UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING

Saturday 27, Monday 29 January 2007

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

National Media Reports

Lobato’s Trial-Vicente Heard Railos Speak To Xanana

Rogerio Lobato’s trial continued Friday with statements from Liquiça District Administrator, Vicente dos Santos and Agosto Pereira, the Bazartete Administrator. In his statement, Do Santos said Railos told and showed him the telephone number to confirm President Xanana had called. He also said he heard Railos speak to President Xanana Gusmão during the crisis, adding that Railos himself instigated the problem that occurred in Liquiça. Former police commander Paulo de Fatima Martins is scheduled to testify today.

President Xanana Gusmão has stated that he is ready to respond to the court at any time regarding the crisis. (STL, DN, TP)

MUNJ Organizes Protest

Movimento Nacional ba Justisa no Paz (MUNJ) is planning a demonstration in Dili today, 29/1 with the aim to ‘shake’ the prosecutor general and the judges to work better and to support the judiciary body and to clearly look into the problems. Nino Pereira, MUNJ spokesperson said justice is progressing well but the court should note the evidence, provided so far which he considers sufficient to take to court. In the case of Rogério Lobato, Pereira said the witnesses have all stated that the former Minister of Interior distributed guns, hence the court must make a decision rather than prolonging the case. He informed that the protest would involve people from all the districts on the second or third day with the youth and the population of the capital, Dili, attending the first day of the event. The spokesperson of MUNG also informed that a total of up to 1000 are expected to join in the activity, which is scheduled to take place in front of Hotel Dili, stressing that it will be a peace protest in cooperation with UNPOL.
In the meantime, Major Alfredo has appealed to the people to support the protest adding MUNJ is the organisation that guarantees unity to overcome the problem of ‘Lorosae-Loromonu’ (STL, TP)

Government And UN Discusses UIR Reactivation

Prime Minister Ramos-Horta is currently discussing with the UN and UNPOL the possibility of reactivating UIR, stressing that ‘terrorists group’ like the martial arts group that continue to create violence in Dili will be dealt with soon. Ramos-Horta warned that the State is not playing around anymore with anyone who wants to continue with the violence. When questioned what type of measures the government was taking to deal with the problem, the Prime Minister said the government continues to observe the Constitution and the international conventions signed by the State. But in order to be able to operate on the ground, Ramos-Horta said the Parliament must pass legislation required by the government to give power to the police to act. (TP)


Fretilin Will Win Both Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: Alkatiri

Fretilin Secretary General Mari Alkatiri stated during a speech on the party’s consolidation gathering as well as at the swearing-in of a member of the Organizing Electoral Commission in Baucau that his party would win the Presidential and the Parliamentary elections in 2007 with greater numbers and that peace and stability would be re-established. He saidFretilin would respect the small and big parties, that the party rejects reconciliation but does not hold hatred or revenge.
Regarding the candidates for the Presidential seat, Alkatiri said his party would present the candidate when the election dates are announced, noting that its prerequisites for the candidate for the Presidential Elections include 24 years involvement in the struggle, a roots connection with Fretilin, a respect for the Constitution and they should be neutral. He also said that some Majors running around with guns shows that they are scared of the population and that they do not have power. He said in a democratic environment one does not need guns to win the popularity. Francisco Guterres ‘Lu-Olo’, also reiterated that Fretilin would easily win the elections. He said the swearing-in of the party members from region 1 is to monitor the campaign and elections of 2007 to ensure that Fretilin wins.
(STL, TP, DN)

Signing Of Trilateral Agreement

Following the trilateral signing agreement between Timor-Leste, the UN and Australia on Friday, January 26, Foreign Affairs Minister, José Luis Guterres said the signing of the agreement is important for Timor-Leste as it refers to the sovereignty of the country, the Constitution, the government and it recognizes F-FDTL and PNTL as the defences of Timor-Leste. The Agreement also established a coordination trilateral forum, presided over by Prime Minister Ramos-Horta in the security sector.
The Forum would also include Timor-Leste Foreign Affairs Minister, Minister of Defence, Interior, and Permanente Secretary for Defence, Commander F-FDTL, UNMIT representative, UNPOL Commissioner and Commander of International Forces. (DN)

International Media Reports

Plea for information on ETimor's Balibo killings
An Australian coroner has again urged anyone with information that could help the inquest into the deaths of five Australian journalists in East Timor in 1975 to come forward.

At a directions hearing in Sydney, the New South Wales Deputy Coroner, Dorelle Pinch, said she was surprised by a newspaper article last week that referred to information given by a former signals officer.

She said the information could not be tested because it was not part of the material before the inquiry, and stressed that anyone with information contact the officer in charge of the investigation. (Radio Australia)

UN Signs Joint Security Deal in Timor Improving Coordination
Real Time News/News Blaze

The United Nations mission in Timor-Leste today signed a security agreement with Timorese authorities and Australia's Government to better improve coordination in the fight against continuing violence in the tiny nation, while UN Police are stepping up efforts to bring stability ahead of this year's planned elections.

"While we have always maintained good cooperation between all three parties, formalizing of a Trilateral Coordination Body is a useful step forward in clarifying how security cooperation between the three bodies will move forward in a way that will promote a sustainable stability in Timor-Leste," the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Atul Khare said at the signing ceremony in Timor's capital Dili.

The coordination forum will also allow closer information sharing on security issues between the UN Mission in Timor (<" http://www.unmiset.org ">UNMIT), the Timorese Government and the International Security Forces (ISF), although Mr. Khare reiterated that it is the people of Timor-Leste themselves who must foster stability in their country.

"We are here to assist and support the Government of Timor-Leste, but it is the Timorese who have the prime responsibility for maintenance of security and stability." he said.

In a press conference after the signing, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Timor Leste, Jose Luis Guterres said it was a culmination of efforts between Australia, Timor Leste and the UN to maximise coordination in all areas of security.

The agreement comes a day after Mr. Khare expressed concern at an increase in violence in the capital during the latter half of this month, although the number of incidents is still lower than in December, and he added that since last Friday there have been 32 arrests connected with the disturbances.

"In the first week of December, 2006 UNPOL (UN Police) reported 151 incidents in Dili. In the first week of January, this has been reduced to 38 incidents. In the past week up until Tuesday of this week, this increased to 88 incidents. So you can see comparatively that the situation in Dili is more stable than what it was in early December 2006.

Nevertheless, the increase is of concern to us," he told reporters on Thursday.

Most of the 32 recent arrests "are connected with the possession of illegal weapons, rock throwing, attacks on police and some property damage to police cars," he added.

Last weekend Mr. Khare, along with the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Security Sector Reform Rule of Law in Timor-Leste Eric Tan and UNMIT Police Commissioner Rodolfo Tor, held meetings with Timorese living in the areas of the increased violence to discuss reasons behind it.

Speaking at the same press conference on Thursday, Mr. Tan said he had also recently met with the leaders of various martial arts groups to discuss the violence between their members, adding that UNPOL was providing additional officers to police posts in Dili where needed.

“The message we sent to them (martial arts groups) is that this cycle of violence, revenge and counter revenge must stop. We asked the leaders to speak to their members," he said.

In all areas UNPOL will be working very closely with National Police of Timor-Leste, he added.

Source: United Nations
judythpiazza@gmail.com

Copyright © 2007, NewsBlaze, Daily News

UN-Australia-Timor Leste Aid Deal Signed

United Nations, Jan 26 (Prensa Latina) Representatives from the United Nations, Australia, and Timor Leste signed an agreement in Dili on Friday, to give aid to that small Asian country.

The memorandum of understanding establishes a Trilateral Coordination Forum that will be used as a mechanism for the Dili government, the UN Integration Mission in Timor Leste, and the International Security Forces.

In that framework, the three parties could analyze security operations, better coordinate their work and share information, according to a report released at UN headquarters.

The signatories agreed that the integration of that tripartite coordination group constitutes an important example of security cooperation among the three countries to promote lasting stability in Timor Leste.

Australia, UN sign Timor security pact
The Age

Australia and the United Nations have signed an agreement with East Timor to help co-ordinate security assistance in the small but troubled country, the UN says.

The agreement, signed on Friday, establishes a trilateral forum to discuss security issues and ensure coordination between the Timorese government, UN and Australian-led international peacekeepers who were deployed following unrest last year.

UN special representative Atul Khare said in a statement it was "a useful step forward in clarifying how security cooperation between the three bodies will move forward in a way that will promote a sustainable stability in Timor-Leste".

"We are here to assist and support the government of Timor-Leste, but it is the Timorese who have the prime responsibility for maintenance of security and stability," he said.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer announced the treaty last week during a visit to New York where he met with new UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to discuss the situation in East Timor.

He said the memorandum of understanding would formalise ties between the Australian Defence Force and other international forces commanded by the Australians and the UN deployment in East Timor.

"I said to the secretary-general I think the UN can continue to play, and must play, a very important role in mentoring and advising the East Timorese political leadership," Mr Downer said in New York.

"It's difficult for international individual governments to do that with other governments, for obvious reasons, but it's a role the UN particularly can play and is suited to."

An outbreak of violence in Dili in May last year resulted in the deaths of 37 people when clashes between security force factions degenerated into street violence, pitting members of street gangs and rival martial art schools against each other.

More people have since been killed in sporadic violence in Dili and surrounding districts.

The violence prompted the fledgling nation to seek the deployment of foreign peacekeepers and UN police, and the installation of a new government in July headed by Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

© 2007 AAP

Dispatch of civilian police officers to Timor-Leste PKO

On January 26 (Fri), following a request from the United Nations (U.N.), the Government of Japan decided at a cabinet meeting to dispatch two civilian police officers to the "United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste" (UNMIT) in Timor-Leste and three liaison and coordination officers to the country on the basis of its International Peace Cooperation Law.

2. In 2002, Timor-Leste became the first country to attain independence in this century. Since public order has been deteriorating across the country from April 2006, a UN mission mainly consisting of civilian police officers was established in August 2006, and support for stabilization and nation-building has been provided.

3. As a contribution to peace-building in Timor-Leste, this dispatch will contribute to consolidating close bilateral relations and promoting stability and development in that region. Japan also considers it valuable in undertaking peace-building diplomacy in fora such as the U.N.

(ReliefWeb)

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]

Quem manda neste país?

Não se percebe quem manda neste país. O Governo não é concerteza. Nem os militares australianos nem as Nações Unidas, através da UNPOL, cumprem os mandados de captura emitidos pelos juízes. Apesar das várias insistências de Ramos-Horta para que sejam respeitados os tribunais, órgão de soberania independente, o Governo australiano e as Nações Unidas empurram responsabilidades um para o outro.

Alfredo Reinado não é detido por incompetência, ou má-fé, de quem tem a responsabilidade da segurança nacional e pela falta de autoridade do Governo.

Ramos-Horta e o Governo mostram-se incapazes de salvaguardar a soberania nacional.

Timor-Leste é um país ao Deus-dará... e Alfredo Reinado ri-se. Com razão.

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Dos leitores

Comentário sobre a sua postagem "Comunicado de Alfredo Reinado":

Alfredo Reinado can't even write English properly.

And that spokesperson form MUNJ, his name is Blasius Pereira and he a PD activist. PD is well behind this movement. They tried everything to the people to support them. Now they have Alfredo Reinado and they think their plans are going to be successful.

Blasius Pereira actually lived with an Australian woman who then came to Australia to do some English course. The Australian woman lived with him in Dili for a while but she had to escape from him because this man is has violent tendencies.

And here he and his pal Alfredo Reinado are talking about national unity, justice and peace. Are these people seriou? Blass Pereira should just stick to singing like his older brother Tony Pereira.

Tony is no in Indonesia and I don't know for what reason. I don't doubt that these types have links to Indonesian intels.

And this cloth calling for the Maputo people to go home. Where is the national unity in that?Balsius Pereira, you should be ashamed of yourself. (...)

Your PD party is going no where thanks to people like you. You tried to teach English at UNTIL but you can't even speak the language yourself.

You are doing this for your own interest and your friends interest. The Americans and the Australians may have promissed you some kind of scholarship and you are sacrificing a country that many thousands of people have fought and died for.

Shame on you Blass Pereira or Nino Pereira or whatever you call yourself.
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Jobs boost tipped from Timor Sea gas projects

January 29, 2007

DARWIN stands to gain an extra 1,000 jobs from two Timor Sea gas projects which the federal government is helping to fast-track.
The federal government has granted major project facilitation (MPF) status to the Timor Sea LNG Project and the Tassie Shoal Methanol Project, aimed at speeding up their development.

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said the projects would help in the development of Australia's valuable petroleum resources.

"(They will) serve the rapidly expanding markets in the Asia Pacific region," he said in a statement.

Mr Macfarlane said the Tassie Shoal project, being developed by MEO Australia, proposed to use the world's first offshore LNG production and loading facility.

The production facilities might act as a hub to encourage development of gas discoveries in adjoining fields, he said.

Mr Macfarlane said the LNG project and the adjoining methanol project would share common infrastructure on Tassie Shoal, which is in the Bonaparte Basin about 275km north of Darwin.

The projects are expected to produce 3 million tonnes of LNG a year and 5,000 tonnes of methanol a day.

They are expected to have major economic spin-offs for the northern capital.

"Each project will generate approximately 500 local jobs during the construction phase," Mr Macfarlane said.

"Both are expected to create approximately 110 ongoing jobs when they are operational."

- AAP

Comunicado de Alfredo Reinado

Este comunicado, originalmente em tetum, foi distribuído hoje por jovens da manifestação da MUNJ em frente ao Centro Cultural Uma Fukun.












































Tradução:

Mensagem do Major Alfredo Alves Reinado para o povo de Timor-Leste

1. Para as mães, velhas, velhos, amados veteranos e combatentes, caixas clandestinas, juventude Lorico Aswain (Juventude da Resistência), homens ou mulheres, aleijados, estudantes e queridos deslocados vítimas da longa Crise que até agora não encontrou Solução para Justiça e Verdade; por isto existe obrigação para defender e procurar os nossos direitos como timorenses que amam a paz e a dignidade como timorenses.

2. Agora nesta ocasião já existe alguém para apresentar todas as nossas preocupações e aspirações para os governantes, para fazerem desaparecer depressa o sofrimento que tem vindo a enfrentar todo o povo.

3. Este alguém é o Movimento Unidade Nacional para a Justiça – MUNJ.

4. O MUNJ tem um compromisso e eu, Major Alfredo Reinado, garanto que o MUNJ não tem cor política, religião, etnia, não violência e regionalismo, tudo o mais que abraça todo o povo e as suas preocupações e aspirações para encontrar a luz da Justiça e da Verdade para todos os timorenses na Unidade Nacional e para fazer crescer a nossa querida mãe Nação para sair da longa Crise que perdeu muitas vidas e que até agora ainda não tem solução, que faz todas as pessoas serem vítimas dos governantes que não têm responsabilidade para o povo e para a Nação e que só dão importância aos seus interesses políticos, fazendo sofrer todo o povo timorense.

Através desta pequena mensagem quero pedir a todos os timorenses que têm consciência para que este povo e esta terra tenham estabilidade, paz e justiça para garantir um futuro bom para todos nós e peço para que todos dêem a vossa contribuição para as actividades do MUNJ.

Aifú – Ermera
28 de Janeiro de 2007
(Assinado) Major Alfredo Reinado
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