SBS
13.9.2006. 16:29:03
East Timor's Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta says he would happily resign if the people of his troubled nation demanded it and he’s challenged his critics to take over the helm if they thought they could do a better job.
"I'd resign in a second," Jose Ramos Horta said in response to efforts by renegade military leader Alfredo Reinado to mobilise a "people's power" revolt seeking his ouster.
Mr Ramos Horta adding, "I don't even need to wait for a demonstration."
East Timor descended into chaos earlier this year when fighting between factions of the security forces turned into gang warfare, looting and arson attacks.
The violence left at least 30 people dead and displaced up to 150,000 others.
Calm largely returned with the installation of a new government headed by Mr Ramos Horta and the arrival of foreign peacekeepers, but tensions mounted after Reinado, blamed for some of the worst violence, escaped from prison last month.
The rebel leader remains at large after walking out of the jail with 60 other inmates when there was a change of guard. Since escaping he has repeatedly denounced the new government.
"I'm not happy with all the politics people are playing around me," Mr Ramos Horta said.
"If you (Reinado) think you can do better job as prime minister, the job is yours. I'm not interested. I only took it because people asked me to," he said.
UN handover
Meanwhile International police deployed to East Timor in the wake of unrest in May have formally handed over their authority to the United Nations during a ceremony in the capital Dili.
More than 550 police are now under the control of the UN mission in East Timor which was set up by the Security Council last month.
Diplomats from Australia Malaysia and Portugal have symbolically placed blue berets on the heads of representatives of their respective police forces serving in the tiny nation.
Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta's told the officers they now have a double responsibility to serve the community and their countries.
The mission has an initial six-month mandate including assisting in elections due next year and strengthening the East Timorese police and justice system.
SOURCE: AP, AAP
quarta-feira, setembro 13, 2006
ETimor PM happy to resign
Ramos Horta threatens to quit if provoked
Wednesday, September 13, 2006. 6:14pm (AEST)
ABC News Online
East Timor's Prime Minister, Jose Ramos Horta, has warned he will resign from his new position if anyone, including anti-government rebels, provoke him to do so.
The Nobel peace laureate was named as Prime Minister in July, replacing Mari Alkatiri.
Dr Alkatiri stepped down in the wake of violence in May, which left 21 people dead and forced the deployment of thousands of international peacekeepers.
The unrest was mostly between warring police and military factions and flared after some 600 deserting soldiers were sacked in March.
The soldiers were led by Gastao Salsinha, while another soldier, Alfredo Reinado, later deserted and now claims to lead the rebels.
"If Mr Salsinha can be a better prime minister, if Mr Alfredo can be a better president, that's fine," Dr Ramos Horta said.
"I hadn't the slightest interest in becoming prime minister. I was asked to be prime minister.
"If anyone wants me out as prime minister, I'll be out today. I don't need any demonstration for me to resign."
Reinado had been jailed to face charges over illegal weapons possession, but he escaped from prison late last month and has been on the run since.
The Australian newspaper this week reported that during an interview Reinado had taken a swipe at Dr Ramos Horta, complaining he spent too much time outside the country and was not keeping his promises to the tiny nation.
Dr Ramos Horta says elements remaining in East Timor want to destabilise the impoverished but oil and gas-rich nation.
"I tell all groups here and there who want to destabilise the Government that (if they do so) I will file my resignation to the President and step down this very day," he said.
"I will not hesitate to resign for one moment to the next, on very short notice, if I am not happy with the politics."
UN police
International police deployed to East Timor in the wake of unrest in May have formally handed over their authority to the United Nations (UN) during a ceremony in the capital.
According to a mission spokeswoman, some 554 police now fall under the control of the new UN mission in East Timor (UNMIT), which was set up by the Security Council last month.
Diplomats from Australia, Malaysia and Portugal symbolically placed blue berets on the heads of representatives of their respective police forces serving in the tiny nation at the ceremony.
"You have a double responsibility and priority: to serve the community and to serve your respective countries," Dr Ramos Horta said.
Dr Ramos Horta praised the "outstanding" job done by the foreign police force so far in East Timor.
UNMIT, which has an initial six-month mandate, is tasked with assisting in elections due next year as well as strengthening the East Timorese police and justice system.
Some 1,608 police officers and 34 military liaison officers are to be part of the mission.
- AFP
UN takes over policing in East Timor
Dili (ANTARA News) - International police deployed to East Timor in the wake of unrest in May formally handed over their authority to the United Nations on Wednesday during a ceremony in the capital.
Some 554 police now fall under the control of the new UN mission in East
Timor which was set up by the Security Council last month, AFP reported citing a mission spokeswoman.
Diplomats from Australia, Malaysia and Portugal symbolically placed blue
berets on the heads of representatives of their respective police forces
serving in the tiny nation at the ceremony attended by about 100 officials.
"You have a double responsibility and priority: to serve the community and to serve your respective countries," Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta told the gathering.
Ramos-Horta praised the "outstanding" job done by the foreign police force so far in East Timor, which was plunged into months of political uncertainty after violence among military and police factions left some 21 people dead in May.
UNMIT, which has an initial six-month mandate, is tasked with assisting in elections due next year as well as strengthening the East Timorese police and justice system.
Some 1,608 police officers and 34 military liaison officers are to be part of the mission.
The original violence, which saw an estimated 150,000 people in the nation of one million flee their homes in fear for their lives, was triggered by the dismissal of 600 deserting soldiers.
Most of the refugees remain in camps, lacking confidence in the security
situation.
One of the world's youngest and poorest countries, East Timor became
independent in 2002 after voting in 1999 to end 24 years of Indonesian rule.
It was administered by the United Nations during the interim period, which quickly scaled down its operations after independence. (*)
Copyright © 2006 ANTARA
September 13, 2006
De um leitor
That is non sense what Ellison and Downer have said. Reinado has no support and they always get information of where they are but never act in a timely fashion. They get too late, as has been admitted by both AFO Commander Lancaster and ADF spokespersons.
There is no doubt that care must be exercised because the man with XXX tatooed on the back of his neck is a war monger and he would love nothing more than to have a firefight with whomever (witness the Fatoahi firefight provoked by him captured on SBS's dateline Program). But that is what being in the business of law enforcement, of enforcement of good against evil, is all about. So....get on with it!
There are enough resources, it is just how they are used. Senior F-FDTL figures say that if they were involved in the hunt, Reinado would be captured within days.
But that may not suit the image some wish to portray about the F-FDTL, because it will show that F-FDTL still have the confidence of the people and are not the evil force that some foreign interests have wanted to portray them as being. But they have no choice. Only F-FDTL can help them to capture Reinado....they only have to be humble enough to accept some help from them. Its not resources that is the problem...it is the trust, confidence and ability to dialogue with Timorese....that is where the problem has always been with the Australian Forces in East Timor.
The success of INTERFET was due entirely to the involvement of Timorese as their partners, many of whom are now in the F-FDTL. That too has been a tradition, if one harks back to World War II when a handful of Australian comandos were kept alive by their Timorese helpers. This enabled them in turn to keep tens of thousands of japanese soldiers tied down, at a great cost to tens of thousands of Timorese who died in reprisals from the Japanese for the help they gave the Australians.
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De um leitor
De facto, desde que Alkatiri se demitiu, as coisas estão na mesma ou piores.
"Would have been the right thing to do if he was the one select the members of his cabinet."
I'd rather say: would have been right if Fretilin selected its own prime-minister. By accepting Ramos Horta, a non Fretilin member, and anti-Alkatiri JL Guterres, Fretilin was already doing them a big favor. If RH feels uncomfortable in his role, all he's got to do is to resign, because nobody is forcing him to be prime-minister. In fact, he did volunteer for it.
"They vote themselves to govern"
And who voted for Ramos Horta?
H Correia
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Quase um terço dos polícias da ONU previstos já chegaram
Díli, 13 Set (Lusa) - Cerca de um terço do contingente de polícias previstos para a actual missão da ONU em Timor-Leste (UNMIT), já se encontram no país, disse hoje à Lusa o seu comandante, o comissário português Antero Lopes.
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PM Ramos Horta ameaça com demissão se persistir a instabilidade
Díli, 13 Set (Lusa) - O primeiro-ministro timorense, José Ramos Horta ameaçou hoje que se demitiria do cargo, para que foi empossado no passado dia 10 de Julho, caso persista a instabilidade no país.
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De um leitor
Hi Joao Boavida here are some friendly sugestions:
“1. CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY”
PD should add as:
1.11 - All Political Parties (especially PD) shall abide by elections results, as it is the only true indication of the peoples voice.
I would like to congratulate PD for coming second to FRETILIN in the Constituent Assembly elections. Well done for achieving 8.7 % of the popular vote and 7 out of 88 seats. This is a significant effort as FRETILIN polled 57.4% of the vote and took 55 seats in the 88-seat Assembly.
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Dos leitores
(Sobre o artigo A New Phase in the East Timor Crisis da MRZine)
As the author quite rightly says "for some people" things are better under Horta.There is still no real confidence in security, nor any sings that the Internally Displaced People will return home.
The Petitioners issue is not resolved. Alfredo is out and Rai Los has joined him in the mountains.
It appears the removal of Alkatiri has not resolved any fundamental issues of the crisis.
Timor's strong position in the Timor Sea negotiations is now undermined.The fast tracking of business certificates and containers moving quicly off wharves in a country where there is littel human resources for control of such transactions only amounts to the possibility of allowing dubious people or criminals hijacking the system.
The crisis has revealed Horta's pivotal role in the unfair removal of Alkatiri. The Prime Minister is coming under greater pressure from elements close to him and FRETILIN who discussed Horta’s involvement in the crisis during a recent Central Committee meeting.
Things only appear on the surface to be better under Horta.
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Forças policiais na UNPOL
Realizou-se hoje de manhã a cerimónia de integração das forças policiais internacionais de Portugal, Austrália e Malásia na UNPOL.
Os membros do Governo, responsáveis da UN e o corpo diplomático assistiram à parada no Palácio do Governo, onde discursou o Comissário da UNPOL, Antero Lopes, o RESG Hasegawa e o Primeiro-Ministro Ramos-Horta.
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RTTL news headlines
Unotil
11-09-2006
Airport IDPs laments about International Forces and PM Horta
Representatives of the IDPs at the airport met the National Parliament on Monday to protest the actions of Australian forces who reportedly broke into their camps and arrested and beat some IDPs including some security guards. Speaking to journalists after the meeting at NP, one of the IDPS also lamented about the attitude of PM Horta who had shown no interest in them.
Horta had reportedly said that he had worked very hard but that the IDPs had made him suffer so. Replying to an IDP who said it was the leaders who had made them suffer, Horta reportedly replied that in 30 years he never taken a cent from the Timorese people.
CCF asked PM Horta not to promise too much
FRETILIN Central Committee, CCF, has reportedly decided to ask the Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta not to make too many promises. Speaking to journalists in Manatuto on Sunday, the Deputy Secretary General, Jose Reis, said that it has always been FRETILIN’s principal not to make any promises to the people, as they are sick of empty promises. Hence, by making too many undeliverable promises, the image of FRETILIN could be affected.
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Comunicado - FRETILIN
FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
FRETILIN
___________________________________________________________
A FRETILIN exige medidas urgentes de segurança
Informação à Imprensa
Quarta-feira, 13 de Setembro de 2006
A FRETILIN, o Partido do Governo de Timor-Leste, apelou ao Primeiro-Ministro Ramos-Horta para tomar “medidas concretas de imediato” para garantir a segurança da população.
O apelo para aumentar a segurança foi realizado numa reunião em Díli entre os 81 membros do Comité Central da Fretilin, os Coordenadores de Distrito da FRETILIN, e os Ministros e Deputados da FRETILIN.
Após a reunião, o Secretário-Geral da FRETILIN, Mari Alkatiri disse hoje que o Partido quer que o Primeiro-Ministro tome medidas urgentes que incluem:
. Tornar uma prioridade resolver o problema dos deslocados
. Desarmar grupos ilegais
. Reafirmar a autoridade do Estado
. Garantir todas as condições necessárias para a realização das eleições de 2007
O Dr. Alkatiri afirmou que muita violência parece organizada e orientada contra os apoiantes da FRETILIN.
‘Os nossos estão a ser aterrorizados e a serem expulsos das suas casas na capital.’ disse ele.
‘O objective parece ser desestabilizar o Governo e a impedir os Ministérios de efectivamente ajudarem a população, incluindo as 100,000 pessoas que ainda permanecem nos campos de refugiados.
‘Estamos muito preocupados com o elevado número de armas pesadas que ainda se encontram nas mãos de grupos ilegais e dos gangs anti- FRETILIN.
‘Um elevado número de armas da polícia foram roubadas e essas armas precisam urgentemente de serem recuperadas.
‘Temos receio que essas armas sejam usadas num esforço organizado para impedir os candidatos a fazerem campanha eleitoral, tornando-se assim uma ameaça à realização de eleições justas e livres que se deverão realizar em Abril.’
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FRETILIN
___________________________________________________________
FRETILIN demands urgent security measures
Wednesday September 13, 2006
East Timor’s governing party, FRETILIN, has called on Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta to take ‘immediate concrete action’ to guarantee security for the population.
The call for heightened security was issued by a meeting in Dili of FRETILIN’s 81-member Central Committee together with FRETILIN district coordinators, FRETILIN government ministers and parliamentarians.
Speaking after the meeting, FRETILIN Secretary General, Mari Alkatiri today said the party wants the Prime Minister to take urgent action including:
. To make it a priority to resolve the problem of IDP’s (internally displaced persons)
. To disarm illegal groups
. To reafirm the authority of the state
. To guarantee all necessary conditions for the 2007 elections.
Mr Alkatiri said much of the violence appeared to be organised and targeted at FRETILIN supporters.
‘Our people are being terrorised and driven from their homes in the capital,’ he said.
‘The aim appears to be to destabilise the government and prevent government ministries from effectively aiding the population, including the 100,000 people who remain in refugee camps.
‘We are very concerned about the large number of high-powered weapons still in the hands of illegal groups and anti- FRETILIN gangs.
‘A large part of the police armoury was stolen and these weapons need to be recovered urgently.
‘We fear these weapons will be used in an organised effort to prevent candidates from carrying out electoral work, thereby posing a threat to the conduct of free and fair elections due to be held by April.’
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A New Phase in the East Timor Crisis
MRZine
12.09.2006
by Tom O'Lincoln
On 30 August, Alfredo Reinaldo, a key figure in the rebellion which brought down the Alkatiri government, waltzed out the gate with 56 other prisoners. Until that happened, the tiny, impoverished country had seemed to be slowly stabilizing, after a combination of internal attacks and Australian pressure had brought down Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri's beleaguered government.
Reinado, who has XXX tatooed on the back of his neck in emulation of macho movie figure Xander Cage, has called for a "people's power" revolution. This is bound to have some resonance with a population facing continuing misery, many still in refugee camps.
Another rebel figure, Vincente de Concecao, or "Railos," had fled to the western mountains some days earlier to avoid arrest.
At the same time Reinaldo was disappearing, Australia's multi-cultural SBS TV1 ran a documentary knocking gaping holes in the story we've been fed about Alkatiri's fall.
The crisis began with rebellion in the security forces, followed by gang violence. The root cause was poverty, but the main Australian media quickly blamed Prime Minister Alkatiri, whose real crime was standing up to Canberra in negotiations over oil and gas. Next they discovered the "charismatic" Reinaldo. He'd led a breakaway armed group that clashed with the army, but he claimed to be acting in self defence.
Then the TV program Four Corners accused Alkatiri of organizing a hit squad against his opponents. Railos declared that he'd headed this hit squad. The damning accusations forced Alkatiri's resignation, after weeks of resistance.
Now Dateline journalists David O'Shea and John Martinkus have challenged this whole narrative. And these guys are credible. O'Shea was with Reinaldo in the mountains when he first fought the army, and later when he agreed to be arrested. Martinkus has covered East Timor for ten years.
O'Shea and Martinkus show that Reinaldo shot first at the army (O'Shea saw him) and that Railos, alleged hit squad organizer for Alkatiri, was actually fighting alongside the people he was supposed to "hit." Railos curiously turned up at the swearing in of Alkatiri's replacement, Ramos Horta, and has been seen at the home of President Gusmao, another Alkatiri foe.2 The established story line, concocted to legitimize the PM's fall, doesn't hold water.
In its place other patterns emerge. As part of the campaign against Alkatiri, Opposition politician Fernando Araujo claimed his family had been terrorized. Maybe they were -- East Timor today is a violent and chaotic place. His Democratic Party helped co-ordinate anti-Alkatiri demonstrations -- in itself that might just be democracy at work, though with a little assistance from Australian troops . . . but look who else helped him. One helper was Rui Lopes, who O'Shea and Martinkus say was "made wealthy through his close connection with Kopassus, the notorious Indonesian Special Forces." Another was Nemecio de Carvalho, former leader of one of the worst militias terrorizing the East Timorese in 1999.
Yet another force pressing for Alkatiri's removal was the Church hierarchy, and they didn't just pray. "Reliable sources in the army high command told Dateline that two priests personally urged them to oust Alkatiri." And there's more:
In late 2005, armed forces chief Brigadier-General Taur Matan Ruak and Lt-Colonel Falur Rate Kaek were approached by two Timorese leaders accompanied by two foreigners on two separate occasions. The four also asked the army, or FFDTL, to remove Prime Minister Alkatiri.
Here the evidence is unclear. Were the foreigners American or Australian? Nobody's sure. Alkatiri can't prove there was a generalized conspiracy against him. He just says: "Evidence, no. But the only prime minister in the world that was really 'advising me' quote-unquote, to step down, was the Prime Minister of Australia."
It appears that as investigations actually proceed into the events of the last few months, figures like Reinado and Railos are the ones coming under close scrutiny. Mario Carascalao, another right-wing politician, lamented that "Railos feels frustrated. He provided information to help solve the problem but they were going to arrest him."3
Canberra pretty much got what it wanted when Jose Ramos Horta replaced Alkatiri. Horta is a champion of neo-liberalism and foreign investors: he recently declared that "Australia cannot always be philanthropic with everything it does for East Timor." This was in regard to the oil and gas deposits located between the two countries, over which Australia has been absolutely ruthless in negotiations.
But beginning with the jail break, for which they seem to share some of the blame -- apparently they were supposed to guard the outside of the jail -- Australian forces have begun to come under greater political pressure.
In July former interior minister Rogerio Lobato accused them of breaking human rights laws then they arrested him a gun-running charges, saying they'd used force and didn't have a warrant. On 28 August, East Timorese police academy chief Julio Hornai told The Age newspaper that Australian cops had forced him to remove his uniform in public. On 22 August rock throwers injured seven Australian police, and at the start of September, a crowd set upon Australian cops after a street clash. Even the very pro-Australian First Lady, Kirsty Sword Gusmao, says the Aussies are remote from the people and "have very little local knowledge."4
Meanwhile the United Nations' long-running attempt to cover up sexual abuse by its uniformed and civilian personnel in East Timor has collapsed. The truth is out.5
Given a mounting dissatisfaction with the foreign presence, given Fretilin still easily the strongest political organization in the country, and in view of Reinado and Railos' departure for the mountains wielding guns and manifestos, with 100,000 people in refugee camps, there's also some pressure on Horta to be more than a stooge for imperialism. This found expression in what a New York-based Murdoch correspondent called an "aggressive anti-Australian tone" and indeed "venomous criticism" in response to the jailbreak. Loosely connected to this are demands that Australian forces submit to United Nations control.6
Missing is any significant leftist political movement orienting to the grassroots. Without that, popular discontent may be channeled into support for Reinado, or the right wing, or dangerous outfits like the 30,000 strong martial arts gangs that grace East Timor.
It's true that for some people things are better under Horta. "Business people say permits are now being issued in hours not days, containers are moving quickly off the wharves and corruption appears curbed."7 The government is trying hard to meet the needs of capital.
Meanwhile, 100,000 displaced people are still living under canvas, and the rainy season is coming to create a living hell.
1 SBS Dateline transcript, "East Timor - Downfall of a Prime Minister," 30 August 2006. This is the source for everything not otherwise footnoted. Available at
2 It also seems the president's office paid a hotel bill for Reinado the first time he was on the run. Mark Dodd, "Claim That President Paid Major's Hotel Bill," The Australian, 12 September 2006.
3 Lindsay Murdoch, "Timor Faces New Rebellion," The Age, 2 September 2006.
4 John Stapleton, "Forces Must Know the People," The Australian, 4 September 2006.
5 See Lindsay Murdoch, "UN Acts to Stamp Out Sex Abuse by Staff in East Timor," The Age, 30 August 2006.
6 David Nason, "Venom Threatens Separate Mission," The Australian, 4 September 2006. As the abuses charges suggest, the UN is not necessarily an improvement.
7 Murdoch, "Timor Faces New Rebellion."
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PM sai hoje em visista aos Estados Unidos
O Primeiro-Ministro desloca-se numa visita aos EUA de 13 a 20 de Setembro.
A caminho do aeroporto, o Primeiro-Ministro vai visitar o campo de refugiados do aeroporto onde ocorreram no dia 10 os incidentes que envolveram os militares australianos.
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Notícias - Traduzidas pela Margarida
No comments...
The Australian
Enviado Australiano expulso pelos das Ilhas Salomão
Patrick Walters, editor de segurança nacional
Setembro 13, 2006
As relações da Austrália com as Ilhas Salomão mergulharam em crise depois do Alto Comissário Patrick Cole ser declarado persona non grata pelo Governo Sogavare.
O Primeiro-Ministro Manasseh Sogavare das Ilhas Salomão telefonou a John Howard na Segunda-feira de manhã para lhe dizer que Mr Cole não era mais bem-vindo em Honiara.
O Governo Sogavare tem andado descontente com o que considera a interferência Australiana nos assuntos internos do país, incluindo o criticismo de Canberra sobre uma comissão recentemente criada encarregada de investigar os motins de Abril que afundaram Honiara.
A Austrália expressou preocupações sobre os termos de referência do inquérito, que credita podiam prejudicar a independência do poder judiciário.
Mr Howard respondeu com dureza, dizendo a Mr Sogavare que tinha confiança absoluta em Mr Cole. Mr Cole permaneceu em Honiara a noite passada mas espera-se que regresse a Canberra esta semana.
"O Primeiro-Ministro das Ilhas Salomão telefonou ontem ao nosso Primeiro-Ministro para lhe dizer que estava a planear, para usar linguagem diplomática, declarar Patrick Cole persona non grata, para o expulsar das Ilhas Salomão," disse o Ministro dos Estrangeiros Alexander Downer à ABC radio a noite passada.
"Ele acredita que Patrick Cole tem conversado em demasia com a oposição e que aparentemente está a expressar oposição a esta comissão de inquérito."
O Vice-secretário Departamento dos Negócios Estrangeiros e Comércio David Ritchie voou ontem para Honiara e pode discutir o destino de Mr Cole com Mr Sogavare hoje. A missão principal de Mr Ritchie é expressar a preocupação de Canberra sobre os termos de referência da comissão dos motins, que é presidida pelo preparado para o combate antigo juiz do Tribunal Federal Australiano Marcus Einfeld.
Logo depois da sua eleição em Maio o Governo Howard irritou Mr Sogavare ao criticar a sua decisão de incluir dois deputados presoss, Charles Dausabea e Nelson Ne'e, na equipa do seu gabinete.
Mr Dausabea foi nomeado ministro da polícia, enquanto Mr Ne'e foi nomeado ministro do turismo mas os dois homens mantém-se na prisão.
Fontes diplomáticas de topo disseram ontem à noite que a decisão de expulsar o enviado da Austrália em Honiara pode complicar a gestão da Missão de Assistência Regional liderada pelos Australianos para as Ilhas Salomão.
"Isto é totalmente sem razão. Não é o acto de um vizinho amistoso," disse uma fonte de topo do governo.
A disputa do Governo de Sogavare com Canberra focou-se únicamente em Mr Cole e até agora ainda não afectou os Australianos ao lema da RAMSI, incluindo o seu co-ordenador, James Batley.
A Austrália dedicou $800 milhões à RAMSI desde Julho de 2003 e liderou esforços internacionais para responder a sérios desafios à lei e ordem e revitalizar a economia das Ilhas Salomão.
O porta-voz da Oposição para os assuntos das ilhas do Pacifico, Bob Sercombe, disse que era alarmante que apesar do enorme elevado investimento da Austrália nas Ilhas Salomão a relação entre os dois países permanecesse tão frágil.
Mr Cole tem sido Alto Comissário em Honiara desde Dezembro de 2003. Um diplomata de carreira, trabalhou anteriormente como especialista de assuntos do Pacifico no departamento do Primeiro-Ministro e ocupou posições anteriormente em Rangum, Estocolmo e Geneva.
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A violência lança medo de segurança no Hospital de Dili
News.com.au
Dos correspondentes em Dili
Setembro 12, 2006 05:22pm
Apesar da presença de tropas e polícias Australianas na capital, o director do Hospital de Dili disse que estava a considerar a sua evacuação pou causa da deterioração da segurança.
“Lamento que o acesso de doentes tenha sido impedido por três meses desde que as tropas Australiana retiraram,” disse António Caleres.
“Há violência étnica entre refugiados – entre ambos os acampados no terreno do hospital e no exterior.
“As grávidas não conseguem entrar para dar à luz, as pessoas têm medo de entrar, e as janelas de quatro enfermarias foram partidas por pedras,” disse o Sr Caleres.
Diz que os continuados pedidos do hospital para segurança a tempo inteiro por forças internacional foram rejeitados, uma queixa apoiada pelo gabinete do Presidente Xanana Gusmão.
O Hospital de Dili hospital, locatlizado num subúrbio onde há luta étnica, tem agora 3500 deslocados nos seus terrenos – alguns segundo relatos armados com arcos e flechas e fundas e que regularmente usam pedras como armas.
O Sr Caleres diz que o Ministro da Saúde Rui Araújo estava agora a considerar mover os seus 260 doentes para um antigo hospital Português em Lahane, por detrás de Dili, mas provavelmente não haverá camas suficientes.
Contudo o Major Graeme Henley, da Joint Task Force (JTF) liderada pelos Australianos, disse que não havia problemas em curso com a segurança do Hospital de Dili.
Disse que o próprio Sr Caleres tinha declarado que a segurança era satisfatória.
“Há constantes patrulhas armadas por lá da JTF bem como da polícia, e numa reunião recente o director disse que está satisfeito com o nível da segurança providenciado,” disse o Major Henley.
Mais de 900 soldados Australianos e 180 oficiais da Polícia Federal Australiana permanecem em Dili desde o despertar da violência étnica que começou em Abril.
A crise do hospital corresponde à crise de insegurança em Dili quando os pontos de vista políticos endurecem por detrás do amotinado fugitivo Major Alfredo Reinado num lado e o partido no poder, a Fretilin e as forças armadas no outro lado.
Apesar dos jornais diários hoje relatarem que algumas pessoas falavam de evacuar Dili, entre rumores de “guerra”, o director local da Internacional Organisation for Migration (IOM) disse que os gestores do campo de deslocados não tinham registado movimentos significativos para fora da capital.
Luiz Vieira diz que a situação de segurança é “um saco confuso, realmente”.
“Não tem havido deterioração desde alguns incidentes sérios no fim-de-semana, quando Obrigado Barracks (o complexo da ONU) foi atacado.
“Há mesmo indicações que alguns deslocados estão a regressar às suas casas em Dili.”
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Imaginem se não fosse uma prioridade...
Blooberg.com
A captura do líder amotinado de Timor-Leste é uma Prioridade, diz a Austrália
Por Ed Johnson
Set. 12 (Bloomberg) – A caça pelo líder amotinado de Timor-Leste Major Alfredo Reinado, cuja fuga da prisão ameaça desestabilizar a nação da Ásia do Sudeste, permanecef uma “prioridade crucial,'' disse o governo Australiano.
Reinado, cujos milícias amotinados recusaram entregar as suas armas depois do governo de Timor-Leste ter despedido cerca de um terço das forças armadas do país em Março, tem-se esquivado da caça ao homem (feita) pelos polícias da ONU e das tropas internacionais, desde que fugiu da prisão na capital, Dili, em 31 de Agosto.
O tereno montanhoso do país tem embaraçado a busca, disseram numa declaração os Ministros Australianos dos Estrangeiros Alexander Downer e da Justiça Chris Ellison. Disseram que não têm fundamento os relatos dos media de que as tropas desistiram da caça.
A Austrália lidera uma força internacional, que foi destacada para Timor-Leste em Maio depois do colapso das forças de segurança do país. A fuga de Reinado, combinada com armas militares nas mãos de gangs criminosos, criam um clima político volátil na antiga colónia Portuguesa quando se prepara para eleições em 2007, disse Downer em 5 de Setembro.
O jornal The Australian disse que entrevistou o Reinado numa localização secreta a quatro horas de viagem sobre a principal montanha de Timor-Leste. Reinado, um antigo comandante da polícia militar treinado pelos Australianos, disse que não tinha intenção de lançar uma guerra de guerrilha e que fugiu da prisão porque o sistema judicial do país é disfuncional, relatou o jornal.
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O Primeiro-Ministro arranja financiamento para ajudar a restaurar a iluminação pública em Dili
ReliefWeb
Fonte: Governo de Timor-Leste
Data: 11 Set 2006
As ruas de Dili – às escuras desde 1999-2000 – podem ver a iluminação pública restaurada tão cedo quanto no Ano Novo, no seguimento da viagem do Primeiro-Ministro José Ramos-Horta à Noruega.
“Acho incompreensível que o povo de Dili não tenha tido iluminação pública desde 1999-2000,” disse hoje o Primeiro-Ministro. “Logo que fui nomeado pedi para ter este problema tratado.
“No seguimento de conversas extensivas com o Governo em Oslo, tenho o prazer de anunciar que temos alguns acordos com a Noruega para fornecer financiamento para assistir Timor-Leste neste projecto importante. Certamente, (que) o restauro da iluminação pública depende de haver energia suficiente e a procura de energia em Dili aumentou recentemente.
“O plano geral para reabilitar a infra-estrutura de energia da cidade está em bom caminho e o restauro da iluminação pública na cidade é uma parte importante desse plano.
“A iluminação pública fará de Dili um lugar mais seguro e encorajará os negócios e as pessoas para trabalharem mais tarde pela noite, se quiserem.”
O Primeiro-Ministro e o Ministro Bano avançaram também com uma proposta de procurar $4.5 milhões da Noruega para ajudar a financiar o plano Simu Malu que tem o propósito de encorajar pessoas dos campos de deslocados a regressarem às suas casas.
“A Noruega comprometeu-se a ajudar-nos a financiar e a implementar o programa Simu Malu que tem o objectivo de preparar o caminho de regresso às suas casas das pessoas que vivem em campos de deslocados,” disse o Dr Ramos-Horta.
“Não é uma tarefa simples e deve ser realizado com compaixão e atenção e é isto de que trata o Simu Malu.”
[Só em Dili há 56 campos de deslocados que abrigam umas estimadas 60,000 pessoas e mais dezenas de milhares fugiram para os distritos. Simu Malu é um termo Tétun que significa “aceitação mútua”.]
O Dr Ramos-Horta foi acompanhado na viagem pelo Ministro do Trabalho e Reinserção Comunitária, Arsenio Bano; o director executivo da Autoridade Designada para o Mar de Timor, José Lobato; e Licinio Branco, um funcionário dos Assuntos Estrangeiros.
Durante a viagem o Dr Ramos-Horta teve reuniões com o Primeiro-Ministro Norueguês Mr Jens Stoltenberg; o Ministro Norueguês dos Assuntos Estrangeiros Mr Jonas Gahr Store; o Ministro Norueguês do Desenvolvimento Internacional Mr Erik Solheim; e outros Membros do Parlamento da Noruega.
O Dr Ramos-Horta também participou no encontro bi-annal do Peace Corps Norueguês onde estiveram centenas de delegados de todo o mundo, incluindo dois outros laureados do Prémio Nobel da Paz – Wangari Maathai, uma activista do Quénia que fundou um movimento em toda a África que dá poderes às mulheres, confrontou funcionários corruptos e plantou milhões de árvores em zonas florestais devastadas; e Rigoberta Menchu Tum da Guatemala, em reconhecimento do seu trabalho (em prol) da justiça social.
“Propus que a Laureada do Prémio Nobel da Paz Mrs Maathai e Timor-Leste cooperarão num programa de reflorestação para Timor-Leste, a que Mrs Maathai respondeu com entusiasmo,” disse o Dr Ramos-Horta.
“A Noruega pelo menos financiará parte de tal projecto.”
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A ONU fracassou nos fugitivos da prisão de Dili
The Australian
Mark Dodd
Setembro 13, 2006
A ONU admitiu que falhou na captura de qualquer dos 56 presos que fugiram em Dili há duas semanas com o amotinado treinado pelos Australianos Alfredo Reinado.
O Comissário da Polícia da ONU em Timor-Leste, Antero Lopes, disse que acredita-se que amigos e familiares estão a ajudar os fugitivos, que incluem nove criminosos graves.
"É uma mistura de indivíduos, alguns dos quais cometeram crimes sérios, apesar de a maioria não o ter feito," disse o Sr Lopes.
"Até agora, não houve notícias de terem perpetrado actos de violência contra a população."
O Sr Lopes disse que nenhum fugitivo tinha sido recapturado desde a fuga em 30 de Agosto e receava-se que tivessem fugido de Dili, com muitos a esconderem-se no mato remoto.
Uma lista dos fugitivos, obtida pelo The Australian, mostra que pelo menos nove assassinos condenados estavam entre os fugitivos, que também incluem incendiários e dois violadores.
O Sr Lopes disse que a chegada de adicionais polícias da ONU permitirá uma mais alargada, mais intensiva buscas em áreas rurais.
A polícia queixa-se que lhe faltam recursos para caçar o Major Reinado, apesar da entrevista do The Australian com o amotinado num esconderijo no último fim-de-semana.
O porta-voz dos assuntos estrangeiros do Labor Kevin Rudd disse que se The Australian conseguiu encontrar o homem mais procurado de Timor-Leste, então "o balde pára com John Howard para dar aos homens e mulheres no terreno em Timor-Leste mais recursos para fazerem o trabalho que foram enviados para lá fazerem ".
Mr Rudd urgiu ao Ministro dos Estrangeiros Alexander Downer para reconsiderar o plano de redução da presença militar na Austrália antes das próximas eleições Timorenses, previstas em Maio.
"A fuga e evasão das forças de segurança do Major Reinado em Timor-Leste dá ênfase ao facto de a segurança não estar sob controlo," disse Mr Rudd.
Mr Downer e o Ministro da Justiça Chris Ellison disseram que era importante ser-se realista sobre a busca.
"O terreno montanhoso de Timor-Leste embaraça as operações," disseram os ministros numa declaração conjunta.
"Enquanto foi feito um progresso significativo na redução do acesso das armas na comunidade, umas tantas não foram entregues.
"E as tensões entre alguns grupos dentro da sociedade de Timor-Leste permanece alta.
"As autoridades Australianas têm a intenção de geris a operação para minimizar o risco de um confronto violento."
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No comments...
The Australian
Aussie envoy expelled by Solomons
Patrick Walters, National security editor
September 13, 2006
AUSTRALIA'S relations with the Solomon Islands have been plunged into crisis after High Commissioner Patrick Cole was declared persona non grata by the Sogavare Government.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare rang John Howard on Monday morning to tell him that Mr Cole was no longer welcome in Honiara.
The Sogavare Government has been unhappy at what it sees as Australian interference in the internal affairs of the country, including Canberra's criticism of a newly created commission charged with investigating the April riots that engulfed Honiara.
Australia has expressed concerns about the terms of reference of the inquiry, which it believes could prejudice the independence of the judiciary.
Mr Howard responded robustly, telling Mr Sogavare that he had absolute confidence in Mr Cole. Mr Cole remained in Honiara last night but is expected to return to Canberra this week.
"The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands rang our Prime Minister yesterday to say that he was planning, to use the diplomatic language, to declare Patrick Cole persona non grata, to kick him out of Solomon Islands," Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told ABC radio last night.
"He believes Patrick Cole has been talking too much to the opposition and is apparently expressing opposition to this commission of inquiry."
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade deputy secretary David Ritchie flew to Honiara yesterday and may discuss Mr Cole's fate with Mr Sogavare today. Mr Ritchie's main mission is to express Canberra's concerns over the terms of reference of the riot commission, which is chaired by embattled former Australian Federal Court judge Marcus Einfeld.
Soon after his election in May the Howard Government angered Mr Sogavare by criticising his decision to include two jailed MPs, Charles Dausabea and Nelson Ne'e, in his cabinet line-up.
Mr Dausabea was appointed police minister, while Mr Ne'e was appointed tourism minister but both men remain in jail.
Senior diplomatic sources said last night the decision to expel Australia's envoy in Honiara could complicate the management of the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands.
"This is entirely unwarranted. It's not the act of a friendly neighbour," a senior government source said.
The Sogavare Government's dispute with Canberra has focused squarely on Mr Cole and as yet has not affected Australians at the helm of RAMSI, including its co-ordinator, James Batley.
Australia has committed $800million to RAMSI since July 2003 and led international efforts to address serious challenges to law and order and revive the Solomon Islands economy.
Opposition spokesman for Pacific islands affairs, Bob Sercombe, said it was alarming that despite Australia's huge investment in the Solomon Islands the relationship between the two countries remained so fragile.
Mr Cole has been High Commissioner in Honiara since December 2003. A career diplomat, he has previously worked as a Pacific affairs specialist in the Prime Minister's department and has held previous postings in Rangoon, Stockholm and Geneva.
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UN draws a blank on Dili prison fugitives
The Australian
Mark Dodd
September 13, 2006
THE UN has admitted it failed to capture any of the 56 prisoners who escaped in Dili two weeks ago with Australian-trained army rebel Alfredo Reinado.
The UN Commissioner of Police in East Timor, Antero Lopes, said friends and families were believed to be helping the escapees, who include nine serious criminals.
"It's a mixture of individuals, some of whom committed serious crimes, although most did not," Mr Lopes said.
"So far, there has been no news that any have perpetrated acts of violence against the population."
Mr Lopes said no escapees had been recaptured since the breakout on August 30 and it was feared they had fled Dili, with many thought to be hiding in remote jungle.
A list of the escapees, obtained by The Australian, shows at least nine convicted murderers were among the fugitives, who also include arsonists and two rapists.
Mr Lopes said the arrival of additional UN police would allow a broader, more intensive search in rural areas.
Police claim they lack the resources to hunt for Major Reinado, despite The Australian's interview with the rebel in a hideaway last weekend.
Labor foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said if The Australian could track down East Timor's most wanted man, then "the buck stops with John Howard to give the men and women on the ground in East Timor more resources to do the job that they were sent in there to do".
Mr Rudd urged Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to reconsider the plan to reduce Australia's military presence before the next East Timorese election, due in May.
"The escape and evasion from security forces of Major Reinado in East Timor emphasises the fact that security is still not under control," Mr Rudd said.
Mr Downer and Justice Minister Chris Ellison said it was important to be realistic about the the search.
"East Timor's mountainous terrain hampered operations," the ministers said in a joint statement.
"While significant progress has been made on reducing the availability of weapons in the community, a number have not been surrendered.
"And tensions between some groups within East Timor society remained high.
"Australian authorities were intent on managing the operation to minimise the risk of violent confrontation."
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Submetido pelo JSMP à Comissão Especial Independente de Inquérito da ONU em Timor-Leste
Pode encontrar a documentação aqui.
"O JSMP faz as seguintes recomendações:
1. Os Crimes cometidos durante o período da crise devem ser processados no interior do sistema de justiça doméstico Timorense.
2. Deve-se dar confiança importante aos juízes internacionais, procuradores e conselho de defesa de modo a garantir a capacidade, independência e imparcialidade dos envolvidos neste processo.
3. Os casos do período da crise devem ser julgados por equipas de juízes nomeados especialmente, compostos por dois juízes internacionais e um juiz Timorense. Os recursos destes casos devem ser também julgados por uma equipa deste tipo no Tribunal de Recurso.
4. Deve-se criar uma divisão ou unidade especial no interior do Gabinete do Procurador-Geral com o propósito de processar os crimes do período da crise. Esta unidade deve ser dirigida por um procurador internacional de modo a garantir a independência e a imparcialidade da política e da prática referente ao processo.
5. Os actores internacionais (juízes, procuradores e defensores públicos) devem trabalhar juntamente com actores Timorenses do tribunal probatório.
6. Deve-se empregar um número suficiente de advogados internacionais para trabalharem como defensores públicos, juízes e procuradores.
7. Devem-se fornecer também outros recursos, incluindo pessoal de apoio e recursos logísticos, a todas as instituições que participam no processo.
8. Investigações policiais em casos do período da crise devem ser executadas exclusivamente por policias internacionais de modo a garantir imparcialidade e independência actual e percebida da polícia.
9. Devem ser feitas todas as tentativas para garantir que as pessoas no interior da PNTL e das F-FDTL que são suspeitas de terem cometido crimes no período da crise sejam julgadas de acordo com a lei. Devem-se assumir processos de escrutínio em ambas as instituições para garantir que os que cometeram crimes não sejam autorizados a retomar as suas posições.
10. Qualquer processo levantado deve ter em consideração as necessidades das vítimas. Em particular devia-se criar um programa para a protecção das vítimas e testemunhas de intimação e violência.
11. Devem-se criar processos complementares para responder às necessidades de reconciliação da comunidade e a compensação das vítimas.
12. Devem-se tomar medidas para se chegar à comunidade para garantir que o público compreende a natureza e o propósito dos processos e tem capacidade para aceder adequadamente e eles.
13. Para garantir que as recomendações da Comissão são implementadas, devem-se fazer todas as tentativas para envolver o Secretário-Geral da ONU e o Conselho de Segurança. Por exemplo, a Comissão pode recomendar que se o Parlamento de Timor-Leste não tomou medidas para implementar as suas recomendações dentro dum período de tempo específico, que a ONU deve agir."
Todos os documentos do JSMP referidos neste oferecimento podem ser encontrados no JSMP website: www.jsmp.minihub.org.
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Reinado diz que está disponível para negociar com o governo sem regressar à prisão
Tradução da Margarida.
12.09.2006
O líder fugitive dos amotinado de Timor-Leste Alfredo Reinado tem dito que está disponível para negociar com o governo a sua entrega, mas não se isso significae o regresso à prisão.
"Estou pronto a enfrentar o tribunal, mas quando tudo estiver negociado," disse Reinado numa entrevista ao jornal The Australian, na sua primeira entrevista com um media estrangeiro desde que fugiu da prisão de Becora na capital de Dili quase há duas semanas.
O jornal, um dos liderantes da Austrália, disse na Terça-feira que se encontrou com Reinado nas montanhas do sul de Timor-Leste.
Reinado apelou à Igreja Católica e ao Presidente Xanana Gusmão para liderarem um debate nacional sobre maneiras para resolver a crise política.
Disse que as forças de segurança da ONU e internacionais no seu país se devem concentrar em apanhar os outros criminosos que são piores do que ele.
Também se reservou para si próprio o direito de auto-defesa, dizendo que não tinha feito nada de errado e estava intitulado a proteger-se a si próprio no seu próprio país.
O líder amotinado acusou o sistema legal corrupto e ao serviço dos políticos (de responsável) pela sua luta corrente, mas disse que não tinha intenção de organizar uma Guerra de guerrilha ou de pegar em armas contra o seu país, de acordo com o jornal.
A entrevista de Reinado foi publicada depois do porta-voz da Polícia Federal Australiana Tim Dodds, ter admitido na Segunda-feira que não havia polícia suficiente para passar a pente fino vastas áreas em Timor-Leste para seguir a pista do líder amotinado treinado pelos Australianos.
"Não conheço ninguém que saiba exactamente onde ele (Reinado) está. Seria como tentar encontrar uma agulha no palheiro," disse Dodds.
O comandante da polícia da ONU em Timor-Leste, Antero Lopes, disse que números extras (de policies), que devem começar a chegar na próxima semana, eram necessários para derrotar um muro de silêncio criado pela família e amigos dos amotinados.
"Estamos a arranjar mais policies e com mais presença policial podemos ter um resultado melhor," disse.
Fonte: Xinhua
Conselho Ministros iniciou debate diplomas ligados forças armadas
Díli, 12 Set (Lusa) - O governo timorense iniciou hoje o debate de dipl omas relativos à Defesa, em que se inclui a elaboração do primeiro Regulamento d e Disciplina Militar, passados cinco anos sobre a transformação da guerrilha em forças armadas regulares.
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Partido Democrático usa traduções da "nossa" Margarida no seu blog
Timorenses repatriados da Austrália já estão nas suas casas
Díli, 12 Set (Lusa) - Trinta e sete timorenses que estavam refugiados n a Austrália devido à crise em Timor-Leste foram repatriados segunda-feira e já s e encontram em casas de familiares, disse hoje à Lusa fonte da Organização Internacional de Migrações (OIM).
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Sacerdote quer Igreja a ensinar o povo a envolver-se na política
Gleno, Timor-Leste, 12 Set (Lusa) - A Igreja Católica tem a obrigação d e "ensinar e doutrinar" o povo timorense a envolver-se activamente na política, defendeu hoje o padre Domingos Soares "Maubere", figura histórica da resistência à ocupação indonésia de 24 anos de Timor-Leste.
Nota: O Padre Maubere foi um dos organizadores da manifestação em 2005 que exigia a demissão do Governo de Mari Alkatiri.
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Prime Minister gets funding to help restore Dili street lighting
ReliefWeb
Source: Government of Timor-Leste
Date: 11 Sep 2006
The streets of Dili – blacked out since 1999-2000 – could see street lighting restored by early in the New Year, following Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta’s trip to Norway.
“I have found it incomprehensible that the people of Dili have not had street lighting since 1999-2000,” the Prime Minister said today. “As soon as I took office I asked to have this problem addressed.
“Following extensive talks with the Government in Oslo, I am pleased to announce that we have some agreement with Norway about providing finance to assist Timor-Leste in this important project. Of course, restoration of the street lighting is dependent on having sufficient power and Dili’s power demand has soared recently.
“The overall plan to rehabilitate the city’s power infrastructure is well underway and restoring street lighting to the city is an important part of this plan.
“Street lighting will make Dili a safer place and it will encourage businesses and people to be able to work later into the evening if they want to.”
The Prime Minister and Minister Bano also put forward a proposal seeking $4.5 million from Norway to help fund the Simu Malu plan which is designed to encourage people in the Internally Displaced Persons camps (IDPs) return to their homes.
“Norway is committed to helping us fund and implement the Simu Malu program which is designed to prepare the way for people living in the internally displaced persons camps (IDPs) to return to their homes,” Dr Ramos-Horta said.
“This is not a simple task and it must be carried out with compassion and care and this is what Simu Malu is all about.”
[There are 56 IDP camps in Dili alone housing an estimated 60,000 people and tens of thousands more have fled to the districts. Simu Malu is a Tétun term meaning “mutual acceptance”.]
Dr Ramos-Horta was accompanied on the trip by the Minister for Labor and Community Reinsertion, Arsenio Bano; the executive director for the Timor Sea Designated Authority, José Lobato; and Licinio Branco, a Foreign Affairs official.
During the trip Dr Ramos-Horta had meetings with the Norwegian Prime Minister Mr Jens Stoltenberg; the Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Jonas Gahr Store; the Norwegian Minister of International Development Mr Erik Solheim; and other Norwegian Members of Parliament.
Dr Ramos-Horta also took part in the bi-annual Norwegian Peace Corps meeting which was attended by hundreds of delegates from all over the world, including two other Nobel Peace Prize Laureates – Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan activist who founded an Africa-wide movement that empowered women, confronted corrupt officials and planted millions of trees in ravaged forestland; and Rigoberta Menchu Tum of Guatemala, in recognition of her work for social justice.
“I have proposed that Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mrs Maathai and Timor-Leste would cooperate in a reafforestation program for Timor-Leste, to which Mrs Maathai responded with enthusiasm,” Dr Ramos-Horta said.
“Norway would at least fund part of such a project.”
terça-feira, setembro 12, 2006
Imaginem se não fosse uma prioridade...
Blooberg.com
East Timor Rebel Leader's Capture Is a Priority, Australia Says
By Ed Johnson
Sept. 12 (Bloomberg) -- The hunt for East Timor rebel leader Major Alfredo Reinado, whose escape from prison threatens to destabilize the Southeast Asian nation, remains a ``crucial priority,'' the Australian government said.
Reinado, whose rebel militiamen refused to lay down their weapons after the East Timor government fired around a third of the country's armed forces in March, has evaded a manhunt by United Nations police and international peacekeepers, since breaking out of jail in the capital, Dili, on Aug. 31.
The country's mountainous terrain is hampering the search, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Justice Minister Chris Ellison said in a statement. Media reports that troops had given up the hunt were baseless, they said.
Australia leads a force of international peacekeepers, who were deployed to East Timor in May after the collapse of the country's security forces. Reinado's escape, combined with military weapons in the hands of criminal gangs, create a volatile political climate in the former Portuguese colony as it prepares for elections in 2007, Downer said on Sept. 5.
The Australian newspaper said it interviewed Reinado at an undisclosed location four hours drive over East Timor's main mountain range. Reinado, an Australian-trained former military police commander, said he has no intention of waging a guerrilla war and broke out of prison because the country's judicial system is dysfunctional, the newspaper reported.
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Violence sparks security fear at Dili hospital
News.com.au
From correspondents in Dili
September 12, 2006 05:22pm
Despite the presence of Australian troops and police in the capital, Dili hospital's director said an evacuation was being considered because of deteriorating security.
“I regret that access of patients has been impeded for the three months since Australian troops withdrew,” said Antonio Caleres.
“There is ethnic violence between refugees – both camped in hospital grounds and outside.
“Pregnant women can't come here to give birth, people are afraid to enter, and the windows of four wards have been smashed by rocks,” Mr Caleres said.
He said the hospital's continual requests for full-time security by international forces had been rejected, a claim backed by President Xanana Gusmao's office.
The Dili hospital, located in a suburb racked by ethnic strife, now has 3500 refugees in its grounds – some reportedly armed with bows and arrows and slingshots and who regularly use rocks as weapons.
Mr Caleres said Health Minister Rui Araujo was now considering moving its 260 patients to a former Portuguese hospital at Lahane, behind Dili, but probably there would not be sufficient beds.
However Major Graeme Henley, of the Australian-led Joint Task Force (JTF), said there was no ongoing problem with security at the Dili hospital.
He said Mr Caleres himself had declared security was satisfactory.
“There are constant army patrols there by the JTF as well as by police, and at a recent meeting the director said he was happy with the level of security provided,” Major Henley said.
More than 900 Australian soldiers and 180 Australian Federal Police officers remain in Dili in the wake of ethnic violence which began in April.
The hospital crisis corresponds with a rise of insecurity in Dili as political viewpoints harden behind fugitive rebel Major Alfredo Reinado on one hand and the governing Fretilin party and the army on the other.
Although daily papers today reported that some people were talking of evacuating Dili, amid rumours of “war”, the local director of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said refugee camp managers had not registered significant movement out of the capital.
Luiz Vieira said the security situation was “a mixed bag, really”.
“There's been no deterioration since some serious incidents at the weekend, when Obrigado Barracks (the UN compound) was attacked.
“There are even indications some refugees are returning to their homes in Dili.”
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East Timor seeks Norway's help to get refugees home
Dili (ANTARA News) - East Timor has sought aid from Norway to help
move tens of thousands of people languishing in camps back to their homes, the prime minister's office said Tuesday.
Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta has asked for 4.5 million dollars from Oslo to fund a plan designed to get refugees who fled unrest that has plagued East Timor since April back to their homes.
"Norway is committed to helping us fund and implement the Simu Malu program which is designed to prepare the way for people living in the internally displaced persons camps to return to their homes," Ramos-Horta was quoted by AFP as saying.
He did not however confirm that the money would be provided by Norway,
which he visited for three days earlier this month.
At least 60,000 East Timorese remain in camps in the capital Dili, too
afraid to return home, while up to 70,000 are estimated to be sheltering in camps in other districts.
Residents of the camps have endured intimidation and attacks by roaming
gangs of youths and have complained that the government has not done enough to ensure their security.
International peacekeepers were sent to restore order in the tiny nation in May but say they cannot patrol all of the camps.
East Timor, one of Asia's poorest nations, descended into chaos after some 600 deserting soldiers were sacked in March.
The United Nations agreed last month to send more than 1,600 international police to fully restore stability. (*)
COPYRIGHT © 2006 ANTARA
September 12, 2006
Comunicado - PN
PARLAMENTO NACIONAL
Gabinete de Relações Públicas
Agenda Plenária no. 445/I/4a.
Terça-Feira, 12 de Setembro de 2006
O Plenário do Parlamento de hoje, dirigido pela Sua Excelência o Presidente do Parlamento Nacional, Sr. Francisco Guterres “Lu-Olo”, o II Vice-Presidente Sr. Francisco Xavier do Amaral, o Secretário da Mesa Sr. Francisco Carlos Soares, Vice-Secretárias Sra. Maria Avalziza Lourdes e a Sra. Maria Terezinha Viegas.
O único assunto agendado foi o seguinte:
Informação sobre intervenções recentes da polícia internacional, designadamente em várias datas do mês de Agosto e no passado dia 10 de Setembro, no campo de deslocados situado nas imediações do Aeroporto Internacional Nicolau Lobato, com base em carta dirigida ao Parlamento Nacional pelo coordenador do grupo de cidadãos em causa, José da Costa Gusmão, também recebido, em audiência, por Sua Excelência o Presidente do Parlamento Nacional.
Os Senhores Deputados, Presidentes das Bancadas discutiram amplamente e deram as suas opiniões para a elaboração ou não do Projecto de Deliberação sobre a actuação da Polícia Australiana que não respeita os direitos humanos perante a Polícia Timorense.
Segundo os Deputados, que antes de tomar uma decisão sobre este assunto é necessário obter informações concretas de todas as partes envolvidas no conflito.
E assim, depois de ouvir as intervenções dos Senhores Deputados, a Mesa do Parlamento fez a conclusão de enviar uma carta ao Governo de Timor Leste e também pedir a presença do Sr. Ministro de Defesa e o Sr. Ministro do Interior para dar informação mais completa e concreta em relação ao assunto em epígrafe.
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mais complicado receber ordens de Nova Iorque do que de Camberra...
"I don't know anyone who knows exactly where he (Major Reinado) is. It would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack," Mr Dodds said."
COM. - Mas o Mick Slater não disse já várias vezes que sabia onde estava Reinado?
"While the UN has the mandate to uphold policing, it cannot order the AFP to track down Major Reinado. That has to come from Canberra."
COM. - Ninguém percebe porque só a polícia está procurando Reinado. A tropa australiana não faz nada. Por isso Howard e Downer (com o apoio dos USA e UK) rejeitaram a intenção da ONU de colocar também uma força militar em TL, pois esta iria auxiliar a polícia na sua busca.
Aqui está um exemplo do que queria dizer Howard quando explicou que era mais complicado receber ordens de Nova Iorque do que de Camberra...
H Correia.
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JSMP Submission to the UN Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor Leste
Pode encontrar a documentação aqui.
"JSMP makes the following recommendations:
1. Crimes committed during the crisis period should be processed within the domestic Timorese justice system.
2. Significant reliance should be place on international judges, prosecutors and defence council in order to ensure the capacity, independence and impartiality of those involved in this process.
3. Crisis period cases should be tried by specially designated panels of judges, composed of two international judges and a Timorese judge. Appeals from such cases should also be tried by such a panel of the Court of Appeal.
4. A special division or unit within the Office of the Prosecutor-General should be established for the purpose of prosecuting crisis period crimes. This unit should be headed by an international prosecutor in order to ensure the independence and impartiality of prosecutorial policy and practice.
5. International actors (judges, prosecutors and public defenders) should work together with Timorese probationary court actors.
6. A sufficient number of international lawyers should be employed to work as public defenders, judges and prosecutors.
7. Sufficient other resources must also be provided for, including support staff and logistical resources, in all institutions participating in the processes.
8. Police investigations into crisis period cases should be carried out exclusively by international police in order to ensure actual and perceived impartiality and independence of the police.
9. Every attempt should be made to ensure that persons within the PNTL and F-FDTL who are suspected of having committed crisis-period crimes are tried according to the law. Appropriate screening processes must be undertaken in both institutions to ensure that those who have committed crimes are not permitted to retain their positions.
10. Any processes established must be designed to adequately address the needs of victims. In particular a program should be established for the protection of victims and witnesses from intimidation and violence.
11. Complementary processes should be established to address the needs for community reconciliation and the compensation of victims.
12. Extensive community outreach should be undertaken to ensure that the public understands the nature and purpose of the processes undertaken and are able to adequately access them.
13. In order to ensure that the Commission’s recommendations are implemented, every attempt should be made to seek the involvement of the United Nations Secretary-General and Security Council. For example, the Commission could recommend that if the Parliament of Timor-Leste has not taken steps to implement its recommendations within a specified time period, action be taken by the United Nations."
All JSMP documents referred to in this submission can be found on the JSMP website: www.jsmp.minihub.org.
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Reinado says willing to negotiate with government without returning to prison
12.09.2006
The fugitive Timor-Leste's rebel leader Alfredo Reinado has said he was willing to negotiate with the government about handing himself in, but not if it meant a return to prison.
"I'm ready to face the tribunal, but when everything is fixed," Reinado said in an interview with The Australian newspaper, his first interview with a foreign media since escaping from Becora prison in the capital of Dili almost two weeks ago.
The paper, one of Australia's leading newspapers, said Tuesday that it found Reinado in Timor-Leste's southern mountains.
Reinado called for the Catholic Church and President Xanana Gusmao to lead a national debate on ways to solve the political crisis.
He said the United Nations and international security forces in his country should concentrate on catching other criminals who were worse than him.
He also reserved the right of self-defense, saying he had done nothing wrong and was entitled to protect himself in his own country.
The rebel leader blamed his current plight on a corrupt legal system and self-serving politicians but said he had no intention of waging guerrilla war or taking up arms against his country, according to the newspaper.
Reinado's interview was published after Australian Federal Police spokesman Tim Dodds conceded Monday there were not enough police to comb wide areas of Timor-Leste to track down the Australian-trained rebel leader.
"I don't know anyone who knows exactly where he (Reinado) is. It would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack," Dodds was quoted as saying.
The UN's police commander in Timor-Leste Antero Lopes said that extra numbers, which should start arriving next week, were needed to defeat a wall of silence created by family and friends of the rebels.
"We are getting more police and with more of a police presence we can get a better result," he said.
Source: Xinhua
Claim that President paid major's hotel bill
The Australian
Mark Dodd
September 12, 2006
ALFREDO Reinado, the East Timorese army deserter whose actions ultimately led to the ousting of prime minister Mari Alkatiri, has allegedly received financial help from the country's President.
There are claims that the office of President Xanana Gusmao, a long-term rival of Dr Alkatiri, paid an outstanding hotel bill on behalf of Major Reinado while the rebel leader was on the run earlier this year.
The bill covered the six weeks Major Reinado spent at an isolated, colonial-era mountaintop lodge called the Poussada, outside the coffee-growing town of Maubisse, 75km southeast of Dili.
Staff at the hotel, including assistant manager Julio da Costa, claim the bill was paid by the office of the President.
And Major Reinado, although sceptical of claims the bill was paid by Mr Gusmao, said he could not meet the entire account and he had heard reports it was picked up by the President or his Australian-born wife, Kirsty Sword Gusmao.
The claims, denied by Mr Gusmao's office, raise further questions about the coup-like strike by army officers that ultimately helped the President drive Dr Alkatiri out of office in late June this year.
Angered by what he believed was heavy-handed treatment by Dr Alkatiri and his former interior minister, Rogerio Lobato, in quelling a political protest that left six killed, Major Reinado and 20 other supporters, mostly military police under his command, deserted for the hills.
While a deserter, Major Reinado remained loyal to his commander-in-chief, with Mr Gusmao issuing an order, seen by The Australian, for him and his group to initially base themselves in Aileu, 50km southeast of the capital. But following escalating violence in Dili, Major Reinado moved deeper into the sanctuary of East Timor's mountains, establishing a base at the Poussada.
During the peak of the political crisis in June, Major Reinado's staunch anti-government rhetoric and actions provided a rallying point for anti-Alkatiri forces.
When Australian troops were deployed to the troubled nation, Special Air Service operatives went to the hotel to watch him.
Major Reinado spent six weeks at the Poussada but he moved out without settling his account, accumulating at a rate of $US16.80 per day per room. There was also a modest food and beverage bill, although Major Reinado had a preference for fresh fish from a hatchery pond about 20km away.
According to Poussada staff, Major Reinado's bill was paid by by the President. Mr da Costa, the 32-year-old assistant manager, was clear about this when questioned by The Australian last Tuesday. But within 24 hours, he was less certain. During that time, he had also been spoken to by his boss, lodge manager Maria-Isabel Benevides, whose suspicions had been aroused by the probing questions of her only two guests that night.
The presidential payment is not confirmed by a receipt, although on Tuesday night, the hotel's accounting records, comprising several tatty invoice books scattered loosely on the office desk, had been rearranged and tidied up as if suddenly inspected.
Asked whether the payment claims were true, Mr Gusmao's chief-of-staff, Agio Pereira, said: "No, I don't think so. The President does not have enough money to pay his own police."
Mr Pereira said Mr Gusmao was unhappy about Major Reinado staying at the Poussada because "it was a private business". Major Reinado said he paid some of the bill but not enough to settle the entire account for himself and his armed colleagues.
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Notícias - traduzidas pela Margarida
Afirmação de que o Presidente pagou a conta de hotel do major
The Australian
Mark Dodd
Setembro 12, 2006
ALFREDO Reinado, o desertor das forças armadas Timorenses cujas acções últimamente levaram à saída do primeiro-ministro Mari Alkatiri, alegadamente recebeu ajuda financeira do Presidente do país.
Há queixas de que o Gabinete do Presidente Xanana Gusmão, um rival há muito tempo do Dr Alkatiri, pagou uma importante conta de hotel a favor do Major Reinado quando o líder amotinado estava em fuga mais cedo este ano.
A conta cobriu as seis semanas que o Major Reinado passou numa isolada pousada do estilo da era colonial chamada a Pousada, fora da cidade produtora de café de Maubisse, 75 km sudeste de Dili.
Pessoal do hotel, incluindo o director assistente Júlio da Costa, diz que a conta foi paga pelo gabinete do Presidente.
E o Major Reinado, apesar (de estar) céptico da afirmação de que a conta foi paga pelo Sr Gusmão, disse que não podia pagar a conta por inteiroe que ouvira relatos de que fora paga pelo Presidente ou pela sua mulher Australiana, Kirsty Sword Gusmão.
As afirmações, negadas pelo Gabinete do Sr Gusmão, levantaram mais questões sobre o tipo de golpe disparado por oficiais das forças armadas que ultimamente ajudaram o Presidente a tirar o Dr Alkatiri do gabinete no final de Junho deste ano.
Zangado pelo que acreditou ser tratamento duro por parte do Dr Alkatiri e o seu antigo ministro do interior, Rogério Lobato, em acalmar um protesto político que deixou seis mortos, o Major Reinado e 20 outros apoiantes, a maioria polícias militares sob o seu comando, desertou para as montanhas.
Enquanto desertor, o Major Reinado permaneceu leal ao seu comandante-em-chefe, com o Sr Gusmão a emitir uma ordem, vista pelo The Australian, para ele e o seu grupo se basearem eles próprios em Aileu, a 50 km sudeste da capital. Mas no seguimento da escalada da violência em Dili, o Major Reinado movimentou-se mais profundamente para o santuário das montanhas de Timor-Leste, estabelecendo uma base na Pousada.
Durante o ponto alto da crise política em Junho, a sólida retórica anti-governo e as acções do Major Reinado foram um ponto de reunião para as forças anti-Alkatiri.
Quando as tropas Australianas foram destacadas para a nação inquieta, operacionais da Special Air Service foram para o hotel para o manterem debaixo de olho.
O Major Reinado passou seis semanas na Pousada mas saiu pagando a sua conta, acumulada ao preço de $US16.80 por dia por quarto. Havia também uma conta modesta para alimentação e bebida, apesar do Major Reinado ter uma preferência por peixe fresco dum lago à volta de 20 km de distância.
De acordo com o pessoal da Pousada, a conta do Major Reinado foi paga pelo Presidente. O Sr da Costa, o director assistente de 32 anos, foi claro sobre isso quando questionado pelo The Australian na última Quinta-feira. Mas em 24 horas, ficou com menos certeza. Durante esse tempo, a sua patroa falou com ele, a directora da pousada Maria Isabel Benevides, cujas suspeitas foram levantadas pelas perguntas experientes dos seus dois únicos hóspedes dessa noite.
O pagamento presidencial não foi confirmado por um recibo, apesar de na Terça-feira à noite, os livros de contabilidade do hotel, compreendendo vários livros de facturas espalhadas â solta pela secretária, terem sido re-arrumadas e limpas como se tivesse havido uma inspecção repentina.
Perguntado se a afirmação do pagamento era verdadeira o chefe de Gabinete do Sr Gusmão, Agio Pereira, disse: "Não, não penso. O Presidente nem tem dinheiro suficiente para pagar à sua própria polícia."
O Sr Pereira disse que o Sr Gusmão estava infeliz com a estadia do Major Reinado na Pousada porque isso "foi um negócio privado ". O Major Reinado disse que pagou parte da conta mas não o suficiente para arrumar toda a conta dele próprio e dos seus colegas armados.
...
Polícia desiste do amotinado de Timor-Leste
The Australian
Mark Dodd
Setembro 12, 2006
A polícia Australiana e da ONU reconheceram que lhes faltam elementos para perseguir o líder amotinado Timorense Alfredo Reinado, que tem estado em fuga depois de fugir duma prisão de Dili quase há duas semanas.
O major das forças armadas fugitivo, entrevistado pelo The Australian num local secreto, parece em forma, saudável e não assediado pela lei quando lançou um forte ataque a um sistema de justiça "corrupto".
Também disparou um ataque ao novo Primeiro-Ministro, José Ramos Horta, a quem acusou de passar demasiado tempo for a e de fazer promessas que não conseguir cumprir.
Na sua primeira entrevista frente-a-frente com um jornalista estrangeiro desde que fugiu da prisão de Becora, o Major Reinado apelou à Igreja Católica e ao Presidente Xanana Gusmão para liderar um debate nacional sobre modos de resolver a crise política.
Torcendo o seu nariz às tentativas para o recapturarem, disse estar disponível para negociar com o Governo sobre entregar-se, mas não se isso significasse um regresso à prisão. "Estou pronto a enfrentar o tribunal, mas quando tudo estiver combinado," disse.
O The Australian encontrou o Major Reinado nas montanhas do sul do país depois duma semana de prolongadas negociações. Estas envolveram uma série de chamadas para números de telemóveis em mudança, mensagens de texto e a troca de senhas secretas com um dos apoiantes do Major Reinado num encontro a quatro horas de viagem da principal fileira de montanha de Timor-Leste.
O Major Reinado, 39 anos, admitiu que fugiu num veículo de quarto rodas e gabou-se de ter acenado aos soldados Neo-zelandeses quanto partiu. Mas disse que as forças internacionais e da ONU em Timor-Leste se deviam concentrar em apanhar outros criminosos que são piores do que ele.
Mas também se reservou o direito à auto-defesa, dizendo que não tinha feito nada de errado e estava intitulado a proteger-se a ele próprio no seu próprio país.
A polícia agora aguarda um reforço urgente para ajudar a cercar os elementos párias que permanecem uma ameaça no Estado da meia-ilha.
O comandante da polícia da ONU em Timor-Leste, Antero Lopes, disse que extra elementos, que devem começar a chegar na próxima semana, são necessários para derrotar o muro de silêncio criado pela família e amigos dos amotinados.
"Estamos a arranjar mais policias e com mais presença de policias conseguiremos melhores resultados."
O porta-voz da Polícia Federal Australiana Tim Dodds admitiu ontem que não há policias suficientes para cobrir vastas áreas do país e seguir a pista do líder amotinado treinado pelos Australianos, que fugiu da prisão com outros 56 presos em 30 de Agosto.
"Não conheço ninguém que saiba exactamente onde ele (Major Reinado) está. Seria como tentar encontrar uma agulha num palheiro," disse Mr Dodds.
Com cerca de 120 oficiais da AFP, a Austrália tem um dos maiores destacamentos de polícia em Timor-Leste mas, tal como a força militar de 1000 elementos, estão correntemente sob comando nacional e não da ONU.
Ao contrário das forças de defesa, a AFP juntar-se-á à ONU mas continuam as negociações entre Canberra e a sede da ONU em New York acerca dos termos do seu engajamento.
O Major Reinado disse que recentes afirmações de que estava preparado para lutar contra tropas Australianas o zangaram. "Não disse isso. Tenho tido relações boas com os militares Australianos.
"Não estou zangado com a ADF mas com a GNR, sabem o que defendo. Os Portugueses querem silenciar-me," disse.
O Major Reinado treinou na Austrália e a mulher mora em Perth, onde está à espera do quarto filho do casal.
"Tenho muitas saudades deles. Ouvi dizer que o meu puto mais velho está doente. Isso preocupa-me e eles estão sozinhos mas quero agradecer aos Australianos por cuidarem deles," disse.
O amotinado acusou que a sua luta corrente é (contra) um sistema legal corrupto e ao serviço dos políticos mas disse que não tinha a intenção de lançar uma guerra de guerrilha ou de pegar em armas contra o seu país.
O Major Reinado mantém-se orgulhosamente leal ao Sr Gusmão, dizendo que ele era "como um pai ".
"Gusmão é o único líder Timorense a quem (se pode) confiar e o único com capacidade para curar uma nação partida,".
E disse que a sua prisão em Dili por posse ilegal de armas foi tramada por interesses políticos pró-Portugueses destinados a frustrar as conversas de reconciliação planeadas pelo Presidente. Contudo, foi fechado sobre a questão das armas em seu poder.
Disse que estava disponível para negociar com o Governo sobre entregar-se mas não se isso significasse um regresso à prisão. "Estou pronto para enfrentar o tribunal mas quando tudo estiver negociado," disse, repetindo uma longa lista de queixas sobre o sistema de justiça disfuncional de Timor-Leste.
Preso inicialmente com acusações de armas ilegais, foi mais tarde acusado por tentativa de homicídio em conexão com o tiroteio de 23 de Maio envolvendo soldados da força de defesa no qual duas pessoas foram mortas.
"Não se resolve esta crise com armas. Esse tempo passou, meu amigo. Agora é tempo de conversar. Tomaremos alguns cafés, é o que gostaria de fazer, como o diálogo que sugeri," disse o Major Reinado.
Apesar de Mari Alkatiri ter resignado como primeiro-ministro em Junho, disse, "os socialistas de Maputo como Alkatiri" mantém-se nos ministérios, e a influência do antigo primeiro-ministro era ainda evidente.
O Major Reinado disse que a sua fuga da Prisão de Becora em 30 de Agosto foi planeada com duas horas de aviso porque lhe tinha sido dito que o seu pedido para ficar em prisão domiciliária era provável não ser aceite.
Admitiu ter ameaçado um funcionário da prisão para abrir um ou dois portões com cadeados, o que lhe permitiu e a outros 56 presos caminharem para a liberdade.
"Repare, podia ter fugido desde o dia um," disse. "Já viu aquela prisão? Esperei até há hora das visitas. Não envolveu muito planeamento.
"Lembre-se, sou um militar bem treinado e estava preocupado com os meus homens. Não mereciam isto," disse, referindo-se aos seus amigos presos com ele em 25 de Julho.
A desajeitada estrutura de comando da força internacional em Timor-Leste está a dificultar ainda mais a perseguição aos fugitivos.
Enquanto a ONU tem o mandato para fazer o policiamento, não pode ordenar à AFP para perseguir o Major Reinado. Essa ordem tem de vir de Canberra.
O Comissário Antero Lopes, à frente da força de polícia da ONU, admite que precisa de mais homens com boinas azuis e que precisa delas rapidamente, incluindo as Australianas.
Disse ao The Australian que espera dentro de oito semanas ter uma força de boinas azuis suficiente para poder manter a lei e a ordem na capital.
A força de polícia da ONU está projectada ter 1600 elementos, mas dados os pedidos de recursos policiais para outras missões da ONU, é crescentemente duvidoso que o alvo será atingido por países que expressaram interesse.
O comissário Lopes também quer a antiga polícia Timorense de regresso ao trabalho mais cedo do que a AFP, que está a exigir medidas de escrutínio mais apertadas para garantir que nenhum elemento pária seja readmitido ao serviço.
…
Polícia considera oferecer um prémio pelos fugitivos Timor de Timor-Leste
ABC News Online
Segunda-feira, Setembro 11, 2006. 8:21pm (AEST)
As Autoridades em Timor-Leste consideram oferecer um prémio nos seus esforços para recapturar 57 presos que estão em fuga há quase duas semanas.
A polícia internacional não está perto de encontrar os 57 fugitivos que saíram pela entrada da frente da prisão de Becora em Dili no mês passado.
O grupo inclui o antigo líder amotinado Alfredo Reinado.
O comandante da polícia Australiana Steve Lancaster diz que Reinado tem estado em comunicação com várias agências em Dili, mas tem conseguido iludir a polícia.
Diz que o Governo de Timor-Leste está a considerar um prémio financeiro.
"Estamos a falar com o procurador e com o Procurador-Geral aqui, e isso é para encorajar as pessoas, se conhecem onde estão, similar ao Crimestoppers... Se a informação for útil e ajudar ao relação ao regresso ou à descoberta desses fugitivos então podemos considerar essas opções de oferecer prémios," disse.
O Comandante Lancaster diz que Reinado ainda se recusa entregar-se.
Diz que até agora a polícia ainda não conseguir encontrar pistas de nenhum dos presos fugitivos.
"Particularmente dentro de Dili, respondemos rapidamente, mas outra vez temos que chegar lá a tempo, antes deles partirem," disse.
"Quando às vezes recebemos muita, muita informação falsa sobre onde estão, assim perdemos alguma energia tentando localizar essa gente."
…
Mari Acusa Horta de Golpe de Estado
Unotil
Revista dos Media Diários
Sábado 09 Set, Segunda-feira 11 Set 2006
O antigo Primeiro-Ministro Mari Alkatiri acusou Ramos-Horta de dirigir um golpe de Estado contra a Fretilin. Em resposta à declaração de Horta de que a Fretilin precisa de mudanças na liderança, Alkatiri disse que o corrente Primeiro-Ministro fez todas as movimentações possíveis para o forçar para fora do governo e depois pretendeu apresentar os nomes dos candidatos para o cargo de primeiro-ministro sabendo que era o único que seria Primeiro-Ministro. Falando numa reunião com membros do Comité Central da Fretilin de 13 distritos no Sábado, Alkatiri clarificou aos membros do seu partido que a razão porque saiu do cargo de Primeiro-Ministro se deveram às manipulações do corrente Primeiro-Ministro.
Alkatiri disse ainda que Horta sabia que José Luis Guterres não tinha uma chance de ser o secretário-geral da Fretilin mas usou uma maneira de dividir a Fretilin pondo-se ao lado do ‘Grupo para a Mudança da Fretilin’. O Secretário-Geral da Fretilin disse que todos os membros do CCF tinham concordado manter um diálogo com o ‘Grupo para a Mudança da Fretilin’ ou suspender o grupo por não mais obedecer às regras do partido.
(TP, STL)
Mari Accuses Horta of Coup D’Etat
Unotil
Daily Media Review
Saturday 09 Sept, Monday 11 Sept 2006
Former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has accused Ramos-Horta of staging a coup d’etat against Fretilin. In response to Horta’s statement that Fretilin needs leadership changes, Alkatiri said the current Prime Minister made every possible move to force him out of government and then pretended to present the names of candidates for the premiership knowing he was the one who would become Prime Minister. Speaking during a gathering with Fretilin’s Central Committee from the 13 districts on Saturday, Alkatiri clarified to members of his party that the reason he stepped down as Prime Minister was due to the manipulation by the current Prime Minister.
Alkatiri further said Horta knew that Jose Luis Guterres did not have a chance to become Fretilin’s secretary general but used a way of dividing Fretilin by siding with the ‘Fretilin Group for Changes’. The Secretary General of Fretilin said all members of CCF have agreed to hold a dialogue with ‘Fretilin Group for Changes’ or suspend the group for no longer obeying the party’s rules.
(TP, STL)
Police give up on East Timor rebel
The Australian
Mark Dodd
September 12, 2006
AUSTRALIAN and UN police have conceded they lack the numbers to track down East Timorese rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, who has been on the run after breaking out of a Dili prison almost two weeks ago.
The fugitive army major, interviewed by The Australian in a secret location, looked fit, healthy and not harassed by the law as he launched a scathing attack on a "corrupt" justice system.
He also took a swipe at the new Prime Minister, Jose Ramos Horta, who he accused of spending too much time overseas and making promises he was unable to keep.
In his first face-to-face interview with a foreign journalist since escaping from Becora prison, Major Reinado called for the Catholic Church and President Xanana Gusmao to lead a national debate on ways to solve the political crisis.
Thumbing his nose at the attempts to recapture him, he said he was willing to negotiate with the Government about handing himself in, but not if it meant a return to prison. "I'm ready to face the tribunal, but when everything is fixed," he said.
The Australian found Major Reinado in the country's southern mountains after a week of protracted negotiations. These involved a series of calls to changing mobile numbers, text messages and the exchange of a secret password with one of Major Reinado's supporters at a rendezvous four hours drive over East Timor's main mountain range.
Major Reinado, 39, admitted he escaped in a four-wheel-drive vehicle and boasted that he waved to New Zealand soldiers as he left. But he said the UN and international security forces in East Timor should concentrate on catching other criminals who were worse than him.
But he also reserved the right of self-defence, saying he had done nothing wrong and was entitled to protect himself in his own country.
The police are now waiting on urgent reinforcements to help round up the rogue elements that remain a threat in the half-island state.
The UN's police commander in East Timor, Antero Lopes, said that extra numbers, which should start arriving next week, were needed to defeat a wall of silence created by family and friends of the rebels.
"We are getting more police and with more of a police presence we can get a better result."
Australian Federal Police spokesman Tim Dodds conceded yesterday there were not enough police to comb wide areas of the country to track down the Australian-trained rebel leader, who escaped from the prison with 56 other inmates on August 30.
"I don't know anyone who knows exactly where he (Major Reinado) is. It would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack," Mr Dodds said.
With about 120 AFP officers, Australia has one of the largest police deployments in East Timor but, like the 1000-strong military force, they are currently under national and not UN command.
Unlike the defence forces, the AFP will join the UN but negotiations are continuing between Canberra and UN headquarters in New York about their terms of engagement.
Major Reinado said recent claims that he was prepared to fight Australian troops made him angry. "I did not say that. I've had good relations with the Australian military.
"I'm not angry with the ADF but the GNR (Portuguese riot police), they know what I stand for. The Portuguese want to silence me," he said.
Major Reinado trained in Australia and his wife lives in Perth, where she is expecting the couple's fourth child.
"I miss them very much. My oldest kid, I hear, is sick. That worries me and they are alone but I'd like to thank the Australians for looking after them," he said.
The rebel blamed his current plight on a corrupt legal system and self-serving politicians but said he had no intention of waging guerilla war or taking up arms against his country.
Major Reinado remained fiercely loyal to Mr Gusmao, saying he was "like a father".
"Gusmao is the only East Timorese leader to be trusted and the only one with a capacity to heal the broken nation," he said.
And he said his arrest in Dili for illegal weapons possession was concocted by pro-Portuguese political interests designed to thwart reconciliation talks planned by the President. However, he was cagey about the issue of weapons in his possession.
He said he was willing to negotiate with the Government about handing himself in but not if it meant a return to prison. "I'm ready to face the tribunal but when everything is fixed," he said, repeating a long list of complaints about East Timor's dysfunctional justice system.
Arrested initially on illegal weapons charges, he was later charged with attempted murder in connection with a May 23 gun battle involving defence force soldiers in which two people were killed.
"You don't solve this crisis with weapons. That time is past, my friend. Now is the time to talk. We'll have a few coffees, that's what I'd like to do, like the dialogue I've suggested," Major Reinado said.
Although Mari Alkatiri had resigned as prime minister in June, he said, "Maputo socialists like Alkatiri" remained in the ministries ,and the influence of the former prime minister was still evident.
Major Reinado said his escape from Becora Prison on August 30 was planned with two hours' notice because he had been told an application for house arrest was likely to fail.
He admitted to having threatened a prison officer to open one of two steel padlocked gates, which allowed him and 56 other inmates to walk to freedom.
"Look, I could have escaped from day one," he said. "Have you seen that jail? I waited until visiting hours. It did not involve a lot of planning.
"Remember, I'm a well-trained military man and I was worried for my men. They did not deserve this," he said, referring to his friends arrested with him on July 25.
The awkward structure of the command of the international force in East Timor is making it more difficult to track down the fugitives.
While the UN has the mandate to uphold policing, it cannot order the AFP to track down Major Reinado. That has to come from Canberra.
Commissioner Antero Lopes, in charge of the UN police force, admits he needs more men wearing blue berets and needs them quickly, including Australians.
He told The Australian he expected within eight weeks to have a large enough force of blue berets to be confident about upholding law and order in the capital.
The UN police force is projected to be 1600 strong, but given demands by other UN missions for policing resources, it is increasingly doubtful the target will be met by countries that have expressed an interest.
Commissioner Lopes also wants former East Timorese police back on the beat sooner than the AFP, which is demanding tighter screening measures to ensure any rogue elements are not readmitted into the service.
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Police consider offering reward for E Timor fugitives
ABC News Online
Monday, September 11, 2006. 8:21pm (AEST)
Authorities in East Timor are considering offering a reward in their efforts to recapture 57 prisoners who have been on the run for nearly two weeks.
International police are no closer to finding the 57 escapees who walked out the front gate of Dili's Becora jail last month.
The group includes former rebel leader Alfredo Reinado.
Australian police commander Steve Lancaster says Reinado has been in communication with various agencies in Dili, but has still managed to elude police.
He says East Timor's Government is considering posting a financial reward.
"We're speaking to the prosecutor and the prosecutor-general here, and this is to encourage people, if they do know the whereabouts, similar to Crimestoppers... If the information is useful and helpful in relation to returning or finding these escapees then we can look at those options of offering a reward up," he said.
Commander Lancaster says Reinado is still refusing to give himself up.
He says so far police have been unable to track down any of the escaped prisoners.
"Particularly inside Dili, we do respond quickly, but again you've got to get there in time, before they leave," he said.
"When sometimes we do get a lot of, we do get a lot of false reports of crime and false reports of where people are, so we do waste a bit of energy trying to locate these people."
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