'I Can' campaign celebrates women's political potential in Timor-Leste

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) - Date: 11 Jun 2007

Continuing the commitment to women's participation in all spheres of public life in Timor-Leste, UNIFEM has launched the Hau Bele ("I Can") campaign. This campaign, directed at women's empowerment, will coincide with Timor-Leste's parliamentary election period, yet its relevance reaches far beyond the country's Election Day, 30 June 2007.

Through public advocacy, the "I Can" campaign aims to achieve popular support for the message of gender equality and women's empowerment throughout Timor-Leste. The campaign includes a collection of ten poster portraits of women from around the nation, including a prominent Connosian Sisters representative from the Connosian parish, a local radio journalist, and a mental health counsellor.

To reinforce the message of strength conveyed through these posters, vocalist Cidalia Goncalves has written a theme song that draws from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to highlight women's rights and the democratic value of their political participation. It will be played on Radio Timor Leste (RTL) and distributed to community radio stations and local transport operators. With support from the United Nations Integrated Mission In Timor-Leste (UNMIT), a public service announcement has also been produced for broadcast on Timor-Leste's national television network, TVTL, to show the diverse, dynamic roles women play in public life.

This campaign is part of UNIFEM's Integrated Programme for Women in Politics and Decision Making (WIP), designed to promote women as viable candidates who are informed participants in the political process, as well as to enhance public understanding of gender equality and positive media coverage of women in decision-making. To date, UNIFEM has initiated a presidential debate on gender-based violence and women in politics and workshops for women's wings of competing political parties, which culminated in the signing of a landmark commitment to women's political participation. The programme has also monitored women's participation during each election period through support of the General Election Monitoring Coalition (KOMEG) and local non-governmental organization FOKUPERS.

The WIP programme is being implemented in two phases, pre-election and post-election, to help women maximize their potential throughout the campaign period and throughout their terms in office.

For more information, please contact Chris Parkinson, +670 726 3773

Japan election-monitoring team to East Timor

Radio Australia - 15/06/2007, 14:05:24

Japan will send a team of 14 election monitors to East Timor for the country's parliamentary elections set for June 30.

Japan says the move is to support East Timor's democratic nation-building process.
The dispatch, approved at a Cabinet meeting, is in line with the law governing Japan's cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Japan sent monitors to East Timor's presidential election in April and May.

The 14 team members, including Foreign Ministry officials, are scheduled to leave Japan for East Timor later this month and return home in early July.

Os amigos de Xanana...

The Australian - Friday, June 15, 2007
Editorial: Hope for East Timor

A sure and stable democracy must take hold
Australia obviously has a keen interest in the outcome of the East Timorese election, to be held on June 30. East Timor is Australia's nation-building project. Australia sent troops to East Timor in 1999 to help the tiny country on its way to independence from Indonesia and it helped restore calm when violence broke out in 2006.

Australia's hope is for a strong, stable democracy to take hold. To that end, it also hopes that the International Crisis Group is right when it predicts that ex-president Xanana Gusmao will win the coming election.

Mr Gusmao is pragmatic and popular, both with East Timorese and Australians. He understands the need to invest in infrastructure, such as schools, public health services and roads. He is not believed to support the creation of an expensive military. He supports the rule of law. He respects the importance of a fair, transparent electoral process. He is a modern champion of democracy.

The Australian reported last week that East Timor's new Prime Minister, Estanislau da Silva, wants to give military chiefs power to spend millions from East Timor's oil and gas fields to upgrade the country's defence force. Vast amounts would be spent on weapons, a 3000-strong defence force, and missile-equipped warships to protect the sensitive maritime zone.
It is a bad idea.

The money needs to be spent on reducing poverty among the East Timorese, by which we mean all of them, not to entrench the power of a few military chiefs, intent on corrupting the nation's future.

The East Timorese did not invite Australia to comment on its military ambitions but the plan is flawed. East Timor does not have the resources to create an armed force of the size necessary to protect it from the only obvious potential threat, Indonesia. It should focus instead on managing its relationship with Indonesia - and, of course, with Australia.

Mr Gusmao's ally, President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos Horta, won 22 per cent of the vote in the first round of the recent presidential elections and 69 per cent of the presidential runoff. The International Crisis Group says Mr Gusmao's newly formed party could win between 20 and 25 per cent of the vote on June 30 and would then form a government with other groups.

Army rebel Alfredo Reinado who escaped from prison last August along with 50 other inmates, is already threatening strife, refusing to lay down arms he is believed to have stolen during a raid on a police station.

The election is an opportunity for the East Timorese to again demonstrate how important are their new freedoms, and for mischief-makers to reform themselves, to the point of taking a blow from voters on the chin. Whatever can be done to ensure the process is fair, transparent and, above all, peaceful should be done.

Bruxelas acredita que legislativas reforçarão estabilidade

Lusa - 14 Junho 2007 - 14:38

A Comissão Europeia acredita que as eleições legislativas de 30 de Junho em Timor-Leste vão contribuir para o processo de estabilização do país, afirmou hoje a comissária responsável pelas Relações Externas, Benita-Ferrero Waldner.

"A recente eleição presidencial, que decorreu de forma pacífica e foi relativamente bem organizada pelas autoridades nacionais, constituiu uma etapa importante rumo à estabilização deste jovem país. Estamos convencidos que as próximas eleições legislativas reforçarão essa tendência", declarou a comissária europeia.

Tal como sucedeu com as eleições presidenciais - a 09 de Abril (primeira volta) e 09 de Maio (segunda volta) -, a União Europeia voltará a acompanhar o sufrágio com uma missão de observação eleitoral, o que segundo Ferrero-Waldner confirma o "apoio determinado e constante" da UE a Timor-Leste.

Lembrado que a seguir às presidenciais a missão de observação eleitoral elaborou um relatório com diversas recomendações às autoridades timorenses com vista a "racionalizar ainda mais" o processo eleitoral, a comissária europeia manifestou o seu agrado por as mesmas terem sido seguidas por Díli.

"Apraz-me constatar que as autoridades timorenses seguiram várias recomendações e introduziu-as na legislação eleitoral que rege as eleições legislativas", afirmou, considerando que tal "testemunha a sua vontade de seguir em frente no caminho da democracia".

Timor-Leste vai a votos a 30 de Junho para escolher um novo executivo, menos de dois meses após a eleição de José Ramos-Horta, antigo chefe de governo, como Presidente da República.

Chefe da UNMIT conhece relatório sobre futuro das Forças Armadas

Lusa - 14 Junho 2007 - 14:37

O chefe da missão integrada das Nações Unidas em Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, "tem conhecimento do relatório" estratégico sobre o futuro das forças armadas timorenses, declarou a porta-voz Allison Cooper.

"Foi estabelecido um grupo de trabalho entre a UNMIT e o governo de Timor-Leste", no quadro da Resolução 1704 do Conselho de Segurança da ONU, "e no âmbito desse grupo será considerado o relatório Força 20/20", acrescentou Allison Cooper.

O documento Força 20/20, a que a Lusa teve acesso, é o caderno de orientações estratégicas para a evolução das forças armadas timorenses.

Atul Khare acrescentou, através da porta-voz da missão, que a UNMIT está mandatada para prestar assistência a Timor-Leste na "revisão detalhada do futuro papel e das necessidades do sector de segurança (incluindo das Falintil-Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste, Ministério da Defesa, Polícia Nacional e Ministro do Interior com o objectivo de apoiar o Governo), através de assessores". O relatório, elaborado ao longo de quase dois anos, foi terminado em Julho de 2006 mas apenas foi divulgado num círculo restrito de titulares políticos e diplomatas.

O governo australiano reagiu com desagrado ao conteúdo do relatório, que o chefe da diplomacia de Camberra, Alexander Downer, considerou "completamente irrealista".

O caderno estratégico para o futuro das forças armadas timorenses, mais conhecido como relatório "20/20", a que a Agência Lusa teve hoje acesso, sublinha a herança da guerrilha e das Falintil, equaciona a defesa da fronteira com a Indonésia, mas perspectiva o mar, sobretudo o Mar de Timor (a sul da ilha), como horizonte mais importante dos desafios à segurança e integridade de Timor-Leste.

Uma força de 3.000 homens com uma componente naval, privilegiando destacamentos de fuzileiros e embarcações com mísseis terra-terra e terra-ar para actuar no Mar de Timor, são o horizonte estratégico das Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste.

Plano de Força Naval com mísseis incomoda a Austrália

Lusa - 14 Junho 2007 - 17:45

O caderno estratégico das forças armadas timorenses prevê uma Força Naval Ligeira com fragatas e corvetas, "incorporado com mísseis terra-terra e terra-ar", uma hipótese que mereceu a condenação da Austrália.

"A Força Naval Ligeira deve possuir uma capacidade de desencorajar qualquer acto de humilhação do Estado de Timor-Leste no mar, ou atentatório dos seus interesses vitais", lê-se no caderno estratégico para o futuro das forças armadas timorenses, mais conhecido como relatório "20/20".

"Deve, também, permitir a participação nas alianças em que o Estado se venha a comprometer, com eficácia e dignidade".

"No quadro do relacionamento de Timor-Leste com o mar, defende-se que o país deve dispor de uma Força Naval Ligeira com quatro vectores principais a desenvolver sistematicamente de uma forma integrada", refere o relatório.

O quarto vector dessa Força refere "navios combatentes (classe de fragatas e corvetas, incorporado com mísseis terra-terra e terra-ar)" e apoiada por um "núcleo de navios patrulha oceânicos, unidade de helicópteros de apoio e ataque, radares e sensores da última gama, Fuzileiros Navais e mergulhadores para contra-medidas de minas".

O documento confidencial, a que a Lusa teve acesso, foi concluído em Julho de 2006 - já depois da crise política e militar que afectou as forças de segurança, com confrontos entre forças militares e policiais.

Apenas um círculo restrito de titulares políticos e de diplomatas conhece até agora o relatório da "Força 20/20", como é também conhecido.

Outro vector da Força Naval, considerado mais urgente, é a aquisição de navios de patrulha costeiros e lanchas de desembarque médias "de baixo custo de investimento e de operação e manutenção". O relatório "20/20" propõe também a criação da Força Operacional de Combate Naval (Fuzileiros Navais), peça privilegiada no desenho das Forças Armadas orientadas para a defesa do mar e dos recursos, sobretudo na costa sul, do Mar de Timor, onde se situa o "offshore" do petróleo e gás natural que tem sido matéria de disputa com a Austrália.

"Os Fuzileiros Navais constituem uma capacidade que terá de garantir o exercício de autoridade do Estado no mar a partir da terra, com um conceito de emprego articulado com a Força de Defesa Marítima (FDM/Marinha) que vier a ser articulado".

A Componente Naval ocupa o lugar relevante no horizonte estratégico das forças armadas timorenses, apesar de o caderno referir a "herança" da guerrilha e considerar, em cada valência da futura Força, os ensinamentos de 24 anos de resistência à ocupação indonésia, além de se preocupar com a segurança da fronteira terrestre com a Indonésia.

Enquanto não estiver constituída a capacidade da Força Naval Ligeira, o Estado "poderá equacionar um mecanismo de cooperação técnico militar (nível táctico operacional) no âmbito de acordos bilaterais com vista à criação sistemática e exclusiva desta capacidade (Franco-Português), sendo imprescindível salvaguardar os interesses de Timor-Leste relativamente às questões da Autoridade Marítima", diz o documento.

"As fronteiras marítimas e terrestres (aérea e espacial) são áreas da nossa responsabilidade", afirma o relatório, sublinhando em muitos pontos do longo texto que Timor-Leste reserva para si as tarefas de protecção dos seus recursos e territórios.

O relatório suscitou a condenação liminar da Austrália, após uma notícia do jornal "The Australian", do dia 08 de Junho, com o título "Plano secreto de mísseis para forças armadas de Timor-Leste", sobre o relatório "20/20".

Alexander Downer, ministro australiano dos Negócios Estrangeiros, considerou a estratégia timorense "completamente irrealista" porque Timor-Leste "não pode pagar" uma Marinha de guerra equipada com mísseis e porque o país "deveria concentrar os seus recursos no desenvolvimento da economia, educação e saúde para o seu povo".

Estratégia de defesa deverá ser orientada para o mar

Lusa - 14 Junho 2007 - 14:35

Uma força de 3.000 homens com uma componente naval, privilegiando destacamentos de fuzileiros e embarcações com mísseis terra-terra e terra-ar para actuar no Mar de Timor, são o horizonte estratégico das Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste.

O caderno estratégico para o futuro das forças armadas timorenses, mais conhecido como relatório "20/20", a que a Agência Lusa teve hoje acesso, sublinha a herança da guerrilha e das Falintil, equaciona a defesa da fronteira com a Indonésia, mas perspectiva o mar, sobretudo o Mar de Timor (a sul da ilha), como horizonte mais importante dos desafios à segurança e integridade de Timor-Leste.

O extenso caderno, que define em detalhe as estratégias de curto, médio e longo-prazo para as Falintil-Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL), perspectiva um exército de três mil homens "nos próximos 15-20 anos, sendo necessário redefinir a missão principal".

Esta capacidade futura das Forças Armadas poderá garantir o controlo das fronteiras terrestre e marítima face a qualquer eventual ameaça", explica o documento.

O relatório suscitou a condenação liminar da Austrália, após uma notícia do jornal "The Australian", do dia 08 de Junho, com o título "Plano secreto de mísseis para forças armadas de Timor-Leste", sobre o relatório "2020".

Alexander Downer, ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros australianos, considerou a estratégia timorense "completamente irrealista" porque Timor-Leste "não pode pagar" uma Marinha de guerra equipada com mísseis e porque o país "deveria concentrar os seus recursos no desenvolvimento da economia, educação e saúde para o seu povo".

"As responsabilidades com a soberania nacional não podem ser transferidas para países terceiros", sublinham os autores da Força 20/20, um documento com data de 20 de Julho de 2006, elaborado durante quase dois anos, mas apenas circulado até agora por um número muito restrito de titulares políticos e diplomatas.

"Esta situação poderá ser evitada caso haja inteligência e vontade política para reajustar e reestruturar a organização operacional das Forças Armadas", acrescenta o relatório a que a Lusa teve acesso.

Só essa estratégia, explica o documento, tornará as forças armadas "eficazes e merecedoras da credibilidade nacional, através de medidas que se enquadrem na cultura e realidade timorenses, sem serem influenciadas por desconfianças e miopias político-militares e pelos interesses de países terceiros".

"Nesta tarefa importa ter presente que Timor-Leste não pode perder a capacidade de se defender no mar e de cuidar dos seus principais recursos aí localizados, o que implica ter uma Componente Naval verdadeiramente operacional", sublinha o documento.

O relatório dedica especial atenção ao entrosamento de forças de actuação em terra e no mar e a "necessidade" de constituir uma força de fuzileiros com grande mobilidade e capacidade.

O chefe do Estado-Maior das F-FDTL, brigadeiro-general Taur Matan Ruak, contactado pela Lusa, recusou qualquer comentário tanto ao relatório "20/20" como à reacção oficial australiana.

UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING - Friday, 15 June 2007

National Media Reports

Government will not buy missiles
Prime Minister Estanislau Aleixo da Silva reportedly denied reports in the international media that the Government of Timor-Leste is buying missiles and jets for the Timorese Armed Forces.

“It is impossible for Timor-Leste to buy missiles and jets. Timor-Leste is a tiny nation and does not need these,” Mr. da Silva said after meeting with President José Ramos-Horta on Thursday (14/6). (STL)

Estanislau: avoid insults during campaigning
Prime Minister Estanislau Aleixo da Silva called on all political parties not to insult each other during the campaigning period and to avoid creating political tensions in the country. (STL)

Fugitive Alfredo is ready to surrender the weapons
Former military police commander, Alfredo Reinado Alves, is prepared to surrender the weapons and submit himself to the justice system once the state decides to have a dialogue.

“Alfredo has been ready to cooperate since the letter from the state was sent announcing to halt the operation and requesting a dialogue,” said Alfredo’s lawyer, Mr. Benevides Correia Barros, after meeting with President José Ramos-Horta on Thursday (14/6) in Dili. (STL)

Atul Khare: Media should avoid politicizing cases
At a press conference held by UNMIT on Thursday (14/6) SRSG Atul Khare encouraged the media not to politicize cases when reporting on incidents that occur throughout the country.

In response to the incident that took place in Manufahi, the SRSG said that UNPol will track down the suspect through the normal process of investigation. (TP)

2020 Plan is ambitious
Prime Minister Estanislau Aleixo da Silva reassured that the government’s new military plan would not be a threat to other countries.

Military and Political Observer Julio Tomas Pinto said that this plan is somewhat ambitious. (TP)

US$28 Thousand lost during Xanana’s term
Secretary-General of Fretilin, Mari Alkatiri, revealed on Thursday (14/6) that US$28 thousand was lost during Xanana’s term as President of the Republic.

Mr. Alkatiri said that he is ready to talk about the corruption issue with Xanana on TV, radio or through the newspapers in order to clearly explain the problem to the Timorese people. (TP)

Atul Khare: “Avoid consuming alcohol near the polling centres”
At a press conference held by UNMIT on Thursday (14/6) the SRSG, Atul Khare, stated that alcohol consumption on election day will not be allowed within or near the polling centers. (DN)

Ballistics machine to arrive from Australia
At a press conference held by UNMIT on Thursday (14/6), SRSG Atul Khare informed that the Australian Federal Police will send a ballistics machine in order to identify the bullet recovered from the Viqueque incident that occurred last week.

Mr. Khare added that Luis da Silva has been imprisoned while awaiting trial. (DN)

UNPol’s action needed to stop violence in Ermera
Fretilin representative Francisco Soares has condemned the recent violence targeting Fretilin supporters in Ermera district during the past few days. He called on UNPol to take immediate action to stop the violence and intimidation in the district. (DN)

…

UNMIT - Security Situation - Friday, 15 June 2007

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

The security situation across the country has generally been calm. However, the body of a woman was discovered in Ermera district.


Today in Dili, UNPol conducted 40 patrols and were required to attend two incidents. Neither was serious.

Yesterday in Ermera, the body of a 50-year-old woman was found 300 metres from here home in Nonovita Village. She had injuries to her forehead and hand. The scene has been secured and UNPol has dispatched investigators to the area. In a separate incident also in Ermera, the house of a woman caught fire early yesterday morning. No-one was injured, and the cause of the fire is not yet known. UNPol and PNTL are investigating.

UNPol received reports yesterday that a 17-year-old man was found hanged near his school in Beobe, Viqueque. An investigation is already underway - there are no suspects as yet. Also in Viqueque, a stone was fired from a slingshot at a convoy of party supporters travelling from Viqueque to Bauca. One car was hit. No injuries were reported and the damage to the car was minimal.

Campaigning continues across the country. Nine political rallies were scheduled to take place today, and as yet there have been no reports of any associated security incidents.

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

Horta weighs pardons, sentence cuts

AAP
Sponsored Links

Jun 15, 2007

East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta says he is preparing to pardon or reduce the sentences of an unspecified number of prisoners jailed in the tiny nation.

But he is yet to decide the fate of a controversial new law which could lead to amnesties for thousands of other offenders who committed crimes in the past year.

East Timor's parliament last week quietly passed the law, which offers clemency for a swag of crimes.

They include "larceny and "trickery", crimes against state security, firearms offences, theft or property damage under $10,000, and traffic offences committed between April 20, 2006 and
April 30 this year.

Ramos Horta has 30 days in which to sign off on the bill, or refer it to the Court of Appeal for a decision on its constitutionality.

"I'm not in a hurry," he told AAP by phone from Dili.

"If I have any doubt about its constitutionality I will send it to the Court of Appeal before I make a decision.

"I haven't had a chance to study it and I'm awaiting legal opinion from my legal advisers and awaiting opinion from the church.

"I do not support amnesty for serious crimes or crimes against humanity, this would be inconsistent with the international law.

"But I have in my own presidential prerogative, (the power to) ... pardon individuals who have already served a number of years in prison and who have shown good behaviour, and I intend to do so in the next few days."

Ramos Horta said he would chose candidates for either pardons or sentence reductions from a list supplied by the Justice Minister and the prison system.

But he said the pardons were quite "separate" from the new amnesty law.

East Timor's government has said the law will help the country move forward from last year's crisis of violence, with prosecutors grappling with thousands of cases in the fledgling country's
justice system and prisons "bursting at the seams".

Ramos Horta said the idea was legitimate, "as long as we don't make a mockery of justice by releasing anyone and everyone just because we have a backlog (of cases)".

But analysts fear the law could spark new tensions in the nation, particularly if jailed former government minister Rogerio Lobato is among those to be released.

In a new report, think-tank the International Crisis Group said the new clemency law was "apparently intended especially for Rogerio Lobato," who in March was convicted of murder and
distributing weapons to civilians during last year's crisis.

"According to Mudansa (Fretilin Reform group) members, Lobato agreed to take the blame for the distribution of weapons in 2006 on condition that he would be amnestied," the report says.

"If he is not, he might try to implicate (former Fretilin Prime Minister Mari) Alkatiri.

"If he is amnestied, it may have implications for attempts to prosecute others accused of involvement in the 2006 violence."

Ramos Horta disagreed.

"I do not think so, there are many other people involved in the violence in 2006 - I do not believe it was specifically created for Mr Rogerio Lobato."

Nor would he speculate about whether the law could aid the surrender of East Timor's most-wanted fugitive Alfredo Reinado, who has evaded capture by Australian troops since escaping from a Dili prison last year.

"We are very supportive of a peaceful resolution of the issue of Reinado on the condition he surrender himself to justice," Ramos Horta said.

Let's learn Tetum

The Jakarta Post

Your Letter
June 15, 2007

I'm commenting on an article Timor Leste needs Indonesian language more than others by Janet Steele and Jerry Macdonald (The Jakarta Post, June 11).

The fact that Timor Leste's new president, Jose Ramos Horta, has begun learning Indonesian is not only welcome, it is long overdue -- he should have done this years ago. However, not even he would agree with Janet Steele and Jerry Macdonald's assertion that Indonesian, not Tetum, is the country's lingua franca.

One of the most positive developments since 1999 has been the increased use of Tetum as a written language, and the absence of a standardized spelling and grammar has proved no barrier at all. Despite its name, most of the locally written articles in Suara Timor Lorosae are now in Tetum, not Indonesian.

Unfortunately, some Indonesian-educated people are as just as guilty of having an inferiority complex about Tetum as Portuguese-educated ones. Under Soeharto's Indonesia, Tetum in East Timor was just another bahasa daerah (local dialect), spoken, but not written, having no more status than it did under Salazar's Portugal.

Tetum is neither a dialect nor a creole, it is a language in its own right, but just as English and Indonesian have derived much of their vocabulary from other languages, so too has Tetum.

Many Portuguese-derived words in Tetum are similar to those used in English or Indonesian, because they share the same Latin roots. For example, konstituisaun (from constituigco) is similar to "constitution". Some purists use the term ukun fuan inan, but this is no different from Indonesians using undang-undang dasar instead of konstitusi. However, few languages are pure, while a pure lingua franca is an oxymoron, be it Swahili in East Africa or Indonesian in Southeast Asia.

Yet despite the European influences, Tetum remains a Malayo-Polynesian language, with many words, such as bua, besi, tahan, sala and matan shared with Indonesian, although words like mane (man), feto (woman), foho (mountain), lia (voice) and fuan (fruit) are not. The Tetum for "word" is liafuan, literally "voice fruit".

Given that Tetum shares so many words with these other languages, and is not grammatically complex, would it really be a challenge for outsiders living in Timor Leste, be they Indonesians, Australians or Portuguese, to make the effort to learn it?

The argument that Tetum is "undeveloped" or "not yet developed" should be dispelled once and for all. If it is adequate for newspaper articles and discussion forums, it is perfectly adequate for public signs and official documents. NGOs like the women's network Rede Feto have called for legal documents to be written in Tetum since it (not Indonesian or Portuguese) "is the preferred language of the people".

Mai ita hotu aprende Tetun (let's all learn Tetum).

KEN WESTMORELAND
Jakarta

Dos Leitores

Michael deixou um novo comentário na sua mensagem "Dos Leitores":

I followed Margarida's link to have a look at the CNRT website. I am an Australian and I don't believe I should interfere in the politics of your country, but I must admit I was disturbed by the language of the website -- and I mean, the language -- English.

But not just any English. From beginning to end it is the language of an Australian-educated political science graduate or someone of similar background.

The question then is, if that is who it is written by, who is it written for? I wonder if the site gets more hits from Australia than from Timor?

Charge Wiranto or lose military funding: US

The Australian
Stephen Fitzpatrick, Jakarta correspondent
June 15, 2007

INDONESIA faces a return of US military aid restrictions unless it prosecutes the general responsible for Jakarta's bloody withdrawal from East Timor and drastically reforms its armed forces' business arrangements, its parliament has heard.

Washington in 2005 lifted military sanctions imposed after the 1999 withdrawal from East Timor when thousands died at the hands of Indonesian military-trained gangs, even though there has only ever been one successful prosecution in relation to that matter.

Now new curbs are being urged by groups concerned that Jakarta has done far too little to address the culture of impunity in its vast military and the sprawling business empire with which it supplements its 32.6 trillion rupiah ($4billion) official budget - and from which parliament has ordered it to completely withdraw by 2009.

US Foreign Secretary Condoleezza Rice has argued against the 25 per cent restriction in military aid being considered by Congress that would try to force Jakarta's hand.

Instead, Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono has told parliament Dr Rice suggested three conditions that should be met in order for the full $US8 million ($9.5 million) funding bill - a small part of Washington's proposed $US34.2 billion 2008 foreign aid budget - to pass.

These included the prosecution of former military chief General Wiranto, who presided over the 1999 bloodletting, total reform of Indonesia's military structure, and the reining in of its private business arrangements, which include illegal logging, fishing, sand mining and weapons trading.

But a cocky Mr Sudarsono told parliament he was not concerned that the proposal to withhold $US2 million of the $US8 million in aid would succeed.

"There are many US Congress members sympathetic to the TNI (Indonesian military)," Mr Sudarsono said. "We don't need to worry."

TNI spokesman Sagom Tamboen was just as sanguine yesterday, telling The Australian: "If in fact the restrictions are put in place, we believe that theGovernment will have other options ... anyway, we're accustomed to limitations."

As for any prosecutions against General Wiranto, the Indonesia-East Timor Truth and Friendship Commission - on which hopes for effective reconciliation are pinned - has the power to grant complete amnesty to anyone it finds guilty of human rights breaches.

Indonesia's military continues to find itself squirming in the human rights spotlight, with current chief Djoko Suyanto fronting a parliamentary committee this week to answer allegations that the recent shooting deaths of four civilians and an unborn child at the hands of Navy marines were murder.

The dead, including a woman hiding in her kitchen, were killed during a land rights dispute in East Java by what the military has claimed were bullets ricocheting upwards after being fired into soft earth.

"I think calling it murder is completely inappropriate," General Suyanto objected.

Thirteen marines are to face trial over the shootings in a military tribunal, but there will be no criminal proceedings.

East Timor: Deaths mark election campaign’s start

Green Left Weekly issue - 13 June 2007

Jon Lamb
The start of the official campaign period for East Timor’s June 30 parliamentary elections has been marred by violence, including killings. The most serious incidents took place in Viqueque district, where two men were shot dead on June 3. An investigation by the Major Crime Investigation Unit and the National Investigation Unit is underway, focusing on a number of East Timorese police officers (PNTL).

The two slain men were both supporters of the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT), a new party formation headed by former president Xanana Gusmao. A June 3 CNRT media release stated that Afonso da Silva, a CNRT civil security officer, was shot in Viqueque town while riding his motorbike after participating in an election rally. The media release claimed that da Silva was shot five times by a PNTL officer who supported Fretilin. The officer, Luis de Silva, had been sighted in civilian dress near the rally. Other reports suggest more than one off-duty police officer was involved in the incident.

Later in the day, as CNRT supporters took the body of the deceased man to his family in the nearby town of Ossu, another man was shot and a youth wounded at a roadblock, again allegedly by PNTL officers. The ruling Fretilin party issued statements condemning the killings and protesting the claim that its supporters were involved. A June 3 Fretilin media release also claimed that da Silva (also known as Kudalai) was armed with a gun and that there “needs to be an inquiry to explain why a campaign team member of a political party was armed with a gun and to determine the person that provided him with that weapon”.

On June 6 the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste deputy head, Eric Tan, confirmed that UN and East Timorese police were looking for officers involved in the shooting incidents and those PNTL officers in “Ossu, Uatolari and Viqueque Town have been placed on desk duties until the investigations are concluded and UNPol is patrolling the area in the meantime”. Following negotiations, de Silva turned himself in to police on June 7 and he has been charged with homicide. Prior to the shootings, CNRT campaign vehicles had been stoned while traveling through Viqueque district. There was also a clash between CNRT and Fretilin supporters in the city of Baucau on May 31. On June 5, a campaign cavalcade for the Timorese Social Democratic Association/Social Democratic Party (ASDT/PSD) coalition was attacked at the village of Luro in Lautem district. PSD spokesperson Joao Goncalves told the Lusa news service that “the attack was led by a group of radicals from Fretilin, which had raised barriers in the road and had mounted an ambush”.

Viqueque, Baucau and Lautem are the three districts where Fretilin polled best in the April-May presidential election. They are of vital importance for Fretilin if the party is to retain a parliamentary majority and prevent an electoral rout on June 30. The CNRT and PSD/ASDT, along with the Democratic Party, pose the biggest threat to Fretilin’s electoral base in these districts. The situation is further complicated by campaigning in support of CNRT by the Fretilin Mudanca group (sometimes referred to as the Fretilin reform group), a faction opposed to Fretilin’s current leadership. The Fretilin leadership claims the group is violating the electoral laws by campaigning in support of CNRT.

Opposition parties and election observers have raised concerns over police involvement in intimidation and bias towards Fretilin in Viqueque. The European Union Election Observer Mission noted in its report on the second presidential round that “it is regrettable that the district police commander Gaspar da Costa remained active in the district during his voluntary leave, given the strong suspicions of intimidation against the opposition made against him in the first round”.

European Union deploys Election Observation Mission to Timor Leste

European Commission - IP/07/833 - Brussels, 14 June 2007

The European Commission is deploying an EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the Parliamentary elections in Timor Leste, scheduled for 30 June 2007. The mission is led by the Spaniard Javier Pomés, Member of the European Parliament, who also led the EU EOM sent earlier this year to observe the country's Presidential elections (9th April, 9th May). The decision to deploy EOMs to Timor-Leste to observe both elections was prompted by an invitation from the government last year.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, said: "This mission confirms our continuous strong support to Timor Leste. The recent Presidential elections, which were held peacefully and were conducted reasonably well by the national authorities, mark a major step towards the stabilization of this young country. We are confident that the next Parliamentary elections will further confirm this trend”.

Following the preliminary report of the EU EOM to the Presidential elections, a number of recommendations to further streamline the electoral process have been formulated to the Timorese government. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner commented: "I am pleased that the Timorese authorities have followed some of the recommendations made by our EOM in April and that these have been introduced in the electoral law ruling the parliamentary elections. This demonstrates their commitment to move forward on the path of democracy."
The EU EOM team, led by the Chief Observer, comprises 7 core team members and will be joined shortly by 28 long-term observers, who will follow the campaign and the organisation of the elections throughout the country. A delegation of Members of the European Parliament will join the mission over election day.

The EU is also supporting the electoral process through a €1.5 million contribution to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

For additional information, see also:
The EU's Human rights & Democratisation Policy – Election Observation Missions: http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/human_rights/eu_election_ass_observ/index.htm
EU – Timor Leste relations:
http://ec.europa.eu/development/Geographical/RegionsCountries/Countries/Timor-Leste.htm
European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR):
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/eidhr/index_en.htm

Violência eleitoral leva mais de mil timorenses a fugir para Díli

EFE – 14 Junho 2007 - 04:13

Díli - Mais de mil de pessoas fugiram para Díli depois de militantes de vários partidos de oposição queimarem e destruírem suas casas, em aldeias do distrito de Ermera, 57 quilômetros o oeste da capital do Timor-Leste, informam hoje fontes oficiais.

Julio Lemos, coordenador da ajuda no subdistrito de Hatolia, disse à agência Efe que 1.140 pessoas conseguiram se refugiar em acampamentos de Díli, com o apoio do Ministério de Reinserção Social de Comunidades.

Ele explicou que o êxodo foi causado pela queima de casas, iniciada na tarde de quarta-feira por seguidores do Partido Democrático, da Aliança Democrática e do Conselho Nacional da Reconstrução Timorense (CNRT), recém-criado pelo ex-presidente Xanana Gusmão.

"Foram muito cruéis. Muitos deles são chefes de aldeia que estavam ali para proteger a população. Nem a Polícia da ONU (Unpol) nem a daqui agiu, mesmo estando no local", declarou Lemos. Francisco Soares, porta-voz do partido governamental Fretilin, disse à Efe que os desabrigados se esconderam inicialmente nas plantações de café de Ermera, após o início da violência nas aldeias de Urahu, Potete e Lisapat.

O secretário-geral do Fretilin, o ex-primeiro-ministro Mari Alkatiri, exigiu hoje que a Unpol abra uma investigação e atue imediatamente para conter a violência em Ermera.

"Em Ermera estão impedindo nosso partido de fazer campanha livremente para as eleições legislativas de 30 de junho, com violência e intimidação", disse Alkatiri à Efe. Ele questionou o trabalho da Unpol e das forças internacionais de paz lideradas pela Austrália.

"Se são incapazes de controlar a situação em Ermera e em outros distritos, haverá necessidade de rever os mecanismos existentes e avaliar sua eficiência", concluiu Alkatiri.

Desde o fim de maio, quando começou a campanha eleitoral, houve vários atos de violência entre partidários do Fretilin e do CNRT, favoritos para ganhar as eleições.

Gusmao's party tipped to win Timor polls despite lack of policies: ICG

Jakarta, June 13 (AFP) - The new party of East Timor's ex-president Xanana Gusmao appears likely to head a government after parliamentary polls this month despite a lack of policies to lure voters, a report said Wednesday.

The International Crisis Group said that ahead of the June 30 polls, personalities rather than party platforms were swaying East Timor's voters and that no party was offering concrete solutions to the tiny country's problems.

Gusmao, a former independence fighter who remains popular across the impoverished half-island nation, has formed a new party in a bid to take the prime ministership after stepping down as president last month.

But his party, the Congresso Nacional De Reconstrucao de Timor-Leste (CNRT), "has a poorly developed structure, no policies and little more going for it than its leader's charisma," the ICG report said.

"That, however, may be sufficient," it added, noting that based on last month's presidential polls, the CNRT is likely to win 20 to 25 percent of the vote and then ally with smaller parties to form a parliamentary majority.

Gusmao's ally, President and Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta, won 22 percent of the vote in the first round and 69 percent of the presidential run-off.

A CNRT-led coalition, the Brussels-based think tank said, would be more consultative and transparent than the Fretilin-led government of Mari Alkatiri, though it may be less cohesive and less competent in economic management.

Of all the parties contesting the polls, only Fretilin, the ICG said, "seems to have any understanding of the complex technical issues involved in management of revenues and regulation of the petroleum sector."

East Timor has more than one billion dollars from oil and gas revenues locked away in a Petroleum Fund, and a debate over how, and how quickly, the money should be spent has emerged.

Fretilin has dominated parliament since East Timor officially gained independence from Indonesia after decades of occupation in 2002.

Alkatiri was forced however to resign last year amid unrest in the wake of his sacking of around a third of the army.
Street battles between rival security factions led to at least 37 deaths and forced Dili to ask for international peacekeepers to be dispatched to restore a fragile calm.

The ICG said that a CNRT-led coalition would be in a better position to address the political and social divides exposed by last year's bloodshed and more open to advice on how to rebuild and strengthen national institutions.

"But implementation of programmes... will depend not just on political will, but also on professional skills," it warned.

The ICG noted that Gusmao was not widely seen as a promising prime minister "because of his impatience with detail, among other things," so his advisers are recommending he have two deputies.

The report also warned that while presidential elections were largely peaceful, "accusations and inflammatory rhetoric may feature heavily in the parliamentary campaign in a way that could heighten tensions and lead to more violence."

Nevertheless, the fact that the presidential vote took place with few serious incidents showed that the country may emerge from last year's crisis more easily than first thought, it concluded.