Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Iraq, Afghanistan, Terrorism.

[…]

Asia

Timor-Leste

The Council’s consideration of the Organization’s future presence in Timor-Leste, particularly in the wake of violence that erupted there in April-May, culminated in the establishment of a new, expanded United Nations Mission in August, formally known as United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).

The Organization’s presence in Timor-Leste had been drawn down since the original United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), set up in 1999, helped to usher the South-East Asian country to independence in 2002. That was then replaced with a downsized operation, the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), which, in turn, was succeeded by a residual United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL).

With UNOTIL’s one-year mandate expiring in May, the country’s President, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, asked the Security Council on 23 January to consider establishing a follow-on special political office in his country. During that meeting, the Council also had a debate on the situation in Timor-Leste, following a briefing by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of UNOTIL, Sukehiro Hasegawa.

Expressing gratitude for the critical role that the Security Council had played in Timor-Leste’s recent history, President Gusmão said that the senseless violence and destruction of 1999 might seem like a thing of the past, but it should not be forgotten that it had all happened only a few years ago. Much remained to be done in ensuring further improvement of State institutions, law and order agencies and the administration. In view of upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007, the proposed United Nations presence should also have an electoral assistance component.

A reminder that the situation in Timor-Leste remained fragile came at the next briefing to the Council on 5 May, when the Secretary-General’s Special Representative described recent violence in Timor-Leste, sparked by dismissal of nearly 600 soldiers, with five people killed and thousands fleeing the capital. Mr. Hasegawa said that, despite the achievements of the past five years, State institutions were increasingly challenged in addressing the grievances of various groups and the rising expectations of the people, as well as the potential risks associated with the conduct of the first post-independence presidential and parliamentary elections next year.

Expressing its deep concern over the April incidents, the Council, unanimously adopting resolution 1677 on 12 May, extended the mandate of UNOTIL until 20 June, also requesting the Secretary-General to provide an update on the situation and on the role of the United Nations following the expiration of UNOTIL’s mandate.

With the security situation in Timor-Leste deteriorating even further, the Council, in a presidential statement on 25 May, urged the country’s Government to take all necessary steps to end the violence and urged all parties to participate in the democratic process. It also fully supported the deployment of defence and security forces from Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, in response to a request from the Timorese Government, and welcomed the initiatives of the Secretary-General, including his intention to send a special envoy to Timor-Leste in order to facilitate political dialogue.

After deadly incidents in April and May had displaced more than 100,000 people and troops had been deployed from four countries to quell the violence, the Security Council considered the situation in the country again on 13 June. Addressing the Council, Secretary-General Kofi Annan pointed out that Timor-Leste was a “child of the international community” that the United Nations was determined not to abandon at its time of need.

Through four successive missions, the United Nations had played a key role in laying the foundation for Timor-Leste’s democratic institutions and processes, he said. Today, however, those stood exposed. “We have learned -- at a painful price for Timor-Leste -- that the building of institutions on the basic principles of democracy and the rule of law is not a simple process that can be completed within a few short years,” he concluded. Clearly, tremendous work lay ahead, both for the Government and the international community.

The Council was also briefed by the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Ian Martin, who highlighted not only immediate security challenges, but also the complex political situation and other problems, requiring longer-term attention of the political leadership and support of the international community. At the same time, he cautioned against viewing Timor-Leste as a failed State, saying that, rather, it was a four-year-old State “struggling to stand on its two feet and learn to practice democratic governance”.

On 20 June, the Council, unanimously adopting resolution 1690, extended the mandate of UNOTIL for two months, giving the Secretary-General until 7 August to report on the United Nations future role after that mandate expired.

The Secretary-General’s recommendations for a new, “multidimensional and integrated” United Nations mission in Timor-Leste were considered on 15 August. Introducing the Secretary-General’s proposals, Mr. Martin said that, asked to mandate a large mission after downsizing former missions, the Council should not see it as a reversion. The proposals would establish a more effective compact between Timor-Leste and the international community. The central failure revealed by the April and May crisis had been in the security sector -- therefore, reforming that sector was a core task. Also, the challenge to the justice system as it confronted serious crimes was greater than ever, and the protection of human rights needed strengthening.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, Jose Luis Guterres, conveyed his people’s gratitude to Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal -- the countries that had contributed to the international stabilization force after the April events. Those developments had revealed an acute need for continued long-term international assistance for the building of viable State institutions, notably in the areas of security, justice and development, he said.

Many speakers in the debate stressed that, despite the “regrettable” events of April and May, the young country had made great strides forward and deserved continued international support. The representative of the Philippines echoed many speakers’ sentiments, by saying that, despite the events in the past months, Timor-Leste was still one of the best examples of a successful international enterprise engineered through combined cooperative efforts of the United Nations, regional players and partners.

As deliberations on the Secretary-General’s proposal for a new mission continued, the Council extended the mandate of UNOTIL for another five days on 18 August, unanimously adopting resolution 1703.

Finally, on 25 August, the Council established a new, expanded operation – the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) -- for an initial period of six months, to be manned with up to 1,608 police personnel and up to 34 military officers.

According to resolution 1704, which was unanimously adopted that day, UNMIT’s mandate would include supporting the Government in “consolidating stability, enhancing a culture of democratic governance, and facilitating political dialogue among Timorese stakeholders in their efforts to bring about a process of national reconciliation”.

The Mission was also tasked with supporting the country in holding 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections and to ensure, through the presence of United Nations police, the restoration and maintenance of public security. Also, its mandate also included providing assistance to the Government in reviewing the security sector; strengthening the national capacity for promoting and protecting human rights; and promoting justice and reconciliation. The international security forces from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal were called on to fully cooperate with, and provide assistance to, UNMIT.

[…]

[Texto integral: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sc8940.doc.htm]

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Amnesties OK for Timor Leste rights violators, says body

The Jakarta Post - Wednesday, January 17, 2007

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Commission for Truth and Friendship (KKP) will leave the granting of amnesties for human rights violators in Timor Leste to the Indonesian and Timor Leste governments.

Commission member Lt. Gen. (ret) Agus Widjojo said Tuesday that amnesty should, however, be given to those who had been co-operative in giving information to KKP inquiry. "In the commission's terms of reference there is one clause saying that we can recommend names that should be given amnesty ... on the condition that they are co-operative in our inquiry," Agus told The Jakarta Post.

He said that the primary task of the KKP was to uncover the truth surrounding the violence that took place in the aftermath of the 1999 referendum in East Timor, in which more than 90 percent of East Timorese voted to split from Indonesia. "Our task is to investigate whether institutional accountability will be required," he said.

Earlier this month, members of the commission had agreed to make recommendations to the Indonesian and Timor Leste governments about amnesties for the perpetrators of the violence. The United Nations has estimated that at least 1,500 people were killed by militia groups backed by the Indonesian Military (TNI) in the aftermath of the 1999 referendum.

A number of Indonesian generals, including former TNI chief and defense minister Gen. (ret) Wiranto, are among the military members expected to be summoned by the KKP.

The commission, modeled on similar restorative justice bodiesset up in South Africa, Chile and Argentina, has no power toprosecute alleged human rights violators. However, it can make recommendations to the Indonesian and Timor Leste governments on granting amnesties and providing compensation and rehabilitation to victims.

The body was set up last year after the United Nations expressed dissatisfaction with Indonesia's earlier attempts to bring the perpetrators of rights violations to justice. At the time, it threatened to take the cases to an international tribunal.

The commission is expected to wrap up its inquiry on July 31.

Rafendi Djamin of the Human Rights Working Group condemned the KKP's recommendation that alleged perpetrators of human rights violations in East Timor be given amnesties. "It has been agreed by the international community that gross human rights violations did take place in East Timor and the perpetrators must stand trial for that. There is no such thing as amnesty for the perpetrators," Rafendi told the Post.

Rafendi said that the Indonesian government risked losing its credibility as a champion of human rights should it follow the recommendation. He said that the commission was flawed from its inception and only focused on pursuing the truth rather than justice.

Rafendi said the international community was now waiting for the KKP's final conclusions. "The whole world is watching now," he said.

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Comité Central da FRETILIN não considerou Abílio Araújo como candidato Presidencial

A CCF reuniu-se no Sábado passado e discutiu sobre o perfil do Presidente da RDTL. Alguns participaram mencionaram nomes possíveis para candidatos, mas o de Abilio Araújo não foi mencionado.

A FRETILIN ainda não escolheu nenhum candidato para PR.

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Gusmao to run for parliament, but not president

The Australian
Mark Dodd
January 17, 2007

EAST Timorese President Xanana Gusmao will not recontest presidential elections scheduled for April but is expected to run for parliament.

The former resistance leader took office in 2002 as the country's first democratically elected president after a quarter of century of Indonesian occupation.

Senior East Timorese political leaders have said for some time that Mr Gusmao was unlikely to stand for re-election, but yesterday a reliable diplomatic source close to the presidency said his plans involved standing for parliament.

"Xanana is considering running for national parliament, either with a group of parties or a new party," the source said. "He feels he still wants to contribute to democracy and the wellbeing of the country and one way to do that is through the parliament and not necessarily by having a second term as president."

The Australian understands Fretilin wants a former supporter of integration with Indonesia, Abilio Araujo, a founder of the Timorese Nationalist Party, to run in the April elections.

A virtual political unknown, he is regarded as an outside chance.

But a presidential vacancy would pave the way for current interim Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta, a Nobel peace laureate and warmly regarded by the Australian Government.

It is understood that Mr Gusmao was hurt by accusations from a UN inquiry of unwarranted political interference in his handling of last year's violence.

Mr Gusmao, 60, has previously signalled support for East Timor's opposition Democratic Party.

He is no friend of the ruling Fretilin, which is still seething at his role in forcing the resignation of prime minister Mari Alkatiri on June 26 over allegations he helped arm a political hit squad to liquidate political opponents.

Mr Gusmao is best known for his leadership of Fretilin's military wing, Falintil. He assumed command of the guerilla movement in 1978 after the assassination by Indonesian forces of his predecessor, Nicolau Lobato.

In November 1992, Mr Gusmao was arrested in Dili by Indonesian authorities and sentenced the following year to life imprisonment. While in Jakarta's Cipinang Prison, he met his future second wife, Australian aid worker and independence activist Kirsty Sword.

After East Timor voted overwhelmingly for independence from Indonesia in a bloody UN-brokered referendum on August 30, 1999, Mr Gusmao was released and returned from exile to a hero's welcome in Dili.

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Dos leitores

(Tradução da Margarida)

Comentário sobre a sua postagem "Australian policewoman pays children to damage vehicle - translation":

Devia haver um inquérito parlamentar Australiano ao papel dos polícias Australianos no estrangeiro.

O seu comportamento não somente em Timor-Leste mas também nas Ilhas Salomão, Papua Nova Guiné e nas Fiji tem sido posto em causa.

Em Timor-Leste nós, Australianos estamos muito embaraçados com a attitude e comportamento da AFP.

Regularmente praguejam contra as pessoas, são culturalmente insensíveis e completamente racistas. Uma razão para os carros terem placa de matrícula, que os veículos da AFP geralmente não têm, é obviamente para evitarem a identificação. Tenho um amigo que gosta de usar uma Tshirt que tem uma bandeira dos indígenas Australianos, o que muitos Timorenses fazem por sentido de solidariedade com um povo que foi desapossado da sua terra, e porque as cores da bandeira são as mesmas. Um veículo da AFP passou muito perto quando ele guiava a sua bicicleta e gritou-lhe "Queima a "#$%g BUNG!", e depois acelerou. Para os que não estão acostumados ao racismo Australiano esse é o termo depreciativo para os aborígenes da Austrália.

Isto diz tudo, não diz? Não admira que não queiram que ninguém mais, como a GNR, apanhe as mulheres deles e toda a glória porque eles (da GNR) são melhores no muito difícil policiamento que se está a fazer numa nação (em situação) transitória como Timor-Leste.

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Comunicado de Imprensa da JSMP: Audição de Evidência no julgamento do acusado Rogério Lobato e outro co-acusado

(Tradução da Margarida)

JSMP - 11 Janeiro 2007

Em 10 Janeiro de 2007, o Tribunal do Distrito de Dili, representado pelo mesmo Painel de Juízes mencionado no nosso Comunicado de Imprensa datado de 10 de Janeiro de 2007 continuou a audição de evidência no caso contra o acusado Rogério Lobato e os outro co-acusado no Tribunal de Recurso localizado em Kaikoli-Dili. A audição que estava marcada para as 9am hora local começou às 9.15am devido à chegada tardia de Rogério Lobato e do outro co-acusado. A testemunha Railos e o acusado Marcos Piedade chegaram ao local to Tribunal de Recurso antes das 9am.

Esta audição teve duas sessões. A primeira ocorreu entre as 9.15am e as 12.23pm e a segunda começou às 14.15pm e acabou às 17.53pm.

A audição de evidência no caso de Rogério Lobato e do outro co-acusado viu os actores judiciais a concentrarem-se no testemunho da testemunha Railos. A JSMP observou que Railos foi uma testemunha da acusação, e esta testemunha deu testemunho sobre a distribuição ilegal de armas a civis em Timor-Leste.

O representante legal de Lobato e do outro co-acusado afirmaram que o testemunho prestado pela testemunha Railos perante o tribunal era inválido porque contradizia a declaração que ele fez na sua declaração escrita que foi enviada para o Presidente da República. A acusação respondeu declarando que o testemunho dado pela testemunha no tribunal é válido e benéfico dado que foi feito na continuação da evidência apresentada pela testemunha durante o julgamento. Depois do interrogatório da testemunha ter sido completado o juiz presidente anunciou que a testemunha pode sair da sala do tribunal. Antes da testemunha ter partido, o juiz presidente lembrou-lhe que teria que regressar ao tribunal se e quando for convocado para voltar.

A JSMP observou que as testemunhas que não compareceram em 9 de Janeiro, depois de terem sido notificado conforme a lei pelo tribunal, compareceram de facto no tribunal em 10 de Janeiro. Compareceram no tribunal de acordo com um calendário préviamente determinada pelo tribunal. Como havia tempo insuficiente para continuar o interrogatório, no fecho da sessão do dia o painel de juízes lembrou às testemunhas presentes na sala do tribunal para regressarem no dia seguinte para darem o seu testemunho dado que o julgamento continuava.

A JSMP aplaude as testemunhas que compareceram no tribunal com o propósito de participar no julgamento. A JSMP observou que estas testemunhas chegaram sempre ao tribunal de acordo com o calendário estabelecido pelo tribunal. Apesar de pelo fecho dos procedimentos do dia esperarem ainda uma oportunidade para testemunhar, continuavam prontos e disponíveis para regressarem ao tribunal quando convocados.

A JSMP aplaude as acções dos actors judiciais que concentraram os seus esforços neste caso.

A JSMP acredita que com as audições deste caso, nomeadamente uma que relata a distribuição de armas a civis, o tribunal pode alterar a percepção do público que perdeu a fé no sistema judicial de Timor-Leste. A comunidade pode reganhar a fé e a confiança no domínio da lei e na justiça em Timor-Leste. A JSMP está optimista que este julgamento representa um passo positivo para a frente. A JSMP tem esperança que acções positivas como estas possam ser mantidas e desenvolvidas para alterar a percepção, confiança e fé da comunidade em direcção à lei aplicável no nosso querido país.

PARA MAIS INFORMAÇÃO POR FAVOR CONTACTE:
Maria de Vasconcelos
Directora em exercício, JSMP
Telephone: 332 3883
Email: vasconcelosmerry@yahoo.com

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