Northern Territory News (Australia)
February 10, 2009 Tuesday
By BEN LANGFORD
Press freedom fight
AN EAST Timorese journalist has flown home from Darwin to face prosecution over his attempts to expose alleged official corruption.
Jose Antonio Belo is facing years in the same prison where he was tortured under the Indonesian occupation of his country.
Last year the newspaper he edits, Tempo Semanal, published stories alleging collusion and corruption in the award of government contracts -- including the contract to repair the prison walls he may again find himself behind.
In Darwin last week, Belo vowed to keep fighting for press freedom.
``I'm going to fight in the court for the freedom of the press and democracy,'' he said. ``I will do the time in prison if I have to -- I'm ready for that. I have a responsibility to my people.''
Belo's paper alleged collusion or corruption by Justice Minister Lucia Lobato in contracts to provide a national ID card, prison uniforms, and repairs to the prison walls. He said the contracts were awarded to her friends and associates.
His story included leaked text messages between Ms Lobato and the head of the winning company.
Belo has been charged with criminal defamation -- an old law from Indonesia that is still in place because Ms Lobato's department has not completed the country's new criminal laws. Belo said he wanted his day in court.
``It's good if this goes to court,'' he said.
``For me it's good for us to prove before the court about these allegations.
``I have been involved in the struggle -- the struggle hasn't finished yet.''
In the 1990s he spent a total of three years in Becora prison after being arrested at protests against the Indonesian occupation.
Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the shooting of East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta and the death of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado.
sexta-feira, fevereiro 13, 2009
East Timor editor risks jail
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10 comentários:
Admiro a coragem de José Belo e espero que conte tudo em tribunal.
Também admiro a coragem de José Belo com uma toca de stupidez e de ignorançia intelectual deste sujeito.
Jose Belo is not ignorant and stupid however the one that mantion him stupid and ignorant is not more than a chunky dog.....
Maubere Anan
Jose Belo is a smart and brave person. Those of you who wrote above are all ignorant because you dont even know what you are talking about.
Let democracy flows, and please dont claim to be the patriots of an unclaimed turth.
Maubere-Foho
Dear Mister Maubere-Mountain,
Yes I am a patriot and my family had paid a very heavy prize during years of occupation and at the time of colonisation, for the freedom of my country that’s why I tray too make sure that democracy should prevail for the future of this beloved country and the future for my children’s and grandchildren’s. However, I will fought against those who try to destabilise with untruth questions either information’s and lies just for there won interest, to be one VIP. I do support freedom speech and what I saw until now is taught to understand and is nothing to do with a free information network TL.
"Dear Mister Maubere-Mountain,
Yes I am a patriot and my family had paid a very heavy prize during years of occupation and at the time of colonisation, for the freedom of my country that’s why I (tray) (too) make sure that democracy should prevail for the future of this beloved country and the future (for) my children’s and grandchildren’s. However, I will (fought) against those who try to destabilise with untruth questions either information’s and lies just for there won interest, to be one VIP. I do support freedom speech and what I saw until now is taught to understand and is nothing to do with a free information network TL."
PLEASE CONSIDER:
(TRY),(TO),(OF),(FIGHT)
All timorease people that cast the ballot and vote for Independance or CNRT on August 30, 1999 they were the real HERO OF THIS NATION. We can not say only my family, my ethnicity or my self is "Hero" to liberate East Timor.
Right now there were people that before vote for autonomy become minister and secretary of state in AMP government. Xanana want this country not only belong to those vote for CNRT in August 30, 1999 referendum but for all timorease.
Xanana want us to forget about history and forget about the past. Just consider nothing happen in the past our independance is a gift from UN.
Conclusion...without popular consultation August 30, 1999 there is no independance for this country.
So the real HERO OF THIS country is all of us 78% who voted for Independence in the ballot Conducted by UNAMET.
Maubere Anan
All timorease people that cast the ballot and vote for Independance or CNRT on August 30, 1999 they were the real HERO OF THIS NATION. We can not say only my family, my ethnicity or my self is "Hero" to liberate East Timor.
Right now there were people that before vote for autonomy become minister and secretary of state in AMP government. Xanana want this country not only belong to those vote for CNRT in August 30, 1999 referendum but for all timorease.
Xanana want us to forget about history and forget about the past. Just consider nothing happen in the past our independance is a gift from UN.
Conclusion...without popular consultation August 30, 1999 there is no independance for this country.
So the real HERO OF THIS country is all of us 78% who voted for Independence in the ballot Conducted by UNAMET.
Maubere Anan
I do not pretend to be a hero but a patriot two word with different signification.
JOSE BELO,APRENDA UM PROVERBIO QUE DIZ:CA SE FAZEM,CA SE PAGAM!ANTES DE INSINUAR ALGUEM,PROCURE PROVAS COCRETAS E NAO DUVIDOSAS.
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