UNMIT Daily Media Review

UNMIT Daily Media Review - 15 April 2008

(Extracts from national media and international news reports - UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports.)


Police and military parade to welcome PR Horta – Rádio Timor-Leste

A military parade, held under tight internal security, will be held to welcome PR José Ramos-Horta on his return on Thursday (17/4).


Deputy Commander of Apprehension Operation, Mateus Fernandes said that the police and military have identified critical areas of conflict in order to anticipate disturbances in the future.

“He is as the Supreme Commander for both institutions of PNTL and F-FDTL and as the president of the country. We will welcome him with a military parade and accompany him along the route or to his residence,” said Commander Fernandes.

PR Horta: no amnesty for Salsinha – Televisão Timor-Leste

PR José Ramos-Horta said the State will not give amnesty to Salsinha and others who have been carrying weapons since 2006 as they did not follow the State’s orders.


PR Horta said that Salsinha should submit himself to justice and not to wait for him to return to Timor-Leste, as people of the country need calm to develop the country.

“I am ready to welcome him, he should submit himself to the Joint Operation Command, F-FDTL, PNTL, or the two Bishops,” said PR Horta said during a friendship party with the Timorese community in Darwin last Sunday. “He should go to Dili to face justice in court for his actions on February 11.” (13/4).

Alfredo made many telephone calls before his death – Timor Post

Prosecutor-General Longuinhos Monteiro said that before Alfredo Reinado was shot to death, he had numerous conversations with many people in Timor-Leste and made 47 calls to Australia.


“The numbers show calls to and from Alfredo’s mobile,” said PGR Monteiro in his report to the National Parliament on Monday (14/4) in Dili.

Mr. Monteiro has asked for the identities of those people who called Alfredo, and will ask Australia to give assistance in investigating the case.

“I have still not informed the country’s leaders who was behind the attacks. We will consider everyone as individuals regardless of their position,” added PGR Monteiro.

‘Ninja’ kidnapping children, people traumatized – Suara Timor Lorosa’e

People in Timor-Leste fear that 'Ninja' or 'masked men' are abducting their children to be used for human sacrifice.


According to reports, during Indonesian rule owners of bridges or road works across the country paid 'Ninja' to abduct children for sacrifice in order to bring good luck or prosperity to the project.

Last week, one local newspaper said that two children were abducted in Liquiça and the parents allege that 'Ninja' have abducted them. There was another report in a newspaper today that villagers in Taibisse (Dili) captured a 'Ninja' who was trying to abduct one child in their village. The residents saw ‘Ninja’ using money to try to kidnap the youngster. The 'Ninja' was captured and taken to the Police. The case is under the investigation.

Interim President Fernando de Araujo Lasama has appealed to all people to remain calm and not believe rumours.

Mateus: armed civilians hand over traditional weapons– Suara Timor Lorosa’e

The Vice Commander of the Apprehension Operation, Mateus Fernandes has confirmed that four armed civilians in Ermera district have voluntarily handed over their traditional weapons and ammunition to the PNTL in Lete-Foho station on Friday (11/4).


The civilians were taken to Dili for questioning in order to uncover their involvement with the rebels. On behalf of the Apprehension Operation, Mr. Fernandes repeatedly appealed to the rebels led by Gastão Salsinha to surrender.

PG: call numbers listed with Alfredo-Salsinha – Suara Timor Lorosa’e

Prosecutor–General (PG) Longuinhos Monteiro has uncovered 127 registered phone numbers connected directly to phones held by rebels associated with Alfredo and Salsinha before and after the assassination attempts on February 11.


From 8-13 February, Alfredo and Salsinha had contacts with 47 people from Australia, 31 people from Indonesia and others from Timor-Leste. However, the identities of the owners of the phones remain unknown as the devices are switched off and SIMM cards are often sold without proper registration.

Remedios demands UNMIT discipline two UNPOL officers – Timor Post

PR Ramos-Horta’s Principal Advisor, Dr. Paulo do Remedios, has demanded that UNMIT discipline two UNPOL officers who refused to provide an immediate respond on 11 February to the attack at the resident of PR Ramos-Horta.


Dr. Remedios said that at 6:55 am he received a telephone call from President Ramos-Horta who said he was in trouble. Dr. Remedios immediately asked for help from two UNPOL officers who were front of his house nearby their vehicles. Dr. Remedios said the two UNPOL officers refused to offer assistance as requested.

Dr. Remedios said he then proceeded to the President’s s residence at 7:15 and discovered that the President was wounded. Dr. Remedios said he tried to use his private car to take the President to the hospital when suddenly one ambulance arrived at the scene. The ambulance then transported the President to the ISF Medical Centre at the Heliport.

He said only the Portuguese FPU were present at the President’s residence and no one from ISF or UNPOL.

Dr. Remedios demanded that UNMIT discipline the two UNPOL officers who “only know how to receive plenty of money but did not want to maintain order.” He called on UNMIT to use “international law” against those UNPOL members who had “completely failed” to provide immediate assistance to the President. “UNMIT should take action against those UNPOL members by terminating their contracts or through disciplinary measures.”

He also called on UNMIT to clearly explain why those officers had refused to act. “I will continue to demand both disciplinary and criminal inquiries into this matter”, he said, adding that he was able to recommend the matter to the Office of the Prosecutor-General without authorization from the President.


MPs unhappy with SMS invitation to workshop – Timor Post

CNRT MP Gertrudes Moniz has said that some of the members of Government are not happy with the way they were invited to a workshop held in Obrigado Barracks by UNMIT and the Government of Timor-Leste on the separation of power in Government as the invitation was extended through short message services (SMS).


MP Moniz raised the issue in the National Parliament, saying an SMS was not the proper method of inviting Government officials.

In the same occasion, Fernanda Lay said that when a commission is going to call a minister, it should be sent through the national parliament by letter and then forwarded to the Prime Minister.

“As an MP, I would not invite officials through SMS. Even though they are our friends, we should show respect to their office,” said Ms. Fernanda, a CNRT MP.

Hugo: TL has to continue control imported goods – Timor Post

MP CNRT, Hugo da Costa said that Timor-Leste’s Government should take control the importation of goods such as food into the country because prices remain very high.

“I insist the Government help control the food prices in the country, otherwise this country will be threatened by food shortage,” he said.

Timor Leader Says Rebels Had Support – Associated Press (AP)

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — East Timor's president said he believed "external elements" were supporting the rebels who tried to assassinate him in the hope his country would be plunged into chaos and be declared a failed state.


In an interview with CNN on Monday, Jose Ramos-Horta did not identify the outsiders he believed were trying to destabilize his country or elaborate on what help he thought they had been doing to support such efforts.

Ramos-Horta, 58, has been recuperating in the northern Australian city of Darwin since February, when mutinous soldiers shot him outside his home in East Timor's capital, Dili. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão escaped an ambush on his motorcade the same day.

The motive for the attacks, which followed more than a year of political turmoil and violence, remained unclear.

"An investigation has been ongoing, and there is increasing evidence pointing a finger at external elements that were supporting the renegade Alfredo Reinado," Ramos-Horta said, referring to the rebel leader who was killed during the Feb. 11 attack. "These are elements interested in destabilizing East Timor, plunging it into an endless civil war so it could be declared a failed state."

East Timor broke from decades of often-brutal Indonesian rule in 1999 in a U.N.-sponsored referendum. Three years later, it became Asia's newest nation, but the euphoria quickly evaporated amid the challenges of governing a divided, impoverished people.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Tuesday that investigators found that Reinado was involved in 47 telephone calls to and from Australia in the hours before the February attacks. It said Timorese authorities have asked Australian agencies to provide the names of the telephone subscribers and to release any recorded conversations.

In the days following the attacks, a number of people were detained in Dili, including an Australian-Timorese woman who authorities said had hosted Reinado and his accomplices at her house the night before the attacks.

Reinado and another rebel were killed in a clash with Ramos-Horta's guards during the attack. An unknown number of rebels escaped.

In his interview with CNN, Ramos-Horta said it was imperative that the assassination attempt was properly investigated.

"Our country will need to get to the bottom of these events to heal from them," Ramos-Horta said.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner also said the attempt on his life had made him more resolved to help improve the lives of the impoverished Timorese.

"I would say that it has, primarily, reaffirmed my personal conviction and my ambition to lift people out of extreme poverty," he said. "Today, I have no other goal or ambition. The recent events have only served to reaffirm my lifelong commitment to helping the poor."

Ramos-Horta plans to return to East Timor on Thursday.


UNMIT Daily Media Review - 16 April 2008

(Extracts from national media and international news reports - UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports.)

JOC: Salsinha to surrender on April 27 – Timor Post

Rebel leader Gastão Salsinha has told the Joint Operation Command that he will submit himself to justice on April 27.

“He [Salsinha] said via telephone that he will submit himself in April 27,” said the Commander of Joint Operation Lieutenant Colonel Filomeno Paixão at a press conference held in Memorial Hall on Tuesday (15/4).

Commander Paixão said that he has asked Salsinha to surrender voluntarily in order to contribute to solving the country’s problems.

After the attempted assassination on February 11, Salsinha said that he would surrender himself upon the return of President José Ramos-Horta from Darwin, Australia, to Timor-Leste.

Lasama invites the public to welcome President – Timor Post

Acting President Fernando ‘Lasama’ de Araujo is inviting all the people of Timor-Leste to stand along the road to welcome PR José Ramos-Horta on his return from Darwin, Australia.


After being wounded by gunshots on February 11, PR Ramos-Horta was evacuated to Darwin, Australia for medical treatment.

“I am asking all people not to come to the airport, but to stand along the road from the airport to the National Parliament from 8:30 to 9:00,” said Acting President Lasama at a press conference held on Tuesday (15/4) at the Comoro Airport, Dili.

Salsinha still has 14 rifles – Suara Timor Lorosa’e

The Commander of Joint Operation Lieutenant Colonel Filomeno Paixão said that even though the rebels’ strength is down to [16 persons], they still have 14 rifles to defend themselves if there is a shoot out between them and the Apprehension Operation.

Up until now, Salsinha and his group have still not surrendered to authorities. The Joint Operation continues to give them an opportunity to collaborate and avoid bloodshed by voluntarily facing justice in order to resolve the problem.

NP: No amnesty for Salsinha – Suara Timor Lorosa’e

Member of the National Parliament support the statement of President José Ramos-Horta not to give amnesty to Salsinha and others who were involved in the incidents of 11 February.

The Vice President of the Fretilin bench, Francisco Miranda Branco said that amnesty should be viewed from two dimensions, before and after the attempt.

“The situation was different when PR Horta talked to them in January. When February 11th happened, the equation changed,” he said on Tuesday (15/4) in the National Parliament, Dili.

Mr Branco said the State should take a firm position on the situation and not toy with a serious attempt to destroy the State.

During the same session of Parliament, the MP from the Democratic Party, Vital dos Santos said that amnesty is given after justice. There is no law to authorize the President or other sovereignty organs to give amnesty without judicial process.

Abel: Salsinha’s efforts will not succeed – Suara Timor Lorosa’e

The Commander of the Military Police Abel Ximenes said that further efforts by rebels under Salsinha’s command will not meet with success, as the Government has no tolerance for their actions.

“If the rebels’ struggle meets success, then chicken will have teeth,” he said. “They will be hunted by the Joint Operation Command.

“In this world, if a bicycle collides with a car, it is impossible that the car will be damaged; a bicycle will be damaged if collides with a car. This means that certain people who stand against the Government will become losers,” said Commander Ximenes on Tuesday (15/4) in Camea-Becora, Dili.

At the same occasion Commander Ximenes appealed anyone holding weapons to turn them over to the Joint Operation to avoid door-to-door checking.

PM Xanana: security improved during State of Siege – Radio Timor-Leste

PM Xanana Gusmão said the security situation in the country improved and values enshrined in the constitution were maintained during the State of Siege (from 23 February- 23 March) .

PM Xanana said that the one-month extension of the State of Siege demonstrated the operation model of F-FDTL and PNTL as well as their good coordination during the joint operation.

Prime Minister: 20 human rights violations against Apprehension Operation reported during the ‘State of Siege’ – Diario Nacional Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão has confirmed that from 23 February until 23 March, 20 cases of human rights violations were filed against the Apprehension Operation forces during the implementation of the State of Siege. Gusmão made the statement to MPs during a presentation at the National Parliament on Tuesday (15/04).

Of these cases, 11 were reported by the UN and nine others from the community. Gusmão added that there is a need identify the individuals who have committed these violations. Their names should be identified, as well as when and where the incident took place, in order to assist with investigations.

Paixão: People in Liquiça hand over weapons to the Joint Operation Command – Diario Nacional

The Commander of the F-FDTL/PNTL Joint Operation, Lieutenant Colonel Filomeno Paixão said that people in Liquiça voluntarily handed over three grenades, 11 traditional weapons (rakitan), and 429 pieces of ammunition to the Joint Operation Command in Liquiça district.


Paixão has appealed to all the people, including those working with NGOs and agencies who will be visiting the area around the operation, to contact the Joint Operation Command in Dili before departing in order to avoid areas where military operations are taking place.

“We will inform our forces in the field to watch out for people who will visit places nearby the Apprehension Operation areas, “said Lieutenant Colonel Filomeno Paixão.

Australia: East Timor President Suggests 'External Elements' Involved In Attack against Him – AP, 15 April

East Timor's president said he believed "external elements" were supporting the rebels who tried to assassinate him with hopes his country would be plunged into chaos and be declared a failed state.

Jose Ramos-Horta, 58, has been recuperating in the northern Australian city of Darwin since February, when mutinous soldiers shot him outside his home in East Timor's capital, Dili. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão escaped an ambush on his motorcade the same day.

The motive for the attacks, which followed more than a year of political turmoil and violence, remained unclear.

In an interview with CNN on Monday (14 Apr), Ramos-Horta did not identify the outsiders he believed were trying to destabilize his country or elaborate on what help he thought they had been doing to support such efforts.

"An investigation has been ongoing, and there is increasing evidence pointing a finger at external elements that were supporting the renegade Alfredo Reinado," Ramos-Horta said, referring to the rebel leader who was killed during the Feb. 11 attack. "These are elements interested in destabilizing East Timor, plunging it into an endless civil war so it could be declared a failed state."

East Timor broke from decades of often-brutal Indonesian rule in 1999 in a U.N.-sponsored referendum. Three years later, it became Asia's newest nation, but the euphoria quickly evaporated amid the challenges of governing a divided, impoverished people.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Tuesday (15 Apr) that investigators found that Reinado was involved in 47 telephone calls to and from Australia in the hours before the February attacks. It said Timorese authorities have asked Australian agencies to provide the names of the telephone subscribers and to release any recorded conversations.

In the days following the attacks, a number of people were detained in Dili, including an Australian-Timorese woman who authorities said had hosted Reinado and his accomplices at her house the night before the attacks.

Reinado and another rebel were killed in a clash with Ramos-Horta's guards during the attack. An unknown number of rebels escaped.

In his interview with CNN, Ramos-Horta said it was imperative that the assassination attempt was properly investigated.

"Our country will need to get to the bottom of these events to heal from them," Ramos-Horta said.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner also said the attempt on his life had made him more resolved to help improve the lives of the impoverished Timorese.

"I would say that it has, primarily, reaffirmed my personal conviction and my ambition to lift people out of extreme poverty," he said. "Today, I have no other goal or ambition. The recent events have only served to reaffirm my lifelong commitment to helping the poor."

East Timor medal ceremony venue shifted – NZPA, 15 April

New Zealand Defence Force and Police personnel who served in East Timor are to be presented with medals at a ceremony in the Beehive this afternoon.

Initially the ceremony, organized by Defence, was to be held in the Labor Party caucus room which National MP Judith Collins objected to.

However, it would now be held in the Beehive theaters after Prime Minister Helen Clark intervened saying it was a more appropriate space.

The Government would extend invitations to all parties' defence and veteran affairs spokespeople.

Initially only ministers directly involved -- the PM, Police and Defence-were to attend with Defence personnel, the Australian High Commissioner, police, medal recipients and their families.

A bigger venue was required once it was decided more people could attend.
Mars Collins had initially said it appeared that Labor was creating a photo opportunity for itself.

Last year the Government announced the new medals for service in East Timor.

The New Zealand General Service Medal (NZGSM) (Timor-Leste) would be awarded to New Zealand Defence Force and New Zealand Police personnel who served in East Timor from April 28, 2006, as part of the peacekeeping operation there.

ETimor president suspects 'external elements' behind shooting – AFP, 15 April

DILI (AFP) - East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta has revealed suspicions that "external elements" were behind the February shooting which left him fighting for his life.

The Nobel peace laureate, who returns here on Thursday after more than two months' treatment and recovery in Australia, wrote in a commentary on CNN's website that unnamed forces were trying to destabilize his tiny country.

Ramos-Horta was shot twice in the back after a dawn raid on his home on February 11, while attackers also fired on a convoy carrying Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, who escaped unharmed.

Renegade military leader Alfredo Reinado, who had been on the run since 2006 unrest, was killed in the firing but a number of rebels are still at large.

"An investigation has been ongoing, and there is increasing evidence pointing a finger at external elements that were supporting the renegade Alfredo Reinado," Ramos-Horta wrote.

"These are elements interested in destabilizing East Timor, plunging it into an endless civil war so it could be declared a failed state."

But the 58-year-old leader said the incident had given him renewed determination to fight poverty and violence in the fragile young democracy, which has been beset by conflict since independence from Indonesia in 1999.

"I am returning home in the next days, to do all I can to realize my dreams for East Timor -- to continue lifting the Timorese people out of poverty, and to create a zone of peace where all forms of violence are abandoned," he said.

The president's comments come a week after he appeared on television in East Timor to give assurances that he would return to lead the country, after earlier hinting to an Australian newspaper that he may step down.

Security is expected to be high for the president's return on Thursday.

"I expect that I will no longer be able to travel without a convoy, or walk away from my security to distribute clothing at a village on the road," Ramos-Horta said.

"We have lost something. But we will find a way to remain close."


Plan to employ East Timorese workers has support – ABC, 16 April

The State Government says there is widespread support for a plan to fly unskilled East Timorese workers into the Kimberley to try to address the region's chronic labor shortage.

In February, the Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with East Timor to employ workers on major government infrastructure projects in the Pilbara and Kimberley.

The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Alannah MacTiernan, met hospitality and tourism operators in Broome.

She says there is overwhelming support for expanding the agreement to other industries.

The Commonwealth would have to sign off on any agreement and is yet to indicate its support.
Ms MacTiernan denies suggestions local people would miss out on jobs as a result of the plan.

"There is no shortage of employment here, I think everyone acknowledges that, the challenge is in fact to find staff," she said.

"I don't think anyone could argue that this is displacing local people.

"It's a win for the businesses and the industry of the Kimberley because it ensures that we have got labor.

"Secondly it's a great opportunity for East Timorese because not only is it a chance for them to not only earn income, but also to acquire skills that are going to be really important to setting up businesses in there own country."

The Commonwealth must sign off on the proposal before it can go ahead.

Ramos Horta fought to live for country – TVNZ, 15 April

East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta says he willed himself to stay alive after he was shot so his country would not erupt into violence.


The 58-year-old is preparing to return to East Timor this week, two months after being evacuated to Australia after he was shot by rebels outside his Dili home.

His comments came as investigators revealed rebel leader Alfredo Reinado - killed after he invaded Ramos Horta's house on February 11 - was involved in 47 telephone calls to or from Australia in the hours before the attack.

Investigators are focusing their inquiries on the calls Reinado and his men made soon before and after the attacks, Fairfax reports, and are seeking Australia's help in tracing the calls.

In an interview with CNN, Ramos Horta said it was vital for East Timor to get to the bottom of the attacks in order "to heal from them".

"An investigation has been ongoing, and there is increasing evidence pointing a finger at external elements that were supporting the renegade Alfredo Reinado," he said.

"These are elements interested in destabilizing East Timor, plunging it into an endless civil war so it could be declared a failed state.

"In fact they have achieved the opposite. I have survived them, and we have survived them."

The Nobel Laureate said he knew he would be shot when he saw one of the rebels as he walked towards his home.

"As I walked up the street ... I saw one of the renegades and knew that he was going to shoot me," Ramos Horta told CNN.

"As he aimed for my heart, I turned to run. Instead of the left side of my chest, he shot me twice in the right side of the back."

Doctors later told him that he lost 80% of his blood following the attack, and that a piece of shrapnel had been found just two millimeters from his spine.

"I was also later told that if I had arrived at the hospital five minutes later I would have, without question, been dead," he said.

He recalled his fight for life as he rode in the ambulance on his way for initial treatment.

"I was willing myself to stay alive," he said.

"In these minutes, I felt that if I died, my country would explode into violence."

Ramos Horta said the assassination attempt had "reaffirmed" his desire to lift his countrymen out of extreme poverty.

"I am returning home in the next days, to do all I can to realize my dreams for East Timor - to continue lifting the Timorese people out of poverty, and to create a Zone of Peace where all forms of violence are abandoned," he said.