Timor-Leste Daily Media News - 22 September 2008

TL still needs FSI and UNPOL, says PM - Diario Nacional, 22 September

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão affirmed that the International Stabilization Forces (ISF) and the United Nations Police (UNPOL) would maintain their presence in the country because Timor still needed many things from them.

Head of the executive made the statement after having meeting with his counterpart Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon here Friday (19/9) in relation to the contradictory statements made about the presence of the ISF and UNPOL in the country.

He also said that Timor-Leste still needs the presence of the International Stabilization Forces because if unwanted things happened it would be hard to call them back.

He also reminded that the presence of the ISF and UNPOL were needed here to help the security and defense sector reforms.

Gusmão reiterated that Australia is a long-terms partner for East Timor.

Australian Defense Minister Fitzgibbon said Australia is always willing to help the security and defense sectors of the country.

He also said that Australia could help the training of the F-FDTL and PNTL if it was asked by the Government.


Govt vowed not to intimidate the future anti-corruption commission - Diário Nacional, 22 September

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão reaffirmed Friday (19/9) the commitment of his Government that there would be no intimidation against the future anti-corruption commission because the commission itself would not be responsible to his office.

"If the anti corruption commission was under the Prime Minister, that would be the case; however, what we are preparing is that the commissioners would be elected by the Parliament, like the Ombudsman," said Xanana.

During the conference, the ousted Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri argued to simply strengthen the existing systems such as the Ombudsman Office and the office of the Inspector General, instead of creating a new anti corruption commission.

The Director of Human Rights and Justice (HAK) Association, José Luis Oliveira said the establishment of the new anti corruption commission would weaken the existing bodies dealing with corruption.

He also said that one condition to put in place in relation to combating corruption was a law on public access to information.

Meanwhile, the office of Ombudsman is reportedly saying that the office is fully committed to serving the interest of the people in fighting corruption regardless of the huge challenges it faces.


East Timor's situation is far better than other countries', says PM - Diário Nacional, 22 September

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão said Sunday (21/9) the country's situation was better than the situation of other countries because level of violence occurred was not as high as other countries' level of violence.

"I believe that international community would agree with me on this," during the commemoration of international peace day here.

Xanana stressed the state of Timor-Leste should not be swayed by the relatively calm situation in the country because the people of the country deserve to live in a country where there was freedom and no violence.

"The Timorese people deserve to live in a community where is no fear about the security, in a community where there is no rush to avoid themselves from being victims of violence," said Gusmão.

He said the 2006 crises, the IDPs and the attack of February 11 represent red records in the sense of conquering a long-standing peace in the country.

However, he highlighted, the people were happy now as the current government succeeded in halting the circles of violence and in finding peaceful solutions to some of the conflict-related issues.


Xanana Gusmão pleased with martial art clubs - Suara Timor Loro Sa'e, 22 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão has called on martial art clubs in the Capital Dili to strengthen peace and stability in the country. The prime minister made the call yesterday during a speech marking ceremony for commemorating the World Peace Day, falling on (21/9). Gusmão said he was pleased with the martial art clubs who had spent their times to join a peaceful long march held yesterday in Dili.

"I am pleased because today the martial art clubs are taking part in this event and is showing that the martial art clubs want create peace and stability in the country.


We are threatened, says deputy prosecutor general - Timor Post, 22 September

Deputy Prosecutor General, Ivo Jorge Valente, said they had been threatened by certain people through telephone during the process of handling corruption cases.

Valente recognized certain people had threatened them when they talked about corruption practices in the country.

Valente said although they were threatened, yet they had always consulted with Timorese Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman and Inspectorate General on the issue.

He added the Public Prosecution had also investigated a corruption case in Oecusse district and had been tried in the court and the verdict was successfully taken.


Situation in Timor-Leste still volatile, says Gusmão - Timor Post, 22 September

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão said Timor-Leste was a new country and had just reached its independence; therefore situation and peace in the country were still volatile.

The prime minister said Timor-Leste had experience in the process of peace building, showing either good or bad outcomes.

"We have experience in the process of peace building, showing some of good and bad outcomes. We therefore should not hide the reality that we have just reached peace within the country's independence," Gusmão said during speech marking ceremony for commemorating the World Peace Day yesterday.

He called on all Timorese people to put hands together in the process of democracy building, so that the country could remain calm.

Bishop of Baucau Diocese also called on all Timorese politicians to make proper politics of criticizing each other, yet the criticism ought to be constructive in restoring peace and stability.


Peace should not be separated from human rights: UNMIT chief - Timor Post, 22 September

Chief of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, Atul Khare said peace and human rights should not be separated from each other, because was no one could live in peace if his/her right was not guaranteed.

Khare made the comments yesterday during a speech marking ceremony for commemorating the World Peace Day, falling on (21/9).

"We cannot separate peace from human rights, because no one can live in peace if his/her right is not fully guaranteed. We also cannot make our efforts to stay away from war, as maintaining peace is harder than making war," Khare said.

Khare said they all had made efforts to restore peace and stability through pamphlets, saying what you did for peace.

Adding that acts of crime had been reduced, problem of the petitioners and IDPs were resolved, and situation of the country from day to day continued improving to consolidate democracy building.


US to continue supporting Timor-Leste - Televizaun Timor-Leste, 22 September

Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres said the US would continue supporting Timor-Leste in the sectors determined.

The deputy prime minister made the comments after participating in a seminar on Timor-Leste National Security Development Policy in Honolulu of US.

Guterres said the issues discussed in the seminar were defense and security within the country and the result was positive where the US had stated good will to keep supporting Timor-Leste.

Guterres added Timor-Leste kept building good bilateral ties with the US, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Indonesia.

The seminar was the first one when the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) Government is power.


Timor-Leste really needs anti-corruption networking, says Paixão - Televizaun Timor-Leste, 22 September

Deputy Parliamentary President Maria Paixão said the facts showed there were corruptions found in Timor-Leste, therefore the country really needed an anti-corruption networking.

"De facto there are corruptions in Timor-Leste, therefore the Parliament is making efforts to combat them," Paixão said.

Paixão made the comments last Friday after participating in the international conference on setting up national anti-corruption networking at Hotel Timor.

Parliamentary President of Anti-Corruption Committee, Cipriana Pereira said the objective of setting up the proposed anti-corruption networking was to reduce corruption practices in the country.

She added the country's state bodies were committed to supporting the establishment of national anti-corruption networking.

After holding the conference, there would be possibility of drafting an anti-corruption law, so that the country could stay away from corruption practices.

###