NOTICIAS – 17 Outubro 2008

Fretilin calls on UN police and Timorese security forces to guarantee security for long march

*Radio Timor-Leste, October 17, 2008 Translated from Tetun

Fretilin Secretary General Mari Alkatiri has called on the UN police and the Timorese security forces to help provide security when the long march is held.

Alkatiri said Fretilin would mobilize mobs from villages and districts throughout the country to participate in the long march.

According to the law Fretilin would not get any authorization from a Government institution, but asked for the UN police and the country’s security forces to help watch over the party’s followers that would participate in the long march, Alkatiri said

“We will inform the security authorities, day before the long march is held. This is done to coordinate together about security matter. Anyone who tries to infiltrate will be captured and handed him over to the police,” Alkatiri said.

Alkatiri called on all the country’s people to not spread false information within the community, as it would make people panic.


Penal code is important for an independent country, says PM Gusmão

*Radio Timor-Leste, October 17, 2008 Translated from Tetun

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, said the Penal Code was an important part of the country in promoting judicial sector.

The prime minister made the comments Thursday (16/10) during a public presentation on the Timorese Penal Code at Hotel Timor.

Gusmã said an independent country like Timor-Leste should have its own penal to regulate criminal acts.

“We really need a judicial instrument like the penal code, so that it can help support the lawyers’ works, as we are still using the Indonesian Penal Code,” Gusmão said.

Gusmão called on all the participants to be proactive in the discussion, because the penal code was very important to the people’s lives.


Penal Code is important to respond real situation: Deputy Prosecutor general

*Televizaun Timor-Leste, October 17, 2008 Translated from Tetun

Deputy Prosecutor General Ivo Jorge Valente, said the Timor’s Penal Code was very important to respond current situation of the country.

The deputy prosecutor general made the comments yesterday after participating in a public presentation on the country’s Penal Code at Hotel Timor.

Valente stressed the Penal Code played very important role in responding the country’s current situation, because the Timorese lawyers had got many experiences over few years past.

“This penal code is an extraordinary one, because Timorese lawyers have learned it for about two years and that is positive for the country,” Valente said.

Valente explained the Timor’s Penal Code was divided into two parts, general and special one, the special one was about type of crimes and the general one was about international crime, such as crime against humanity and war crime.

Valente also said the penal code was very important to the Government in improving the country’s judicial system.

He added it was important how the penal code could be explained to the Timorese people, so that they could understand it.


A man charge over sexual intercourse with an under age girl

*Radio Timor-Leste, October 17, 2008 Translated from Tetun



Baucau District Court has made verdict giving provisional sentence to Octaviano Ximenes Belo who is suspected of being involved in having sexual intercourse with an under age girl in Lutumutu-Trilolo of Baucau District.

Baucau Porsecutor Chief, Jose Ximenes said the court made decision to provisionally lock the suspect up based on the investigation findings from police and the court.

Ximenes said based on the Article of the Penal Code 287 and 291 about having sexual intercourse with the under age girl, the suspect would be threatened 12 years in prison.

Ximenes added the victim was currently receiving mental health treatment at the Casa de Audian of Dili.


Mari Alkatiri: Bigger crisis may happen

*Timor Post October 17, 2008 Translated from Tetun

Secretary General of a historic party, Fretilin, Marí Alkatiri predicted that in the near future East Timor will face a bigger crisis.

He explained the crisis will happen when the people who may be fatigue with the current government may come and demand a lot from the government where the government itself is unable to tackle.

He added if that kind of crises happened, then the government would collapse, similar to collapse of Soeharto in Indonesia.

He said the crisis will happen if the AMP government failed to curb corruption in the government itself.

Meanwhile, MP Mário Carrascalao of PSD said that there will be no such crisis to happen since the AMP government is doing its best to improve itself such as through cabinet reshuffle.

Marí Alkatiri: Distributing weapons to reservists is not a crime

*Timor Post October 17, 2008 Translated from Tetun

Former Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri said during a press conference at the National Parliament Thursday that distributing weapons to former Falintil members in times of crises in 2006 is not a crime because it is a normal process in many newly independent countries.


“To give weapons to reservists to defend the country is not a crime,” argued Alkatiri.

He explained that as former combatants for national liberation, if a county is destabilized former combatants can be called as reservists to defend the country.

He admitted there was no law on reservists because as a new nation everything was not yet in place.

However, he added, it was not the case that F-FDTL distributed weapons to civilians but to reservists.

“At that time, frankly speaking, the President of UNDERTIM party also got a weapon,” he said.
He said that that he was puzzled by the notification letter issued by UNPOL to Lere and Falur and that even a lieutenant questioned a colonel.


Taur: I am expecting the notification letter

*Timor Post October 17, 2008 Translated from Tetun

F-FDTL’s Commander Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak said Thursday (16/10) that he is expecting the notification letter from the office of public prosecution so that his immunity can be lifted to face investigation process.

“I am expecting for the arrival of the letter,” said Ruak after meeting the President of the Republic.

Asked about the joint military exercise with other CPLP countries, Ruak said the exercise was successful.

Meanwhile, asked about different ideas between Renan Selak and Lere, he said that it is everyone’s to exercise his or her freedom of expression since East Timor is a democratic country and is based on rule of law.


UN calls on Timorese to not believe in rumors

*Televizaun Timor-Leste October 17, 2008 Translated from Tetun

Acting UNPOL Commissioner Juan Carlos Arevalo said during a press conference on Thursday that the population should not believe in rumors widespread in Dili since rumors only serve as rumors.

“As long as there is not evidence of real threat to security in the country, we should not contribute to these rumors,” said Arevalo.

He explained that since rumors are only rumors there is no need to create unnecessary alarm or concern within the communities.

He also added that by keeping calm and not be easily influenced by rumors the population can contribute to peace and stability in the country.

Meantime, the Acting PNTL Commander called on the population to work with PNTL by over consuming alcohol because many cases registered are triggered by alcohol.


AMP is yet to make reforms, says Gusmão

*Timor Post, October 17, 2008 Translated from Tetun

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, said the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) was yet to make reforms to its current cabinet, because they were currently waiting for consultation result among them.

“It is not the time to make forms over the cabinet, yet the reforms would be about capacity building to the cabinets,” Gusmão said.

Gusmão has also denied rumors on the appointment of another new deputy prime minister which had been on the public record.

In response to the proposed ant-corruption commission, Gusmão said it would be decided in the Parliament, so that the commission could be a really independent body.


PM Gusmão has good will to reform AMP Government: Mario Carrascalão

*Diario Naciona, October 17, 2008 Translated from Tetun

Social Democratic Party President Mario Viegas Carrascalão, said Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão has good will to make changes to the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) Government.

Carrascalão made the comments yesterday after having conversational dialog with Prime Minister Gusmão at the Parliament House.

“All people aware that the Government’s administration is not going well and many people have criticized corruption practices appear within the Government. However, PM Gusmão has good will to reform this Government,” Carrascalão said.

Carrascalão stressed the ministers who were not working properly should be expelled from their posts and that PM Gusmão should not play too much with the ministers.

He added PM Gusmão would make decision based on what he had declared and would be on his own conscience.



A man kills his sibling in Laga of Baucau

*Radio Timor-Leste, October 16, 2008 Translated from Tetun

Baucau District Police has reported that a man has killed his younger brother Wednesday (16/10) in a fight.

During a telephone interview, Police Officer, Miguel Mendonsa said this acts of crime took place due to family problems.

“We got a phone call from the village of Tekinaumata of Laga that there was a fight between with a man and his young brother. The suspect has escaped and police is now at the scene,” Mendonsa said.

Meanwhile, a group task force police has dispatched to the place of occurrence for chasing up the suspect.


BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - October 16, 2008

Timorese party to hold anti-government protest

Source: RTP Internacional TV, Lisbon, in Portuguese 1200 gmt 16 Oct 08

[Presenter] Mari Alkatiri [leader of Fretilin, Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor leader] has compared the illegitimacy of the government led by Xanana Gusmao to the Indonesian occupation in Timor. Fretilin is to hold a major demonstration with the aim of bringing down the government.

[Reporter] Fretilin is going to say once again, loud and clear, that the government is illegal. Alkatiri has promised a mega demonstration on the streets of Dili - 50,000 people to say no to Xanana.


[Alkatiri, 12: 36:22] The objective of the march is clear: it is to once again show that the current government does not have the legitimacy to govern. The current government is unconstitutional. [12:36:41]

[Reporter] Fretilin is angry. Alkatiri speaks of illegal occupation, just like the Indonesian occupation was illegal.

[Alkatiri, 12:36:50] When the Indonesians arrived here we did not go to court to complain, we engaged in politics. The occupation was illegal. [12:36:57]

[Reporter] In 2006 the crisis took to the streets. The Fretilin government's opponents held demonstrations, protests which contributed to the fall of the Alkatiri government. It could happen again, except this time it will be Alkatiri leading the protest. Although Fretilin obtained the most votes in the last elections, the president of the republic [Jose Ramos Horta] chose to ask Xanana Gusmao to form a government backed by a parliamentary alliance. According to Fretilin this was illegal. Mari Alkatiri now wants to tell the Xanana Gusmao's government enough is enough. Ramos Horta does not agree with the mega demonstration.

[Ramos Horta, 12:37:40] It is serious. The government is legitimate and internationally recognized - there is not a single world government which does not recognize the fourth constitutional government. Constitutionally I am the only person responsible and if there is anything unconstitutional it is serious, and in any country in the world if the president does something unconstitutional then he resigns. [12: 38:03]

[Reporter] Ramos Horta takes responsibility for not choosing the most voted party to form a government.



Australian Broadcasting Corporation - October 16, 2008

Timor President pushes for Vatican agreement



East Timor's President is calling for the state to sign an agreement, known as a 'concordata' with the Vatican, following his recent visit to the Holy See.

The nation is 97 per cent Catholic and Jose Ramos-Horta strongly believes there will be no opposition to the proposal.

The president announced his plans for East Timor to sign a concordat with the Vatican, during his visit to Manatotu district to attend a catholic celebration

While the agreements differ among countries, the principle is to provide formal recognition for the Catholic Church and give it certain privileges.

"In which first it provides, the Government recognise the legal status of Churches in Timor-Leste," said President Ramos-Horta.

"As of now, everyone takes for granted that the state recognizes the churches but there is nothing stated or written in law."

While the draft concordata for East Timor is not yet complete, it is likely to cement the Church's claim to large tracts of land and property, and allow it to develop education programs independently of the state.

Mr Ramos-Horta says, more importantly, it will ensure East Timor adopts in law the Vatican's views on abortion and prostitution.

The nation's constitution recognises the valuable role of the church in the nation's 24-year struggle for independence from Indonesia.

Mr Ramos-Horta says Christianity is the reason the country has a strong national identity.

"97 per cent of the people are Catholic, most are practising and 100 per cent are believers, and the church for them is the symbol of their belief," he said.

"They will listen first to the church before they listen to the sinful politicians."

But almost a decade after independence East Timor's leaders are still struggling to eradicate widespread poverty.

The president believes the young nation can draw on the experience of the Catholic Church in areas like education, health care and rural development to move the country forward.




Dili , 16 October 2008 (IRIN) - The UN World Food Programme(WFP) is helping the government of Timor-Leste to boost foodsecurity by giving two warehouses a facelift and building a third, to be operational by December.

For years President Jose Ramos-Horta has pledged to make Timor food secure, but every year the government finds itself struggling to transport food to villages cut off by floodwaters or landslides.

These warehouses should allow the government to provide food to the neediest first. Though one of the refurbished warehouses is in Dili, the capital, another is in Lautem in the east and one will be built in Same, in the south. These district capitals and their satellite communities are often hardest hit by food shortages and these three warehouses could provide food for more than 100,000 people - about a tenth of the population.

"If you look at it strategically, you should not focus all your warehouse space in one area," said Maarten van Driel, the WFP logistics officer in charge of the project. "Especially now as the wet season is coming."

Following a countrywide survey, the Ministry of Social Solidarity determined that these two districts were at highest risk from food emergencies. Timor-Leste has 13 districts and, besides warehouses in Dili, had only two food warehouses elsewhere before the WFP project. One of the warehouses is in Oecusse, an enclave separated by Indonesia from the rest of the country and the other is in Maliana, a western district capital. But Lautem and Same are also in two of the poorest districts in the country, and a warehouse could provide big benefits.

Van Driel said the government had stored 22 metric tonnes of contingency rice in each existing warehouse.

"There's an opportunity to give people food near their place of residence when it's urgently needed," said Jacinto Gomes de Jesus, the secretary of state for social assistance for natural disasters in the Ministry of Social Solidarity. "Another advantage is we can buy local produce when it's available."

De Jesus said he would be happy to stock the warehouses with whatever locally produced goods he could find, including beans and corn, though his first priority was rice.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, farming is the only source of income for 80 percent of all households in Timor but so far - due in part to underdeveloped markets - whatever cash a farmer received was marginal. De Jesus said Timor-Leste had some way to go before it could feed itself.

"Right now there's just not enough Timorese product to buy," he said. At present, WFP filled the Dili warehouse with 800-1,200 metric tonnes of rice, which goes to school-feeding programmes and other such projects.


Toxic storage

Before the warehouses were restored, food in these districts had been kept in decrepit buildings, sometimes next to toxic substances.

"Dedicated food storage facilities are necessary to keep stock separate," said Van Driel. "You don't want to store fuel next to food items."

De Jesus said he planned to take the project further next year and establish three more warehouses in other districts.

"But that's all in the planning stages right now," he said. "The budget still has to be approved first."


Australian Broadcasting Corporation - October 16, 2008 -transcripts-

Hunger pains as food crisis deepens

Asia, Pacific countries face severe food shortages: report

Jane Cowan

TONY EASTLEY: All eyes might be on the financial crisis at the moment lashing world markets, but for families living in parts of East-Asia and the Pacific, right on our doorstep, there is a more immediate problem and that is getting enough food to survive.

A new report released today by aid agencies including Oxfam shows that people in parts of East Timor are now facing up to five months a year without enough to eat.

Jane Cowan reports.

JANE COWAN: The only crisis Ego Lemos knows is the food crisis.

He's lucky enough to live in Australia but he has family back in East Timor.

EGO LEMOS: It's really hard actually because that assess the health and it's called malnutrition within the community.

JANE COWAN: The East Timorese were already struggling.

But now the so-called "hunger season" has stretched out from two months to five.

ANDREW HEWETT: Despite efforts by the Government, people are suffering.

JANE COWAN: Andrew Hewett is the Executive Director of Oxfam Australia.

A new report released today by his organisation and other international aid agencies shows that in some parts of East Timor 90 per cent of families aren't confident they can find enough to eat each day.

Rice is the staple food but half of it is imported rather than grown locally.

So when prices doubled in the last few years, it hit hard.

It's a problem exacerbated by biofuel production, growing demand from consumers in places like China and India and increasingly erratic weather.

ANDREW HEWETT: We are finding that climate change is causing problems for people's livelihoods and people's food security in that country. It was already a pretty desperate situation in East Timor. People were used to the idea that for at least a couple of months a year that they just did not have enough food.

The problem is that that period has got greater.

JANE COWAN: There are similar troubles in Cambodia and the Solomon Islands where children are increasingly surviving on just one meal a day.

The World Bank estimates the food price crisis will plunge 100-million more people into poverty.

Oxfam's Andrew Hewett says the solution is two pronged.

ANDREW HEWETT: The solution is both short term, getting emergency food aid in, in appropriate areas and appropriate ways but it also to rethink our investment in agriculture, is to give it a greater level of priority. It is to recognise that we need to rethink the ways in which we have done agricultural development.

That is how we can get a sustainable improvement in the situation.

JANE COWAN: He urges the Australian Government to boost immediate assistance to the region and to lead a renewed push to end subsidies for US, European and Japanese farmers at the expense of their counterparts in developing countries.

TONY EASTLEY: Jane Cowan reporting.

Investigador australiano quer catalogar crioulos da Ásia com base no português

Macau, 14 Out (Lusa) - O investigador Alan Baxter, da Universidade de Macau, lidera uma equipa que procura catalogar todos os crioulos da Ásia com base no português.

Estes crioulos estão localizados na Índia em Damão, Diu e Korlai, na Malásia em Malaca, e na China em Macau.

Alan Baxter, australiano, reconhecido como um dos mais importantes especialistas em crioulos de base lexical portuguesa e director do departamento de Português da Universidade de Macau, explica que o trabalho não é fácil.

Sobretudo, a situação do Sri Lanka é mais complicada, explicou Alan Baxter à Lusa, devido às dificuldades de contacto com as comunidades de Trincamalee e Baticaloa, situadas na costa oriental e sob domínio tamil.

"Depois em 2004 aconteceu o tsunami que afectou vários países da Ásia entre os quais o Sri Lanka, e sendo estas comunidades costeiras não há informação sobre o que aconteceu", disse.

No entanto, Alan Baxter mantém viva a esperança de conseguir "estudar a tipologia linguística destes crioulos para poder comparar e compreender melhor o seu desenvolvimento e até ligação".

"Há características em todos estes crioulos de base lexical portuguesa na Ásia que só podem ter vindo da Índia e aqui olhamos para o mapa dos Descobrimentos e percebemos que os crioulos foram sendo implantados e desenvolvidos com as transferências a partir da Índia, e de entreposto para entreposto, de grupos de pessoas relacionadas com o comércio e a administração do Estado", explicou.

JCS - Lusa