Díli, 26 Abr (Lusa) - O ex-tenente timorense Gastão Salsinha, que na sexta-feira aceitou render-se às autoridades, permanence em Ermera, na região ocidental de Timor-Leste, numa casa sob controlo das Falintil-Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL).
"A situação não mudou desde sexta-feira. Demos mais um par de dias para a entrega das armas e do resto do grupo", afirmou à Agência Lusa uma fonte que acompanha as negociações.
O ex-líder dos peticionários das Forças Armadas aceitou render-se após reuniões que envolveram a Presidência da República, elementos das forças de segurança timorenses, da Igreja Católica e líderes locais.
"Salsinha não tem as armas mas não as entregou (às autoridades). Não está preso mas concordou em não abandonar a casa onde está instalado", disse hoje uma fonte internacional à Lusa.
Não foi feita nenhuma declaração oficial sobre a situação de Gastão Salsinha nem sobre a data prevista para a concretização do acordo atingido na sexta-feira numa aldeia de Ermera.
Salsinha, líder do grupo rebelde que a 11 de Fevereiro atentou contra a vida do Presidente Ramos-Horta e do primeiro-ministro Xanana Gusmão, concordou "em não deixar a casa onde se encontra, até que o resto dos seus homens se juntem a ele", disse na sexta-feira à Lusa uma fonte oficial da ONU em Timor-Leste .
"A situação é muito parecida com o que aconteceu quando Gastão Salsinha concordou em entregar-se ao Procurador-Geral da República" há cerca de dois meses, comentou aquela fonte, que salientou o papel relevante da Igreja Católica, de políticos locais e da Procuradoria-Geral da República nas negociações com o chefe rebelde.
Até quinta-feira, estavam em prisão preventiva dez elementos do grupo de Gastão Salsinha e do major Alfredo Reinado, arguidos no processo do 11 de Fevereiro.
Angelita Pires, ex-assessora legal e namorada de Alfredo Reinado, está indiciada no mesmo processo, aguardando julgamento em liberdade mas com interdição de se ausentar do país.
Continuavam a monte 13 suspeitos com mandado de captura emitido, incluindo Gastão Salsinha, que lidera o grupo de fugitivos depois da morte do major Reinado no ataque à casa do Presidente José Ramos-Horta.
A operação Halibur de captura do grupo de Salsinha tem estado concentrada no distrito de Ermera.
No seu regresso a Timor-Leste, no passado dia 17, o Presidente da República, José Ramos-Horta, tinha ordenado ao ex-tenente Gastão Salsinha para se entregar e acabar com a sua "aventura".
"Deixe-se de aventuras. A vossa aventura e irresponsabilidade ao longo de meses já custou vidas", afirmou José Ramos-Horta na conferência de imprensa que deu no aeroporto internacional Nicolau Lobato, em Díli, dirigindo-se ao líder dos fugitivos ligados aos ataques de 11 de Fevereiro.
O Presidente fez, na ocasião, uma intervenção emocionada mas dura contra Gastão Salsinha e o major Alfredo Reinado, responsáveis pelos ataques contra José Ramos-Horta e o primeiro-ministro Xanana Gusmão.
José Ramos-Horta ficou gravemente ferido, o major Reinado morreu no ataque e o ex-tenente Salsinha fugiu com um grupo que agora está reduzido a cerca de 15 homens.
PRM.
Lusa/fim
domingo, abril 27, 2008
Salsinha continua em Ermera, nada mudou desde sexta-feira
Gastão Salsinha concordou em render-se mas ainda não entregou armas
Díli, 25 Abr (Lusa) - O ex-tenente timorense Gastão Salsinha concordou hoje em render-se em Ermera (Oeste de Timor-Leste), "mas até ao momento ainda não entregou as armas", disse à Agência Lusa fonte do comando conjunto da Operação Halibur.
Uma fonte oficial da ONU em Timor-Leste confirmou à Lusa existirem reuniões entre Gastão Salsinha e uma delegação da Procuradoria-Geral da República, do Parlamento, do Governo e das Forças Armadas, na aldeia de Liolo, junto a Gleno, Ermera.
Salsinha, líder do grupo rebelde que em 11 de Fevereiro atentou contra a vida do Presidente Ramos-Horta e do primeiro-ministro Xanana Gusmão, concordou, "em resultado destas conversações, em não deixar a casa onde se encontra, até que o resto dos seus homens se juntem a ele", disse aquela fonte.
"Depois disso, Gastão Salsinha concordou em entregar-se às autoridades", concluiu a fonte da ONU.
Uma outra fonte que tem acompanhado localmente as negociações, confirmou à Lusa a concordância de Salsinha na sua rendição, "mas até ao momento ainda não entregou as armas".
"A situação é muito parecida com o que aconteceu quando Gastão Salsinha concordou em entregar-se ao Procurador-Geral da República" há cerca de dois meses, comentou aquela fonte, que salientou o papel relevante da Igreja, de políticos locais e da Procuradoria-Geral da República nas negociações com o chefe rebelde.
Até quinta-feira, estavam em prisão preventiva dez elementos do grupo de Gastão Salsinha e do major Alfredo Reinado, arguidos no processo do 11 de Fevereiro.
Angelita Pires, ex-assessora legal e namorada de Alfredo Reinado, está indiciada no mesmo processo, aguardando julgamento em liberdade mas com interdição de se ausentar do país.
Continuavam a monte 13 suspeitos com mandado de captura emitido, incluindo Gastão Salsinha, que lidera o grupo de fugitivos depois da morte do major Reinado no ataque à casa do Presidente José Ramos-Horta.
A operação Halibur de captura do grupo de Salsinha tem estado concentrada no distrito de Ermera.
No seu regresso a Timor-Leste, no dia 17 de Abril, o Presidente da República, José Ramos-Horta, tinha ordenado ao ex-tenente Gastão Salsinha para se entregar e acabar com a sua "aventura".
"Deixe-se de aventuras. A vossa aventura e irresponsabilidade ao longo de meses já custou vidas", afirmou José Ramos-Horta na conferência de imprensa que deu no aeroporto internacional Nicolau Lobato, em Díli, dirigindo-se ao líder dos fugitivos ligados aos ataques de 11 de Fevereiro.
O Presidente fez, na ocasião, uma intervenção emocionada mas dura contra Gastão Salsinha e o major Alfredo Reinado, responsáveis pelos ataques contra José Ramos-Horta e o primeiro-ministro Xanana Gusmão.
José Ramos-Horta ficou gravemente ferido, o major Reinado morreu no ataque e o ex-tenente Salsinha fugiu com um grupo que agora está reduzido a cerca de 15 homens.
"Entregue-se ao pároco em Gleno ou Maubisse. Confio totalmente nesta igreja timorense. Ela saberá como contactar as autoridades", pediu o chefe de Estado a Salsinha no regresso de mais de dois meses de convalescença em Darwin, Austrália.
"Apesar de eu ter sido atingido, eu não queria que Salsinha ou qualquer outro timorense perdesse a sua vida.
Demasiados timorenses perderam as suas vidas", acrescentou José Ramos-Horta num momento em que, embargado, interrompeu as suas palavras.
"Salsinha tem que se entregar. Ele disse que esperava pelo meu regresso para se entregar. Eu prefiro que ele procure a igreja. Depois ele tem de ir ao Procurador-geral da República, ou ao tribunal, não sei o processo, e enfrentar a justiça", insistiu o Presidente.
"Salsinha já não é o líder dos peticionários", afirmou o Presidente da República na sua curta intervenção perante os deputados e a comunidade diplomática.
PRM.
Lusa/fim.
Gastão Salsinha rende-se em Ermera
Díli, 25 Abr (Lusa) - O ex-tenente timorense Gastão Salsinha rendeu-se hoje em Ermera (Oeste de Timor-Leste), disse à Agência Lusa fonte do comando conjunto da Operação Halibur.
PRM.
Lusa/fim.
Histórias de Portugal e da II Guerra Mundial no "Diário do Tenente Pires"
** Pedro Rosa Mendes, da agência Lusa, em Díli **
Díli, 26 Abr (Lusa) - A "violência" da colonização de Timor, a "brutalidade" da I República e o "cinismo" da política de Salazar face à invasão japonesa são as linhas que se cruzam na vida do tenente português Manuel de Jesus Pires.
"Timor na 2ª Guerra Mundial, O Diário do Tenente Pires", de António Monteiro Cardoso, é, por isso, "um livro iconoclasta", resumiu o historiador português em entrevista à agência Lusa.
António Monteiro Cardoso apresentou a obra (lançada em Outubro de 2007) em Díli, na Feira do Livro em Português, que terminou a 23 de Abril.
O historiador, que nunca tinha estado em Timor-Leste, visitou nos últimos dias alguns dos cenários onde se desenrolou a história heróica, com fim trágico, do tenente Pires, no distrito de Baucau (leste do país), à vista das montanhas do Matebian e do Mundo Perdido.
O tenente Pires foi administrador da vila de Baucau, que entre 1936 e 1975 se chamou Vila Salazar, capital da circunscrição de São Domingos, e morreu em data e local desconhecidos, talvez no final de 1944, assassinado no cativeiro japonês.
O pano de fundo do "Diário do Tenente Pires" é a resistência à ocupação japonesa de Timor, a guerra de guerrilhas movida por forças australianas ajudadas por timorenses e portugueses, a saída de Pires para a Austrália e o seu regresso à ilha, numa missão suicida, para salvar os portugueses que tinham ficado e corriam perigo.
António Monteiro Cardoso, recorrendo a abundantes fontes documentais, analisa e refuta neste livro dois mitos persistentes: a bondade da colonização de Timor e o sucesso da política de Salazar na colónia mais distante da metrópole.
"O livro pode não ser bom mas é o único livro que não vai ser fascista, como (são) os clássicos livros sobre a História de Timor, que são livros de exaltação do culto da bandeira e outras fantasias", ironizou o historiador na entrevista à Lusa em Baucau.
"Claro que há uma excepção, que é o livro de José Mattoso ("A Dignidade")", ressalvou António Monteiro Cardoso.
"Comete-se erros de interpretação em que se toma a parte pelo todo", acrescentou, recordando que uma versão realista, menos simpática a Portugal, já aparecia nas obras do historiador francês René Pélissier sobre o avanço das fronteiras coloniais.
"A verdade é o que Pélissier contou: a colonização foi violenta e usou os métodos de guerra, guerra de timorenses contra timorenses, como na Guiné pelo Teixeira Pinto", afirmou António Monteiro Cardoso à Lusa.
"Mantém-se a ilusão mitológica de que o colonialismo português não fazia mal a ninguém. Todos são maus a colonizar menos os portugueses", declarou à Lusa.
"O caso de Timor é o que melhor ajuda a criar este mito, devido à invasão indonésia. Há o mito da cristianização, da conquista das almas e não pela espada", explicou o historiador.
"O timorense por definição era católico, falava português e adorava Portugal", recorda.
António Monteiro Cardoso salienta que na sua obra sobre o tenente Pires e a 2ª Guerra Mundial teve presente as lições retiradas de "Weapons of the Weak" e "Hidden Transcripts", de James C. Scott, em que são analisadas as formas de resistência dos "fracos".
"As pessoas que estão sob uma situação de dominação não se podem exprimir livremente. Dão ideia de pacificação ou adesão, mas, criando-se certas oportunidades, passa-se rapidamente a situação de revolta de populações que pareciam amigas", diz António Monteiro Cardoso.
"É a história de todos os colonialismos".
"Os indígenas são tão simpáticos, tão portugueses, dóceis, um pouco mandriões é certo. Conhecem as crianças? Assim são os indígenas", ironiza o historiador sobre a visão colonial do timorense.
Outra das novidades do "Diário do Tenente Pires" é recuperar parte da história dos deportados portugueses em Timor, origem de vários "clãs" importantes, como a família Carrascalão ou a família do Presidente José Ramos-Horta.
"A novidade é que os principais deportados não foram enviados pelo regime de Salazar. Os primeiros, o núcleo-duro, eram anarco-sindicalistas, enviados pela I República para a Guiné e Cabo Verde e que depois a ditadura militar aproveitou para mandar para mais longe", conta António Monteiro Cardoso.
O historiador sublinha que o regime "democrático" e "benevolente" anterior ao Estado Novo tinha "uma forte componente anti-operária e de polícias políticas que agiam com uma brutalidade espantosa e que deportavam sem julgamento".
"Um regime sinistro", resume António Monteiro Cardoso.
Na obra sobre o tenente Pires, fala-se, por exemplo, da Legião Vermelha, "uma organização terrorista de contornos ocultos, de acção directa, destinada a atacar patrões, polícias e outros serventuários menores do capital".
A Legião fez um atentado contra o comandante da polícia de Lisboa, Ferreira do Amaral, origem de uma repressão que atingiu o auge em 1925.
Em 1931, o número de deportados "sociais" e "políticos" portugueses em Timor ultrapassava os 500, superior ao número de funcionários da administração.
Sobre a política de Salazar em Timor, António Monteiro Cardoso defende que o ditador português "demonstrou um desprezo absoluto pela vida humana e um cinismo completo".
Salazar pediu aos portugueses, perseguidos pelos japoneses, um "massacre inútil", uma decisão que antecipa o que aconteceu em 1961 com a invasão de Goa.
Na análise do historiador, Salazar descurou a protecção da colónia, até antes do início da guerra no Pacífico, não dando garantias de efectiva neutralidade nem ao Japão nem à Austrália e às potências Aliadas.
O tenente Pires e outros portugueses em Timor foram usados e sacrificados por Salazar para "garantir" a soberania sobre a colónia.
"Os mortos foram esquecidos e os sobreviventes perseguidos", conta o historiador.
Do tenente Pires, fica a história de um oficial que conseguiu salvar centenas de vidas "e que depois fica para a morte, acossado por todos os lados".
"É um exemplo de dignidade, coragem e abnegação até à morte, para cumprir um compromisso", conclui António Monteiro Cardoso.
Lusa/fim
Salsinha reedita promessa de se entregar em Ermera
JN, 26/04/08
O ex-tenente timorense Gastão Salsinha concordou ontem em render-se em Ermera (Oeste de Timor-Leste), "mas até ao momento ainda não entregou as armas", disse à Agência Lusa fonte do comando conjunto da Operação Halibur.
Uma fonte oficial da ONU em Timor-Leste confirmou existirem reuniões entre Gastão Salsinha e uma delegação da Procuradoria-Geral da República, do Parlamento, do Governo e das Forças Armadas, na aldeia de Liolo, junto a Gleno, Ermera.
Salsinha, líder do grupo rebelde que em 11 de Fevereiro atentou contra a vida do presidente Ramos-Horta e do primeiro-ministro Xanana Gusmão, concordou, "em resultado destas conversações, em não deixar a casa onde se encontra, até que o resto dos seus homens se juntem a ele", disse aquela fonte.
"Depois disso, Gastão Salsinha concordou em entregar-se às autoridades", concluiu a fonte da ONU.
Uma outra fonte que tem acompanhado localmente as negociações confirmou a concordância de Salsinha na sua rendição, "mas até ao momento ainda não entregou as armas".
"Filme" já visto
"A situação é muito parecida com o que aconteceu quando Gastão Salsinha concordou em entregar-se ao procurador-geral da República" há cerca de dois meses, comentou aquela fonte, que salientou o papel relevante da Igreja, de políticos locais e da Procuradoria-Geral da República nas negociações com o chefe rebelde.
Até anteontem, estavam em prisão preventiva dez elementos do grupo de Gastão Salsinha e do major Alfredo Reinado, arguidos no processo do 11 de Fevereiro.
Angelita Pires, ex-assessora legal e namorada de Alfredo Reinado, está indiciada no mesmo processo, aguardando julgamento em liberdade mas com interdição de se ausentar do país.
Continuavam a monte 13 suspeitos com mandado de captura emitido, incluindo Gastão Salsinha, que lidera o grupo de fugitivos depois da morte do major Reinado no ataque à casa do presidente José Ramos-Horta.
A operação Halibur de captura do grupo de Salsinha tem estado concentrada no distrito de Ermera.
Iminente a rendição do rebelde timorense Gastão Salsinha
Público, 26.04.2008
Jorge Heitor
Presidente Ramos-Horta desmentiu no Parlamento que tivesse agendado para sua casa, no dia em que foi atacado, qualquer encontro com o major Reinado
É possível que as autoridades timorenses possam anunciar hoje a rendição do antigo tenente Gastão Salsinha, que era tido como o líder do grupo que andava a monte desde Fevereiro e que ontem concordou uma vez mais render-se, se bem que não tenha de imediato entregue as armas, declarou ao PÚBLICO um responsável do gabinete de imprensa da Presidência da República, contactado pelo telefone.
Também os correspondentes da Lusa e da Antena Um referiram contactos entre Salsinha e representantes da Procuradoria-Geral e de outras entidades, na região de Gleno, distrito de Ermera, o único onde actualmente prevalece o estado de excepção decretado em todo o país depois do atentado de há dois meses e meio em que ficou gravemente ferido o Presidente, José Ramos-Horta.
O ambiente geral em Timor-Leste é hoje bem melhor e mais calmo do que há alguns meses, antes dos incidentes de 11 de Fevereiro, reconheceu ao PÚBLICO Maria Ângela Carrascalão, chefe de gabinete do secretário de Estado da Defesa, segundo a qual os militares e polícias timorenses saíram prestigiados das recentes provações.
Ao discursar esta semana no Parlamento, Ramos-Horta disse que "sem a intervenção divina e a sabedoria e dedicação dos médicos e enfermeiros em Díli e Darwin" não teria sobrevivido ao atentado, a propósito do qual três homens foram detidos na Indonésia, para onde entretanto teriam fugido: "Deus quis que eu continue a fazer uso de todas as minhas modestas faculdades para continuar a minha obra modesta em prol deste nosso povo e em prol da Humanidade".
O Presidente insistiu em que naquela data esteve na fronteira entre a vida e a morte; e que nessa altura ouviu "uma voz muito clara" a dizer para os que o tentavam matar: "Larguem-no, ele não fez mal a ninguém." E acredita que "era uma voz de comando, a voz de Deus".
O chefe de Estado felicitou o presidente do Parlamento, Fernando Araújo, "Lasama", pelo modo como interinamente o substituiu, tendo agradecido a todos os que acompanharam a evolução do seu estado, referindo em especial o secretário-geral das Nações Unidas, Ban Ki-moon, o presidente da Comissão Europeia, Durão Barroso, e o Papa Bento XVI.
Por outro lado, procurando desfazer certas teses que vieram a público, sublinhou que no dia 11 de Fevereiro não tinha nenhum encontro marcado, na sua residência, com o major rebelde Alfredo Reinado, que acabou por seu morto nesse local, algum tempo antes de ele próprio ter sido alvejado a tiro, "pelas costas, do lado direito", e caído na estrada.
Police chief denies Hercules arrested
04/25/08 18:36
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Police Chief Gen. Sutanto denied on Friday reports that police had arrested youth leader Hercules for implication in rebel activities in Timor Leste.
"There is no arrest of Hercules and no Indonesian national was captured," the police chief said here on Friday.
Sutanto explained that police had only arrested two Timor Leste citizens at Hercules`s house.
They were suspected of involvement in the Timor Leste revolt.
"Hercules himself was not arrested," the police chief stressed.
He said Hercules did not know that the two Timor Leste citizens who stayed at his house were fugitives and suspects in rebel activities in Timor Leste.
Hercules was willing to accommodate them at his house only because of humanitarian consideration and was willing to find them a job, he said.
When police arrested them, police did not find any fire arms, sharp weapons or other illegal items in the house, Sutanto said.
So far, Hercules had often helped Timor Leste citizens with regard to the economic development in that country.
Hercules even tried to convince investors to invest in Timor Leste, the police chief said.
Asked on telephone relations with Timor Leste rebels, Sutanto said Hercules did have telephone links with them but not in connection with rebellion.
Previously, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesian police had arrested three citizens of Timor Leste who were involved in rebellious activities. The three were identified as Egidio Lay Carvalho, Jose Gomes, and Ismail Sansao Moniz Soares.
The three suspects are all members of the military of Timor Leste who were involved in the rebel activities, and suspected of involvement in President Ramos Horta`s shooting incident, he said.
But the police chief said that those arrested were not only three but four.
"Two were arrested in the border area between Indonesia and Timor Leste and the two others at Hercules`s home," Sutanto said.
East Timor's top rebel gives up
The Australian
Paul Toohey April 26, 2008
REBEL lieutenant Gastao Salsinha last night surrendered after two years on the run and put himself in the personal control of East Timor's most senior army officer, Brigadier Tuar Matan Ruak.
Salsinha's capitulation will hopefully bring to an end two years of stand-offs, negotiations and violence that has torn the country apart.
Salsinha, who allegedly led the attack on Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao on February 11 while Alfredo Reinado launched the raid on President Jose Ramos Horta's compound, spent yesterday sitting in a house in Ermera, in the west of East Timor, with a Catholic Church priest acting as his mediator as armed forces surrounded the position.
Negotiators had gone to a house near the town of Gleno, atSalsinha's suggestion, to collect him.
Despite being circled by a heavily armed joint command taskforce made up of F-FDTL (army) and PNTL (police), Salsinha continued to hold his weapon and said he would not surrender until members of his family, who are also on the run, and eight or nine other rebels, joined him. In the end, Salsinha, 35, did not have much in the way of bargaining power.
Salsinha's role as a rebel leader dates back to January 2006, when he and other members of the F-FDTL wrote to their brigadier and then president, Mr Gusmao, complaining that people born in the west of the country had been overlooked for promotions.
They said the government preferred to reward eastern-born soldiers who were more likely to be associated with the Indonesian resistance. The following month, 591 of the "petitioners" abandoned their barracks.
In March, they were officially sacked. The petitioners, led by Salsinha, then won permission to stage a four-day demonstration in front of the Dili government offices. On the final day, April 28, 2006, they were joined by unruly youths. The government, led by then prime minister Mari Alkatiri ordered the F-FDTL in.
Six people were shot, two fatally. Violence spread across Dili and the country turned on itself. About 150,000 easterners became displaced and sought shelter in tent camps in Dili, most of which are still occupied.
Early in May 2006, Reinado, a military policeman, joined Salsinha's men. Reinado became the brash spokesman, with the quiet but determined Salsinha his second-in-charge.
Later that month, Reinado engaged F-FDTL and police in a firefight near Dili, in which five were killed and 10 injured. Reinado was later arrested for murder, but escaped from prison.
Meanwhile the government was accused, and later proved guilty, of arming a secret militia to attack the petitioners. Many police, or PNTL, born in the west, supported the petitioners. On May 25, 2006, nine police under the protection of the UN were massacred in cold blood as they sought to surrender.
This set in train events that would last more than two years and culminate in the February 11 attack on the President and the Prime Minister, with Reinado being shot dead.
Although Salsinha was not charged with murder, he was wanted for staging the ambush on Mr Gusmao's home.
Desi Anwar asks for president`s protection against Horta`s accusation
04/25/08 22:08
By Eliswan Azly
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Metro TV's senior journalist Desi Anwar has asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to protect her from possible negative consequences following Timor Leste President Ramos Horta`s accusation against her.
"I also beg President Yudhoyono to ask Ramos Horta for a clarification of his groundless accusation and to rehabilate my good name as a journalist of Metro TV station," Anwar said when reporting her case to Indonesia`s Press Council here on Friday.
In the presence of all Press Council members, Desi Anwar categorically denied Horta`s charge which was made in a statement to the international press in Dili on April 18.
Horta accused Desi Anwar of having violated the journalist code of ethics and Timor Leste laws by activities that had contributed to the attempt to assassinate him.
"The accusation is a total lie, irresponsible and hurting me," she said in the company of Metro TV executives Djafar Assagaf, Elman Saragih and Saur Hutabarat.
Anwar said Horta`s accusation was a lie as she had never done the things Horta had referred to in his statement.
"I never went to Atambua, forged documents or facilitated Major Alfredo Reinado`s travel. I never made any direct or indirect contact with whoever, much less violated the law and contributed to an assassination attempt," she said.
Anwar reiterated that she had never known, met or made any contact with Major Alfredo Reinado.
According to her, Horta`s accusation was very dangerous as it was made by a president. It had created a negative perception about her as a journalist and person and had put her in difficult position with consequences in the future.
"Horta`s accusation against me will create a bad perception harmful to me as a journalist and an individual. I will take the matter to the Press Council and professional organizations," she said.
Anwar also intended to tell the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) about the Timor Leste President`s false accusation and ask for IFJ protection.
"The accusation is damaging my reputation at home and abroad. I could be banned from entering a country due to the accusation. As a journalist, I often cover events abroad," she said.
In the meantime, Wina Armada, a member of the Press Council, said he was ready to receive information from Anwar about her problem and give moral support to her.
"The Press Council is obliged to help and protect every member of the press community. We will receive Desi Anwar and our friends from Metro TV (an Indonesian private TV satiation) tomorrow (Friday/ April 25)," he said.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian Journalist Association (PWI)`s foreign affairs section, Saiful Hadi, told newsmen that PWI would help defend Desi Anwar as according to information he had received, the Metro TV journalist was not wrong.
"We will hear about Ramos Horta`s accusation directly from Desi. If the accusation is unfounded and not supported by evidence, PWI will urge Ramos Horta to withdraw his accusation. Horta must also apologize to Desi, Metro TV and the Indonesian people," said Saiful Hadi who is also Chief Editor of ANTARA news agency.
According to Saiful, nobody, not even a president, could level an accusation against someone else without evidence. "The accusation against Desi could disrupt her journalistic works and threaten her life," he said.
Metro TV`s denial
On Ramos Horta`s accusation against Desi Anwar, Metro TV made a clarification on the matter.
It was untrue that Metro TV journalist Desi Anwar was involved, either directly or indirectly, in an attempt to assassinate Timor Leste President Ramos Horta.
It was also untrue that, as a journalist, Desi Anwar had facilitated Major Alfredo Reinado`s trip to Jakarta or other places in the world.
In her professional history as a journalist, Desi Anwar did not know Major Alfredo Reinado as an individual and did not make any direct or indirect contact with Reinado.
Thus, according to Metro TV, Ramos Horta`s accusation against Desi Anwar was unfounded, irresponsible and had a created a bad perception harmful to Metro TV as an institution and Desi Anwar both as a journalist and an individual.
Metro TV had been looking forward to giving chances to President Ramos Horta to make corrections on his statement which was declared openly and quoted by media worldwide, and till April 22, 2008, at 2 pm, he did not make any correction, Metro TV needed to issue an official denial.
Metro TV urged President Ramos Horta to soon make a rectification of his unfounded accusation.
RI reporter accused by Ramos Horta to report to press council
04/24/08 19:20
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Metro TV journalist Desi Anwar who was accused of involvement in an attempt to assassinate Timor Leste President Ramos Horta has called for support and protection from Indonesia`s Press Council and journalist associations.
"Ramos Horta`s accusation against me is unfounded and irresponsible . It has also created a bad perception harmful to me as a journalist and an individual. I will take the matter to the Press Council and professional organizations," she said here Thursday.
Desi was also expected to tell the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) about the Timor Leste President`s false accusation and ask for IFJ protection.
"The accusation is damaging my reputation at home and abroad. I could be banned from entering a country due to the accusation. As a journalist, I often cover events abroad," she said.
A member of the Press Council, Wina Armada, said he was ready to receive information from Desi about her problem and give moral support to her.
"The Press Council is obliged to help and protect every member of the press community. We will receive Desi Anwar and our friends from Metro TV (an Indonesian private TV satiation) tomorrow (Friday/ April 25)," he said.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian Journalist Association (PWI)`s foreign affairs section, Saiful Hadi, told newsmen that PWI would help defend Desi Anwar as according to information he had received, the Metro TV journalist was not wrong.
"We will hear about Ramos Horta`s accusation directly from Desi. If the accusation is unfounded and not supported by evidence, PWI will urge Ramos Horta to withdraw his accusation. Horta must also apologize to Desi, Metro TV and the Indonesian people," said Saiful Hadi who is also Chief Editor of ANTARA news agency.
According to Saiful, nobody, not even a president, could level an accusation against someone else without evidence. "The accusation against Desi could disrupt her journalistic works and threaten her life," he said.
On Ramos Horta`s accusation against Desi Anwar, Metro TV made a clarification on the matter.
It was untrue that Metro TV journalist Desi Anwar was involved, either directly or indirectly, in an attempt to assassinate Timor Leste President Ramos Horta.
It was also untrue that, as a journalist, Desi Anwar had facilitated Major Alfredo Reinado`s trip to Jakarta or other places in the world.
In her professional history as a journalist, Desi Anwar did not know Major Alfredo Reinado as an individual and did not make any direct or indirect contact with Reinado.
Thus, according to Metro TV, Ramos Horta`s accusation against Desi Anwar was unfounded, irresponsible and had a created a bad perception harmful to Metro TV as an institution and Desi Anwar both as a journalist and an individual.
Metro TV has been looking forward to giving chances to President Ramos Horta to make corrections on his statement which was declared openly and quoted by media worldwide, and till April 22, 2008, at 2 pm, he did not make any correction, Metro TV needed to issue an official denial.
Metro TV urged President Ramos Horta to soon make a rectification on the unfounded accusation.
Timor rebel comes out of hiding
The Age
Lindsay Murdoch
April 26, 2008
A REBEL leader who played a key role in attacks on East Timor's top two political leaders has come out of hiding to start negotiating his surrender.
Gastao Salsinha, who led a dozen heavily armed rebels to the home of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, yesterday met Government leaders, Timorese army chiefs and local Catholic church leaders at a house in Gleno in the country's western mountains.
A United Nations spokeswoman in Dili, Allison Cooper, confirmed the talks. "It appears Mr Salsinha is taking a step towards surrendering," she said.
For weeks Salsinha had told negotiators he would surrender only to President Jose Ramos Horta, who returned to Dili last week after nine weeks in Darwin recovering from gunshot wounds. But Mr Ramos Horta refused to go to the mountains to accept the surrender, saying Salsinha must give himself up.
A former army lieutenant who led 600 soldiers sacked in 2006 after they went on strike, Salsinha joined forces last year with rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, shot dead at the home of Mr Ramos Horta during the February 11 attacks.
Political leaders in Dili urged Timorese security forces not to kill Salsinha after he fled because they wanted him to tell them the identities of the figures behind Reinado.
Mr Ramos Horta has revealed that Reinado and his Timorese-born Australian lover, Angelita Pires, had been given access to $1 million in a Darwin bank account. Australian Federal Police have been asked to trace the source of the money.
If Salsinha surrenders, he is expected to play a key role in a Government offer to give the sacked soldiers their jobs back or to pay them the equivalent of three years' salary — about $US7000 ($A7493).
Government officials have been reluctant to finalise the deal while Salsinha is on the run, fearing some of the men would take the money and rejoin him in the mountains. Negotiations over the offer have been at a sensitive stage for weeks.
Although 80% of the men want to rejoin the army, analysts say their return to the ranks could revive hostilities over accusations that soldiers from western parts of the country were discriminated against by those from the east.
Mr Gusmao needs to secure the deal if the country is to return to peace, analysts say.
Since the attacks, Salsinha has often changed his account of what happened when speaking to journalists on his mobile telephone. At first he even denied going to Mr Gusmao's house.
Most recently, he claimed that Reinado was drunk, stressed and angry the night before the attacks and that he and the other rebels were not given any instructions to attack.
Investigators want to find out why the men under Salsinha's command at Mr Gusmao's house opened fire on the Prime Minister's vehicle. Reinado could not have ordered them to as he had been dead for up to an hour.
UNMIT Daily Media Review - 25 April 2008
UNMIT-MEDIA
(International news reports and extracts from national media. UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports)
Salsinha promises to submit himself within April – Diario Nacional
The Deputy Commander of the Joint Operation Command Mateus Fernandes said that Salsinha and his members have promised to submit themselves within this month even though the operation is still continuing. “He did not nominate an exact date, but he did promise that in short time he will submit himself to the church. That is what he said … we will see the reality,” said Commander Fernandes on Wednesday (23/4) in Dili.
Ed: Pardon for Rogerio Lobato– Diario Nacional
When President Ramos-Horta said that he would pardon prisoners on 20 May, including former Minister of Interior Rogerio Tiago Lobato, many people were surprised as Mr. Lobato was imprisoned for a short time before he went to Malaysia for medical treatment.
We know that Mr. Lobato is a political leader who has political maturity, obeys the law and with humility accepted the decision of the court sentence. We may reject the decision of President Ramos-Horta, but the Constitution gives him the right to do so. As citizens of this country, we should bow our heads to the constitution made by our representatives in the National Parliament.
Pardon for Rogerio: Horta attacks the Constitution – Suara Timor Lorosa’e
CNRT MPAderito Hugo said that the decision made by the president to pardon Rogerio Lobato is an attack on Timor Leste’s constitution. “The way that the President has handled this is an attempted attack on our constitution,” said Aderito Hugo on Thursday (24/4) at the National Parliament.
Mr Hugo added that the man imprisoned for his part in the weapons distribution of 2006, Rogerio Lobato, has not yet earned the right to be pardoned.Separately, National Director of Prison, Helena Gomes said that it is right for President Ramos Horta to pardon Rogerio Lobato as he had shown a good attitude and had collaborated with the justice system before receiving a medical treatment in Malaysia.
PR holds a meeting with AMP leaders – Suara Timor Lorosa’e
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão said that PR Ramos-Horta held a meeting with the leaders of AMP Government on Thursday (24/4) at the President’s new office in Farol, Dili. The meeting aimed at informing the President on the strategies already implemented by the AMP government during his absence. President Ramos Horta also suggested the all political parties work to strengthen national unity.
Carrascalao: it is normal to form a shadow cabinet – Suara Timor Lorosa’e
MP PSD Mario Viegas Carrascalão said that its normal if the President invites all former leaders to from a shadow cabinet in the manner of other countries. He added that a shadow cabinet has the right to provide constructive criticism to the Government.
PGR Longuinhos goes to Indonesia to bring back captured rebels – Timor Post
Prosecutor-General Longuinhos Monteiro is today (25/4) going to Jakarta to bring back the three rebels arrested by the National Police of Indonesia (POLRI). Prosecutor Longuinhos said that the rebels will be brought back to Timor-Leste before the Prime Minister’s visit to Indonesia. He also said that he would be accompanied by court police and the military. The rebels will be transferred from Jakarta to Bali, then to Timor-Leste.
PR Horta interrogated by Public Ministry for more than four hours – Televisão Timor-Leste
The Public Ministry has interrogated President Ramos-Horta as a victim of February 11 for more than four hours. Prosecutor-General Longuinhos Monteiro said that the interrogation was conducted well and helped clarify the investigation. “Everything went normally. He provided a chronology of events for February 11,” said Mr. Longuinhos on Thursday (24/4). Mr. Longuinhos said that the case is very complex, so it needs cooperation from every part, including from Indonesia and Australia.
Pardon for Rogerio may impact the judgment of 2006 crisis – Timor Post
The Director of HAK Association Jose Luis Oliveira said that the decision of President Ramos-Horta to pardon Rogerio Lobato will impact the process for the unresolved cases of the 2006 crisis. “Because some people have still not been investigated, if the President has decided to pardon Rogerio Lobato this indicates that other cases of 2006 crisis may be closed. The suspects will think this whether they are right or wrong,” said Mr. Oliveira. According to Mr. Oliveira, Rogerio Lobato should at least fulfil his sentence in the prison for half a year. He added that the decision of the President sets a bad example for society.
Ed: all political parties should have dialogue – Timor Post
On Wednesday (23/4), President Ramos-Horta appealed to all political parties to have a dialogue for the sake of peace and stability in the country.
It is clear that there should be a dialogue, especially between the AMP Government and the opposition party of Fretilin.
We can all see that AMP is facing great challenges by Fretilin who won the 2007 elections but lost the opportunity to rule the country.
Fretilin used to claim that the AMP is illegal based on the results of the 2007 elections. At the same time, AMP used to say that they were legal based on the parliamentary chairs they had and the decision of President Horta to form the government.
So who follows who?
We need collaboration and reconciliation from the highest levels. We do not need early elections as proposed by Fretilin
We are still questioning whether the dialogue is for collaboration and reconciliation or to decide on early elections?
Indonesia arrests fourth man linked to East Timor attack- The Earth Times, 24 April
Jakarta - Indonesia has arrested a fourth East Timor rebel believed linked to assassination attempts against the president and prime minister of the fledgling nation, national police chief General Sutanto said Thursday.
General Sutanto, who like many Indonesians goes only by one name, said the four East Timorese nationals were arrested separately near the Indonesia-East Timor border.
"All four were Timor Leste military-men who had entered Indonesia without legal travel documents," the state-run Antara news agency quoted Sutanto as saying, adding that the four were suspected to have involved in the attacks of President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in February.
Earlier this week, Indonesian police said they had arrested three people, two in a border town in Indonesia's West Timor and another near Jakarta.
Sutanto said that all four were currently being held in Jakarta but gave no detail on the fourth person, adding that the arrests followed a request from the East Timor government.
Armed men, led by rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, attacked the residence of East Timor's president on February 11, which seriously injured Ramos-Horta.
Prime Minister Gusmao escaped unhurt from an attack on his motorcade a short time later.
Rebel leader Reinado and one of his men were killed in the attack, but a number of other militants remain at large.
Indonesia occupied East Timor for 24 years, and as many as 200,000 civilians died during that period. Jakarta denies committing any atrocities during the occupation and has claimed the violence in 1999 was not organized by its armed forces.
East Timor, a half-island territory that used to be a Portuguese colony, became an independent nation in 2002 after being administered by the UN for more than two years.
Two killed in East Timor gang violence- Reuters, 24 April
DILI, April 24 (Reuters) - Two members of East Timor's rival martial arts gangs were killed on Thursday in another bout of violence that has beset the young, impoverished nation, police said.
One of the victims was decapitated in a revenge attack that followed the killing of a rival gang member in the eastern district of Baucau, said local police detective chief Rogerio Gueterres.
"We are searching for 10 perpetrators who have been identified," Gueterres said.
The former Portuguese colony plunged into chaos in 2006 after the sacking of 600 rebellious soldiers triggered violence that killed 37 people and drove 150,000 from their homes.
Foreign troops had to be brought in to restore order and security has improved, although sporadic violence, vandalism and arson persist, with an unemployment rate of around 50 per cent helping fan a gang culture among bored youths.
Indonesia annexed East Timor in 1975. East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia in a violence-marred referendum in 1999. It became fully independent in 2002 after a period of U.N. administration. (Reporting by Tito Belo; Writing by Ahmad Pathoni; Editing by Sugita Katyal)
No Indonesian arrested over Ramos Horta's shooting
JAKARTA, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian National Police Chief Gen Sutanto has said no a single Indonesian citizen was arrested and being questioned in connection with the shooting of Timor Leste President Ramos Horta last February, according to Antara news agency on Thursday.
"Not a single Indonesian citizen has been arrested. All the people we are now questioning (in relation with Horta's shooting)are Timor Leste citizens," Antara news agency quoted the military chief as saying.
He said the police were questioning four Timor Leste nationals who were arrested near the Indonesia-Timor Leste border on suspicion of involvement in the attempt on Horta's life in Dili last February. All four were Timor Leste militarymen who had entered Indonesia without the required legal travel documents.
Sutanto said the Timor Leste government had earlier asked for Indonesia's assistance to take action against anybody suspected of involvement in the attempt on Horta's life who had fled to Indonesia.
The police chief expressed hope other members of the network that had perpetrated the attack on Horta could be nabbed.
Sutanto also denied rumors that a Timor Leste-born youth figureresiding in Jakarta was linked with the plot to kill Horta.
"There is no such link," he said.
Previously, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said police arrested three people from Timor Leste, namely Egidio Lay Carvalho, Jose Gomes, and Ismail Sansao Moniz Soares last Friday.
"I need to clarify that the three suspects are all members of the Timor Leste military involved in the unrest and shooting," he said.
Anzac Day to remember for departing East Timor contingent- NZPA, 24 April
Anzac Day will be a memorable one for 11 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel scheduled to depart for East Timor tomorrow for a three month stint.
Drawn mostly from the Air Force's No 3 squadron, the team will fly over in a C-130 Hercules which will also be delivering an Iroquois helicopter to replace another one due to return to New Zealand for servicing.
Those heading over tomorrow will join 19 comrades who have already arrived in East Timor.
The New Zealanders will work alongside the Australian Defence Force air assets and 150 NZDF infantry and military observers, conducting personnel movement, aero medical evacuation and air logistic support.
New Zealand has two helicopters along with 170 personnel in East Timor, including two military liaison officers serving with a United Nations (UN) unit and another two advisors to the East Timor Defence Force.
Over 800 NZDF personnel are now deployed on 16 operations, UN missions and defence exercises around the world.
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Rebuilding infrastructure poses challenge to tackling malaria
IRIN
Saturday 26 April 2008
A malaria patient at the national hospital in Dili, the capital. Men are the most prevalent carriers of the disease because of their work on farmland and other malaria-infested areas
DILI, 24 April 2008 (IRIN) - Timor-Leste reported 46,832 cases of malaria - nearly one-twentieth of the population - in 2007 but health officials are optimistic that a nationwide spraying campaign and the extensive distribution of bed nets since then will have reduced numbers.
The Ministry of Health told IRIN it wants every man, woman and child to sleep under an insecticide-impregnated bed net. In a country where 80 percent of those sampled for malaria test positive, this might seem an obvious solution, but until November 2007, it was not government policy. Nets were only issued to pregnant women and children under five.
However, Maria Mota, a malaria official at the Ministry of Health, said research indicated it was often the men in the household - most likely to work in rice fields or low croplands - who often carried the disease.
"We've bought 66,000 bed nets in the last three months and we're about to buy 100,000 more," said vice-minister Madalena Hanjam. The programme still has some way to go, but Hanjam was confident of success. "This is still in the planning phase," she said. "We're doing it in steps."
Hanjam said the new nets were treated with anti-mosquito chemicals that stay active for five years. This is an improvement over earlier nets that had to be washed more frequently and were often torn in the process.
But additional prevention was hard and coordinating with other ministries often led to bureaucratic delays, she said.
Photo: Brennon Jones/IRIN
Wide-scale destruction throughout Timor-Leste has left pools of standing water – perfect breeding grounds for malaria-ridden mosquitos
Hanjam said the destruction that followed the referendum vote for independence in 1999 left the infrastructure in shambles and much of it had still not been fixed. Open sewers, potholes and abandoned buildings are common in urban settings around Timor-Leste. Hanjam said the standing water in such places made excellent mosquito breeding grounds.
Timor is home to two strains of malaria, falciparum and vivax. Falciparum, a particularly dangerous strain, is the most common, though it is also the easiest to treat.
Hanjam said every health post, clinic and hospital had rapid test kits and since late last year the ministry had been using Coartem, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), to treat falciparum.
Treatment sites
Including rural health posts, sub-district clinics and district hospitals, there are 195 sites around the country where people can seek treatment.
"If 10 people come with symptoms and take the rapid test, eight will have a positive result," Hanjam said. Malaria is the third most prevalent communicable disease in Timor following diarrhoea and tuberculosis.
The system, however, is not flawless. Some patients live far away from a clinic and many rural Timorese are unaccustomed to using western medicines as a first response to illness, so they may wait until it is too late, risking cerebral malaria, which is deadly unless treated in hospital.
Infrastructure challenge
According to Arun B Thapa, WHO representative for Timor-Leste, "The fact that the country is in the process of rebuilding itself is the biggest challenge in addressing the malaria problem – much of the infrastructure has been destroyed. Even families in the most remote corners should have access."
WHO is working with the ministry of health to intensify its community services outreach programmes and mobile clinics. "What the programme does is pull together the different elements at the health centre level so they can't complain they don't have the transport or the logistics," Thapa told IRIN.
However, it is a slow process, and "more progress will be needed to make sure we really rid the country of malaria".
sm/bj/mw
East Timor authorities locate rebel leader
ABC Online
Updated April 25, 2008 19:46:42
East Timorese authorities have located rebel leader Gastao Salsinha but the country's most wanted man will wait for more of his followers to join him before he will surrender.
Stephanie March reports from Dili Gastao Salsinha has cantoned himself in a house in Ermera district and says he will turn himself in to authorities when joined by more members of his rebel group.
United Nations spokesperson Allison Cooper confirms that the rebel leader is taking steps towards surrendering. She says Salsinha has been in meetings with representatives from the Prosecutor General's office, FFDTL military, and the church at a village near the town of Gleno.
She says it seems Salsinha has agreed to not leave the house until he is joined by his men at which stage he may hand himself over to authorities.
Authorities have not yet confirmed if any of remaining thirteen rebels are currently with their leader in Gleno. Authorities suspect Gastao Salsinha lead the attack on Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao on February 11.
He took over as leader of the rebel group following the death of Alfredo Reinado who was shot and killed in an almost-simultaneous attack on President Jose Ramos Horta.
Tradução:
Autoridades de Timor-Leste localizaram líder amotinado
ABC Online
Actualizado Abril 25, 2008 19:46:42
As autoridades Timorenses localizaram o líder amotinado Gastão Salsinha mas o homem mais procurado vai esperar que mais seguidores se juntem antes de se render.
Stephanie March relata de Dili que Gastão Salsinha se acantonou numa casa no distrito de Ermera de que diz que se vai entregar às autoridades quando se juntarem mais membros do seu grupo de amotinados.
A porta-voz da ONU Allison Cooper confirma que o líder amotinado está a dar passos para se render. Diz que Salsinha tem estado em encontros com representantes do gabinete do Procurador-Geral, militares das FFDTL e a igreja numa aldeia perto da cidade de Gleno.
Diz que parece que Salsinha concordou em não sair da casa até se lhe juntarem os seus homens altura em que ele pode entregar-se às autoridades.
As autoridades não confirmaram ainda se os restantes treze amotinados estão correntemente com o líder em Gleno. As autoridades suspeitam que Gastão Salsinha liderou o ataque ao Primeiro-Ministro Xanana Gusmão em 11 de Fevereiro.
Ele tomou o comando do grupo de amotinados depois da morte de Alfredo Reinado que foi baleado e morto num ataque quase simultâneo ao Presidente José Ramos Horta.
