UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING - Wednesday 25 April 2007

National Media Reports

Alfredo demands Ramos Horta to contact him legally
Alfredo Reinaldo said that he is ready to meet Ramos Horta.

“If he wants to contact me, it should be done legally through my lawyers,”said Alfredo.

On the other hand, The President of General Prosecutor (GP), Longuinhos Monteiro, said that the GP would not mediate a dialogue but rather would take the case through the proper legal process. (TP)

Lu-Olo: Horta should respect the existing constitution
Fretilin’s presidential candidate, LU-Olo, said that the judicial body is an independent body and no one should interfere with it.

This comment followed Ramos Horta’s decision to reopen the case on weapons distribution if he is elected as president. Lu-Olo said that Horta should respect the existing constitution. (TP)

Door-to-door campaigning may cause manipulation
The Director of the East Timor Institute for Security Studies, Julio Thomas Pinto, said that it would be good for both candidates, Lu-Olo and Ramos Horta to conduct door-to-door campaigns, but should ensure dialogue.

Julio said that they should avoid a monologue but ensure that the supporters are able to share their ideas.

However, he said that if door-to-door campaigning is not controlled, the candidates may take advantage of this opportunity. (TP)

Democratic Party’s allegations are false
Antero Bosco, Vice Commander of Border Police Unit, denied the Democratic Party’s allegations of arms’ threat in Suku Saburai, in Bobonaro district. He said that he never threatened anybody and never even campaigned in Suku Saburai as his duties were in Maliana. (STL)

The Maputo Anger Dog Starts to Terrorize
Former Fretilin Commander, Vicente da Conceicao or Railos, stated that the Maputo Anger Dog led by Lebo are planning to terrorize people in Liquica district, particularly in the remote areas. (STL)

No report on intimidation by government officers
The Chief of the Councils of Minister, Antoninho Bianco, declared that he has not received any reports regarding government officials terrorizing and intimidating people during the elections campaign and run-off presidential elections. (STL)

Prime Minister Ramos Horta should have the courage to fire the undisciplined Minister
A National Parliament Member, Rui Menezes, said that it does not matter if the Prime Minister’s decision to fire the Minister came late as long as he is able to fire all the undisciplined ministers. (STL)

Horta’s Door-to-Door Campaign in Lautem
Considering the failure in first round of presidential elections in Lautem district, Ramos Horta’s team is planning to conduct door-to-door campaigning in the area ahead of the run-off elections. (STL)

10 people arrested for spreading ethnic tensions in Uatolari
Fretilin’s Party Deputy Coordinator in Viqueque, Manuel Gaspar, along with 9 others were arrested for creating ethnic tensions between the Makasae clan and Nauweti. Joao Ximenes Amaral escaped.

Stop making promises involving the justice system
Prosecutor General of the Republic, Longuinhos Monteiro, asked the presidential candidates to stop making promises regarding cases that fall under the justice realm. (STL, DN and TP)

International Media Reports

East Timor struggles on
The Boston Globe
Published: April 24, 2007

Indonesia's harsh annexation of East Timor, which lasted from 1975 to 1999, left deep, disabling wounds. But elections this spring for a new president and prime minister might become turning points in the country's struggle for democratic self-sufficiency.

The second round of the presidential vote, set for May 9, is crucial for the new state, which was created with UN assistance after Indonesia's forces withdrew in 1999. It has been five years since the Timorese adopted a constitution and elected their first president, parliament, and prime minister. In that time, former freedom fighters have often fought one another, shaking the foundations of the new state and requiring the prolonged presence of some 3,000 peacekeepers, mostly from Australia and New Zealand.

Conflict last year between rival security forces, the consequence of feuding among political elites, deprived Timorese raised the spectre of anarchy. In combination with pervasive unemployment, those clashes between factions of the armed forces have opened the way for gang warfare.

"If I am president of this country, I will ask the UN, Australia, and New Zealand to stay on," one of the leading candidates for president, José Ramos-Horta, has said.
Whatever the outcome, there will be a great need for the international community to remain engaged in helping the country overcome its dire poverty. The new nation has begun to receive royalties from offshore oil and gas reserves, but it still needs funds for job-creating infrastructure projects and training programs.


Timor Diggers to commemorate Anzac Day
Tuesday Apr 24 21:19 AEST

Diggers serving in East Timor will stop on Wednesday morning for Anzac Day dawn services across the tiny country.

In every town where Australian soldiers are serving there will be dawn services, provided security conditions allow the diggers to stand down for a few moments of reflection.

Major Dave Bruhwiller, based in Dili, said a game of two-up was also planned for the capital.

A company of New Zealand soldiers also serving in East Timor would add increased importance to the day, Major Bruhwiller said.

"It actually does make the day a bit more emotional," he said.

East Timor enters next phase
Last Updated 23/04/2007, 23:02:08
ABC – Radio Australia

Campaigning for the runoff in East Timor's presidential election has begun on Monday with candidates Jose Ramos-Horta and Francisco Gutteres vowing a peaceful poll.

Neither Prime Minister Ramos-Horta nor Mr Gutteres won an absolute majority in the April 9 election, prompting next month's further poll.

The presidential election is the first since East Timor won independence in 2002.

A spokesman for Nobel Peace Prize winner Ramos-Horta says they are conducting a door to door campaign in a peaceful way and will not force people to choose.

Mr Gutteres, a candidate for the ruling Fretilin party, spoke briefly to supporters in Dili before starting his door knock.

Government’s plan for East Timor
The Guardian 25 April, 2007

The East Timorese Electoral Commission has at last declared a result from the first round of voting in the election for a new President to replace Xanana Gusmao, who had decided not to run again for a second term.

In the early stages of the vote count the Australian media rushed to declare a victory for Ramos Horta and that the Fretilin candidate had suffered a "crushing defeat". With more counting, the Fretilin candidate was found to be in the lead. With this development the crowing of victory was replaced by accusations of missing ballot papers, charges of intimidation of voters by Fretilin and a general atmosphere of distrust of the ballot.

The ballot was accompanied by irregularities in that the head of the Electoral Commission openly sided with candidates opposed to Fretilin. "We have the surprise that Mr Lu-Olo [the Fretilin candidate] came as the winner for the time being", declared Fr Martinho Gusmao.

Fr Gusmao has made known his personal support for Mr Araujo, one of the candidates. Electoral Commissioners are supposed to be neutral. However, Fr Gusmao is a good son of the Catholic Church which played a prominent part in the election campaign and has campaigned, needless to say, against Fretilin.

An article in the Australian Financial Review (FR) (5-9/4/07) laid bare the interests of the Australian government in the East Timor elections.

Journalist John Kerin writes: "What the Howard government fears most is that Fretilin will triumph in the presidential poll, making it all the more likely that the politically prickly Mari Alkatiri … will stage a comeback in the parliamentary elections."

The FR openly pinned its hopes on Ramos-Horta winning the residential election and Xanana Gusmao becoming the next Prime Minister. "He and Ramos Horta are considered supportive of continuing Australian involvement in East Timor … encouraging stability and attracting investment … Ramos Horta has promised a ‘free trade state’ with no tariffs, sales tax or excise except on items that pose a health risk. Income and corporate tax rates would be set at flat rates of five percent and 10 percent.

Alan Dupont who is the director of the Centre for International Security Studies at Sydney University is quoted by the FR as saying that whichever grouping wins will have to guarantee political stability before physical security, oil income and modest foreign investment will follow. "There’s a lot at stake for Australia …"

With troops on the ground, Horta as President and Xanana Gusmao as Prime Minister, the Australian government would be in a strong position to exercise colonial domination of the long-suffering people of East Timor. This is the real objective of the long-running coup that openly commenced with the pre-emptive strike made by Australia last year when it succeeded by false propaganda, violence on the streets and pressure to have Mari Alkatiri removed as Prime Minister and replaced by Australia’s undisputed stooge — Ramos Horta.

There is no expectation that the policies being pursued in the South Pacific by the Howard government will be changed by an ALP government. ALP leaders have already made it clear that they support Howard and Downer’s policies and actions in this region.