UNMIT Daily Media Review - 22 May 2008
(International news reports and extracts from national media. UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports)
Xanana: agrees to three month reduction of Rogerio's sentence – Timor Post
Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato said that Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão agrees with President José Ramos-Horta to reduce the sentence of former Minster of Interior, Rogerio Tiago Lobato by three months.
“I had discussions with the Prime Minister on this matter. He agrees to give a three month reduction of sentence to Rogerio Lobato and other 82 prisoners,” said Minister of Justice on Wednesday (21/5) in the Becora prison, Dili.
Minister Lobato said that the Government had recommended that the president also commute the time in jail of prisoners who have served half of their sentences by 6-12 months. Prisoners who were sentenced for domestic and sexual violence would receive a two month reduction.
Alkatiri dreams of early election. PD: Fretilin creates bad precedent – Timor Post
Fretilin Secretary-General Mari Alkatiri stated that in the near future Fretilin will assume the power to govern in order to improve peoples' lives as AMP is not capable of solving the country's problems and so must face early elections.
“We [Fretilin] will be back to govern. It wouldn't be too long,” stated Mr. Alkatiri in speech on the ceremony of 34th anniversary of ASDT/Fretilin held in the Central Committee of Fretilin (CCF) on Tuesday (20/5) in Comoro, Dili.
Alkatiri said that Fretilin will show that it is different from the Alliance Majority in Parliament (AMP).
Alkatiri also said that when Fretilin is back in power, he will reappoint the directors and administrators who have been removed by AMP.
“Fretilin will reappoint those people as what AMP did to them is against the law and the constitution.
Fretilin is only asking for early elections for the legislature, not the presidency. If it happens, then we will win all of them,” he said.
Even though Mr. Alkatiri strongly criticized PM Gusmão, he continues recognize that he and the Prime Minister have to work together to solve the country's problems.
He said that he wants to sit with PM Gusmão as political leaders, not as a commander with his soldier.
“If he [PM Gusmão] does not think of himself as a commander, I am ready to sit with him to improve people’s life,” added Mr. Alkatiri.
At the same function, Fretilin President and former President of the National Parliament Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo said that early elections are really needed to improve the bad performance of the AMP Government.
“We are not satisfied when we won the election, only to become the opposition,” said Mr. Lu-Olo.
Democratic Party (PD) MP Adriano Nascimento said that early elections might happen but certain criteria must be in place. For example, most of the MPs in Parliament must oppose the Government’s programs, the State must be malfunctioning, the situation was unstable -- at this point the president could dissolve the government and call for early elections.
MP Nascimento said that if Fretilin wants to destroy AMP midway in the implementation of its programs, this would be a bad precedent for the future.
He also said that AMP should have 2-3 years to implement its programs. If at that time they were not successful, then one could say it was incompetent.
President of Republic asked the Government to respect the rights of the prisoners - Televisaun Timor-Leste
During the visit to Becora prison yesterday President Jose Ramos Horta said he does not have the authority to interfere in the judicial process but he will make recommendations to the Government to help solve their problems.
“Today I came here to show you my love and respect. I have no authority to take part in the judicial process but I will keep asking the Government through Ministry of Justice to pay attention to you”, the President said.
He also asked the Government to respect the rights of the prisoners. At the same time, Minster of Justice Lucia Brandão Lobato said the Government is now improving the process of justice in order to defend rights of prisoners.
The Court will extend the time for Rogerio Lobato to return until June – Televisaun Timor-Leste
Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato yesterday said the Court will give prisoner Rogerio until June to return to Timor Leste. If he does not return by then, the Government will implement the Court's decision against him.
“The Government is ready to help him whatever he needs, such as an airline ticket and accommodation in Bali. He has to obey the decision from the Court. Suppose he does not come back in June -- the Court will take action.
Based on plan, the Court will ask the Interpol to get him back if he does not obey the decision,” explained Lucia.
According to the doctor who has been treating Rogerio during this time, he needs one month more to operate on Rogerio’s leg.
Public Ministry: 24 suspects identified as being involved in the attack of 11 February – Televisaun Timor-Leste
The Public Ministry has positively identified 24 suspects who were involved in the attack on 11 February. General Prosecutor Longuinhos Monteiro said the investigation process into the attack on 11 February is going smoothly.
“The investigation is running well and we have positively identified 24 suspects in connection with the incidents of 11 February,” said Mr. Monteiro.
Of the 24 accused people, eighteen of them are currently in preventive detention and the others are under house arrest. Most probably, there is still one suspect more, a civilian at large.
In relation to this case, last week I sent the Prime Minister a letter requesting him to make sworn statement.
“I asked to him to specify the exact date when he would submit his statement. This is the second request that we have made for his deposition”, said General Prosecutor.
Government Assists IDPs from Jardim Camp to return home - Ministry of Social Solidarity (Press Release), 21 May
Starting from today, as part of the government’s Hamutuk Hari’i Futuru national recovery strategy, 358 families will receive a recovery grant to assist them to return to their homes from the Jardim IDP camp.
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao thanked the IDPs at Jardim for their willingness to return home and for showing their commitment to live peacefully in their former neighborhoods.
He asked the Chefe Sucos, Chefe Aldeias, youth and receiving communities to receive the returning IDPs and put an end to violence. The Prime Minister told the IDPs at Jardim “you are helping to improve the image of Timor-Leste by showing the world that Timorese people can work together to resolve their own problems. The government will work with you to try to resolve all of the country’s problems.”
The Minister for Social Solidarity, Maria Domingas Alves asked the IDPs at Jardim to try and forget what the difficulties they have endured for the past two years, and to try and forgive those who had caused these difficulties.
“Use the opportunity of leaving the camp to try to build a new life, a peaceful life. This is the time for the new generation to build a new, peaceful future for Timor-Leste.”
The Minister assured the IDPs that “we are aware that some of you will face difficulties on return, because your house is occupied, or because you were renting or did not have a house. We will work together to resolve these problems through dialogue.
The government is also creating new policies to help you.” The Minister also thanked the Chefe Sucos and Chefe Aldeias in the receiving communities for their assistance in facilitating the peaceful and safe return of the IDPs from Jardim.
The Camp Manager of Jardim IDP Camp, Leopoldo Pinto, thanked the government for the attention they have given to resolving the problems of Timor-Leste’s displaced people.
“However, we ask the government to improve security in many areas of return, as many returning IDPs are still not welcome in their communities. Also, many IDPs former houses are occupied, and so we ask the government to please pay attention to this issue.”
The Minister for Social Solidarity, Maria Domingas Alves, thanked the SLS agencies which provided the Jardim camp with humanitarian assistance – IOM and Plan. She also thanked Plan for their water and sanitation support to the camp over the past two years.
The return of the IDPs from Jardim brings the total number of IDP families who have received a recovery package to 1370.
The next camp to be assisted to return will be Sional. Verification of the IDPs former place of residence has been completed and MSS is continuing to work on verification of the other camps.
Timor-Leste: Market garden relieves food scarcity – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), 21 May
IDPs living in the Quarantina transitional shelter site are becoming self-sufficient thanks to the establishment of a market garden supported by NRC.
Timor-Leste is a young nation struggling to feed its people. With an underdeveloped agricultural sector, together with other difficult realities such as drought, locust infestations and lack of livelihood opportunities, many Timorese go through their daily lives with less food than they need. IDPs are particularly vulnerable to this food insecurity.
Food insecurity
As of end of March 2008, an estimated 30 % of IDPs of a total of 100.000 are living in approx. 58 camps, mainly in the cities of Dili (51 camps) and Baucau (7 camps).
Many of the IDP families who live in the camps are food insecure. They have no employment and rely only on the government’s gradually diminishing food rations.
In order to improve the situation, NRC, in cooperation with the local NGO Fitun FO Dalan, has supported the establishment of a market garden in one of the camps.
Growing staple foods
Together, NRC and Fitun FO Dalan mobilized 26 IDP families in the Quarantina traditional shelter site to establish a market garden on the rounds of the site. The market garden was established in January and covers an area of approximately 75x30 meters and is divided into 77 plots. Each family has been assigned two 1.2 m x 8 m plots which they plant and harvest as they choose. The most common crops grown are kankun (a green leafy vegetable), cabbage and green beans - all staples in the daily Timorese diet.
NRC Country Director Alfredo Zamudio says all the families have worked really hard on cultivating their plot of land. In April they could finally harvest their first crop.
‘So far, the results have been very good, says Zamudio. ‘The first crop that was harvested in April gave enough produce to provide both food for the families and food to sell in the local markets,’ he says.
Generating income
The IDPs in Quarantina are also very satisfied with the market garden.
‘I am so happy because the garden has raised my income, says Jorge Freitas.
One plot of kankun can produce two harvests per month, and one plot’s worth of kankun sold at the local markets earns approximately six dollars. For Freitas and the other IDPs this is a substantial addition to the household income, considering the average income in Timor-Leste is US $370 a year.
Some of the families in Quarantina have chosen to keep all their crops for food, while others have chosen to sell all their crops. Others again have done a little bit of both. In total, the families earned approximately 140 US$ from the first market garden harvest.
NRC has been active in Timor-Leste since 2006. NRC currently manages five transitional shelter sites in Dili, through its Camp Management program. In total, the sites house more than 2500 IDPs. NRC also runs shelter and education programs in Timor-Leste.
East Timor President Cuts Former Minister's Jail Sentence – The Wall Street Journal, 21 May
DILI (AFP)--East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta said Wednesday he had slashed the seven-year jail sentence handed out to a former minister for distributing weapons during violent unrest in 2006.
Ramos-Horta said the sentence against former home affairs minister Rogerio Lobato was cut 75% in a show of mercy as part of the country's sixth anniversary of independence this week.
"It is three-fourths," he told AFP when asked the size of the reduction. He added that he didn't know how much more time Lobato would spend in jail because the courts had yet to review the sentence.
"My consideration for him and other cases are humanitarian, their health or family situation. Mr. Rogerio Lobato's health has been precarious for some time."
Lobato was jailed on five charges of arming hit squads during the 2006 unrest in the country, when fighting between factions of the security forces left 37 dead and made 150,000 flee their homes.
But Ramos-Horta said he didn't think Lobato was an instigator of the violence.
"I sincerely believe that Rogerio Lobato is a decent man who was caught in the crisis of 2006 and he definitely wasn't one of the authors of the crisis," he said.
Lobato received a court permit to travel abroad for treatment last year. He has liver, heart and kidney problems but the exact nature of the care he is receiving in Malaysia is unknown.
He is a senior member of the opposition Fretilin party and founded a guerrilla army that fought Indonesia's 24-year occupation of East Timor, which lasted until 1999. East Timor formally became an independent state in 2002.
Asian rights offenders fight for UN seats – Tamil Net, 21 May
In what is viewed as the most significant contest, six Asian nations, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bahrain and East Timor, are vying for four seats in the UN Human Rights Council where the secret ballot to select the members is being held today. Only Japan and South Korea are designated as "free" by the NGO Freedom House, based on the past voting record and the history of adherence to human rights principles, so the outcome of the Asian race is the one with the most potential to change the council's overall composition, reports said.
Fifteen of the HRC's 47 seats will be decided by U.N. General Assembly secret ballot which is the third annual election for the Geneva-based council, which was established two years ago to replace the widely discredited U.N. Commission on Human Rights, according to CNS web report.
"A campaign by non-governmental organizations aimed at preventing Sri Lanka from being elected to the U.N. Human Rights Council has drawn some support, but the country's bid for a seat is just one of several concerns surrounding this week's election.
"Sri Lanka has drawn particular attention, with a coalition of international NGOs and three Nobel peace prize laureates among those highlighting abuses in the civil war-torn South Asian nation, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture. Sri Lanka's critics are urging U.N. members to withhold support," the report said.
In a recent letter to the participant Governments in the U.N. elections, an NGO consortium said: "To reject Sri Lanka's candidacy at this time would show that U.N. members are serious about the membership standards they established for the council, and bring new attention to the gross violations in Sri Lanka and hope and support to the victims of abuse."
Ramos Horta cuts Lobato's jail term – EPA, 21 May
East Timor's president has sliced the prison sentence of a former government minister who armed civilian hit squads during the violence that destabilized the nation in 2006.
Former home affairs minister Rogerio Lobato was one of dozens of criminals to receive sentence cuts to mark the sixth anniversary of East Timor's independence this week.
"I sincerely believe that Rogerio Lobato is a decent man who was caught in the crisis of 2006 and he definitely was not one of the authors of the crisis," he told AFP.
AFP reported the sentence would be reduced by three quarters.
A spokesman for the president said details of the cuts were yet to be finalized in specific cases.
UNMIT MEDIA MONITORING
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UNMIT Daily Media Review - 23 May 2008
(International news reports and extracts from national media. UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports)
Only 80 petitioners still want to return to the military – Timor Post
Of the 339 petitioners who indicated a preference for rejoining the military, only 80 of them still want to return since Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão asked them last week to re-consider their choice of military or civilian life.
“There are 80 petitioners who have not changed their decision to return to the military,” said one of the petitioners who still wants to be rejoin the military due to his love for the F-FDTL.
He also said those other petitioners who changed their minds and now want to enter civilian life are illiterate and have some health problems. Some of them believe that if they return to the military, then they will not receive Government compensation.
Recently the numbers of the petitioners who want to become civilians increased from 356 to 605 out of a total of 685.
The Vice President of the National Parliament Vicente Guterres said that it was good for the petitioners to be civilians as they have abandoned their barracks.
Mr. Guterres said that when there is problem within an institution, the problem should be solved internally, not outside of the institution.
“As they have brought the problem out of the institution, if I were them, I would not go back,” said Mr. Guterres.
Democratic Party MP Adriano do Nascimento said that he did not agree with the Prime Minister who had earlier said that it was good for the petitioners, who are illiterate, to return to civilian life. This statement dishonoured the petitioners, he said.
“The petitioners left their barracks because of political matters and actions taken by political leaders [not because they are illiterate],” said Mr. Nascimento.
Be model for the world: PR Horta asks permission for the UN and NGOs to visit Becora prison – Timor Post
On his visit to Becora Prison on Wednesday (21/5) PR Ramos-Horta asked prison guards to allow the Red Cross, UNMIT Human Rights and national NGOs to visit Becora Prison in order to ensure transparency.
“I am requesting this prison to allow visits from the National Red Cross, UNMIT Human Rights and NGOs who work for human rights, not for NGOs who are working for politics. If we do this, then our prison will be a model for the world, a prison that hides nothing and reveals everything,” said PR Horta.
PR Horta also said that he visited Becora Prison as a Nobel Peace Laureate, not as President, Prime Minister or the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
President’s pardon: 10 prisoners freed, Rogerio’s sentence reduced – Timor Post
Out of 84 prisoners who received pardons from PR Ramos-Horta on Independence Day, 20 May, ten of them have received a full pardon. Rogerio Tiago Lobato, the former Minister of Interior, received only a reduced sentence.
Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato said that the Government's preference is for the president to only reduce Rogerio's sentence by three months as the court had sentenced him to seven years in prison.
Timor-Leste hopes to receive support from MCC – Televisaun Timor-Leste
Minister of Finance Emília Pires said that Timor-Leste hopes to receive funds from the Program of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to help decrease poverty in the country.
“On behalf of the Government, I am happy that MCC is considering Timor-Leste as a potential recipient of financial support. The Government promises to work with MCC to improve socio-economic development and build peace in this country,” said Minister Pires on Thursday (22/5) in Dili.
The Vice President of MCC John Hewko said that Timor-Leste needs to have program of good governance, as such a program could reduce poverty in the country and improve its economy.
Mr. Hewko said that recently MCC had established a monitoring team to follow the country's governance programme.
Minister: Government recommends reduction of three months of Rogerio Lobato’s sentence – Suara Timor Lorosa’e
Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato has recommended to the President Jose Ramos-Horta that he reduce only three months of the prison term given to the former Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato because of his involvement in arming civilians which caused many people to be killed in 2006. She made the statement to journalists on Wednesday (21/05) while accompanying president Ramos-Horta’s on his official visit to Becora Prison
“The government has recommended only three months reduction of sentence but it depends on the president’s decision,” said Lucia Lobato.
According to the president, the pardon is based on the former Interior Minister's past struggle to free the country. He said that Rogerio has also lost many of his family who sacrificed their lives during the war. Dili's international airport is named after Nicolau Lobato, the former Minister's younger brother who was killed during the struggle for independence.
Ramos Horta cuts jail terms for militia – The Age, 23 May
East Timor's president has slashed the jail sentences of several pro-Indonesia militia who murdered people during the violence that followed the 1999 vote for independence.
The sentence cuts are among 94 partial or full pardons handed out by Jose Ramos Horta to mark the tiny nation's sixth anniversary of independence this week.
Among those on the list is Joni Marques, the leader of the Team Alfa militia, who will have his remaining jail term cut in half.
Marques was jailed for 33 years in 2001 by the Special Panel of Dili District Court, in the country's first trial for crimes against humanity.
His crimes included several murders, including of a group of nine people comprised of several Roman Catholic priests and nuns and an Indonesian journalist, near the eastern town of Los Palos, in 1999.
He was also convicted of the forcible transfer or deportation of the civilian population and persecution and torture.
It is the second time Marques' sentence has been cut.
In 2004, then president Xanana Gusmao shaved almost nine years off his sentence and those of militia members Paulo and Joao da Costa, who were also jailed over the crimes.
The two da Costa brothers have also had their sentences cut in half in this round of pardons, along with former Sakunar militia member Mateus Lao, aka Ena Pato.
Lao was jailed for eight years in 2004 for murder as a crime against humanity, after killing a man who was trying to flee to West Timor with his family during the 1999 violence.
The presidential decree also confirms the sentence cut of former government minister Rogerio Lobato who gave weapons to civilians during the violence that destabilised the nation in 2006.
Lobato's sentence of more than seven years will be sliced in half.
Lobato has only served about five months of his sentence as he was allowed to fly to Malaysia last August for medical treatment and is yet to return.
The presidential decree - formally gazetted this week - says the granting of clemency is dependent on "good prison behaviour".
President Ramos Horta - who has only recently returned to East Timor after he was shot outside his Dili home - flagged the pardons last month, saying East Timor needed to foster a culture of forgiveness in order to move forward.
The decree states that East Timor's anniversary of independence commemorated the Timorese belief in humankind.
"Believing in the human person ... (in order) to cultivate mercy and tolerance, we extend our hand to help the next person to arise after he has fallen in his dignity," the document says.
But president of the minority pro-justice party PUN, Fernanda Borges, said many East Timorese were unhappy about the cuts.
"I don't think militia should be given a pardon at this stage," she said.
Borges said the process was flawed, with no clear criteria on who is eligible for clemency and no transparency.
"There are no systems in place to judge whether the person has behaved, whether the person has contributed to giving further information to help the judicial process and what the victims' response to this is," she said.
"There are also a lot of trials pending - both for the 1999 cases as well as for the 2006 crisis - what implications will this have on those future trials in East Timor?
"All this needs to be weighed very carefully so that we don't create a perception ... that there is impunity in this country.
"That you can do whatever you want, you can kill people, have human rights violations ... and get away with it and be pardoned by the president."
The United Nations said justice was vital to the future of East Timor, which faced issues of impunity and deterrence.
"The view of the UN is that justice is essential for stability and peace," a spokeswoman for the head of the mission, Atul Khare, said.
However, the granting of pardons was within the powers of the president, she said.
In the case of former minister Lobato, the spokeswoman noted his cooperation with the judicial process so far.
"(Mr Khare) hopes that Mr Lobato will continue such cooperation, including by refraining from any action that might affect the fragility of society," she said.
"This would include, for example, refraining from running for public office."
The sentence cuts come as the controversial East Timor-Indonesia "truth" commission prepares to hand down its final report into the 1999 violence.
The Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) was established by the two countries in a bid to establish a "conclusive truth" about the 1999 violence to help repair relations.
East Timor marks six years independence – AFP, 22 May
East Timorese leaders have gathered under tight security for an emotional ceremony to celebrate six years of independence and mourn the country's long and bloody struggle for liberation.
The hacienda-style government palace on Dili's waterfront was bedecked with international flags - including those of former occupiers Indonesia and Portugal - as the country's red-and-black flag was raised under a baking sun.
President Jose Ramos-Horta, who reviewed an honour guard from a jeep, called for peace and unity in Asia's troubled newest state as foreign force snipers watched from the palace roof.
"On this day of independence we have to maintain peace in our nation, fight poverty and protect national unity. This is an obligation of all the people," he said in a speech.
The celebrations come just three months after Ramos-Horta was shot and wounded in a February 11 rebel attack, which also targeted Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.
The rebels responsible for the attack surrendered last month but fears of a return to instability are overshadowing Independence Day.
"What happened on February 11 showed that state institutions in our nation are still fragile. But this ceremony also shows that over the past six years we have achieved a lot," the president said.
Children sang a hymn and the leaders of the mainly Catholic country honoured more than 1,500 veterans of the independence struggle against Indonesia as part of the festivities.
East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, was invaded by Suharto's Indonesia in 1975. Around 200,000 East Timorese died as a result of conflict and preventable illnesses over the next two-and-a-half decades.
The country voted for independence in a 1999 UN-backed referendum but was laid waste by pro-Indonesian militia in the wake of the vote.
It finally gained formal independence in 2002, but was flung into instability again by the mass desertion of 600 soldiers in 2006, which triggered street violence between rival factions that killed at least 37.
That rebellion came to an end after the death of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado in the attack on Ramos-Horta's house in February and the surrender of his followers last month.
But analysts say the seeds of further instability remain in the impoverished country of one million, and political tensions were on show even as the country's leaders made independence speeches.
Prime Minister Gusmão conspicuously refused to shake the hand of opposition leader and ex-prime minister Mari Alkatiri, of the Fretilin party.
A new government headed by Gusmão took office in August 2007 amid protest from Alkatiri's party, which won the highest number of votes in June polls but not a governing majority.
Gusmão's party commanded 37 seats in the 65-seat parliament, but Fretilin insisted it should have been invited to rule, sparking sporadic violence in the young nation.
Ado Amaral, a 45-year-old farmer who came down from the hills outside Dili to witness the festivities, said he was glad the event passed without trouble.
"I'm very happy because everything is going well. There's no provocation between people, no disturbances," he said.
"It's better than other years. I find it hard to think about 2006 but now I see that everything is going well."
UN police Deputy Commissioner Tony McLeod said this year's Independence Day was "a bit of a test to give us a feel for the overall security situation".
"It's gone pretty well up 'til now," he said.
U.N. says donors should back Afghan aid plan – Reuters, 22 May
KABUL (Reuters) - The international community should back a $50-billion (25 billion pound) Afghan development strategy at a donors’ conference in Paris next month, but Kabul must also fight rampant corruption, the U.N.’s special envoy said on Thursday.
Afghanistan depends on aid for 90 percent of its spending. But international donors have fallen behind in paying what they have already pledged and much of the money goes straight back to donor countries in salaries and profits. Official corruption eats into the remainder.
More than six years after U.S.-led and Afghan forces toppled the Taliban, Kabul and its Western backers are faced with a revived insurgency and a public frustrated by the lack of security and disappointed with the slow pace of development.
"It’s obvious the international community does not spend its resources as well as it should and it’s obvious that corruption is a much too widespread phenomenon in Afghanistan," the U.N. Special Envoy Kai Eide told a news conference in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
"I would like to see a partnership coming out of Paris where the international community says ’yes, we will spend our resources better’ and the government says ’yes, we will fight corruption more vigorously’," he said.
International donors have pledged some $24 billion at three donor conferences since 2002, but the level of aid to Afghanistan is still many times lower per head than to other countries struggling to emerge from conflict such as Kosovo or East Timor.
This was partly due to the international community underestimating the scale of the problems faced by Afghanistan after nearly three decades of war and also due to the failure to foresee the re-emergence of the Taliban insurgency.
AFGHAN PLAN
The Afghan government has now also drawn up a 5,000-page national development strategy, setting out its goals which it is to present to the June 12 Paris conference hosted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Afghanistan is seeking $50.1 billion from Paris, more than half of which it wants spent on security and infrastructure, the lack of which hampers almost every level of economic development.
"There are certain priorities as set by the Afghan government in its development strategy," said Eide. "We in the international community have to align our resources behind that strategy."
Many donors are wary of giving funds directly to the Afghan government fearing much of it will disappear into the pockets of corrupt officials. Afghanistan is ranked 172 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s corruption perception index.
Consequently, some two-thirds of aid is not channeled through the Afghan government, meaning Kabul has almost no control how the money is spent and the state remains weak and ineffectual.
"We have to spend much more resources and attention on building the state institutions that must be the basis for progress with regard to security and
development," Eide said.
Afghanistan also suffers from a lack of coordination among more than 60 major donor countries and international organisations, dozens of aid agencies and foreign forces who are also engaged in reconstruction and development work.
Eide’s appointment by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in March was meant to bring better coordination to the international community’s efforts in Afghanistan.
The Paris conference, he said, will be a chance for the international community to commit in writing to renewing and improving their efforts in Afghanistan.
(Editing by Bill Tarrant)
Operation Smile Joins USNS Mercy as Part of Four-Month Southeast Asia Deployment – Pacific Partnership 2008 – TransWorldNews, 22 May
Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity that provides free surgery to children in developing countries born with facial deformities, will join the United States Navy’s hospital ship, USNS Mercy, during its summer 2008 humanitarian civic assistance deployment. The USNS Mercy mission, Pacific Partnership 2008, will provide humanitarian services to four countries in Southeast Asia.
Pacific Partnership 2008 brings together host nation medical personnel, partner nation military medical and construction personnel, and non-governmental organizations to provide medical, dental, construction and other services ashore and afloat.
Operation Smile will be working side-by-side on the USNS Mercy in four countries: Philippines, Vietnam, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea. Approximately 350 children suffering with cleft lips and cleft palates will receive free reconstructive surgery as a result of these medical missions.
Operation Smile Chief Medical Officer Dr. Randy Sherman said, “Operation Smile is honored to participate in the 2008 USNS Mercy Pacific Partnership deployment. After introducing ourselves to the Navy in 2006 during the Mercy mission to Bangladesh, we joined its sister ship, the USNS Comfort last year, for a multi-site partnership in Latin America.
Operation Smile medical volunteers from the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, the United States and other partner countries are excited to join with the Mercy and its crew in bringing new smiles to children throughout the Pacific basin this summer.”
USNS Mercy departed from San Diego, Calif., on May 1. The first mission involving Operation Smile will take place in Cotabato, Philippines, in late May. Free medical evaluations will be conducted by Operation Smile medical volunteers, provided by Operation Smile Philippines, at Cotabato Regional Hospital to identify surgical patients who will then be transported aboard the ship for surgery. Post-operative checks for the patients a week after surgery will also take place at the hospital.
The Philippines was Operation Smile’s first partner country and since 1982, medical volunteers have provided more than 18,800 Filipino children and young adults with free physical examinations, and more than 13,700 have received life-changing surgery during medical missions.
USNS Mercy will move on to Nha Trang, Vietnam, for the next medical mission involving Operation Smile in mid-June. Free medical evaluations will be conducted by Operation Smile volunteers in General Hospital of Khanh Hoa Province to identify surgical patients. Operation Smile’s medical team, made up primarily of volunteers provided by Operation Smile Vietnam and Operation Smile Cambodia, will work with Navy personnel to conduct five days of surgery aboard the ship. Post-operative care will also take place at General Hospital of Khanh Hoa Province. Since 1989, Operation Smile has treated more than 19,000 children in Vietnam through international medical missions, in-country local missions and dental missions.
In mid-July, approximately 45 Operation Smile medical volunteers, many provided by Operation Smile Australia, will work with USNS Mercy’s medical team in Dili, Timor-Leste. The Operation Smile team will provide free medical evaluations at a local hospital and patients will be brought onto the ship for surgery. This marks the first Operation Smile medical mission in Timor-Leste.
Operation Smile volunteers will join the USNS Mercy crew in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in early August. Physical examinations will be provided at Port Moresby General Hospital and then the Operation Smile volunteer medical team, provided by Operation Smile Philippines, will work together for five days with the Navy to provide surgery aboard USNS Mercy. This will be Operation Smile’s inaugural mission in Papua New Guinea.
Operation Smile is honored to be invited to join USNS Mercy’s staff and crew on this deployment. In the summer of 2006, nearly 40 Operation Smile volunteers deployed with the USNS Mercy to Chittagong, Bangladesh and provided free physical examinations at Chittagong Medical College Hospital for more than 140 children. The 54 patients selected for surgery were transported by helicopter from Chittagong to USNS Mercy.
Then in the summer of 2007, Operation Smile joined the USNS Comfort during its humanitarian assistance deployment. Operation Smile volunteers and the ship’s medical team worked together during missions in Nicaragua, Peru and Colombia, providing more than 100 children with free reconstructive surgery.
About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Founded in 1982, Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults.
Since its founding, Operation Smile volunteers have treated more than 115,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its 26 partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.
East Timor marks sixth birthday with pomp and mourning - AsiaNewsNet, 22 May Updated
East Timorese leaders gathered under tight security on Tuesday for an emotional ceremony to celebrate six years of independence and mourn the country's long and bloody struggle for liberation.The hacienda-style government palace on Dili's waterfront was bedecked with international flags -- including those of former occupiers Indonesia and Portugal -- as the country's red-and-black flag was raised under a baking sun.
President Jose Ramos-Horta, who reviewed a guard of honor from the back of a jeep, called for peace and unity in Asia's troubled newest state as foreign stabilization force snipers watched from the palace roof.
On this day of independence we have to maintain peace in our nation, fight poverty and protect national unity. This is an obligation of all the people," he said in a speech.
The celebrations come just three months after Ramos-Horta was shot and wounded in a February 11 rebel attack which also targeted Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.
The rebels responsible for the attack surrendered last month but fears of a return to instability are overshadowing the Independence Day cheer.
Security remains tight around the country's leaders, and international troops from a stabilization force which entered the country in the wake of factional fighting two years ago were closely watching Tuesday's ceremony.
"What happened on February 11 showed that state institutions in our nation are still fragile. But this ceremony also shows that over the past six years we have achieved a lot," the president said.
Children sang a hymn and the leaders of the mainly Catholic country honored more than 1,500 veterans of the independence struggle against Indonesia as part of the festivities.
East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, was invaded by Suharto's Indonesia in 1975. Around 200,000 East Timorese died as a result of conflict and preventable illnesses over the next two-and-a-half decades.
The country voted for independence in a 1999 UN-backed referendum but was laid waste by pro-Indonesian militia in the wake of the vote.
It finally gained formal independence in 2002, but was flung into instability again by the mass desertion of 600 soldiers in 2006, which triggered street violence between rival factions that killed at least 37.
That rebellion came to an end after the death of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado in the attack on Ramos-Horta's house in February and the surrender of his followers last month.
But analysts say the seeds of further instability remain in the impoverished country of one million, and political tensions were on show even as the country's leaders assembled on the dias for the independence speeches.
Prime Minister Gusmão conspicuously refused to shake the hand of opposition leader and ex-prime minister Mari Alkatiri, of the Fretilin party.
A new government headed by Gusmão took office in August last year amid protest from Alkatiri's party, which won the highest number of votes in June polls but not the majority required to govern.
Gusmao's party cobbled together a coalition commanding 37 seats in the 65-seat parliament, but Fretilin insisted it should have been invited to rule, sparking sporadic violence in the young nation.
Ado Amaral, a 45-year-old farmer who came down from the hills outside Dili to witness the festivities, said he was glad the event passed without trouble.
"I'm very happy because everything is going well. There's no provocation between people, no disturbances," he told AFP.
"It's better than other years. I find it hard to think about 2006 but now I see that everything is going well."
**
UNMIT Daily Media Review - 27 May 2008
(International news reports and extracts from national media. UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports)
February 11 case: investigators find 6 more suspects – Timor Post
Six rebels who used to deny that they were not involved in the case of February 11 should now accept the results of the new investigation into the incident that will be presented to the court.
The new investigation shows that they were involved in the attacks against President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. The National Investigation Department (NID) identified the six rebels as being directly involved in the incident.
However, the six rebels deny that they were involved in the attacks of February 11, saying that they were only involved in the Fatuahi case on May 23, 2006.
The General Commander of NID, Nuno R. Gomes said that he presented the information yesterday afternoon (26/5) to the Public Ministry as part of the court hearing on the case.
“We did the previous investigation with the Public Ministry based on their statements that they only involved in the Fatuahi case. But the later investigation identified them as being involved in the attempt of February 11,” said Mr. Gomes on Monday (26/5).
Fretilin-PUN: No audit report, Govt tries to hide corruption – Timor Post and Diario Nacional
Members of the National Parliament demand that the Government of the Alliance Majority in Parliament (AMP) immediately release an audit report.
The MPs said that the report is very important for them to construct a budget for the implementation of the Government's program.
The Chief bench of the National Unity Party (PUN) Fernanda Borges said that up until now, the National Parliament has not received any audit report of the budget which has been executed.
“We demand that the Government send us the report immediately. We want to know whether the budget has been executed properly or not, and if there is any sign of corruption that has been identified or not,” said Ms. Borges.
Former Prime Minister and Fretilin’s MP Estanislau da Silva said that if the Government does not provide the audit report to the National Parliament, it signals that the current Government is not transparent and is trying to hide existing cases of corruption.
“This is clearly shows that the Government is not transparent. They say that Fretilin is corrupt, but they are the worst,” said Mr. Estanislau.
CNRT MP Aderito Hugo said that every financial report is delivered late to the National Parliament because it has to be annexed with the audit results. The audit report, which was created by international consultants hired by the Government, will also cover the previous government financial report.
Pardon to Rogerio: Minister of Justice still waiting for Horta’s decision – Suara Timor Lorosa'e
Even though Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato has made recommendations to PR Ramos-Horta regarding to the reduction of prisoners' sentences, including former Minister of Interior Rogerio Lobato, no final decision from the president has been received.
“I still not see or receive any report because this is the president’s decision. If this is published in the Jornal da Republica, then it will be considered as a law,” said Minister Lobato on Monday (26/5) in Vila Verde, Dili.
Minister Lobato recommended to PR Horta a reduction of three months from Rogerio’s sentence of 7 and a half years.
IDPs of Jardim Colmera Camp unhappy with payment process – Suara Timor Lorosa’e and Diario Nacional
The IDPs of Jardim Colmera Camp are unhappy with the payment process of the Government's recovery grants because the funds have still not yet been transferred to IDPs through the Authority Payment Bank (BPA).
The Coordinator of Jardim Colmera Camp, Leopoldino Pinto said that all the IDPs in the camp want to return home but until now the Government has not transferred the money to the Bank.
“We are asking the Government not to make promises that are confusing,” said Mr. Pinto on Monday (26/5).
Manuel Ximenes, an IDP from Baucau, said the Government has to give the money to the IDPs as they are entitled to it.
“We came here to get our rights. Do not lie to us, we have suffered a lot,” said Mr. Ximenes.
CNRT MP Maria de Camara ‘Bisoi’ asked the Government to immediately improve the living conditions of the IDPs, as she does not want people suffering during the time of independence.
She also suggested the Government create actions that promote peace in society and harmonious relationships in the community on the return of IDPs to their homes.
Pardon to prisoners: Parliament is awaiting the Government’s recommendations – Diario Nacional
The Chief bench of the National Unity Party (PUN) Fernanda Borges is demanding that the Government immediately send the recommendation which it gave to President José Ramos-Horta concerning his pardon of the prisoners.
Ms. Borges said that the constitution gives the president the authority to pardon prisoners, but he also has to consider the Government’s recommendations.
“What has been said in the recommendation and what justification have they [Government] given regarding the pardons?
It is not enough to say that a pardon is being given to a prisoner because of his/her good attitude and behavior,” said Ms. Borges on Monday (26/5)
Ms. Borges is also questioning whether the president's constitutional authority of the president is being used in a thoroughly legal manner.
“President has authority, but he must use it responsibly, not using without any consultation,” she added.
Cristo Rei rehabilitation: UNMIT supports US$20,000 – Diario Nacional
The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) has given US$20,000 to the State Secretary of Environment to rehabilitate Cristo Rei.
The State Secretary of Environment Abílio Lima congratulates the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste Atul Khare and his staff who show their commitment to support the Timor-Leste Government.
Mr. Lima said that the UN Mission in Timor-Leste wants to give their solidarity to Timorese people to protect the country's beautiful environment.
UNMIT Spokesperson Allison Cooper said that the rehabilitation funds are coming from donations from UN staff donation serving in the country.
Ms. Cooper also said that the cleaning up and rehabilitation are the volunteer activities of the UNMIT staff to support the nation.
Timor's Ramos-Horta Says Farm Subsidies Will Help Food Security – Bloomberg, 26 May
East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta said his country must use subsidies to bolster agriculture and protect its food security in the face of soaring import costs.
East Timor, Asia's youngest and least-developed nation, can be ‘mostly’ self-sufficient within five years, Ramos-Horta, 58, said in an interview in Singapore today. About two-thirds of the rice consumed in the country is bought from Vietnam and Thailand.
Cheaper food from overseas can't be relied on because rising fuel prices are ratcheting up transport costs and major rice- producing countries, such as China and India, will need more to feed their own people, leaving less for export, Ramos-Horta said.
“Food security must be priority No. 1 for us,'' he said.
“For our own food security, our survival, our independence, we should spend more money -- including subsidizing our farmers -- to produce more.''
The Nobel laureate, who served as prime minister from 2006 until his inauguration as president last year, was shot and almost killed in a Feb. 11 rebel attack.
“At the time I was prime minister I said I am going to subsidize our agriculture sector,'' he said.
“We have to. That would make us independent, and eventually it will be cheaper.''
Ramos-Horta said that using subsidies to protect farmers and encourage domestic agricultural production could irritate multilateral finance agencies, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which advocate free trade as a mechanism for lowering food costs.
“If we do the opposite of what they say, I think that will be about right,'' he said.
Import Surge
The cost of importing rice has more than doubled this year as countries including Vietnam and China curbed overseas sales to protect domestic supplies. Governments worldwide may spend a record $1.035 trillion on imported foodstuffs in 2008 because of higher commodity prices and escalating transport costs, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said in a report last week.
In East Timor, which derives about $100 million a month from its petroleum reserves, farmers are offered incentives to expand crop production, and new roads and bridges are being built to bring food to consumers faster.
The government is considering building warehouses to store food in strategic areas around the country for emergencies to assist ‘vulnerable people’,'' said Ramos-Horta. About 40 percent of the nation's 1 million people live on $1 or less a day.
Matter of Decency
Ensuring the availability of affordable food is ``a matter of decency and morality for the poor, but also a matter of stability and security,'' Ramos-Horta said. The poverty-inducing affects of food inflation ``will set back development efforts in developing countries at least 10 years,'' he said.
Food prices would have escalated more in East Timor had the government not stepped up imports of rice, corn and potatoes to bolster local supplies, the president said.
“With climate change, more industrialization and the development of countries like India and China, there will be less and less land available for agriculture,'' Ramos-Horta said.
“We have to quickly make ourselves completely independent in food.''
East Timor, formally known as Timor-Leste, was established in May 2002, ending 24 years of Indonesian control and three years of UN administration.
Australia cooperating over Ramos-Horta attack – The Age, 26 May
Australia is providing all possible assistance to East Timorese authorities investigating rebel attacks on the nation's leaders, a Senate committee has been told. East Timor's president Jose Ramos-Horta, badly wounded in the February attacks, has criticised Australian Federal Police (AFP) for not fully cooperating with his country's inquiry.
At issue is the Darwin bank account of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, killed by troops after his attack, a large number of calls he made to Australia and claims that some individuals fled to Australia following the attacks on Dr Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão on February 11.
AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty declined to tell the Senate's legal and constitutional affairs committee whether police had investigated the bank account, saying it was an operational matter.
Neither could he comment on suggestions that some individuals had fled to Australia following the assassination attempts.
"Suffice to say that we are giving the East Timorese authorities, the Prosecutor-General and the East Timorese police and the UN our fullest cooperation and assistance where we can," he said.
Reinado's Darwin account, held jointly with Australian woman Angelita Pires, reportedly contains more than $800,000.
Mr Keelty said he had not spoken to Dr Ramos-Horta about the issue.
The AFP had provided substantial assistance to the president in terms of his own close personal protection while he was hospitalised in Australia.
"As far as I am aware the relationship between the AFP and President Ramos-Horta is a very positive one," he said.
"We are providing resources to the United Nations mission in East Timor.
"Prior to the shooting, in December last year, I had very positive discussions with President Ramos-Horta about development of the police in (East Timor) and that is now going to occur through the budget announcements."
Angola: Fretilin Secretary General in Country – Angola Press, 26 May
The general secretary of East Timor's ruling FRETILIM party, Mári Alkatiri arrived Sunday evening in the country in light of the existing bilateral relations between that party and Angola's ruling MPLA party.
Mári Alkatiri did not speak to the press on his arrival, but promised to do so at the end of the four-day visit.
According to MPLA's secretary of the foreign affairs, Paulo Teixeira Jorge, who was at Luanda's "4 de Fevereiro" International Airport to welcome the East Timorean politician, said that FRETILIN expressed interest to visit Angola to carry out an objective analysis of the current situation in East Timor, after the dramatic events that occurred.
The director of the department of foreign affairs, Nelo Rua was with Paulo Jorge at the airport.
UNMIT MEDIA MONITORING
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terça-feira, maio 27, 2008
quarta-feira, maio 21, 2008
Rogério Lobato pode pedir liberdade condicional
Díli, 21 Mai (Lusa) - O ex-ministro do Interior, Rogério Lobato, está habilitado a pedir a liberdade condicional, após a publicação em Jornal da República do decreto de indulto presidencial.
Rogério Lobato, a cumprir uma pena de sete anos e meio de prisão, é um dos nomes incluídos na lista publicada em Jornal da República, do decreto presidencial 53/2008, de 19 de Maio, que hoje deu entrada no Tribunal Distrital de Díli.
O indulto presidencial, com cinco listas diferentes para outras tantas situações de cumprimento de pena, inclui Rogério Lobato entre os presos a quem é concedido o indulto parcial de metade da pena.
O ex-ministro do Interior ficou inicialmente em prisão domiciliária em 26 de Junho de 2006.
Ministro entre 2002 e 2006, Rogério Lobato foi condenado em 2007 a sete anos e meio de prisão por homicídio, na sequência de um processo sobre os acontecimentos relacionados com a crise política e militar de Maio e Agosto de 2006.
Lobato foi julgado sob a acusação de 18 crimes de homicídio, 11 de homicídio na forma tentada e um crime de peculato.
Foi absolvido do crime de peculato, de 14 crimes de homicídio e dos 11 crimes de homicídio na forma tentada, mas foi condenado como autor indirecto de quatro crimes de homicídio, tendo o tribunal dado como provado que entregou armas a civis "para eliminar peticionários e líderes da oposição" em Abril e Maio de 2006.
Conduzido à cadeia de Becora, em Díli, a 10 de Maio de 2007, depois de o Tribunal de Recurso ter confirmado a pena, Rogério Lobato foi autorizado, em Agosto do ano passado, a sair da prisão e ausentar-se do país para ser submetido a um tratamento médico na Malásia, onde se encontra desde então.
PRM
Lusa/fim
Timor Leste - O Dossiê Secreto 1973-1975
A versão reduzida do meu 1º livro sobre timor está de novo disponível em linha gratuitamente.
Timor Leste - O Dossiê Secreto 1973-1975
Chrys CHRYSTELLO
Rogério Lobato teve "bom comportamento" na prisão
Díli, 21 Mai (Lusa) - O ex-ministro do Interior Rogério Lobato teve “bom comportamento” na prisão de Becora, afirmou hoje a ministra da Justiça, Lúcia Lobato, à agência Lusa em Díli, Timor-Leste.
“Falei com a minha directora (dos Serviços Prisionais) quando vi o ficheiro do Rogério (Lobato). Perguntei: mas porque põem aqui o bom comportamento? Vocês não sabem, (porque) ele está lá na Malásia”, contou a ministra da Justiça sobre a sua reacção perante as informações sobre Rogério Lobato.
A resposta dos Serviços Prisionais foi que o ex-ministro do Interior teve “bom comportamento” como preso no Estabelecimento de Becora, Díli, e o registo no seu ficheiro não pode ser apagado.
“Essa é a informação dos guardas que tomaram conta dele. Nós não podemos mudar o parecer dos guardas prisionais”, responderam os Serviços Prisionais a Lúcia Lobato, ainda segundo o relato feito hoje à Lusa pela ministra da Justiça.
“Os guardas deram informações e o Governo passou essas informações ao Presidente da República”, acrescentou Lúcia Lobato, sobre o caso do ex-ministro do Interior e de todos os restantes presos abrangidos pelo indulto presidencial.
“É um bocadinho complicado porque se trata de um assunto que toda a gente quer saber. Algumas vezes as pessoas não compreendem que estamos a cumprir a lei, com uma decisão do tribunal”, declarou Lúcia Lobato à Lusa.
“Agora depende do Presidente. Se ele tem a sua própria opinião, é competência exclusiva dele”, concluiu a ministra da Justiça, que hoje acompanhou José Ramos Horta numa visita à prisão de Becora.
Além de Lúcia Lobato, José Ramos Horta fez-se acompanhar pelo primeiro chefe de Estado timorense, Francisco Xavier do Amaral, fundador e presidente da Associação Social Democrática Timorense (ASDT).
José Ramos Horta recebeu do ministério da Justiça recomendações sobre os presos em condições de serem abrangidos pelo indulto, anunciado pelo chefe de Estado no âmbito do Dia da Independência.
“Eu sigo as informações vindas do sistema prisional, do ministério da Justiça, no tocante a cada preso que poderia beneficiar de redução de pena”, explicou o Presidente à Lusa no interior da prisão de Becora.
“Nalguns casos, a redução leva à sua imediata libertação, (n)outros à libertação sob liberdade condicional durante alguns anos”, acrescentou o Presidente da República.
“O caso do Rogério Lobato está incluído nos indultos. Exactamente em que é que o indulto que eu dou resulta para ele, sinceramente não sei. Não fiz as contagens. O sistema decidirá”, declarou José Ramos Horta.
O chefe de Estado considera “provável” que para o cálculo de cumprimento de pena conte os quase dez meses que Rogério Lobato já passou em Kuala Lumpur, na Malásia, por razões de saúde.
Lúcia Lobato explicou à Lusa que o Governo enviou à Presidência da República duas listas diferentes.
Uma, de dezassete reclusos que já cumpriram metade da pena e podem beneficiar de liberdade condicional.
Outra, de 83 nomes, incluindo Rogério Lobato, para os quais é recomendada uma redução de três meses.
Na primeira lista, “a recomendação da remissão da pena é variável, de seis meses a um ano. Nos casos de violação sexual e violência doméstica, o Governo apenas recomendou dois meses. São dois tipos de crimes muito complicados em Timor-Leste”, afirmou a ministra da Justiça.
A visita à prisão de Becora serviu para o Presidente da República verificar o andamento das obras de recuperação do estabelecimento, um projecto acelerado pela queda de vinte metros de um dos muros exteriores.
“É melhor do que as prisões em Portugal”, comentou José Ramos Horta dentro de um dos blocos de celas recuperados.
O chefe de Estado agradeceu aos três guardas prisionais portugueses que estão em Timor-Leste para dar formação e reorganizar os serviços, no âmbito da cooperação na área judicial.
A população prisional em Timor-Leste é de 197 detidos, catorze dos quais em Gleno (a sudoeste de Díli) e 183 em Becora.
O colectivo do Tribunal de Recurso confirmou a condenação de Rogério Lobato num processo aberto por recomendação da Comissão Especial Independente de Inquérito aos eventos de Abril e Maio de 2006, que culminaram em confrontos armados e na queda do Governo dirigido por Mari Alkatiri.
O ex-ministro do Interior foi absolvido do crime de peculato, de 14 crimes de homicídio e dos 11 crimes de homicídio na forma tentada, sendo condenado como autor indirecto de quatro crimes de homicídio.
Rogério Lobato foi colocado em prisão domiciliária em Junho de 2006, entrou na prisão de Becora em Maio de 2007 e abandonou o país para tratamento na Malásia em Agosto do mesmo ano.
PRM
Lusa/fim
UNMIT Daily Media Review - 21 May 2008
UNMIT
(International news reports and extracts from national media. UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports)
Ramos-Horta: 20 May, National Day of Forgiveness – Timor Post
In his speech on 20 May, President José Ramos-Horta said that the country's national day was a day of forgiveness and clemency when people could forego vengeance and concentrate on the nation’s development.
“I encourage all the political leaders to work hand in hand to open the ways to the development of the nation. We have to forgive each other as it is easy to fall into vengeance,” said PR Ramos-Horta on Tuesday (20/5).
Afraid if ASDT runs away: AMP try to respond Xavier’s demands – Timor Post
The Government of AMP is trying to fulfill the demands of ASDT President Francisco Xavier do Amaral in order to win back ASDT’s sympathy and its participation in the AMP coalition.
AMP President and the president of the National Parliament Fernando Lasama said that the AMP Government is trying to carry out its programme, not only as demanded by ASDT’s president, but also for the national interest.
“We will follow whoever need us to solve the nation’s problem to the end, not stop midway,” said Mr. Lasama.
ASDT President Xavier do Amaral said that for his part, he will always encourage the Government to improve itself in order to pay more attention to the nation’s problems.
Ed: after Rogerio, who will be next to be pardoned? – Timor Post
The President of the country Dr. José Ramos-Horta has said that the pardon he gave to 80 prisoners, including the former Minister of Interior Rogerio Lobato, will be realized based on the constitution and the Government’s recommendations.
There is no citizen who could change the decision of the president, as he has the legal power to grant pardons.
Let the President use his [legal] authority, even though many people are concerned and do not agree with his decision about the Rogerio case.
We have a big question: Which big criminal will follow Rogerio to receive a pardon? There are still many well known people from the 2006 crisis and the attacks of February 11.
On the surface everyone is talking about who has the legal authority in such matters. But behind the scenes we all know that it is politics which is motivating the quick decision making.
We should avoid this attitude, if not then Timor-Leste will always lose confidence in its law. We wait …
Xanana to implement promises to the people – Timor Post
This year the AMP Government is going to realize its promises to the people as stated during the political campaign last year.
PM Xanana Gusmão said that the Government has an enormous responsibility to do this by creating more fields of jobs and employment for the youth.
“I thank the young people who demonstrate a good attitude. There was no violence during a big concert in Dili. This shows to the world that we need to move forward and create peace and stability in our country,” said PM Gusmão on Tuesday (20/5) on the 6th anniversary of Timor-Leste independence day in the Government Palace, Dili.
PM Gusmão said that the Government has signed an accord with the Korean Government to send 500 workers to Korea. Furthermore, he said that the Government will also send 1,000 people to Philippines for capacity building prior to going overseas for work.
Xanana Gusmão: national unity needed for development – Diario Nacional
Prime Minister Gusmão said that national unity is needed for the nation’s development, as the objective of national unity is to improve people's lives and bring them together.
Vice Prime Minister José Luis Guterres said that PM Xanana was the resistance leader who is starting to strengthen national unity.
“That’s why today the Timorese people celebrate the Independence Day as many people contributed to the national liberation,” said Mr. Guterres on Tuesday (20/5) on the 6th anniversary of Timor-Leste Independence Day in the Government Palace, Dili.
Mari Alkatiri: Fretilin-ASDT defend self determination – Diario Nacional
On the speech of 34th anniversary of the founding of ASDT/Fretilin held in the Central Committee of Fretilin in Comoro, Dili on Tuesday (20/5), Fretilin Secretary-General Mari Alkatiri said that his party and ASDT are the only ones defending the nation's self determination.
From now on, he said, Fretilin will work hard to improve the party’s structure.
“Today we are gathering her to celebrate the 34th anniversary of ASDT-Fretilin’s life. Glance back at our history to see how we reached today.
We pay homage to our founders and remember our history. We are preparing for early elections. Fretilin with his coalition partner ASDT will step forward for early elections and we will win the elections. We demand early elections for the legislature not presidency,” said Mr. Alkatiri.
The anniversary's ceremony was attended by SRSG Atul Khare and his deputy, the diplomatic corps, members of neighbouring governments such as Indonesia, Brazil, Portugal, the Executive Secretary of CPLP and Fretilin sympathizers.
AMP Government holds a meeting with MCC – Suara Timor Lorosa’e
After the former government failed to get assistance from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the current government led by the Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão held a meeting with MCC where they discussed aid from MCC to Timor Leste in 2009.
Minister of Finance Emilia Pires said that the meeting between a representative from America who is responsible for the MCC project was attended by the Vice President himself, in order to discuss ways to work together better to benefit Timor Leste.
Past the two years, Fretilin held meetings with MCC but support was not forthcoming because MCC observed that the Fretilin Government did not have a good dialogue process with the civil society and others. Now the new government has created a better relationship with MCC which should help the process.
MCC has not discussed what projects they will invest in. The AMP government only consulted with civil society groups and all other partners to identify the key areas for investment.
“There should be a feasibility study carried out by the AMP government to create a base on which to make a decision about possible areas of investment for MCC,” said Minister of Finance Emilia Pires to the journalists on Monday (19/15).
Horta: Rogerio Lobato positively receives pardon – Suara Timor Lorosa’e
It has been a confirmed that Rogerio Lobato will receive a pardon along with others from President Jose Ramos-Horta.
The list includes former Minister of Interior Rogerio Lobato who was sentenced by the court of his involvement in providing weapons to civilians in 2006.
“I will still assess the recommendation that has already been made by my advisors and the director of the prisons on the number of prisoners who will receive pardons. But the pardon itself commute 100 percent of the sentence,” President Jose Ramos Horta told journalists after attending a mass ceremony held on Monday 19/5 at Dili’s Cathedral church.
Regarding how many years the Rogerio Lobato will have to serve in prison, Ramos Horta said, “To give pardon is my decision as president and the authority to do so is contained in the constitution. I cannot make people happy 100 percent of the time,” said Horta.
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TIMOR-LESTE: Rice price hike leads to government subsidies
Irin, 20 May
DILI, 20 May 2008 (IRIN) - It is 8am and Star King in Dili, Timor-Leste's capital, is about to open. For most of the year, Star King, a dimly lit warehouse that sells tinned milk, noodles and cooking oil, is a store among a dozen just like it. But today police have been called to help manage the 100 or so anxious people waiting outside.
After weeks of rising global food prices, the government has agreed to subsidies rice and Star King is only one of about eight stores in Dili where rice is cheap enough for the average family - though the discounted supply does not last long.
Rice is the primary staple food for the population of about one million. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Timorese eat 83,000 metric tonnes of rice annually but only 40,000 MT is locally produced; the rest is imported from Indonesia, Thailand or Vietnam.
A 35kg bag of imported rice should cost about US$16, in line with local produce. However, over the past six months, the price of rice globally has risen from 40 US cents/kg to $1.20-$1.30/kg, pushing the cost of imported rice well beyond the means of most families, who subsist on only a few dollars a day.
The UN Mission in Timor (UNMIT) has blamed rising costs on environmental disasters, greater population demands, increasing fuel prices and a shortage of reserves. A rice crisis hit Timor last year and then as now, the government responded with subsidized rice. A 35kg bag of subsidized rice is $17.
Epifánio Faculto, the Timor-Leste director of domestic trade under the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, told IRIN the plan had been well received: "The people are happy with the price, but we still have some complaints about the [insufficient] stock."
Indeed, every morning there is a queue outside Star King. Lay Siu Kiat, the owner, said he sells 25 tonnes of subsidized rice - his entire daily ration - in about two hours.
Limited discount stocks
Isabelle Soares, 57, came from Aileu District, three hours away, to Dili for subsidized rice. She said her bus did not leave until 8am and by the time she got to Star King the subsidized rice was gone.
Soares, a mother of six, ended up buying a $25 bag, which she said would have cost her $35 in Aileu; a bottle of cooking oil and some instant noodles. She had traveled six hours to and from Aileu to save $10.
"The government doesn't help us," she told IRIN. "I have to come to Dili just to buy rice and then take it back to Aileu."
Faculto acknowledged the subsidized rice had been slow to reach the districts, but he said 1,360kg of rice would be delivered to all 13 districts by the third week of May.
UNMIT has praised the government's efforts at providing discount food. UN acting special representative for the Secretary-General Finn Reske-Nielsen said, "[T]here is no cause for alarm as the situation we are seeing elsewhere is not the situation we are seeing in Timor-Leste."
Beyond the short term, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Timor is encouraging farmers to take advantage of the extended rainy season and plant additional rice and maize, the second staple crop.
Push for maize
"We will make good seed, planting material and fertilizer available for roughly 30,000 families," said Chana Opaskornkul, FAO's country director in Timor-Leste. "We think by these measures we will encourage people to plant a second crop and we will increase the food production by around 30,000MT in the country."
Compared with the rest of Asia, Timor-Leste has a robust maize yield. Because of the mountainous terrain and low rainfall, maize can be grown more easily than rice in many areas, but many Timorese prefer to eat rice and rely on maize when rice is not available.
Reske-Nielsen said the rice crisis could be an opportunity to change eating habits, which could spur better nutrition and give economic advantage to maize farmers.
"If handled correctly this could, in fact, have a positive impact on poverty alleviation in the rural areas, including on nutritional standards in the country," UNMIT's acting chief said.
Condecorações em todos os distritos assinalam dia da independência
Díli, 20 Mai (Lusa) - Treze cerimónias de condecoração em todos os distritos de Timor-Leste assinalaram hoje a restauração da independência, com o primeiro-ministro, Xanana Gusmão, a dirigir a homenagem no distrito de Díli.
O chefe do Governo, ex-comandante da guerrilha timorense, presidiu em Díli à condecoração de 127 heróis da luta pela independência, dos quais cinco a título póstumo, com a Ordem Nicolau Lobato.
A Ordem Nicolau Lobato destina-se a distinguir "honrosos serviços prestados à Nação".
As treze cerimónias integraram-se nas comemorações do sexto aniversário da restauração da independência, iniciadas de manhã com o hastear da bandeira de Timor-Leste em frente ao Palácio do Governo, em Díli, e com um discurso do Presidente da República, José Ramos-Horta.
As cerimónias de condecoração, com a homenagem de 1.513 cidadãos registados na Base de Dados dos Combatentes da Libertação Nacional, continuam o processo de reconhecimento dos heróis e mártires timorenses, iniciado a 28 de Novembro de 2006.
Desde 28 de Novembro de 2006, em 24 cerimónias públicas solenes, foram condecorados, por Decreto Presidencial, em sete das oito ordens honoríficas timorenses, 13.889 cidadãos que participaram na resistência contra a ocupação estrangeira.
Desses, 11.688 (84 por cento) morreram na luta pela independência timorense.
PRM
Lusa/fim
Rogério Lobato incluído no indulto do PR
Díli, 20 Mai (Lusa) - O ex-ministro do Interior Rogério Lobato está na lista de presos com indulto presidencial, afirmou hoje o chefe de Estado timorense, José Ramos-Horta, após o seu discurso do dia da restauração da independência.
"Recebi uma lista que me foi submetida pelo sistema prisional com nomes dos que estão em condições de beneficiar do indulto e decidi reduções de penas", afirmou o Presidente da República aos jornalistas.
"Alguns desses presos ficarão livres" depois de aplicada a redução da pena, acrescentou o chefe de Estado.
"Não sei quantos (ficarão em liberdade). Não fiz a matemática. Isso, o sistema prisional faz com base no meu decreto", explicou José Ramos-Horta.
A lista dos beneficiários do indulto ainda não é conhecida.
Fontes judiciais contactadas pela Lusa em Díli admitem que é "muito provável" que Rogério Lobato fique em liberdade, uma vez que cumpriu há poucos dias um quarto da pena.
O ex-ministro do Interior foi condenado a sete anos e meio de prisão. O tempo de cumprimento de pena é contado desde a data em que ficou em prisão preventiva, 26 de Junho de 2006.
Para a contagem deverá contar, também, o tempo que Rogério Lobato esteve na Malásia, por motivos de saúde, desde que saiu de Díli para Kuala Lumpur a 09 de Agosto de 2007.
"Falta saber como se vai avaliar o bom comportamento de um preso que apenas esteve cerca de um mês na prisão", referiu hoje à Lusa uma fonte ligada ao processo, sublinhando que Rogério Lobato esteve primeiro na sua residência e depois várias semanas hospitalizado em Díli antes de lhe ser permitido deixar o país por motivos de saúde.
O ex-ministro do Interior foi conduzido à prisão de Becora a 10 de Maio de 2007, depois de o Tribunal de Recurso ter confirmado a pena de sete anos e meio de prisão por homicídio que tinha sido proferida pelo Tribunal Distrital de Díli.
"Não sei se o tribunal decide se conta o tempo na Malásia ou não. Se não contar, Rogério Lobato ainda tem mais um ano de prisão" a cumprir, afirmou hoje o Presidente da República.
Para a concretização do indulto, o decreto presidencial tem que ser publicado no Jornal da República, após o que o juiz do processo formaliza a redução de pena.
José Ramos-Horta anunciara um perdão presidencial no seu discurso ao Parlamento após o regresso da Austrália, em Abril, singularizando o caso de Rogério Lobato por se tratar do fundador das Falintil e por toda a sua família mais próxima ter sido morta nos primeiros anos da ocupação e na crise de 2006.
O perdão anunciado para o ex-ministro do Interior foi debatido e criticado em Díli, no Parlamento e na imprensa, além de ser objecto de análise de assessores jurídicos na Presidência, no Governo e na Missão Integrada das Nações Unidas em Timor-Leste (UNMIT), afirmaram à Lusa diferentes fontes envolvidas.
O Governo do primeiro-ministro, Xanana Gusmão, fez finalmente chegar a José Ramos-Horta uma lista de nomes passíveis de redução de pena, esclarecendo que um perdão do tipo anunciado pelo Presidente era da competência do Parlamento.
"Uma amnistia é um assunto político (…) que só o Parlamento pode atribuir (…) e o Presidente só pode reduzir ou comutar penas, mais nada", afirmou a ministra da Justiça, Lúcia Lobato, citada hoje nos jornais do grupo australiano Fairfax.
"A Constituição dá poderes ao Presidente para indultar um prisioneiro e hoje é a terceira vez que indulto presos, seguindo os critérios do sistema prisional", esclareceu hoje José Ramos-Horta.
O colectivo do Tribunal de Recurso confirmou a condenação de Rogério Lobato num processo aberto por recomendação da Comissão Especial Independente de Inquérito aos eventos de Abril e Maio de 2006, que culminaram em confrontos armados e na queda do Governo dirigido por Mari Alkatiri.
Rogério Lobato, ministro do Interior no I Governo Constitucional (de 2002 a 2006), foi julgado sob a acusação de 18 crimes de homicídio, 11 de homicídio na forma tentada e um crime de peculato.
O ex-ministro do Interior foi absolvido do crime de peculato, de 14 crimes de homicídio e dos 11 crimes de homicídio na forma tentada, sendo condenado como autor indirecto de quatro crimes de homicídio.
PRM.
Lusa/fim
Launch of the Timor-Leste Online Procurement Database
Public Announcement.
To commemorate Restoration of Independence Day Peace Dividend Trust announces the launch of the <http://www.buildingmarkets.org/>Timor-Leste Online Procurement Database.
As of 20 May 2008 the database has approximately 948 business profiles online, and is growing every week.
Using this database at website <http://www.buildingmarkets.org/>www.buildingmarkets.org you can:
* Quickly source goods and services locally throughout[1] Timor-Leste.* Organize catering for an event in a District, whilst sitting in Dili.* Buy farming tools in manufactured in rural areas.* Obtain a wider range of products, services, quotes, and/or knowledge about the domestic private sector.* Access the private sector in the most distant reaches of Timor-Leste.* Find real estate agents, gravel dealers, VSAT suppliers, bed and breakfasts in the districts, and even veterinarian services.
In cooperation with
Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Democratic Republic of Timor-LesteMinistério do Turismo, Comércio e Indústria, República Democrática de Timor-Leste
Funded by
AusAID
And supported by
Merpati
The database is under constant review. To post your profile on the database or to report errors please contact Peace Dividend Trust via <mailto:timordatabase@peacedividendtrust.org>timordatabase@peacedividendtrust.org and +670 332 2825.
To learn about buying locally see <http://www.buylocaltimorleste.blogspot.com/>www.buylocaltimorleste.blogspot.com.
[1] Currently Lautem, Viqueque, Baucau, Dili, and Manatuto have been surveyed. Remaining districts will be completed by August 2008. The database will then undergo regular validation.
Anuncio ba Publico
Atu comemora loron Restaurasaun Independencia, Peace Dividend Trust anuncia lancamento <http://www.buildingmarkets.org/>base dadus (database) procuramento on line.
To iha loron 20 de Maio de 2008 kontiudu base dadus mais u menus sei kobre 948 profile negocios online, no numeru ne’e sei aumenta ba beibeik semana-semana.
Ho usa basedadus iha website ida ne’e <http://www.buildingmarkets.org/>www.buildingmarkets.org ita bot bele:
* Bele iha acesu lalais liu ba informasaun kona ba sasan ho servisu rai laran iha Timor laran tomak. Quickly source goods and services locally throughout[1] Timor-Leste.* Organize servisu catering ba evento iha Distrito, husi Dili.* Hola equipamento agricultura nian nebe halo iha area rural.* Bele hetan produtos o’oin, services, quotasaun, no/ka matenek kona ba sector privadu domestico..* Acesu ba sector privadu iha fatin dok liu iha Timor Leste.* Descobre agencies buka realstate/ka aluger propriedade uma ka rai, fornecedores ba “kerikil” ba konstrusaun, servisu telekomunikasaun VSAT, kama no matabisu iha distritu no mos servisu veterinario.
Iha kooperasaun ho
Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Democratic Republic of Timor-LesteMinistério do Turismo, Comércio e Indústria, República Democrática de Timor-Leste
Ho fundus husi:
AusAID
Ho ajuda husi
Merpati
[1] Distritu sira nebe survey tiha ona maka Lautem, Viqueque, Baucau, Dili, no Manatuto. Distritu sira seluk sei kompleta iha fulan Augusto 2008. Basedadus ne’e sei hetan validasaun regular iha tempo ba tempo.
Peace Dividend TrustEstrada da Balide, PO Box 368 Balide Dili, Timor-Leste+670 332 2823<http://www.peacedividendtrust.org/>www.peacedividendtrust.org
MENSAGEM À NAÇÃO DE SUA EXCELÊNCIA O PRESIDENTE DA REPÚBLICA
Presidência da República
MENSAGEM À NAÇÃO DE SUA EXCELÊNCIA O PRESIDENTE DA REPÚBLICA
DR. JOSÉ RAMOS-HORTA
POR OCASIÃO DO 6º ANIVERSÁRIO
DA RESTAURAÇÃO DA INDEPENDÊNCIA
20 DE MAIO DE 2008
Exmo. Senhor Presidente do Parlamento Nacional
Exmo. Senhor Primeiro-Ministro
Exmo. Senhor Presidente do Tribunal de Recurso
Exmo. Senhor ex-Presidente da República Democrática de Timor-Leste, Francisco Xavier do Amaral,
Exmo. Senhor ex-Presidente do Parlamento Nacional Francisco Guterres Lu’Olo
Exmo. Senhor ex-Primeiro-Ministro Dr. Mari Alkatiri
Exmo. Senhor ex-Primeiro-Ministro Eng. Estanislau da Silva
Exmo. Senhor Procurador-Geral da República
Exmo. Senhor Chefe do Estado-Maior-General das F-FDTL
Exmo. Senhor Comandante-Geral da PNTL a.i.
Exmas. Senhoras e Senhores Deputados
Exmas. Senhoras e Senhores Membros do Governo
Exmos. Membros de Autoridades Civis e Religiosas
Exmo. Senhor Representante Especial do Secretário-Geral da ONU, Dr. Atul Khare
Exmos. Membros do Corpo Diplomático e Consular,
Exma. Senhora Ministra da Defesa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Dra. Maria Cristina Fontes Lima
Exmo. Senhor Ministro da Defesa Nacional da Guiné-Bissau, Senhor Marciano Silva Barbeiro
Exmo. Senhor Vice-Ministro da Defesa Nacional de Moçambique, Senhor Agostinho Mondlane
Exmo. Senhor Secretário da Aviação Civil do Ministério da Defesa do Brasil, Tenente Brigadeiro do Ar Jorge Godinho Barreto Nery
Exmo. Senhor Director-Geral de Políticas de Defesa Nacional de Portugal, Dr. Paulo Viseu Pinheiro
Exmo. Senhor Secretário Executivo da CPLP, Embaixador Luís Fonseca
Exmas. Senhoras e Senhores Convidados,
Povo de Timor-Leste,
Excelências,
Celebramos hoje a data do sexto aniversário da restauração da nossa independência que traduz um marco fundamental na afirmação e busca da paz e do bem-estar para todos os timorenses.
Os 24 anos de árdua luta de libertação nacional, após a declaração da nossa independência em 1975, culminam com a restauração da nossa independência que sabiamente conquistámos.
Todos nós devemos esta honra aos nossos heróicos irmãos e irmãs que com espírito de muito sacrifício e patriotismo souberam pautar-se para a dignificação e edificação da nossa soberania.
Neste momento de celebração, devemos homenagear os obreiros da nossa luta que, voluntária e incondicionalmente, deram as suas vidas para hoje sermos homens e mulheres livres usufruindo da merecida soberania conquistada com o martírio e a vida de muitos milhares de timorenses.
Os seus nomes foram, são e serão referências da nossa História e memória viva da nossa existência, pois é graça ao amor deles por Timor-Leste e o desejo de mudar a situação do nosso país que nos encontramos aqui presentes para celebrar a nossa liberdade.
Hoje quero homenagear esses grandes filhos da nossa pátria amada, nomeadamente o Presidente Nicolau Lobato, António Carvarino “Mau Lear”, Vicente Reis “Sahe”, Hélio Pina “Mau Kruma”, Juvenal Inácio “Sera Key”, Guido Valadares, Hamis Bassarewan, Mau Laka, Eduardo dos Anjos, Fernando Carmo, Domingos Ribeiro, David Alex, Isabel Lobato, Guido Soares, Hermenegildo Alves, Rosa Muki Bonaparte, Maria Tapo, Soimali Boavida, Nino Koni Santana, Kilik Uaigai, Mau Hodu Ran-Kdalak, Nuno Horta, meu irmão, Saba Lae, o poeta Francisco Borja da Costa, Afonso Redentor de Araújo, o comandante Aquiles, para citar que alguns nomes, bem como a todos os outros irmãos e irmãs que tombaram pelo dia de hoje, eternamente vos seremos reconhecidos pelo exemplo de coragem e determinação que nos souberam legar.
Também quero, em nome de todos nós, louvar o mesmo sacrifício e coragem dos nossos irmãos e irmãs que durante esses 24 anos permaneceram nas montanhas, muitos deles aqui presentes, como o Gen. Taur Matan Ruak e os oficiais do seu Estado-Maior que combateram durante 24 anos – graças aos quais somos hoje um país livre e independente – e, em especial, ao “Maun Bo’ot”, Xanana Gusmão, pela forma distinta e singular como soube liderar a nossa luta, após a queda das bases de apoio quando mais de 90% dos membros do Comité Central foram mortos em 1978/79.
Xanana e Ma Huno, únicos sobreviventes do Comité Central na época, percorreram o país de lés-a-lés, com o objectivo de reorganizar a resistência. Eleito líder, é nomeado Comissário Político Nacional e, com o apoio de Ma Huno e Mau Hodu, lidera uma resistência difícil, mas sabiamente a faz crescer de ano a ano, com o importante apoio da Igreja Católica.
Em Novembro de 1992, Xanana é capturado, julgado e preso em Cipinang. Mesmo a partir da sua cela, continua a orientar as três frentes da nossa resistência, ou seja, a frente armada, clandestina e diplomática.
Deste modo, Xanana Gusmão provou ser um líder incontestável da resistência de Timor-Leste. Esta sua herança é eterna e nos inspira no nosso dia-a-dia.
Também quero louvar a Igreja Católica pela sua contribuição durante o período da luta de libertação. O seu papel foi fundamental durante esse período difícil, através dos seus ensinamentos de solidariedade humana, dos valores éticos e morais. A Igreja Católica, à qual a identidade timorense está intimamente ligada, merecerá eternamente o nosso apreço e respeito.
Não posso deixar de agradecer à comunidade internacional pela forma como nos apoiaram durante esse período, especialmente os países de expressão de língua portuguesa.
Os países irmãos que hoje com Timor-Leste constituem a CPLP, situam-se entre os poucos países que desde a primeira hora batalharam connosco na trincheira diplomática pelo respeito ao nosso direito sagrado à livre auto-determinação.
Caros compatriotas,
Senhoras e senhores,
Duma análise retrospectiva sobre a caminhada que fizemos, o patamar onde hoje nos encontramos só nos deve orgulhar pelo percurso feito e pelos inúmeros obstáculos que, entretanto, conseguimos superar.
A quantidade dos desafios superados confere outro significado aos ganhos conseguidos, que devem fortalecer a auto-estima da nossa Nação, estimulando-a a encarar os desafios do futuro com confiança acrescida, lucidez e coragem.
É importante termos o sentido da vida e da história. Cada homem deve ter o sentido da vida e cada povo o sentido da história. Termos o sentido de que estamos a construir o futuro e de que só nós podemos construir esse futuro. Não podemos viver só o presente, temos de ser capazes de projectar o amanhã.
De 2002 até hoje muitos sucessos foram alcançados. Exemplo vivo desse sucesso é a reconhecida boa gestão macroeconómica e fiscal que permitiu minimizar a crise de 2006 em termos socio-económicos. Para tal, basta lembrarmo-nos de como o Governo, com o apoio generoso da comunidade internacional, conseguiu responder às necessidades imediatas de mais de 100 mil deslocados durante esse período.
Ainda na minha qualidade de 1º Ministro, tive noção clara do funcionamento das instituições e da necessidade de as reformar. Mas, também tive a consciência de que a reforma deve ser feita dentro do processo da evolução permanente e contínua de modo a não provocar quebras e desmantelamentos.
Por outro lado, devemos reconhecer o sucesso da negociação sobre o petróleo que culminou com o Tratado do Mar de Timor e a criação do fundo de petróleo, instituição reconhecida internacionalmente como uma das melhores no mundo.
Neste momento, temos no Fundo do Petróleo quase 3 mil milhões de dólares americanos que podem ser utilizados pelo actual Governo, sem que para tal haja necessidade de alterar a lei em vigor, contanto que o Governo demonstre a sua capacidade em realizar uma boa gestão e execução orçamental, e apresente planos e programas convincentes às instituições competentes.
Neste sentido, repito a afirmação que fiz no Parlamento Nacional no mês passado, a saber: “a grande crise financeira e alimentar mundial que vivemos, associada à subida do preço dos combustíveis e dos alimentos de primeira necessidade, está a afectar milhões de pessoas em todo o Mundo e, em Timor-Leste, ameaçam agravar perigosamente os índices de pobreza, se nada for feito para mudar a situação.”
Esta constatação leva-me a formular a seguinte pergunta: “quais são as alternativas que um pequeno país como o nosso pode preconizar para minimizar o impacto desta crise, criar um ambiente favorável ao desenvolvimento económico e proteger os mais desfavorecidos?”
A nossa Constituição consagra a obrigação do Estado em garantir o direito à segurança social de todos os cidadãos. Esta obrigação, por si só, e caso necessário, permite o recurso ao fundo petrolífero de modo a criar as condições de segurança tão necessárias à criação de postos de trabalho como consequente meio de rendimento para os nossos concidadãos.
Timor-Leste ainda é um país que carece de estradas, infra-estruturas, acesso a tecnologias, investigação e investimento agrícola, um bom sistema de crédito e comercialização, entre outros.
O Governo deve continuar a intensificar os programas de apoio aos agricultores com fertilizantes e boas sementes, de modo a aumentar a nossa produção agrícola, contribuir para melhorar a dieta alimentar, fomentar a formação profissional e profissionalizante de que o país tanto carece.
Neste apelo que lanço à luta contra a pobreza, é importante a conjugação de esforços de todas as forças vivas da nação, desde as instituições do Estado, aos partidos políticos, a sociedade civil, a comunidade internacional, e as confissões religiosas, para que conjuntamente possamos encontrar e desenvolver um clima de paz e prosperidade de que todos nós deveremos beneficiar.
O combate à pobreza e o reforço da coesão nacional e social são duas faces do mesmo dever do Estado timorense – promover o desenvolvimento da nossa sociedade e consolidar as instituições.
Caros compatriotas,
Senhoras e Senhores,
Os eventos de 11 de Fevereiro são provas evidentes da fragilidade do nosso Estado. Não obstante esta constatação, quero louvar as F-FDTL e a PNTL pelos bons serviços prestados à Nação.
Ao General Taur Matan Ruak e, através dele, a todos os oficiais e efectivos das Forças de Defesa, uma palavra de parabéns do Comandante Supremo das Forças Armadas.
Para a PNTL, através do seu comandante-geral interino Afonso de Jesus, igualmente as minhas felicitações a todos os efectivos policiais.
Mais uma vez apelo às duas forças para que nunca mais haja desconfianças entre si e falsas divisões. As F-FDTL e a PNTL são forças nacionais, com o dever de defender a Pátria e todo o povo. Não devem cair na teia daqueles que as querem dividir para desestabilizarem a nossa nação.
Deixo também o meu reconhecimento ao Representante Especial do Secretário-Geral das Nações Unidas, Sua Excelência Sr. Atul Khare, e, através dele, o meu apreço aos efectivos da UNPOL, bem como a todas as agências que integram a organização que representa.
Ao Governo da Austrália e da Nova Zelândia registo, uma vez mais, os meus mais sinceros agradecimentos pela presença em Timor-Leste dos seus homens e mulheres, das Forças Armadas, cuja contribuição para a estabilidade do nosso país tem sido notável.
Do mesmo modo, agradeço também ao Governo da Malásia e de Portugal pela contribuição das suas forças policiais na reposição da ordem pública no nosso país, após a crise de 2006.
Além dos problemas relacionados directamente com a segurança, Timor-Leste tem à sua frente outros desafios importantes.
O mais urgente é a condição dos deslocados internos que o Governo está a resolver de forma muito positiva com o apoio da sociedade civil e Igreja.
Outro desafio importante é a questão dos peticionários que, neste momento também, está a ser resolvida pelo Governo com sucesso, embora as causas do problema ainda estejam por solucionar.
Dum olhar atento à situação da nossa juventude observamos a falta de medidas suplementares nas alocações orçamentais do Estado para este sector, desde o 1º Governo até ao 4º Governo Constitucional, para responder às necessidades e expectativas desta significativa componente da nossa sociedade.
A nossa juventude precisa de mais apoio do Governo nos sectores da educação, desporto, formação, cultura e trabalho. Devemos tudo isso aos jovens e é possível realizarmos esses objectivos.
Caros compatriotas,
Senhoras e senhores,
Timor-Leste é um pequeno e jovem Estado soberano hoje inserido na sociedade das nações. Por isso, as questões internas do país encontram-se intrinsecamente ligadas às questões internacionais. Enquanto jovem democracia, queremos distinguir-nos por uma cultura de tolerância e promover a unidade na diversidade, impulsionando uma verdadeira cultura democrática.
Neste contexto, temos vindo a ampliar e a consolidar relações de cooperação com vários países do mundo, com especial atenção ao contexto regional. A adesão à ASEAN é uma prioridade do nosso Estado, porque consideramos de vital importância pertencer a esta “família” e extrair as implícitas vantagens que dela derivam: segurança, estabilidade, desenvolvimento económico e cooperação regional.
Quero agradecer, em nome do Povo Timorense, a todos as mulheres e homens, civis e militares das Nações Unidas, que, desde Setembro de 1999 até então, têm estado a prestar um grande contributo ao processo de garantir a paz e a estabilidade no nosso país. A todos vós, dos mais variados e longínquos países, que serviram e servem a organização, durante todos estes anos, um abraço de muita amizade e de gratidão de todo o nosso humilde povo.
O nosso povo pobre e humilde, mas genuíno e intrinsecamente generoso, numa solidariedade manifestada, aliás, aquando do tsunami na região, vai de novo manifestar a sua generosidade para com o povo de Myanmar pelo trágico evento de que foram vítimas. O Governo, em nome do povo timorense, vai, ainda que modestamente, contribuir para ajudar os mais necessitados dessa catástrofe natural.
A China, onde brevemente se realizarão os Jogos Olímpicos, acaba também de ser vítima dum violento abalo sísmico que dizimou milhares de vidas. Em nome do Povo Timorense, bem como em meu nome pessoal, quero expressar as nossas condolências aos familiares das vítimas desta catástrofe e manifestar a solidariedade para com o Povo e Governo Chinês.
Por ocasião dos Jogos Olímpicos, Timor-Leste será representado pelos nossos atletas e, na qualidade de Chefe do Estado, estarei presente nesse grandioso evento.
É ainda importante relembrar que o desporto não só fortalece o corpo como também beneficia o espírito para uma óbvia paz e unidade nacional.
Neste sentido, o Estado deve atribuir maior atenção ao desporto e à cultura.
Caros compatriotas,
Senhoras e senhores,
Para concluir, quero relançar o desafio já formulado a todas as forças políticas para o diálogo e para o entendimento. Estou convicto de que é possível construirmos a paz à volta das prioridades mais importantes do país e cultivar o entendimento político para afastarmos de nós a pobreza.
Acreditarmos em nós mesmos, no melhor que cada um tem dentro de si próprio, é afinal o verdadeiro desafio. Amar o nosso país não é nenhum pecado; a afirmação da nossa identidade não é a negação da identidade de qualquer outra, é tão só a afirmação do direito de existir para se relacionar, em pé de igualdade, com os outros. É isso que justifica a existência do Estado de Timor-Leste.
Apesar dos retrocessos que têm condicionado o desenvolvimento sustentável do nosso país, considero que Timor-Leste tem todo o potencial para ser um Estado com sucesso e ser motivo de orgulho para todos nós, bem como para aqueles que nos apoiam e acreditam em nós.
Finalmente, para celebrar a Fé e renovar a Esperança nos Timorenses, declaro oficialmente hoje, o dia em que foi restaurada a nossa independência, dia 20 de Maio, como o Dia Nacional do Perdão e da Clemência entre os timorenses.
Saber perdoar é uma virtude que nós precisamos de cultivar no nosso coração, bem como sermos humildes e estarmos atentos aos sentimentos dos nossos irmãos.
Conto, com o mesmo espírito de sacrifício que orientou os fundadores da nossa merecida liberdade, com todas as minhas irmãs e irmãos, incluindo os que se encontram na diáspora, na reconstrução da Paz e do Desenvolvimento da nossa Pátria amada Timor-Leste.
Que o Senhor Todo-Poderoso e Todo Bondoso nos abençoe!
Primeiro-Ministro Xanana diz aos peticionários envolvidos no caso de Fatuahi e no atentado 11 de Fevereiro que seria melhor optarem pela vida civil
JN Semanario - Primeiro-Ministro Xanana diz aos peticionários envolvidos no caso de Fatuahi e no atentado 11 de Fevereiro
O Primeiro-Ministro, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, pediu aos peticionários que estiveram envolvidos no caso de Fatuahi (23 de Maio de 2006) e no atentado de 11 de Fevereiro de 2008 para optarem por regressar à vida civil.
Xanana Gusmão referiu-se a esta questão na cerimónia de diálogo com os peticionários, segunda-feira (12/5) no Ginásio de Díli.
Afirmou que os envolvidos nestes casos seria melhor não regressarem à vida militar porque nesta os militares devem ser profissionais.
Xanana salientou que dos mais de 600 peticionários que preencheram formulários, 356 decidiram regressar à vida civil, enquanto 339 optaram por participar no recrutamento para as F-FDTL. Três membros não apresentaram as suas opções.
Após o recrutamento, os membros que eram sargentos voltarão aos seus postos como sargentos, os oficiais como oficiais e os soldados regressam como soldados.
«Não é bem uma formalidade, mas não pode ser uma formalidade, um membro deve participar no recrutamento. O que o Governo anterior não conseguiu fazer este Governo pode fazer. Desde o início, os peticionários não concordaram com as opções, fiquei arrependido quando todos vós não concordáveis mas quando alguns como representantes não concordavam arrependia-me ainda mais.
Como militar profissional deve-se saber o que é um profissional, alguns membros foram formar em Caicoli, toda a manhã, uma Força profissional não pode sair do quartel desesperadamente.
Como Chefe do Governo desejo resolver os vossos problemas, se hoje se quiserem ouvir uns aos outros. Os deslocados gritaram-me que enquanto o problema do Alfredo e dos peticionários não forem resolvidos não abandonarão os campos», Xanana explicou.
«Alguns peticionários chegaram a Caicoli e pediram-me autorização para saírem das Forças, eu respondi que não, mas no fim saíram». Digamos que anteriormente o Presidente da República fazia um serviço ilegal e legal porque o anterior Governo suspendeu a Lei Orgânica.
«No princípio ouvíamos comentários de que as F-FDTL eram de Xanana e a Polícia era do Rogério Lobato e alguns veteranos vieram pedir-me a confirmação disso a mim e eu respondi que não.
No questionário há perguntas como a de se desejam trabalhar no País ou no exterior, a questão não é levar-vos para fora do País mas procurarmos meios de dar atenção a esse assunto criando condições necessárias. Se não quiserem trabalhar no exterior muitos jovens o desejarão», disse Xanana.
Xanana explicou ainda que a Coreia assinou um acordo na sexta-feira, pois necessitará de 500 pessoas para trabalhar lá. Macau precisará de 100 pessoas para trabalhar lá, a Austrália precisará de trabalhadores com o modelo “rolling”.
«Não é uma maneira de expulsar-vos do País mas é uma maneira de criar mecanismos, se vocês não quiserem ir, muitos jovens o desejarão. Este é um esforço do Governo para vos criar campo de trabalho», salientou Xanana.
Caso pretendam trabalhar na Coreia, devem aprender a língua coreana, se desejam trabalhar em Macau devem também aprender a língua macaense e na Austrália devem aprender inglês.
Para quem não for trabalhar no exterior, receberá também atenção, mas segundo os dados, os membros que optaram pelo processo de recrutamento, um, dois ou três membros não sabem escrever. Neste caso digo francamente que estes membros não podem optar por este processo. Os que apenas acabaram o ensino primário também não serão necessários, seria melhor não perderem tempo. O Governo procurará outros meios para vos dar atenção.
JNSemanário.
Resultado dos questionários
339 peticionários optam por voltar às F-FDTL e 356 à vida civil
O Primeiro-Ministro, Xanana Gusmão, pede aos peticionários que estiveram envolvidos no caso de Fatuahi, a 23 de Maio de 2006, e no atentado de 11 de Fevereiro de 2008, que seria melhor optarem por regressar à vida civil.
Xanana Gusmão referiu-se a esta questão no diálogo com os peticionários, segunda-feira (12/5), no Ginásio de Díli.
O PM Xanana afirmou que face aos 356 membros que decidiram regressar à vida civil, isso significa que um soldado, ao fazer o cálculo do seu salário ao fim de três anos, obterá 3,600.00 USD. A isso, o Governo adicionará 1,500.00 USD, pelo que um soldado irá obter, no final, 4,560.00 USD, um Cabo calculará o seu salário adicionando 1,500.00 USD, para obter 4,920.00, 1 Furriel, 5,006.00, um Segundo Sargento 5,208.00, um Primeiro Sargento 5,080.00, um Sargento Ajudante 5,982.00, um Alferes 6,252.00, um Tenente 6,296.00, um Capitão 6,874.00 e um Major 7,260.00 USD.
«O caso dos peticionários é um caso complexo que é necessário resolver mas antes disso fui insultado como “traidor”», disse Xanana, acrescentando que «devem ter consciência para com o Estado e este País, mas porque, como timorenses, falávamos suavemente uns aos outros, aconteceu o atentado de 11 de Fevereiro. Se não acontecesse o atentado, muitos de vós estaríeis lá fora». Portanto Xanana disse-lhes que os dados registados de 709 membros em Aitaraklaran são reconhecidos por todo o mundo.
Xanana disse ainda que o problema de 2006 e de 2008 não é igual porque este Governo não era o Governo que governava em 2006.
«Os problemas não foram anteriormente resolvidos porque nos encontros falávamos uma coisa e na prática acontecia outra, porque alguns líderes que representam o povo não são consistentes. Neste momento todos gritam pelos direitos mas esquecem-se das suas responsabilidades, uma instituição militar não é uma universidade, na qual, quando um estudante não tem dinheiro, deixa os estudos e regressa a eles quando tiver dinheiro. Dantes falámos dos 511.
Portanto venham todos mostrar-se como filhos do povo. Devem respeitar o Estado e não participar nos actos negativos contra o Estado. Os que saíram antes de 2006, 115 membros, estão também aqui. Eram faltosos que foram expulsos mas agora estão aqui», concluiu.
JNSemanário.
terça-feira, maio 20, 2008
Dos leitores
Comentário na sua mensagem "PR não pode conceder perdões como o de Rogério Lob...":
Indulto
Acto próprio do Presidente da República, pelo qual outorga aos réus condenados por sentença transitada em julgado a extinção da pena, no todo em parte, ou a sua substituição por outra prevista na lei.
Amnistia
Causa objectiva de extinção de procedimento, da responsabilidade penal ou da execução da pena, caso já tenha havido condenação, determinada pela abolição da incriminação de certos factos passados.
A day to remember for Timor
Melbourne Herald Sun - May 20, 2008 12:00am
Xanana Gusmao
TODAY is Timor-Leste Independence Day - a day of great celebration for all Timorese.
It is the sixth anniversary of the restoration of our sovereignty and independence.
After 24 years of struggle against illegal occupation, and three years of United Nations governance, we finally achieved democratic self-government on May 20, 2002.
Today we remember the sacrifice of our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and celebrate the liberation for which they fought.
While we commemorate our liberation, it reminds us of the great responsibility we have to reconstruct our country and ensure lasting peace and prosperity.
The challenges confronting Timor-Leste are very serious ones - food shortages, poor education, inadequate sanitation, limited infrastructure and high unemployment.
More than 40 per cent of Timorese people live on less than 55 cents a day.
We are working hard to address these challenges but it is taking time. Nations are not built in a day and our country is only six years old.
After the 1999 vote for independence, our country was literally destroyed - people were killed and most of our infrastructure destroyed.
Building our country and democratic institutions from the ground up takes time and patience. We are proud that we are heading in the right direction with vision and conviction.
When I became Prime Minister of the new Government in August 2007, we inherited serious problems.
They stemmed from the political crisis of 2006, in which lives were lost, homes were destroyed and people suffered.
The crisis left more than 100,000 displaced people living in makeshift camps, a third of the army departing with grievances against the state, the police and the army fighting each other and a group of armed dissidents roaming the country.
We are tackling these issues. In less than a year, almost all the departing army personnel have returned to Dili and we are working on their reintegration into civilian or military life.
The police and army, who were once confrontational, are working successfully together.
The armed dissidents who attacked the President and me have surrendered peacefully.
People are leaving the camps and returning to their residences.
A key priority is to address poverty and free our people from subsistence agriculture and food shortages.
We are focusing on improving access to basic services such as water, sanitation, health, education and justice. And we are pursuing economic development to create jobs and prosperity, and building a society based on tolerance and human rights.
With our petroleum revenue, each year we are investing a modest but sustainable amount in health care, education and critical infrastructure.
We are also implementing reforms to improve public sector standards and minimise the risks of corruption.
In this task, we are fortunate to have the help of my good friend and former premier of Victoria, Steve Bracks, who is volunteering his time as my special adviser.
In 2006 we were plagued with civil unrest. Today we have achieved stability and are looking towards the future.
Symbolic of this future, last weekend tens of thousands of our youth gathered peacefully for a rock concert in Dili where they celebrated in a spirit of solidarity and optimism.
We are humble enough to acknowledge that we cannot achieve what we have to without our friends. One of our closest friends is Australia, a country with which we share a deep and special bond.
Only days after the assassination attempts on February 11, Prime Minister Rudd visited Dili and committed Australia to protecting our shared values of democracy and the rule of law.
We also have a special bond with the Australian people, with relationships at all levels, including between our schools, our churches, our hospitals and our community groups.
I am confident that together, and with our friends' help, the East Timorese will achieve true freedom through peace and prosperity.
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao is the Prime Minister of East Timor
PR não pode conceder perdões como o de Rogério Lobato, diz ministra da Justiça
Díli, 19 Mai (Lusa) - O Governo timorense recordou ao Presidente da República, José Ramos--Horta, que não pode conceder perdões como o do ex-ministro do Interior Rogério Lobato, afirmou hoje a ministra da Justiça à imprensa australiana.
"Uma amnistia é um assunto político (…) que só o Parlamento pode atribuir (…) e o Presidente só pode reduzir ou comutar penas, mais nada", afirmou hoje a ministra Lúcia Lobato à jornalista australiana Jill Jolliffe.
As declarações da ministra da Justiça timorense são reproduzidas na edição de terça-feira dos jornais australianos do grupo Fairfax, The Age e The Sydney Morning Herald.
José Ramos-Horta anunciou a 23 de Abril, no seu discurso à nação após o regresso da Austrália, no Parlamento Nacional, que no dia 20 de Maio, dia da independência timorense, iria conceder um perdão a cerca de 80 presos que tiveram bom comportamento, incluindo a Rogério Lobato.
José Ramos-Horta recordou, no plenário e fora do discurso escrito, que Rogério Lobato perdeu toda a sua família mais próxima durante a ocupação indonésia e em 2006, além de recordar a sua contribuição para a independência timorense como fundador das Falintil.
Lúcia Lobato, citada pelos jornais australianos, afirmou hoje que o Governo enviou ao Presidente da República uma lista de presos que estariam apenas em condições de ter a sua pena reduzida em três meses por cada ano de sentença cumprida, por bom comportamento.
José Ramos-Horta participa nas cerimónias da restauração da independência, com o içar da bandeira e um discurso do chefe de Estado, às 09:00 locais de terça-feira (01:00 em Lisboa).
Ministro entre 2002 e 2006, Rogério Lobato foi condenado em 2007 a sete anos e meio de prisão por homicídio, na sequência de um processo sobre os acontecimentos relacionados com a crise política e militar de Maio e Agosto de 2006.
Lobato foi julgado sob a acusação de 18 crimes de homicídio, 11 de homicídio na forma tentada e um crime de peculato.
Foi absolvido do crime de peculato, de 14 crimes de homicídio e dos 11 crimes de homicídio na forma tentada, mas foi condenado condenado como autor indirecto de quatro crimes de homicídio, tendo o tribunal dado como provado que entregou armas a civis "para eliminar peticionários e líderes da oposição" em Abril e Maio de 2006.
Conduzido à cadeia de Becora, em Díli, a 10 de Maio de 2007, depois de o Tribunal de Recurso ter confirmado a pena, Rogério Lobato foi autorizado, em Agosto do ano passado, a sair da prisão e ausentar-se do país para ser submetido a um tratamento médico na Malásia, onde se encontra desde então.
PRM
Lusa/Fim
NOTA DE RODAPÉ:
Os disparates da Ministra da Justiça:
1. MENTIRA: "tendo o tribunal dado como provado que entregou armas a civis "para eliminar peticionários e líderes da oposição" em Abril e Maio de 2006"
Basta ler a sentença. Não foi provado que as armas entregues a civis fossem para eliminar peticionários e líderes da oposição. Ou a Ministra é burra ou mentirosa.
2. MENTIRA: Que o Presidente queria dar uma amnistia. O Presidente disse que iria dar um perdão presidencial, isto é, através da redução de penas a pessoas já condenadas. As amnistias são para aqueles que ainda não foram condenados ou sequer acusados. Mais uma vez a burra ou mentirosa da ministra...
Ramos-Horta conhece "rumor" de indicação para alto cargo da ONU
Díli, 20 Mai (Lusa) - O Presidente da República timorense e Prémio Nobel da Paz, José Ramos Horta, confirmou hoje em Díli conhecer os "rumores" da indicação do seu nome para Alto Comissário dos Direitos Humanos da ONU.
"São provavelmente rumores. Não sei o que se passa. A ser verdade que sou um dos nomes indicados, sensibiliza-me pela confiança", adiantou o chefe de Estado timorense.
José Ramos Horta respondia aos jornalistas durante um "cocktail" no Parlamento Nacional, após a cerimónia principal comemorativa da restauração da independência de Timor-Leste.
"Têm chegado alguns rumores mas, como às vezes acontece, o marido é o último a saber. Esta deve ser uma dessas situações em que eu sou o último a saber", declarou o Presidente da República.
"A ser verdade, a minha preocupação primeira é o meu papel aqui no país", acrescentou, no entanto, o chefe de Estado.
A indicação do nome de José Ramos Horta para o Alto Comissariado dos Direitos Humanos, "com apoios muito fortes", chegou ao conhecimento do círculo mais restrito de José Ramos Horta, incluindo da família, confirmou a agência Lusa em Díli.
O cargo de alto comissário de direitos humanos da ONU é actualmente ocupado por Louise Arbour, nomeada em Julho de 2004, e que deverá terminar o seu mandato dentro de um mês.
No seu discurso de 20 de Maio, "um dia de grande carga simbólica", José Ramos Horta decretou a data como "um dia de reflexão, clemência, perdão, reconciliação".
José Ramos Horta completou hoje um ano como chefe de Estado timorense, depois de ser eleito na segunda volta de eleições presidenciais realizadas a 09 de Maio de 2007.
Prémio Nobel da Paz em 1996, com o bispo D. Ximenes Belo, com um longo percurso como representante da resistência timorense no exterior, José Ramos Horta foi ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros do I Governo Constitucional (2002/06) e chefiou o II Governo (2006/07), antes de vencer as eleições presidenciais.
PRM
Lusa/fim
Poor and unstable, ETimor to mark six years of independence
19.05.08
1 day ago
DILI (AFP) — East Timor is set to celebrate six years of independence Tuesday, with bursting national pride and dreams for the future contending with the harsh realities of poverty, violence and instability.
As the government puts the finishing touches to the planned Independence Day ceremonies featuring fireworks donated by China, doubts persist about the former Indonesian territory's ability to stand on its own.
The celebrations come just over three months after East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta was shot and wounded in rebel attacks that also targeted the prime minister, and amid political infighting that has driven the ruling coalition to the brink of collapse.
The attacks on the country's leadership, which also saw rebel leader Alfredo Reinado killed, raised fears of a return to violence similar to 2006 fighting between police, soldiers and militia that killed at least 37.
But against the worst predictions, calm has prevailed for this week's celebrations. The rebels surrendered last month, and on the streets of East Timor's somnolent capital people are cautiously looking forward to the party.
"We're happy and proud about our day of independence but we want calm and for the situation to be normal. We don't want there to be problems. We want peace and calm," said Veronica Amaral, a 24-year-old resident of one of Dili's camps for people displaced by the 2006 unrest.
Around 100,000 people who fled the violence two years ago still live in camps, and although the UN is slowly closing them down some can still be seen near the city's waterfront which has been spruced up for Independence Day.
The camps are a reminder of the price East Timor has paid for its independence, and of the ongoing fragility of the infant state.
Even with the support of a United Nations mission and the presence of thousands of foreign police and soldiers, some analysts warn that the mainly Catholic country's highly factionalised politics could spill onto the streets.
"My reading of the situation is that it's unstable," said Dennis Shoesmith, an East Timor expert at Australia's Charles Darwin University.
"The UN and international stabilisation presence keep it on track (but) if that presence was run down in the next year or so it would quickly deteriorate. And it could deteriorate with the presence there anyway," he said.
Roughly half the population of one million is unemployed and the majority of people live off subsistence farming. The country's baby boom -- the average birthrate is 7.7 -- is also straining meagre resources.
"The economy for us is not great. Everything is very expensive and it's difficult for those who don't work and the poor. We can't do anything," said Amaral.
Bernardo Almeda, a 35-year-old graduate in civil administration who earns up to three dollars a day selling cigarettes and mobile phone credit on the street, said the government had to provide work for the unemployed.
"It's clear that East Timor in the future will get better, the economy will probably move along well," he said.
But economic growth needs stability, and East Timor has had precious little of that.
The former Portuguese colony was invaded by Indonesia in 1975 and saw more than 200,000 of its people die as a result of violence and hunger that ensued.
East Timor voted for independence at the ballot box in 1999, but was soon ravaged during a scorched earth campaign by the Indonesian military that saw much of the country razed to the ground and hundreds of thousands seek refuge.
It formally gained independence in 2002 only to be plunged back into chaos when factional tensions within the security forces erupted into open fighting in 2006.
Foreign peacekeepers, who had left after intervening to restore order in 1999, returned to quell the unrest but could not stop hundreds of members of the security forces taking to the hills behind rebel leader Reinado.
With Reinado dead and the last of his rebels having surrendered, analysts say at least one major roadblock to long-term peace has been removed.
Comemorações do VI ANIVERSÁRIO da RESTAURAÇÃO da INDEPENDÊNCIA
REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE TIMOR-LESTE
SECRETARIA DE ESTADO DO CONSELHO DE MINISTROS
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
CERIMÓNIAS de COMEMORAÇÃO
do VI ANIVERSÁRIO da RESTAURAÇÃO da INDEPENDENCIA
DIA 20 de MAIO de 2008
_____________________________________________________________________
Informação à Imprensa
_________________________________________________________________________________
“Com a Celebração do VI aniversário do dia 20 de Maio,
Fortalecemos a Unidade Nacional e Juntos construímos a Nação”
Dili, 19 de Maio de 2008
O Primeiro-Ministro Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão estará presente amanhã, dia 20 de Maio, no Palácio do Governo em Dili, onde irão decorer os principais actos solenes da Comemoração do sexto aniversário da Restauração da Independência, com o seguinte programa:
09h00 - Cerimónia do Içar da Bandeira Nacional
16h00 - Cerimónia Solene de Homenagem a Combatentes e Mártires da Libertação Nacional
17h00 - Cerimónia do Arrear da Bandeira Nacional
18h00 - Exibição Cultural
Às 20h00, o Chefe do Governo participará ainda na Recepção Nacional, que terá lugar no Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros, em Díli, cujo edifício será oficialmente inaugurado na ocasião e onde se irá proceder ao Lançamento de Selos Nacionais.
O Programa Oficial da Comemoração do sexto aniversário da Restauração da Independência prevê ainda no dia 20 de Maio, às 20h30, o Lançamento de Fogo de Artifício no Terraço da Estátua de Cristo Rei – Inur Fatu Kama.
A abertura oficial do Programa Geral de Festividades do sexto aniversário da Restauração da Independência, decorreu na passada sexta-feira, dia 16 de Maio, com a apresentação dos atletas que participaram - e os que ainda irão participar - nas competições desportivas e culturais.
No passado fim de semana decorreram Corridas de Cavalos no Circuito de Tasi Tolu e corridas de Moto-Cross, no circuito Delta Speed.
No sábado à noite, milhares de jovens acorreram ao Estádio Municipal de Díli para assistir ao Concerto do grupo indonésio SLANK, no final do qual o Primeiro-Ministro Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão – que se deslocou ao palco para cumprimentar os músicos do grupo – afirmou que o dia 20 de Maio representa um tempo para todos os timorenses reafirmarem a paz para o futuro.
Um jogo amigável de futebol entre a Coreia do Sul e Timor-Leste (Sub 16) terá lugar no dia 21 de Maio às 16h00 no Campo da Democracia, em Dili e no dia 22 de Maio às 16h00 no Estádio Municipal realizar-se-á outro jogo de futebol, desta vez entre a Coreia do Sul e a Equipa Vencedora da Pascoa CUP.
Integrada ainda nas Cerimónias Oficiais de Comemoração do sexto Aniversário da Restauração da Independência irá decorrer a Inauguração do Monumento do Papa João Paulo II, no dia 30 de Maio às 16h00, no Alto de Tasi Tolu – Inur Tasi Tolu.
#FIM#
Cabo Verde: Instituto Língua Portuguesa comemora independência de Timor-Leste
Cidade da Praia, 19 Mai (Lusa) - O Instituto Internacional da Língua Portuguesa (IILP) assinala o dia da independência de Timor-Leste (20 de Maio) com uma semana de actividades na capital cabo-verdiana, entre exposições, palestras, música e dança.
Terça-feira, exactamente seis anos depois de em Díli ter sido declarada a criação do mais jovem Estado do mundo, começa na Cidade da Praia um ciclo de conferências sobre o país com o tema "Enquadramento histórico da identidade timorense".
Até dia 27, serão apresentados na sede do IILP vídeos e documentários sobre Timor-Leste e na terça-feira haverá uma sessão de música e dança, apresentada pelo grupo cultural da Associação Timorense de Coimbra.
Para o público mais jovem, o IILP organiza também sessões de vídeos e de contos infantis, sempre com Timor-Leste como pano de fundo.
De terça-feira até dia 30 estará aberta ao público uma exposição de fotografias e de artesanato de Timor-Leste.
Anexada pela Indonésia em 1975, a antiga colónia portuguesa lutou contra o domínio de Jacarta até 1999, quando num referendo a esmagadora maioria da população escolheu a independência em vez da autonomia proposta pelo governo indonésio.
Como retaliação, milícias armadas pró-indonésias destruíram quase todos os edifícios do território e semearam o terror, levando à intervenção de uma força internacional (INTERFET), chefiada pela Austrália.
Timor-Leste foi administrado por um representante do secretário-geral da ONU, Sérgio Vieira de Mello, até 20 de Maio de 2002, dia em que os eleitos locais assumiram a governação, constituindo-se formalmente o mais novo país do mundo.
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Delegação norte-americana incentiva candidatura timorense à Conta do Milénio
Díli, 19 Mai (Lusa) - Uma delegação da Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), uma agência da Administração norte-americana que financia programas de redução da pobreza e de crescimento económico, está em Timor-Leste para incentivar uma candidatura do país à Conta do Milénio.
A elegibilidade do país para apoio da MCC depende da conjugação de 17 indicadores e Timor-Leste regista para 2008 uma avaliação negativa em dois dos mais importantes: o controlo da corrupção e os direitos de propriedade.
"A avaliação de 2008 reflecte, de facto, o ano de 2006", explicou hoje o vice-presidente da MCC, John Hewko, no escritório de Díli da USAID, a agência de apoio ao desenvolvimento norte-americano.
"Os diferentes indicadores demoram cerca de um ano, ano e meio a entrarem no sistema e a reflectir-se na avaliação anual", acrescentou John Hewko.
Timor-Leste foi seleccionado inicialmente em 2005 como país elegível para apoio de programas de redução da pobreza, também conhecido por "compacto".
"A continuação de Timor-Leste no programa depende do seu bom desempenho nas categorias de políticas medidas pela MCC", explicou John Hewko, adiantando que a selecção de um país é apenas o primeiro passo, não estando automaticamente garantido o financiamento.
A delegação da MCC encontrou-se já com a ministra das Finanças timorense, Emília Pires, e com João Saldanha, o nome indicado pelo Governo para dirigir o grupo de trabalho que estudará a candidatura de Timor-Leste, anunciou John Hewko.
A MCC, criada pela Administração norte-americana em 2004, trabalha em parceria com países em desenvolvimento, através do financiamento de um programa escolhido após um processo de consulta alargada.
"Não emprestamos dinheiro. Damos o financiamento. E não fazemos ajuda humanitária nem de emergência. Valorizamos o desempenho em boa governação de um país, avaliado segundo uma metodologia despolitizada", explicou o vice-presidente da MCC.
"São os países que gerem o dinheiro e o programa", frisou também o vice-presidente da MCC.
John Hewko sublinhou que a abordagem da MCC "não é melhor mas é nova" em relação a agências como a USAID, oferecendo o incentivo de o país apoiado pela Conta do Milénio "não ter que pagar nada de volta".
Darius Nassiry, director da MCC para Timor-Leste, salientou que, por regra, um país eleito pela agência recebe quantias muito grandes, "não de dez milhões mas na ordem dos cem milhões de dólares".
Educação e saúde são duas das áreas possíveis de financiamento e a das infraestruturas é, até agora, a área em que maior número de países seleccionou para o programa submetido à MCC. Segurança e defesa não são áreas abrangidas nos programas da MCC.
"A MCC apoia um programa muito específico. Queremos resolver cem por cento de um problema. Não queremos resolver dez por cento de dez problemas", explicou John Hewko.
O primeiro passo de uma candidatura à Conta do Milénio da MCC é a avaliação da elegibilidade do país segundo "critérios objectivos" nas categorias de governação justa, investimento na população e liberdade económica.
Cada uma destas três categorias tem vários indicadores, num total de dezassete, que fornecem a grelha de avaliação de desempenho de cada país, incluindo o controlo da corrupção, liberdades cívicas, primado da lei, direitos políticos, despesas em saúde, despesas no ensino básico, gestão de recursos naturais, direitos da terra e propriedade, política comercial e inflação.
A avaliação anual de cada indicador resulta num gráfico com o percentil de desempenho do país, por relação à média do grupo de países com o mesmo rendimento em que se insere o candidato.
Os gráficos dos 17 indicadores resultam, por sua vez, naquilo a que a MCC chama o quadro de avaliação do país, com a coloração a vermelho (negativo) ou a verde (positivo) do percentil em cada indicador.
Para ser elegível, um país tem que ter percentil positivo ("verde") em pelo menos três indicadores de cada categoria. De momento, há 26 países na lista de "elegíveis" da MCC, nove na Europa e Ásia, quatro na América Latina e treze em África.
No grupo de países de Timor-Leste estão a Arménia, Geórgia, Jordânia, Mongólia, Moldova, Filipinas, Ucrânia e Vanuatu.
Os fundos usados pela Conta do Milénio da MCC são atribuídos pelo Congresso dos EUA, que votará uma proposta de atribuição de 2,25 mil milhões de dólares norte-americanos para o ano fiscal de 2009.
"Timor-Leste poderá beneficiar de parte deste montante, em competição com oito países", salientou.
A MCC concretiza o compromisso do Presidente George W. Bush com a declaração de Monterrey, de 2002, em "providenciar mais recursos a países que assumam maior responsabilidade pelo seu desenvolvimento", recordou a delegação da MCC.
Os 17 indicadores usados pela MCC são provenientes de diferentes fontes e instituições, incluindo o Banco Mundial, a Unesco, a Organização Mundial de Saúde, o Centro da Universidade de Columbia (EUA) para a Rede de Informação de Ciências da Terra, o Centro de Lei e Política do Ambiente da Universidade de Yale (EUA), o Fundo Internacional das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento Agrícola.
PRM
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