UNDP Justice System Programme Newsletter - April/May Edition

Highlights of this Edition:


Recommendations of the UNDP Evaluation Mission to the CoC
The UNDP Evaluation Mission held a debriefing session for the Council of Coordination, donors and development partners on 9 May, at the Legal Training Centre.

Ireland renews its support to the justice sector
The Government of Ireland announced an additional Euro 400,000 contribution for the Justice System Programme (JSP) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This contribution was signaled by the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs during his official visit to Timor-Leste, 20-22 February, 2008.

Judiciary books distributed at the Second Reading Week
From 12 to 16 of May the Ministry of Education organized the Second Reading Week at the ex-SKB building, in Vila-Verde, to disseminate the work performed by the Direction of Non-Formal Education.

Thaiza Castilho
Public Information Officer
UNDP Justice System Programme
E-mail: thaiza.castilho@undp.org
Website: www.undp.org.tl/justice
Phone: + (670) 727-5605

Homecoming fraught with danger

05 Jun 2008 12:28:35 GMT

Source: IRIN
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.


DILI, 5 June 2008 (IRIN) - At night Tomas Agusto and his family lie in their tent hoping nobody will set it alight. When he was moved out of the displacement camp in April, he was given US$4,500 to rebuild his house, but he is still too scared to do so.

Agusto was moved out of the camp on the grounds of the national hospital in Dili, the capital, by the Ministry of Social Solidarity, after living there for nearly two years. In early May, his family, their tent and other possessions were trucked back to the site of his former home in Becora, a suburb of the city.

Agusto's house had been destroyed in the civil unrest that left more than 100,000 displaced throughout the country in 2006.

"We're scared," he told IRIN. "If we build our house the neighbours will just burn it down again." Agusto said he and a neighbouring family were the only easterners to have returned. Because much of the 2006 violence was triggered by hostile eastern and western factions, Agusto feels outnumbered. He told IRIN that neither he nor his neighbour would rebuild until more easterners returned.

A few weeks after he moved back, a neighbourhood leader told him to get out, saying he was not welcome there. "[The leader] said the land was his and the people who lived here before couldn't come back," Agusto said.

Land tensions

Land rights and residual tensions are a serious problem in Timor-Leste, according to Valentina Bacchin, return and reintegration officer with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). She told IRIN Agusto's problem was not uncommon.

Although the violence in 2006 was ostensibly sparked by an implosion of the police and defence forces, unknown numbers of homes were simply razed by neighbours eager to oust newer residents. Those newcomers were principally from the east.

Agusto said his family built their house in 1985 during the Indonesian occupation, when there were no land titles. He said he simply cleared some land and built a house. About 40 other families did the same thing. Every single one was destroyed.

Squatter status

Locals were quick to say their enmity was not the result of regional differences. They said eastern families were unpopular because they were squatters - even if they had lived in the same houses for a generation.

Gaspar da Silva, the neighbourhood leader in a section of Becora, recalled that up until the 1980s only one or two eastern families lived in his area. But soon after that the extended families came in from the hills and the neighbourhood was taken over by people who had no respect for local tradition, he said. Since 2006 their neighbourhood had been calmer, he added.

The government's solution to these tensions has been to hold dialogues between factions. However, Da Silva said while he took part in the talks, he did not believe in the process as it had gone nowhere.

Traditional ceremonies

Da Silva said he would accept former residents on two conditions: they could show a land title and they would participate in a "tuir adat", a traditional ceremony.

"In the ceremony we would kill a cow or a goat and get the blood and mix it with palm wine and then all drink a cup of it," he said. "Then our problems will go away … that's our tradition."

He might get his wish. After organising dialogues with limited success, Estella Gusmao, the ministry's media officer, said last month the government had begun holding traditional mediation ceremonies.

However, Gusmao added that serious disputes were better resolved by the courts. "If the people in the neighbourhood don't accept the families back, maybe they've had a problem with them in the past because they've committed crimes. These cases have to be taken to the police and then to trial because people have to follow law and order."

But Da Silva is suspicious of the law. "The law is for the important people and the smart people and that's it," he said. "We ignorant people don't understand any of it. But all of us, eastern and western Timorese alike, understand our traditional ceremonies."

Agusto has participated in two government-orchestrated dialogues, but so far no consensus has been reached. He said he would consider a traditional ceremony, but his neighbours had not suggested it.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has said he would like to see the remaining displacement camps cleared by the end of the year, but progress is slow and IOM's Bacchin told IRIN she was doubtful any lasting success could be achieved in such a short time.

jw/bj/mw

ALKATIRI PROSSEGUIRÁ COM O PROCESSO LEGAL CONTRA A DIFAMAÇÃO

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
FRETILIN
_______________________________________________________________________
COMUNICADO DE IMPRENSA
ALKATIRI PROSSEGUIRÁ COM O PROCESSO LEGAL CONTRA A DIFAMAÇÃO

A FRETILIN saudou o Tribunal Distrital dos Estados Unidos da América por ter decidido rejeitar a acção legal levantada pela companhia americana “Oceanic Exploration” que alegava que uma outra companhia concorrente tinha conseguido ganhar o contrato de exploração às jazidas petrolíferas do Mar de Timor-Leste por ter pago suborno aos governantes e politicos timorenses.

A queixa incluía uma alegação absurda que dizia que o antigo Primeiro-Ministro de Timor-Leste e Secretário-Geral da FRETILIN, Dr. Mari Alkatiri, tinha recebido um suborno de 2 milhões americanos para a assinatura e o avanço do Tratado sobre o Mar de Timor-Leste.

Dr. Alkatiri disse no passado dia 4 de Junho que prosseguirá com o processo legal contra a difamação extensiva de que foi vítima durante três anos, movida por políticos e pelos media que se basearam em calúnias infundamentadas para fazer a sua politica de “caça às bruxas” contra ele.

O juíz Hughes descreveu as “evidências” da Oceanic como “ mais de 50 páginas banais” , “uma lista de fofocas e disparates”, “não convincente” e “suposições – nada mais”.

Dr. Alkatiri negou vigorosamente estas alegações desde o início e meteu na altura uma acção legal por difamação contra as figuras políticas que fizeram eco dessas alegações em várias ocasiões públicas.

Lu’Olo disse que sempre acreditou que estas alegações tinham motivação política e que o tribunal haveria de demonstrar a inocência de Alkatiri.

Lu Olo disse: “ Por ter rejeitado este caso, o Tribunal também chamou a contas os politicos tais como o actual Presidente do Parlamento, Fernando de Araújo Lasama, que difamou Dr. Alkatiri na altura ao exigir a sua resignação com base nessas alegações infudamentadas. Fernando de Araújo Lasama e as outras pessoas que o difamaram, deveriam pedir desculpas ao Dr. Alkatiri e à sua família sem qualquer demora”.

“Estas alegações foram o começo de uma política de “caça às bruxas” movida contra o Dr. Alkatiri e a sua família com o objectivo de forçar a sua resignação como Primeiro-Ministro”.
O Presidente da FRETILIN, Francisco Guterres Lu’Olo disse que era digno de nota que os medias locais e estrangeiros que tinham feito tanto eco das alegações infundamentadas da Oceanic não tenham divulgado a decisão do tribunal distrital americano emitida há seis semanas.
A Oceanic e as suas subsidiárias portuguesas (melhor conhecidas colectivamente por "Petrotimor") tentaram obter compensação da companhia americana Conoco Phillips que explora o maior campo petrolífero no Mar de Timor-Leste alegando prática de corrupção por parte da Phillips Petroleum ( antecessora da Conoco Phillips) por ter pago subornos para ganhar o contrato de exploração.

Em 16 de Abril 2008, o Juíz Lynn N. Hughes do Tribunal Distrital dos EUA, em Houston, Texas, rejeitou a acção legal de 30 biliões de dólares americanos iniciada pela Petrotimor e a Oceanic Exploration contra a ConocoPhillips, a Autoridade Nomeada para o Mar de Timor-Leste (TSDA) e outros, em Março de 2004.

Dr. Alkatiri negou veementemente essas alegações infundamentadas mas embaixadores estrangeiros também tentaram servir delas para manchar o seu bom nome e reputação. Houve uma campanha maliciosa contra ele e eu quero que se faça justiça “.

“É difícil de perseguir soluções legais em Timor-Leste porque o Procurador-Geral está altamente politizado e actua com parcialidade , disse Lu’Olo”.

“Dr. Alkatiri iniciou anteriormente uma acção legal em Dili contra o sr. Fernando Araújo Lasama, Presidente do partido democrático, na altura partido de oposição ao governo liderado pelo Dr. Mari Alkatiri. Apesar de vários pedidos, o Procurador Geral da República recusou-se a processar a queixa levantada pelo Dr. Mari Alkatiri, queixa essa considerada como ofensa criminal no âmbito do Código Criminal de Timor-Leste.”
.
“Esta falha, quer por negligência, quer por recusa em actuar, demonstra que o Procurador Geral da República actua com motivações politicas tal como tem acontecido noutras ocasiões ”.
Para mais informações, contacte com José Reis, tel. +670 7340382 ou José Manuel Fernandes, tel.7342174

Notícias (1)

AGÊNCIA LUSA
Sábado, 31/05/2008 - 20:22

Dili - O presidente do Timor Leste, José Ramos-Horta, pediu ao tribunal que autorize o ex-tenente Gastão Salsinha a visitá-lo fora da prisão, afirmaram fontes judiciais à Agência Lusa, em Dili.

O pedido de Ramos-Horta recebeu parecer desfavorável de um procurador internacional, mas foi autorizado por um juiz timorense, afirmaram as mesmas fontes, que falaram sob anonimato.

No despacho que autoriza a visita de Gastão Salsinha a José Ramos-Horta, um juiz timorense do Tribunal Distrital de Dili justifica o deferimento por se tratar de um “ato social”, segundo fonte conhecedora do processo.

Gastão Salsinha e um grupo de ex-rebeldes das forças de segurança timorenses estão em prisão preventiva em Becora, Dili, co-acusados no processo sobre os ataques de 11 de fevereiro de 2008.

Na ocasião, José Ramos-Horta foi baleado com gravidade e o primeiro-ministro, Xanana Gusmão, conseguir escapar ileso.

O ex-tenente das forças armadas do Timor Leste é o principal suspeito de liderar a emboscada a Xanana Gusmão e apontado como o atual líder dos rebeldes, já que o major Alfredo Reinado, que comandou o ataque a Ramos-Horta, morreu na investida.

Segundo fonte do Ministério Público, de acordo com as leis do Timor Leste, a visita a um detido na prisão é "normal", mas a situação inversa não está diretamente prevista na legislação.

"A remoção do preso para outro local - fora a mudança de prisão, que é competência normal dos serviços prisionais - pressupõe uma autorização judicial competente e efetua-se apenas para fins judiciais”, explicou a mesma fonte.

Em 21 de maio, em visita ao grupo de Salsinha na prisão, José Ramos-Horta falou que queria se encontrar a sós com o ex-tenente para tentar entender o que ocorreu em 11 de fevereiro.

“Eu sou uma vítima da crise de 2006. Todo o mundo e o povo do Timor não compreenderam e ficaram perplexos em relação ao que me aconteceu”, disse o presidente diante de Salsinha e de alguns dos homens que quase o mataram, incluindo Marcelo Caetano, autor do disparo.

“O evento de 11 de fevereiro não afeta em nada os meus sentimentos pessoais, os meus princípios em relação à condição de presos”, afirmou também Ramos-Horta.


**

Timor-Leste: JP Morgan recebe custódia de fundo petrolífero [ 2008-06-04 ]


Díli, Timor-Leste, 04 Jun - O banco JP Morgan foi escolhido pela Autoridade Bancária de Timor-Leste (ABP) como responsável pela custódia dos activos do Fundo Petrolífero timorense, avaliado em 2,9 mil milhões de dólares, foi anunciado em Díli.

O Acordo de Custódia Global com a filial australiana do JP Morgan surge na sequência de um concurso internacional e é qualificado em comunicado da ABP como "um importante passo em frente na gestão operacional" do Fundo Petrolífero.

À entidade de custódia caberá receber e organizar as instruções de gestores de recursos do Fundo e avaliar o seu desempenho, "um passo necessário para implementar a intenção do governo de alargar o mandato de investimento do Fundo, a fim de, a longo prazo, alcançar lucros mais altos", adianta a mesma fonte.

A Autoridade Bancária e de Pagamentos de Timor-Leste é o futuro banco central de Timor-Leste e no quadro da Lei do Fundo Petrolífero tem a responsabilidade da gestão operacional do Fundo. (macauhub)

**

Indultos não devem tornar-se "mau precedente"- Mari Alkatiri

AngolaPress

Lisboa, 03/06 - O líder da FRETILIN afirmou segunda-feira que a necessidade de Timor-Leste ter um presidente "digno e credível" exige que a política de indultos seguida por José Ramos-Horta seja acompanhada para evitar "maus precedentes" e não criticada.

O presidente timorense "dá uma contribuição dentro da sua generosidade mas decisões desta natureza são sujeitas a críticas de uns e ao apoio de outros", afirmou hoje Mari Alkatiri, à margem da conferência "Timor no Caminho do Futuro", promovida pela Comissão Asiática da Sociedade de Geografia e pelo Instituto Luso-Árabe para a Cooperação.

"Aceito o que fez [Ramos Horta] com a preocupação de pôr fim a este conflito que temos vivido há anos e particularmente desde 2006. Em momentos como este precisamos de um presidente digno e credível. É melhor não discutirmos e contribuirmos para que não se torne num mau precedente", adiantou.

O indulto presidencial de 20 de Maio abrangeu 94 presos, entre eles o ex-ministro do Interior, Rogério Lobato, condenado pela distribuição de armas a civis durante a crise de 2006.

Foram ainda indultados com redução de metade da pena quatro timorenses, incluindo Joni Marques, que pertenciam, em 1999, à milícia Team Alpha, de Lospalos (leste), acusados e condenados por um tribunal timorense por crimes contra a humanidade.

Entre os maiores críticos à decisão presidencial está o Partido Unidade Nacional (PUN), que qualifica de inconstitucional o processo.

Acabado de regressar de Angola, Alkatiri afirmou ainda que recebeu "muito apoio" do presidente angolano José Eduardo dos Santos mas também manifestações de "muita preocupação".

"A mensagem" trazida da audiência de sexta-feira em Luanda, adiantou, "é a necessidade de procurar soluções da via pacífica e diálogo".

"Foi uma visita muito positiva. Foi a primeira vez, era uma dívida que tinha para com o povo e presidente de Angola, um dos países que sempre esteve ao lado de Timor-Leste", adiantou Alkatiri.

Questionado sobre um eventual apoio do MPLA à FRETILIN nas próximas eleições, o líder timorense afirmou contar com o apoio do maior partido angolano "mas também de todos os outros".

Nas próximas eleições, sentenciou, "a maioria absoluta é o mínimo" que a FRETILIN pretende.

**

Segurança de Cavaco indicado para Timor
DN
15.06.08


MANUEL CARLOS FREIRE
Segurança. Vaga para o cargo de comissário da Polícia da ONU em Díli

Decisão sobre vencedor do concurso das Nações Unidas está para breve

Portugal propôs o nome do chefe da segurança pessoal do Presidente da República, intendente Luís Carrilho, para o cargo de comissário da Polícia na Missão Integrada das Nações Unidas em Timor-Leste (UNMIT).

O intendente da PSP Luís Carrilho tem um currículo de peso, desde logo pela sua experiência em Díli: foi o primeiro director da Academia de Polícia de Timor (2000), adjunto e chefe de gabinete do comandante da Polícia Civil da ONU ou porta-voz dessa força em Timor.

Fora da opção do Ministério da Administração Interna (MAI) ficou o major-general do Exército Luís Newton Parreira, actual comandante da Brigada Territorial 2 da GNR - apesar de as autoridades timorenses terem comunicado a sua vontade em ter um oficial da Guarda a ocupar aquele cargo das Nações Unidas em Díli, referiram ao DN várias fontes.

O actual comissário da Polícia na UNMIT é Rodolfo Asel Tor, um responsável policial filipino em funções desde Dezembro de 2006. Para lhe suceder há uma dezena de candidatos, entre os quais um australiano e um neozelandês - apontado como o mais forte por algumas das fontes.

Contra a candidatura do intendente Luís Carrilho poderá estar o seu posto, uma vez que a ONU quer um oficial de polícia - o que pode ter levado o MAI a não apoiar o general Newton Parreira - com a patente de superintendente. "Teríamos um candidato imbatível se fosse possível juntar os perfis [pessoais e profissionais] dos dois" para corresponder aos critérios do cargo, garantiu uma das fontes ao DN.

Mas a questão do posto também poderá ser um falso problema, tendo em conta a experiência profissional do intendente. No âmbito das Nações Unidas e como director da Academia de Polícia timorense, Luís Carrilho - então com a patente de comissário - teve como adjunto um superintendente norueguês.

A nível nacional, Luís Carrilho está novamente a desempenhar funções de posto acima do seu, pois o cargo de chefe da segurança pessoal do Chefe do Estado compete a um superintendente - a exemplo do de comandante do Corpo de Segurança Pessoal da PSP, que o oficial ocupou durante três anos como subintendente.

Quanto ao general Newton Parreira, que viveu em Timor na segunda metade dos anos 1960 e fala tetum, foi colega de escola dos principais dirigentes timorenses - o que poderia ser um factor adicional na preferência expressa por Díli de querer um oficial da GNR. A actuação desta força de segurança tem suscitado os maiores elogios, até pelo papel que desempenhou aquando do atentado falhado contra o Presidente Ramos--Horta. O comissário da Polícia da UNMIT tem sob as suas ordens cerca de 1500 elementos das forças de segurança - 10% dos quais da GNR - e 31 oficiais de ligação militares, além de quadros civis.

**

Governo e ONU assinam acordo sobre revisão do sector de segurança

Internacional 2008-06-13 08:26
O Governo de Timor-Leste e o Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento (PNUD) assinaram hoje em Díli um acordo de apoio à revisão do sector de segurança já em curso.

O apoio do PNUD concretiza um ponto central do mandato da Missão Integrada das Nações Unidas em Timor-Leste (UNMIT), relativo à reforma do sector de segurança.

O destinatário directo do apoio do PNUD é o grupo para a Reforma e Desenvolvimento do Sector de Segurança, um mecanismo criado em Agosto de 2007 no seio da Presidência da República e onde estão representados o Parlamento Nacional e o Governo.

O primeiro-ministro, Xanana Gusmão, o representante-especial do secretário-geral da ONU em Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, e o representante do PNUD e número dois da UNMIT, Finn Reske-Nielsen, assinaram o acordo numa cerimónia curta no Palácio do Governo.

Os três responsáveis sublinharam que a revisão do sector de segurança “é um processo liderado e conduzido pelas autoridades timorenses”.

O acordo assinado hoje permite também a colaboração directa da Unidade de Apoio ao Sector de Segurança (SSSU) já existente no seio da UNMIT, com o grupo criado pelas autoridades timorenses.

Finn Reske-Nielsen recordou que a estabilidade e a segurança é um ingrediente essencial do desenvolvimento económico, que apontou como justificação para o PNUD apoiar directamente a revisão em curso do sector.

Atul Khare salientou que a revisão e a concretização da reforma já em curso “permitirá a Timor-Leste enfrentar crises no futuro sem recorrer a ajuda externa, além de fortalecer o estado de direito e a vida democrática”.

O acordo tem uma alocação de 1,2 milhões de dólares (com um milhão de dólares garantidos até ao momento), disponibilizados pelo próprio PNUD, pela Noruega, a Austrália e a Irlanda.

Duzentos mil dólares serão usados para uma consulta nacional sobre o sector de segurança, a realizar em todas as comunidades.

A equipa do projecto será localizada no comité coordenador do grupo para a Reforma e Desenvolvimento do Sector de Segurança, com um director internacional e cinco assessores timorenses.

Estes assessores representam o gabinete do primeiro-ministro, as secretarias de Estado da Defesa e a da Segurança e os ministérios dos Negócios Estrangeiros e o das Finanças.

A revisão do sector de segurança inclui análises parcelares, de ameaças externas e internas, de falhas institucionais e normativas e do ambiente estratégico.

Dos termos do acordo hoje assinado consta “uma pesquisa detalhada das percepções públicas das ameaças de segurança e do sector de segurança”.

O projecto faz também referência à “capacitação através de assistência directa às autoridades timorenses”, por exemplo em áreas como a intendência e a gestão financeira.

Atul Khare recordou que “em todos os países democráticos, a revisão do sector de segurança é feita com regularidade”.

O preâmbulo do acordo recorda a crise de 2006, com a expulsão de quase metade dos efectivos das Falintil-Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste, a implosão da Polícia Nacional e o conflito entre as duas forças, que provocou pelo menos 38 mortos e mais de cem mil deslocados.

Lusa / AO Online

**

04.06.2008 Cinema Lusofonia
Rascunho.net

Festival de Avanca leva filmes premiados a Timor

O que tem Estarreja em comum com Díli e Bacau? O cinema. É uma ponte de meio mundo, que conduz àquelas paragens Timor Loro-Sae, a curta de animação do português Vítor Lopes retirada, em 2006, do Festival Internacional de Cinema da Indonésia.

Os melhores filmes do Festival de Cinema de Avanca estarão em exibição em Timor, durante o corrente mês de Junho. A iniciativa é fruto da parceria estabelecida com o Cine Angra do Heroísmo (CAH) e da Universidade Nacional de Timor Loro-Sae. E Timor Loro-Sae é também o título do filme de animação do realizador Vítor Lopes, um dos destaques do cartaz.

Organizado pelo Cine-clube de Avanca e pela Câmara Municipal de Estarreja, o festival nortenho – também designado por «Encontros Internacionais de Cinema, Televisão, Vídeo e Multimédia» – comemora o seu 12.º aniversário. Para o celebrar, a organização decidiu levar a cabo esta iniciativa. Manuel Salvador, também responsável pela iniciativa paralela realizada nos Açores, é o apresentador do evento, que tem lugar em várias cidades timorenses, entre as quais a capital, Díli, e Baucau.

O Festival de Avanca conta com o apoio do Ministério da Cultura, e alberga uma larga selecção de curtas e longas-metragens, filmes de animação, de ficção e documentários, provenientes de todo o mundo. Para além de um sem-número de workshops dirigidos por nomes grandes da indústria cinematográfica e audiovisual, o festival encerra também a Competição Avanca, que distingue os melhores filmes a concurso. Em Timor marcam presença vários filmes premiados.

O filme Timor Loro-Sae, curta-metragem de animação (na imagem) realizada por Vítor Lopes, que reflecte a visão do português sobre o país asiático, é uma das atracções da extensão timorense do Festival. No entanto, o célebre realizador português viu ser censurada a presença do mesmo filme no Festival Internacional de Cinema da Indonésia. O governo indonésio alegou razões de segurança para banir a metragem do cartaz do Festival

**

05/06/2008 - 18h42
"Paixões Proibidas" será primeira novela brasileira em Timor Leste
Publicidade
DAYANNE MIKEVIS
da Folha Online

A novela "Paixões Proibidas" será a primeira brasileira exibida em Timor Leste, pela única emissora do país, a TVTL (Televisão de Timor Leste), disse nesta quinta-feira Antônio Dias, coordenador da emissora. Ao menos o produto é o primeiro do gênero que a emissora terá disponível.

A exibição de "Paixões Proibidas" será possível devido a uma doação da Band à emissora de Timor.

"É uma história com temas humanistas, baseada no livro de Camilo Castelo Branco e uma co-produção com Portugal, tem tudo a ver com o momento que Timor está passando, de reconstrução", disse Maria Leonor Saad, diretora internacional de vendas da Band.

Dias afirmou que sua emissora possui atualmente cinco horas de programação local, sendo 4h30 min em tétum, língua oficial do país, ao lado do português. O restante das 24 horas de programação é complementado por atrações da RTP, TV pública de Portugal.

"Nosso foco são programas educativos, mas a telenovela ajuda, ajuda no português, em ligar o Brasil com o Timor Leste, assim nós sentimos que não estamos sozinhos", disse Dias, ao comentar que não chegou a estudar português, língua que só falava em sua casa durante o domínio indonésio.

A TV de Timor Leste possui apenas cinco anos. O país conta com 35 dialetos e ainda não possui cursos universitários em diversas áreas. "Por isso o indonésio ainda é importante, para os timorenses que vão estudar na Indonésia e depois retornam", disse Dias.

"Paixões Proibidas" foi uma co-produção da Band com a RTP e contou com oito atores portugueses no elenco, segundo a emissora do Morumbi.

Timor Leste

Timor Leste, uma antiga colônia portuguesa, conseguiu a independência em maio de 2002, depois de 24 anos de ocupação indonésia (1975-1999) e três sob a administração da ONU (1999-2002).

O país comemorou no último mês seus seis anos de independência com o presidente José Ramos Horta de volta ao exercício da função após se recuperar de um atentado.

Dias disse que conhece Horta, que o presidente ainda apresenta seqüelas do atentado. "Mas ele está bem, está se recuperando", afirmou.

"Após o atentado, a polícia e o Exército se uniram para procurar os responsáveis", disse Dias, ao comentar que, de certa forma, o ato violento aproximou a Força e a corporação no país.

Interrupção até dia 16 de Junho

Os comentários deixaram de ser moderados durante este período, pelo que poderão deixar mensagens que automaticamente aparecerão nos respectivos posts.

Um abraço,

Malai Azul

COURT DECISION AGAINST PETROTIMOR VINDICATES TRUTH: ALKATIRI TO PURSUE

The President of FRETILIN, Timor-Leste's electorally most popular
party, Francisco Guterres "Lú-Olo" today welcomed the decision of the
United States Federal Court sitting in Texas to dismiss the claims by
Oceanic Exploration and its Portuguese subsidiaries (better known
collectively as "Petrotimor") for compensation against US company
Conoco Phillips who commercially operates the largest gas and liquids
field in the Timor Sea, claiming amongst other remedies compensation
for loss of opportunity and alleging corrupt conduct by Phillips
Petroleum (the forerunner to Conoco Phillips) in paying bribes to
Timor-Leste officials and politicians. The claims included an
unfounded allegation that former Timor-Leste Prime Minister and
FRETILIN Secretary General, Dr. Mari Alkatiri was paid a bribe of US$2
million to sign and push through the Timor Sea Treaty. Dr. Alkatiri
has strenuously denied the allegations from the outset and commenced
legal action at the time in Dili for defamation against Timor-Leste
political figures who repeated the allegation publicly.

On 16 April 2008, Judge Lynn N. Hughes of the U.S. District Court in
Houston, Texas dismissed the 30-billion-dollar lawsuit brought by
Petrotimor and its parent company Oceanic Exploration against
ConocoPhillips, the Timor Sea Designated Authority (TSDA) and others
in March 2004. Although the Timorese and international media
repeatedly reported on Petrotimor's sensational charges (including
alleged ConocoPhillips bribing of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri) over
the last four years, the final judgment rejecting the lawsuit has not
been reported anywhere in the six weeks since it occurred.

Speaking in Dili today upon hearing the news, Lú-Olo said that he
always believed that the court decision would vindicate Dr. Alaktiri's
denials and that the allegations were always politically motivated.
"I and many, many, others know my colleague Dr. Alkatiri. He is a
person of integrity and is selfless. I never had any doubts that the
court would throw the case out. In doing so the court has also called
to account those politicians like the current President of the
Parliament, Mr. Fernando Araujo, who defamed Dr. Alkatiri at the time
by demanding his resignation because of the airing of these baseless
allegations of bribery. There were others. They know who they are
and they should all now apologize to Dr. Alkatiri, and his family,
especially his wife, daughter and sons, without delay," said Lú-Olo.

"These allegations were the beginning of a political witch-hunt
against Dr. Alkatiri and his family. It smeared his whole family in
the eyes of some who believed the allegations because they were being
repeated privately and publicly as a reason for my father to resign.
He vehemently denied the allegations. But it did not stop the
witch-hunt and even foreign ambassadors repeated the allegations in an
attempt to malign the man's good name and reputation. I want to see
him get justice for the malicious campaign undertaken against him in
this regard. But it will be difficult to imagine how justice will be
delivered to him, even if his claims go to court," added.

At the time Dr. Alkatiri lodged a complaint in Dili with the
Prosecutor General for action against Mr. Fernando Araujo Lasama who
was President of the Democratic Party, and opposition to the then
FRETILIN Government headed by Alkatiri. Mr. Lasama is today the
President of the Timor-Leste National Parliament. Despite repeated
requests the Prosecutor General has failed, neglected or refused and
continues to fail, neglect or refuse to prosecute Dr. Alkatiri's
defamation compliant, which under The Timor-Leste Criminal Code is a
criminal offence.

"This failure, neglect or refusal to act by the Prosecutor General is
also politically motivated. He had no qualms in initiating an
investigation against Dr. Alkatiri for alleged involvement in the
arming of civilians in 2006, but has not taken one step with regard to
Dr. Alkatiri's good name and reputation being tarnished by these false
and baseless allegations. What is going to happen now that it is
beyond doubt that the allegations are baseless? The judge made it
clear in the decision when he referred to the allegations in very
forceful and colorful language like 'over 50 pages of trivia', 'a list
of gossip and debris', 'not cogent', and that 'It has
assumptions-nothing more' amongst other statements diminishing the
factual value of the claim," asked Lú-Olo.

In the decision the Judge said about the bribery allegations:

"Oceanic's asserts abstract operative facts – bribery, hostility,
causation, and damage. It supports the abstractions with over 50 pages
of trivia. The details are not cogent; we are left with a metaphysical
leap from this list of gossip and debris of Conoco Phillips' working
in the region to Oceanic's particular interpretation of why it lost in
Timor. For instance, Oceanic pleads that the president of Conoco
Phillips flew to East Timor to hand an official a suitcase of cash.
Implausibility aside, Oceanic simply can not link this fact with its
injury. That is, it can not possibly have an idea why the president of
an international corporation would personally deliver cash in a
briefcase to an official of East Timor. It has assumptions – nothing
more."

"In Oceanic's long complaint – twice amended, not counting its
practice run in the Australian courts – it has not pleaded facts that,
if true, show its injury is connected to the acts it describes. If
ConocoPhillips acted corruptly in East Timor, Oceanic was injured in
common with oil companies, consumers, and the rule of law everywhere."

Mari Alkatiri will now pursue all legal remedies for the extensive
defamation against him over a period of three years by Timor-Leste
politicians and media.

Convite

O Presidente da Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa tem a honra de convidar Ex.ª e sua Exma. Família para assistir a uma conferência promovida pela Comissão Asiática e pelo Instituto Luso-Árabe para a Cooperação intitulada:

“Timor – no caminho do futuro”

Será orador o Senhor Dr. Mari Alkatiri.

Esta sessão realiza-se no próximo dia 2 de Junho pelas 18 horas.Na ocasião realiza-se a cerimónia da entrega da Medalha de Mérito da Cooperação do ILAC com que foi agraciado.

Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, 100 1150-269 LISBOA Tel.: 21 3425401/5068 - Fax 21 3464553

e-mail geral@socgeografialisboa.mail.pt

Aveiro: D. Ximenes Belo homenageado pwela CIVITAS como referência de cidadania

Aveiro, 30 Mai (Lusa) - A associação para a defesa e promoção dos direitos dos cidadãos CIVITAS entregou hoje a D. Ximenes Belo o galardão "Cidadão do Ano", pelos valores de cidadania que tem cultivado e pela referência que constitui de respeito pelos direitos humanos.

"Todos os anos escolhemos uma figura que é exemplo do que deve ser um cidadão, porque todos nós precisamos de ter referências e este ano escolhemos D. Ximenes Belo.

"Timor-Leste, a que estamos emocionalmente muito ligados por razões históricas, voltou este ano a ter problemas graves e aproveitámos o facto de termos entre nós D. Ximenes Belo, que vive no Colégio dos Salesianos, em Mogofores, que faz parte da nossa rede, para o homenagear", disse à Lusa Lurdes Ventura, presidente da CIVITAS de Aveiro.

Numa curta intervenção, D. Ximenes Belo agradeceu "em nome de Timor-Leste o apoio e solidariedade que tem permitido alcançar a independência política" e deixou uma mensagem às crianças das escolas que participaram na sessão: "devem ensinar os adultos a respeitar os vossos direitos".

A entrega do galardão ocorreu durante o "Fórum da Cidadania Activa", em que foram apresentados os trabalhos realizados ao longo do ano pelos alunos de escolas e colégios dos diversos graus de ensino que aderiram ao projecto "Direitos Humanos em Acção".

Segundo Lurdes Ventura trata-se de um projecto que envolve não apenas os alunos e as escolas como também os pais, procurando cultivar o respeito pelos direitos humanos.

"É um projecto abrangente porque põe as escolas e as famílias a conversar sobre os direitos humanos que diariamente são postos em causa ao nosso lado, cultivando o respeito pelos outros e pelas diferenças", disse a responsável.

A CIVITAS Aveiro, associação para a defesa e promoção dos direitos dos cidadãos, tem procurado desenvolver actividades "que apostem na criação de dinâmicas de cidadania, na mudança de mentalidades e na reflexão crítica sobre o mundo e sobre questões emergentes que violem os direitos humanos".

MSO
Lusa / Fim

Presidente da República aborda situação em Timor Leste

Angop
Luanda, 30/05 – O Chefe de Estado angolano, José Eduardo dos Santos, analisou hoje (sexta-feira), em Luanda, com o secretário-geral da Fretilin, Mari Alcatiri, a situação prevalecente em Timor Leste.

Em declarações a jornalistas, no final da audiência, Alcatiri disse que o encontro permitiu ouvir do presidente José Eduardo dos Santos algumas sugestões que permitam pôr termo à actual crise em Timor Leste.

“A situação tem melhorado”, asseverou Mari Alcatiri, porém fez saber que a crise ainda persiste e como Angola tem uma larga experiência, “viemos aqui mais uma vez para beber dela”.

Precisou que o Chefe de Estado angolano acha que a “postura da Fretilin tem sido positiva e deve continuar para a obtenção da paz e da estabilidade”.

O responsável da Fretilin, formação política que governou Timor Leste durante muitos anos, disse que naquele país asiático existe uma “ausência de violência” que, entretanto, ainda não é o essencial.

Para Mari Alcatiri, a causa fundamental da crise ainda não foi debelada, (…) que é a contradição no seio da liderança nacional, manifestando a sua preocupação face à contínua degradação das condições sociais no seu país.

Timor Leste, situado no sudoeste asiático, tem Dili como capital. Está independente desde Novembro de 1975, mas somente reconhecido em Maio de 2002. Possui 924.000 habitantes numa área de 15.410 quilómetros quadrados.

Timor-Leste: Displaced families leave camps, return home

International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Date: 30 May 2008

IOM has helped 1,030 displaced families living in three of Dili's 48 displacement camps to return home, two years after the political violence that forced them to flee their communities.

The three-week return and reintegration operation in support of the government's national recovery strategy was funded by the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (ECHO) and the Australia's International Refugee Fund (IRF), and focused on Dili's Fatumeta Seminario Minor, National Hospital and Jardim camps.

The Fatumena and National Hospital camps are now closed, but the Jardim camp, located directly adjacent to Dili's port, still houses some displaced families. An estimated 25,000 displaced people are still sheltering in Dili's 46 remaining camps.

In addition to providing transport for the returns, IOM worked closely with the government, local leaders and partner agencies to prepare both the families and their receiving communities through dialogue to promote reconciliation.

"The return and reintegration of families from the camps is quite complex. Other families may have moved into their homes during their absence; there is an acute shortage of alternative housing; and there is a real risk of renewed violence if large numbers of people return at the same time," says IOM Timor-Leste Chief of Mission Luiz Vieira.

"Not everyone can return to their old home and some families have to move to transitional housing. Our aim is to find viable, dignified and safe alternatives to life in the camps and that means working through potential problems with receiving communities before they happen," he adds.

For more information, please contact Brad Mellicker at IOM Dili, Tel: +670 735 1998, email bmellicker@iom.int

Alfredo - Honrosa presença de um Timorense na alta roda do futebol

Alfredo Esteves joga no Wollongong FC da NSW Premier League na Austrália.

Nobel da Paz em entrevista, na “Rádio Cova da Beira”

D. Ximenes Belo revela novo livro no Fundão

Diário XXI
Quinta-Feira, 29 de Maio de 2008


D. Ximenes Belo esteve ontem no Fundão numa visita particular e passou pelos estúdios da "Rádio Cova da Beira" (RCB)

Liliana Machadinha

"O problema de Timor não é só interno. Está numa posição geo-estratégica entre a Ásia e a Austrália e por isso foi ao longo dos séculos cobiçada por potências, devido à existência de petróleo e gás natural. Como povo pequeno sofremos tudo isso". A afirmação pertence a D. Ximenes Belo que esteve ontem no Fundão para uma visita particular, mas acedeu a ser entrevistado pela "Rádio Cova da Beira" (RCB). Em entrevista, a que assistiu o Diário XXI, reviu a instabilidade política, passada e actual, episódios que estarão narrados num livro que está a escrever e que analisa 450 anos de história. A ocupação de Timor Leste é um tema obrigatório, assim como a luta pela independência, também feita em nome próprio e que se viu reflectida no Nobel da Paz que recebeu em 1996. Um galardão que D. Ximenes Belo considera como uma "chamada de consciência às pessoas sobre a nossa luta e o nosso sofrimento" e que dedica "ao esforço de todo o povo de Timor".
As gravações decorreram ontem nos estúdios da "RCB", mas as palavras do Nobel da Paz podem ser ouvidas no programa "Flagrante Directo" de dia 7 de Junho, entre as 11h00 e as 13h00.

LUTA PELA INDEPENDÊNCIA RECONHECIDA COM NOBEL

D. Ximenes Belo foi galardoado com o Nobel da Paz, em 1996, em conjunto com o actual presidente daquele país José Ramos-Horta, pela luta que travou pela independência de Timor. Nasceu em Fevereiro de 1948, em Baucau, e foi ordenado padre em 1980. Em 1983, foi nomeado Administrador Apostólico de Dili e cinco anos mais tarde foi consagrado bispo. Após a independência de Timor, em Maio de 2002, viajou para Portugal para recuperar do seu débil estado de saúde, em 2004 tornou-se missionário na Congregação dos Salesianos, em Moçambique.

Seis presos em liberdade desde publicação de indulto presidencial

Díli, 28 Mai (Lusa) - O indulto concedido pelo Presidente de Timor-Leste já resultou na libertação de seis prisioneiros, cinco do Estabelecimento Prisional de Becora, em Díli, e um de Gleno (sudoeste), segundo informação dada hoje à Lusa pelos Serviços Prisionais.

O decreto presidencial foi publicado em Jornal da República a 21 de Maio.

Seis dos nove condenados por crimes contra a humanidade, abrangidos pelo indulto presidencial, “podem sair em liberdade nos próximos meses”, afirmou à Lusa um magistrado internacional ligado aos processos do Tribunal Especial que, em 2001, proferiu as primeiras condenações dos ex-elementos da milícia Team Alfa.

Entre os nove ex-elementos de milícias integracionistas indultados por José Ramos-Horta no dia da independência, 20 de Maio, sobressai o de Joni Marques, acusado de alguns dos crimes mais cruéis cometidos antes e depois da consulta popular de 30 de Agosto de 1999.

Joni Marques, Gonçalo dos Santos, João da Costa “Lemorai” e Paulo da Costa, membros ou “associados” da milícia pró-indonésia Team Alfa (ou Tim Alfa), de Lospalos (leste), constituem, juntos, uma das cinco listas nominais do decreto presidencial número 53/2008.

Segundo o mesmo magistrado, um dos quatro condenados por crimes contra a humanidade pode sair em liberdade em Outubro deste ano, um outro em Novembro e um terceiro em 2010.

O magistrado salientou, porém, que “o decreto presidencial não dá liberdade automática aos indultados”.

O magistrado internacional ouvido pela Lusa sublinhou que os nove ex-milícias constantes do decreto de indulto são os últimos nove “de mais de setenta” condenados por crimes graves ou crimes contra a humanidade pelo Tribunal Especial em Díli, que “foram sendo libertados nos últimos anos” ou fugiram da prisão.

“Alguns desses cerca de 70 condenados talvez tenham escapado da prisão, nas duas fugas que houve em Becora, uma em 2002 e outra em 2006”, referiu.

A fuga de 2006, a 30 de Agosto, foi protagonizada pelo major Alfredo Reinado.

“Pelo menos um condenado do Tribunal Especial evadiu-se de Becora”, adiantou à Lusa o mesmo magistrado.

Sobre o impacto do indulto presidencial a este tipo de condenados, o magistrado referiu que “há em ambas as resoluções das Nações Unidas sobre Timor-Leste, em 1999 e em 2006, palavras explícitas de apoio à responsabilização por estes crimes graves”.

“As Nações Unidas não querem decerto este tipo de legião de perdoados”, sublinhou o magistrado à Lusa.

A deputada e líder do Partido Unidade Nacional (PUN), Fernanda Borges, exigiu segunda-feira, em plenário, que o Parlamento Nacional de Timor-Leste peça “explicações ao Governo sobre as recomendações enviadas ao Presidente da República” para a concessão dos indultos.

“O Presidente da República não justificou devidamente por que concedeu os indultos”, acusou Fernanda Borges, presidente da Comissão A do Parlamento Nacional, que tem competência sobre assuntos constitucionais, direitos, liberdades e garantias.

PRM
Lusa/Fim

Cinema: Filmes do Festival de Avanca exibidos em Timor

Aveiro, 29 Mai (Lusa) - Vários filmes premiados no Festival de Avanca vão ser exibidos em Junho em Timor Leste, anunciou hoje o cine-clube daquela localidade portuguesa.

A extensão do Festival em Timor é organizada conjuntamente com o Cine Angra do Heroísmo e a Universidade Nacional Timor Loro-Sae e, entre os filmes em exibição, irá estar a curta-metragem de animação "Timor Loro-Sae" de Vítor Lopes, que foi objecto de vários prémios internacionais.

Com sessões previstas para várias cidades de Timor, nomeadamente Díli e Baucau, esta extensão do Festival de Avanca será apresentada por Manuel Salvador Lima, que dirige a extensão do Avanca nos Açores e se encontra em Timor-Leste ao abrigo de um acordo com a respectiva Universidade Nacional.

Costa Valente, do Cine-Clube de Avança, disse à Lusa que, com a projecção dos filmes em Timor, "espera-se ajudar a criar um sentido do audiovisual nas novas gerações de timorenses".

Segundo explicou Costa Valente, "não há ainda produção local que possa colocar Timor-Leste no mapa audiovisual, embora haja alguma formação nessa área por parte de organizações não governamentais (ONG) e através do Instituto Camões".

"É todo um caminho que tem de ser construído com as gerações mais novas e para o qual esperamos contribuir", disse.

Os Encontros de Avanca comemoram este ano a sua décima segunda edição, reunindo todos os anos filmes inéditos em Portugal, numa selecção proveniente de mais de 60 países e constituída por filmes de longa e curta-metragem, ficção, animação e documentários.

MSO
Lusa / Fim

H.E Minister Zacarias da Costa accepts Letter of Credentials

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MEDIA RELEASE
29 May 2008 For Immediate Release
H.E Minister Zacarias da Costa accepts Letter of Credentials
from Dr Arun Thapa as Head of Mission and Representative of the World Health Organization in Timor-Leste

Minister da Costa accepted the Letter of Credentials from Dr Arun Thapa as the newly-appointed Head of Mission and Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Timor-Leste.

During their meeting, Minister Zacarias praised the work of Dr. Thapa’s predecessor Dr. Alexander G. Andjaparidze who was resident in Timor-Leste for eight years. Dr. Thapa arrived in Timor-Leste in February of this year and has been Acting Head of Mission. He expressed the gratefulness of the WHO for the support of the government with regard to its programs and expressed his honor in accepting his new position as well as his awareness with regard to the considerable work to be done in the health sector in the country. Dr Thapa also expressed his awareness of the “considerable contribution” of his predecessor, and said that he would “bring all the resources that are available to bear into this country to effect further development”.

The Minister highlighted some of the pressing and most urgent health concerns facing the nation which the government is currently focusing on, including malaria, Tuberculosis and Leprosy, and requested the continued assistance of the WHO in addressing these key areas. Dr Thapa spoke of his travels with the Minister of Health, Minister Nelson Martins, and his first-hand encounters with some of the health issues in Timor-Leste, including the enclave of Oecussi.

Dr Thapa expressed his willingness for the WHO to support the Minister of Health in these and other areas and of the fact that this would be a planning year for the organization looking into the next five years on how it will work best at the central and district levels in Timor-Leste. Dr Thapa is a national of Nepal and most recently worked for 10 years at the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office in New Delhi, India.

For the further information
MNE Public Relations Division

Vote Buying Case Heard by Circuit Court

16 May 2008

The ‘Mobile Court’, a relatively new initiative of the Suai district jurisdiction, heard only one matter on its recent Maliana circuit. This related to an incident of vote buying that allegedly took place in Cailaco prior to the general election held in 2007.

The case involves a PNTL officer with known party political ties. A hearing was conducted at the Maliana PNTL office, and proceeded with the defendant’s cooperation. The judge, sitting alone rather than as part of a panel, read out the indictment submitted by the Public Prosecutor, which stated that the defendant had bribed certain individuals with different political allegiances to vote for the party supported by the defendant.

The defendant is alleged, by these actions, to have violated Article 56.1 of the Law on the Election of the President of the Republic, No. 7/2006, which states that “any person who uses violence or threatens to use violence against any elector or who employs deceit, fraudulent trickery, false news or any other illegal means to force the elector not to vote or to vote in a certain direction, or to abstain from voting or to buy votes, shall be punished with coercive detention of up to 2 years or fine of up to 1,000 US dollars”.

After hearing the indictment, the defendant stated that in principle he admitted the charges against him, but had no intention of providing any further testimony in the trial. Following some explanation of process by the judge, the defendant did change his mind and agreed to give a more comprehensive statement to the court.

The defendant subsequently testified that he did indeed give ten dollars each to eighteen individuals as named. He claimed, however, that the money was paid to them for services rendered as security guards at Cailaco during the election. He stated these actions were solicited and encouraged by the then State Secretary for Regional Affairs, Lino Torrezao, He further denied any intention to threaten these witnesses into voting for a candidate from his preferred party. The defendant did, though, admit that he had, during this period, criticized a candidate from another party while drunk on palm wine.

The judge suggested at this point that witness testimony would not be required, as sufficient evidence of guilt had been provided by the defendant, pursuant to Article 268.4 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which states that “Where the court is satisfied that the admission of guilt is free and genuine, the questioning, including the remaining production of proof, is limited to the facts and circumstances that have not been sufficiently clarified”. The Public Prosecution Unit, represented on this occasion by Reinato Bere Nahak, felt that this was unusual and requested that the court proceed to hear the testimony of those witnesses who were then present at the Maliana PNTL Office.
The two witnesses brought before the court both testified that the defendant had bribed them to vote for his favoured party and threatened that if they did not choose the candidate he recommended, then he would beat them and everyone else who had accepted his money.

After hearing this testimony, the prosecutor decided to further investigate the matter and summon Lino Torrezão as a witness, not discounting the possibility that he could conceivably be charged himself on the basis of evidence in this case. The judge adjourned until 22 May 2008.

JSMP is pleased to see that cases of suspected election-related offences are receiving the due attention of the court. Whilst politics may have moved on from last year’s elections, effective prosecution of crimes that threaten the integrity of electoral process remains critical to the full expression of democracy in Timor-Leste.

Also worthy of comment is the creation of the ‘Mobile Court’ – a laudable innovation that will assist in adjudicating the concerns of parties who might otherwise have had no means to attend a hearing. This circuit court approach will also likely help to educate people in more remote areas about the formal justice system. JSMP hopes that the Mobile Court is well supported and funded to continue and improve its work, and eventually extended across the country.

For more information please contact:

Timotio de Deus
Director, Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP)
Email: timotio@jsmp.minihub.org
Landline: 3323 883

Reunião do Conselho de Ministros de 28 de Maio de 2008

REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE TIMOR-LESTE

IV Governo Constitucional

COMUNICADO À IMPRENSA

O Conselho de Ministros reuniu-se esta Quarta-feira, 28 de Maio de 2008, na Sala de Reuniões do Conselho de Ministros, no Palácio do Governo, em Díli, e aprovou:


1. Decreto-Lei que Cria o Fundo do Emprego e da Formação Profissional - FEFOP

Este diploma vem regular a criação de um serviço, no âmbito da Secretaria de Estado da Formação Profissional e Emprego, para implementar programas de qualificação e de incentivo à contratação de mão-de-obra timorense.
Os programas a serem financiados, em parceria com a Organização Internacional do Trabalho (OIT), promoverão políticas activas de criação de emprego e de desenvolvimento da formação profissional, especialmente a classes mais desfavorecidas, desempregados com baixo nível de qualificação ou desempregados de longa duração, deficientes, jovens, bem como a criação de empregos de curta duração e a disponibilização de créditos para o estabelecimento do auto-emprego através de pequenos negócios e microempresas.

2. Decreto-Lei que aprova a Orgânica do Ministério da Defesa e Segurança

Este diploma legal, no cumprimento do Programa do Governo, fixa as orientações, gerais e especiais, para a estruturação do Ministério e tendo por objectivos a promoção da cidadania e da qualidade dos serviços públicos, com ganhos de eficiência pela simplificação, racionalização e automatização, que permitem a optimização dos serviços e dos recursos a eles afectos.
O diploma opta por uma separação clara entre os serviços afectos à área da defesa e os serviços dedicados à área da segurança, não deixando, no entanto, de manter uma coordenação muito próxima das duas Secretarias de Estado responsáveis por cada área, através do próprio ministro e da criação de órgãos sob a sua égide que farão a coordenação dos serviços.


O Conselho de Ministros discutiu ainda:


3. Política de Protecção da Criança em Risco de Abuso

O Ministério da Solidariedade Social apresentou um documento de trabalho relativo às questões de protecção dos direitos da Criança.
A protecção da Criança e a implementação dos respectivos direitos é uma preocupação importante do Governo que pretende incrementar a divulgação destes direitos, designadamente na protecção contra a violência, exploração e abuso, estabelecer estruturas de referência e de apoio para as crianças vítimas, em suma, garantir os direitos especiais das Crianças designadamente nas áreas da educação, saúde e segurança. A este propósito o Conselho de Ministros analisou e aprovou o projecto de Memorando de Entendimento a estabelecer entre vários ministérios e, entidades da sociedade civil e parceiros para o desenvolvimento, relativo ao reforço da assistência social às crianças vítimas, através da criação de Redes de Protecção à Criança.


O Governo apreciou ainda uma apresentação feita pelos técnicos do ministério da Solidariedade Social e IOM relativa aos resultados da implementação do Programa “Hamutuk Hari’i Futuru”, de apoio à resolução dos problemas dos deslocados.

FRETILIN exposes wholesale land giveaway by Agriculture Minister

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE (FRETILIN)

Media Release May 29, 2008


The Deputy Leader of FRETILIN, Francisco Miranda Branco, on Tuesday (27 May) called on the de-facto Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Mariano Sabino, to release all details of a deal he signed with Indonesian company GTLeste Biotech to give away 100,000 hectares of agricultural land for sugarcane cultivation and to build a sugar and ethanol processing plant. FRETILIN is the largest party in Timor-Leste's National Parliament.

The deal gives exclusive rights to GTLeste Biotech to grow and process sugarcane and to sell and export sugar and ethanol in and from Timor-Leste for a period of 50 years, with an option for a further 50 years. Timor Leste has an estimated arable land area of 400,000 hectares, so the GTLeste Biotech deal alienates 25% of the arable land to biofuel production.

Branco and others criticized the deal as being non-transparent and not in the national interest, because one company has been given exclusive rights to an industry and land for 100 years without other potential bidders having had the opportunity, and because of its impact on food security.

"To keep the deal so secretive violates every principle of good governance and the public interest, not to mention the national interest," said Branco.

But it is not the only deal which has been questioned in parliament. Last month, the President of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Mario Carrascalao MP, queried a deal allegedly signed by the same Minister for 200,000 hectares to plant rubber trees, in addition to the GTLeste Biotech deal.

"We share Mr Carrascalao's concerns. But because we were unable to obtain a copy of the agreements from the government, we have been unable to scrutinize the benefits and value of the agreements. Now that we have a copy of the agreement, it is clear why the minister and the government have kept the agreement away from public scrutiny," explained Branco.

"Given our alarm at the GTLeste Biotech, we are extremely anxious about what is in the agreement to give 200,000 hectares for rubber tree planting. It has been even more secretive. No substantial details have yet been made available to either the parliament or civil society, despite requests. There is no transparency in how the de facto government deals with these questions," stressed Branco.

"FRETILIN contends that if the second agreement does give away 200,000 hectares to a foreign company, then this minister has given away nearly five percent (5%) of our total land mass in less than his first year as Minister without any opportunity whatsoever for public scrutiny of these deals.

"At this rate, if this minister remains in his post for a full five years, he could well give away close to half of the country to foreign interests. During the election campaign we warned that this minister's party, the Democratic Party, favored too much the access by large foreign investors to Timor-Leste. It seems we were very right, unfortunately," added Branco.

"The Prime Minister announced his intention to establish an anti corruption commission. If that ever gets up and running, this deal with GTLeste Biotech would be among the first matters it would have to investigate. FRETILIN is considering requesting the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, the constitutionally mandated anti-corruption watchdog, to investigate this deal," said Branco in closing.

Contact: Jose Teixeira +670 728 7080; Nilva Guimaraes +670 734 0389

UNMIT Daily Media Review - 30 May 2008

(International news reports and extracts from national media. UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports)

UNMIT celebrates International Peacekeepers Day – Timor Post, Diario Nacional and Televisaun Timor-Leste

The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) celebrated the 60th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping on Thursday (29/5) in Dili.

The celebration was attended by PR José Ramos-Horta, PM Xanana Gusmão, Timor-Leste Independence Proclamator Francisco Xavier do Amaral, the Special Representative of Secretary-General (SRSG) Atul Khare, other senior leaders of Timor-Leste and the diplomatic corps.

During his speech, SRSG Atul Khare paid homage to those lost their life in keeping the peace.

“It is always difficult to come to terms with the loss of a beloved one. But when the families mourn for a spouse, father, brother, or son who died in a far off land that many of them never visited, it is simply unimaginable. I pray for peace to all those who died in the service of the United Nations for the cause of peace and stability of Timor-Leste and for courage to their bereaved families and friends,” stated SRSG Khare.

President José Ramos-Horta told the gathering he was happy to join the ceremony to celebrate the 60th Peacekeepers Day in Timor-Leste.

“It is 60 years since the United Nations began sending men and women, the blue berets, to many nations.

Today is the day to give tribute to all the peacekeepers in the world, especially those who are in Timor-Leste, along with civilian staff and Timorese staff who, during the popular consultation, died and suffered as UN peacekeepers,” said PR Ramos-Horta.

The ceremony included songs and performances by school children and local musicians, and the reciting of poetry. Prayers were offered by representatives of the main religious groups.


Mario Carrascalão: asking the Government to cancel MAF-Indonesian MOU – Televisaun Timor-Leste

PSD Member of Parliament Mario Carrascalão is asking the Government to cancel the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests-Fishery (MAF) and the Indonesian Government.

Last Monday in National Parliament Mario said the MOU was a secret agreement that will not be beneficial for the population.

“We ask this MOU to be cancelled because they signed it in secret. There should not be a law that is created only for the interest of the Government. We do not agree at all with them to sell the land to Indonesia, as stated in the MOU that TL will give a concession to Indonesia for two years to use 100,000 hectares of land,” Mr. Carrascalão said.

In response to this, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture said the agreement was not secret because at that time journalists were invited to the signing.

“This agreement is not secret. We just want to say that on 15 January 2008 when we signed the MOU, it was witnessed by many journalists as well broadcast on TVTL that the Ministry of Agriculture had signed an MOU with a company named "GT. Leste Birotec,” explained Lourenço Borges Fontes.

He added that this agreement may be cancelled if there has been no activity from the time of the signature up to now.


PM Xanana: the Government has no authority to regulate international market prices – Diario Nacional Televisaun Timor-Leste

After attending the weekly meeting with President Horta in Farol on Thursday (29/5), Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão said that the Government has no authority to regulate prices because they depends on the international market.

“Suppose the price in the world is regulated, the price of rice in the nations which produce the rice is marked down, the price of petrol is regulated, and you do not need to ask me because everything will decrease by itself. Timor Leste a small country which is dependent on the fluctuations of foreign countries. If the price increases in the foreign countries, we will suffer the same thing in our country. So it is not for Timor Leste government to normalize the price because this crisis is affecting all nations in the world”, said PM Xanana.


TL pays homage to UN Peacekeepers – Radio Timor-Leste

TL gives homage to UN Peacekeepers who sacrifice their lives for UN missions in conflict nations including TL (Horta).

We give our homage to all UN members who had sacrifice their lives in the service of peace in conflict nations around the world. Sergio Vieira de Mello and his compatriots died in Baghdad (Iraq), because of UN efforts to maintain peace and stability in the world,” said PR Horta during a briefing after the celebration of the 60th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping in Balide, Dili on Thursday (29/5).


Government: to take 3% of petroleum funds as social subsidiary – Radio Timor-Leste

Prime Minister Xanana said that the government will take 3% of petroleum funds to give subsidize social programs.

“The food crisis is an issue around the world, not only in TL. The government should allocate funds to respond to needs of society,” said PM Xanana during ameeting with President Horta in the government palace yesterday (29/5).

MSS: plan to have department to protect children rights – Radio Timor-Leste

Minister of Social and Solidarity Maria Domingas Alves said on Thursday (29/5) in Delta Nova, Comoro that the Ministry of Social and Solidarity will create a new program and plan to establish a department to protect child rights. The department will focus on runaways, children who need protection from abuse within the home, and those who are facing violence.


Fr. Martinho: Peace stops violence – Diario Nacional

The Director of Peace and Justice of Baucau Diocese, Fr. Martinho Gusmão said that only peace could stop the violence in the world, especially in Timor-Leste. The observance of the 60th Anniversary of UN Peacekeeping was important to build unity and peace in the world, as UN missions to Timor-Leste have shown over the last few years.

“With this kind of ceremony we could work hard to build peace. Peace can not stand alone – it is always side by side with justice and unity to determine the destiny of the people and this country,” said Fr. Martinho at the ceremony of UN Peacekeepers Day in Balide, Dili on Thursday (29/5)


Pardon to Rogerio: MPs ask PR Horta retract his statement – Suara Timor Lorosa’e

Members of the National Parliament are asking President José Ramos-Horta to withdraw his statement concerning the pardon of former Minister of Interior Rogerio Tiago Lobato in which he said that many of the Rogerio’s family died in the fight for the country's liberation.

“The president should give a pardon based on his authority and not because someone's family died during the struggle,” said CNRT MP Natalino dos Santos on Thursday (29/5) in the National Parliament.

The big impact [of the president’s pardon] is setting a bad precedent to the nation – there is no legal basis on which to give a pardon based on family members who died during the war.

President Ramos-Horta did not comment on the request even though journalists have been questioning him about the pardon and his recent statements

Indonesia-Australia ties: What went wrong? – The Jakarta Post, 30 May

CANBERRA (JP): As the Timor crisis deepened in 1999, relations between Australia and Indonesia soured, and then deteriorated seriously, sharply and unexpectedly in September-October.

After a decade of seemingly positive and broad-based expansion, developing into what some came to regard as an emerging 'special relationship', these two months witnessed unprecedented recrimination and antagonism.

Although an open, formal rift was avoided, the cooling of relations was reflected in public statements made at the highest level.

President Habibie referred in the Indonesian parliament to Australia's unwelcome 'interference in Indonesian affairs', while Prime Minister Howard spoke of the need to assert 'Australian values' in the region rather than kowtowing to the policies of neighbors, referring (implicitly) especially to Indonesia.

At the heart of the matter was the crisis in East Timor. The extensive and almost instantaneous coverage by the international electronic media of the tragic events in Timor, together with its tendency to highlight isolated and extreme reactions in both countries, heightened the sense of crisis.

It contributed to emotional responses. Australian unions boycotted Indonesian ships and Garuda passengers were harassed, the Indonesian flag was burnt and the Indonesian Ambassador could not enter his office for over a week.

In Indonesia, in response, there was an almost continuous demonstration outside the Australian embassy, seemingly (if TV shots were to be believed) verging on violence.

Australian offices were attacked and Australian citizens threatened. At the nadir of the relationship in early October 1999, Indonesians saw Australia -- seemingly too enthusiastically -- take the lead in the formation of a multinational force, UNAMET, to restore order following the post referendum militia rampage in Timor.

But many Indonesians saw Australians zealously entering 'their territory'(as most Indonesians regarded East Timor then), and behaving in a militaristic and bellicose fashion -- the armed Australian soldier standing over the defenseless Timorese youth, for example.

How and why was the relationship so easily and quickly derailed? And where do we go from here?

Answers to these questions are important, not just for Australia and Indonesia but, more broadly -- since the two countries are the dominant powers of the South Pacific and Southeast Asia respectively -- for the harmony of the region.

It was not just the Australian actions which angered many Indonesians. Australia's style was unpalatable. Indonesia expected its neighbor to show some understanding of Jakarta's predicament (at least that of a weak civilian government), and to help calm the situation.

But instead Australia appeared to take the lead in condemning Indonesia. The voice of Australia -- its media, its politicians and its people -- appeared more strident than any other. Even liberal-minded and sympathetic Indonesian figures, such as Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and journalist Wimar Witoelar, saw Australian reactions as 'arrogant' or 'insensitive', its words and actions smacking more of a colonial power than an understanding neighbor.

Conversely, in September, Australians watched each night on television the abuse of a poor and innocent people, whose only 'crime' was that they clearly and decisively voted for Independence.

Why couldn't the all-powerful Indonesia military assist these people and control the violence, Australians (and indeed the world) asked.

Why was the government in Jakarta so seemingly two-faced in response to international criticism?

The immediate cause of tension -- a process of decolonization, strongly opposed by elements of the Indonesian military and equally strongly supported by large sections of the Australian public, and by their government -- which erupted in violence, was as difficult a problem as most neighbors will ever face.

In one sense, it was a credit to the leaders of both countries that diplomatic relations remained open, despite many calls from their domestic constituencies for radical action.

But beyond the immediate rift, ill-informed recriminations and the proliferation of stereotypes revealed that there is still a fundamental lack of understanding of national characteristics and political processes in each country -- a lack of understanding which was all too easily manipulated by mischievous elements on both sides.

Among these caricatures of each other, Indonesians often view Australians as white, racist, rich, arrogant, and possessing an unrivaled propensity to lecture other countries.

On the other hand, many Australians continue to view Indonesia (even after fall of the Soeharto) as corrupt, brutal, militaristic, authoritarian, and maintaining an iron grip on a reluctant non-Javanese citizenry in the eastern provinces.

Like all caricatures, there is an element of truth in these views. But as generalizations they are seriously distorted. Many Australians, especially in the media, failed -- or didn't want -- to recognize, the broad-based improvements in Indonesian living standards since the mid 1960s, across both socio-economic groups and its far-flung regions.

Australians have also tended to pay scant attention to deep historical and cultural sensitivities. Having never been a poverty stricken colony, never been invaded by a foreign power, and never had to fight a protracted and bloody war of Independence, most Australians don't have the historical perspective to understand Indonesian sensitivities on key issues.

Flag-burning, for example, arouses little passion in Australia, yet for most Indonesians it is a highly provocative action.

With a hard-fought Independence achieved just two generations ago, destruction and defamation of national symbols by a neighbor is quite shocking to many Indonesians.

The fact that Australians are predominantly rich and white, and are culturally disposed towards frank and blunt expressions of opinion abroad -- mirroring the style of domestic debate -- further complicates the issue. These misperceptions work in both directions, however. It is true that Australia maintained a discriminatory immigration policy until about 1970 (the so-called 'White Australia Policy'), and that for the first 180 years of European settlement the treatment of aboriginal people was disgraceful.

But things have changed much in Australia over the past 30 years. Australia now has an open, non-discriminatory immigration program, matched by very few countries.

The resulting societal transformation has been rapid and Australia is arguably one of the world's most vibrant multi-cultural societies.

Its generous refugee program has few parallels, certainly in this region. It is true that this 'multiracialism has been strongly criticized at home -- the 'Pauline Hanson' factor.

But the immigration program continues to attract bi-partisan political support. The One Nation party is now in decline and never captured vote’s ona scale comparable to similar parties in the U.S. and Europe.

It is also true that Australia's aboriginal community (numbering about 250,000 persons) have unacceptably low living standards. But there are many ‘positive discrimination' programs and the community's problems are openly acknowledged and debated within and outside government.

In addition, Australia continues to be one of the major donors to Indonesia, including a generous scholarship program. It strongly supported the international financial rescue effort in the wake of the economic crisis and, despite fiscal austerity at home; the real value of aid has been broadly maintained.

Australia's per capita income is now below both Singapore and Hong Kong, neither of whom provides aid to Indonesia.

The Australian press is often seen as a complicating factor in bilateral relations. It is easy to understand Indonesians' anger here: in recent times, the extraordinarily rude and ill-informed television interview with the Indonesian ambassador on a commercial network, and the 60 Minutes team crassly walking into a 'minefield' by asking queuing East Timorese how they would vote in the referendum.

More generally, many Australian journalists, with their single-minded focus on human rights, East Timor, and corruption, have failed dismally to present a balanced picture of the complexity of Indonesia.

There is no doubt that, rightly or wrongly, the murder of five journalists in Balibo in late 1975 has contributed to this press hostility towards Indonesia. But, while Indonesian dismay is quite understandable, here too the issue is not amenable to sweeping generalizations. There have been some very fine Australian journalists in Indonesia, particularly in the print media.

Indonesia's sometimes heavy handed press controls needlessly antagonized the foreign (and of course the domestic) press. And the problems with the Australian press have arisen in part from proximity and familiarity.

The New York Times, London's Guardian, Dutch papers, the BBC and CNN have often been just as critical as Australian outlets. But because there are not as many of them, and they don't report as often, the tensions have not been so great.


The 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping – The Manila Times, 29 May

By Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General

(For more than 50 years, the Philippines has sent hundreds of troops overseas for peacekeeping in fulfillment of its international obligations. From South Korea in the 1950s to Timor Leste in the ‘00’ decade, Filipino soldiers and police officers, under the auspices of the United Nations, have taken part in humanitarian missions to keep the peace and to help rebuild in formerly war-torn countries. We pay them tribute on this day, the 60th year of UN peacekeeping.)

This year, the annual International Day of UN Peacekeepers also marks the 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping. Six decades ago today, the Security Council established our first peacekeeping mission. Most of the peacekeepers came from a handful of European and American countries and they were mostly unarmed military men observing and monitoring cease-fire lines.

Since then, peacekeeping has developed into a flagship enterprise of our Organization. Today, we have more than 110,000 men and women deployed in conflict zones around the world. They come from nearly 120 countries—an all-time high, reflecting confidence in United Nations peacekeeping. They come from nations large and small, rich and poor—some of them countries recently afflicted by war themselves. They bring different cultures and experiences to the job, but they are united in their determination to foster peace. Some are in uniform but many are civilians and their activities go far beyond monitoring.

They train police, disarm ex-combatants, support elections and help build State institutions. They build bridges, repair schools, assist flood victims and protect women from sexual violence. They uphold human rights and promote gender equality. Thanks to their efforts, life-saving humanitarian assistance can be delivered and economic development can begin.

In the past year, I have visited peacekeepers in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean. I have seen refugees returning home, children heading back to school, citizens once again secure under the rule of law. I have seen whole societies moving, with the help of the peacekeepers, from devastation to rejuvenation. In Haiti, in Liberia, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the blue helmets have provided breathing space for a fragile peace to take hold.

We could not do this job without our partners in regional organizations. The African Union and the UN are deploying our first hybrid force in Darfur. And we are working with the European Union in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic.

More than half of all our Member States contribute troops and police to peacekeeping operations. We are grateful to every one of them. Our special thanks go to the top contributors: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Nepal. Together, these nations of the south contribute nearly half of the UN’s peacekeepers.

This anniversary is an occasion to celebrate, but also to mourn our fallen colleagues. Over these six decades, more than two thousand and four hundred men and women have died serving the cause of peace. Just last year alone, we lost 87 brave individuals.

Each one is a hero. Today, we recommit ourselves to ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten, and the vital work of the blue helmets continues as long as they are needed.


Australia provides E Timor election funds – ABC Radio Australia, 29 May
Australia is providing almost $US300, 000 for electoral bodies in East Timor.

The funds will be used for a wide range of activities including updating the voter registration roll, revision of the electoral laws and planning and conducting voter and civic education as well as preparation for the local elections.

The funds will be allocated by Australia's overseas aid program, AusAID.

AusAID, a key partner of United Nations Development Program in East Timor, last year provided around $1.25 million for the 2007 elections.

East Timor to use oil fund to stabilize prices – Reuters (India), 29 May

DILI, May 29 (Reuters) - East Timor will use a fraction of its oil fund worth over $2 billion to protect the poor from rising food and fuel prices, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said on Thursday.

Gusmão said he would take three percent from the fund to stabilize prices and to import rice, fuel and construction materials. The oil fund was created from revenue earned from the country's oil and gas sector in 2005 in order to amass money for future generations of Timorese.

Gusmão said the government decided to use a portion of the money, which is deposited in a U.S. bank, because some countries had not made good on their promises to provide aid.

"We are ashamed if we keep asking donors to give us money to resolve our problems," he told reporters. "Sometimes they renege on their promises."

East Timor, one of the world's poorest countries, is vulnerable to rising food prices in the international market because it relies on imports for nearly 60 percent of its rice needs.

Indonesia occupied East Timor for 23 years before the former Portuguese colony voted in favour of independence in a United Nations-sponsored ballot in 1999.

As Asia's youngest nation, the country is still struggling to achieve stability despite its rich oil and gas resources.


Intervening in conflict-ridden states – seattlepi.com (The Economist), 29 May

Nearly seven years after the toppling of the Taliban, Afghanistan's future is still up for grabs. Despite tens of thousands of foreign troops, and billions of dollars in aid, the country remains stricken by poverty and insurgency.

Kabul seems like the capital of an occupied country. Foreign diplomats and United Nations officials are forbidden to walk the streets alone, because of the risk of kidnap; so they cruise behind the tinted windows of their four-wheel-drives. Many big roads are concrete anti-terrorist obstacle courses.

After recent suicide bombings in the capital, it too is a front line.

Afghanistan's troubles are, of course, unique, especially in the viciousness and extent of its continuing insurgency, most often compared with Iraq's. But this is in fact only one of four foreign interventions in conflict-ridden states in Asia in recent years. The others -- in Cambodia, Timor-Leste and Nepal -- offer revealing parallels with Afghanistan.

Perhaps the clearest of all is that, despite the huge difficulties it presents -- in Afghanistan above all -- holding an election is the easy part.

Voters have consistently surprised observers with their enthusiasm, their maturity and their refusal to be cowed by the threat of violence. This was movingly so in a parliamentary election in Cambodia in 1993; in a referendum on independence in the then East Timor in 1999 and in its constituent-assembly and presidential elections in 2001-02; and in this year's constituent-assembly election in Nepal.

But the losing party in Cambodia's election responded by threatening the future of the peace process and then muscled its way back into government, where it still sits.

The referendum in East Timor was followed by an orgy of Indonesia-inspired arson, looting and violence. The elections there led to an unstable government and to renewed violence in 2006. Following Nepal's election, to the surprise and alarm of many observers, the Maoists have emerged as the biggest single party.

In Afghanistan, parliament houses many of the warlords who have wreaked such havoc in the country. As one veteran observer laments, a crucial mistake was made at the outset: not allowing the government and its foreign supporters a monopoly on the means of violence.

Another point in common to all four places is made by a senior U.N. official: that, in these rebuilding exercises, the outside world always tends to neglect the importance of "justice." Understandably, in the interests of reconciliation and peace, there is a reluctance to countenance a confrontational settling of accounts.

In Cambodia it was only last year, after most of the Khmer Rouge leaders had died, that trials began of those who survived. In Timor-Leste, inquiries into past atrocities have not been allowed for fear of jeopardizing relations with Indonesia; it has been deemed better to forget than to forgive. In Nepal, both the Maoists and the former royal army have strong reason to want to avoid any probe into their past behavior.

Similarly in Afghanistan, there has been no accountability for past crimes. Nor can there be: the government relies on the support of some of those who stand accused of war crimes.

That is in part a consequence of the government's most glaring weakness: the shortage of literate, capable, honest people to staff an administration. The lament repeated by every section of the foreign community is about the lack of "human capital," or, if the speaker is feeling self-accusatory, about the failure of "capacity- building."

This too is a problem familiar from, for example, Cambodia and East Timor -- warfare and hardship wreck education systems and send millions into exile. If they come back at all, after peace returns, there is little financial or other incentive for the talented ones to work for the government.

Most find it more attractive to work for the U.N., or foreign governments and charities -- and so it is easier for the foreigners to do the jobs themselves. But they risk leaving behind them a dangerous vacuum, or perhaps worse: never being able to leave at all.


EAST TIMOR/INDONESIA: Reconciliation at the Cost of Justice? – IPS, 30 May

(IPS) - East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta's decision to pardon those involved in the 1999 killings, and the violent incidents of 2006, has thrown a shadow over the fledgling country's justice system and efforts at reconciliation with former occupiers Indonesia.

"The president's decision will influence people’s minds about the judicial system... how serious crimes committed can be pardoned," said Casmiro Dos Santos, acting director of JSMP, a local non-government organisation (NGO) that monitors human rights and justice in East Timor.

Horta used his presidential prerogative to "grant pardons and commute sentences after consultation with the government". A decree was delivered on May 20 coinciding with the tiny nation's sixth anniversary of independence.

The pardon applies to Rogerio Lobato, former interior minister in the Fretilin government, imprisoned because of his involvement in arms distribution to civilians in 2006.

Seven former militia members who were involved in the 1999 killings that followed the vote for independence and the retreat of Indonesia's armed forces from East Timor were also pardoned.

One of these is Joni Marques, leader of the Tim Alfa militia, who viciously attacked a car full of nuns and priests in the Los Palos sub- district of Lautem in the eastern side of East Timor. Marques was jailed for 33 years in 2001 in the country's first trial for crimes against humanity.

In all, 94 listed prisoners were given full or partial pardon by Horta.

According to the criteria written in the presidential decree, those eligible to get their sentences halved need to have completed a quarter of the sentence. But Lobato served time for less than two months and then flew to Malaysia for health treatment.

By not recognizing the bloody events that took place in 1999 and the involvement of Indonesia's military in them, both countries have made the reconciliation process meaningless, say critics.

After East Timor declared its independence in late 1975 it was invaded and occupied by Indonesia only to relinquish control in 1999, following a U.N.-sponsored referendum.

Among the politicians who have expressed reservations over the pardon policy is Fernanda Borges, president of the minority pro-justice party PUN. "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.

"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 be pardoned by the president,'' Borges was quoted as saying at a briefing.

But what many find troubling is that Indonesia's military has not embraced the reforms adopted by other government institutions. The United Nations' Committee against Torture report on Indonesia, released mid-May, found widespread use of torture and routine ill-treatment of suspects in police custody. "The state should not establish nor engage in any reconciliation mechanism that promoted amnesties for perpetrators of acts of torture, war crimes or crimes against humanity," the U.N. body recommended.

UNMIT Daily Media Review - 29 May 2008

(International news reports and extracts from national media. UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports)

Ed: people wait for prices to go down; MPs wait for luxurious cars – Timor Post

The previous Government once had plan to buy cars for the leaders. This was at a time when people earned US$ 0.50 cents per day. The current Government also has the same plan.

When the Fretilin Government planned to buy cars, many people including those who are at the benches of current parliament said they needed to defend the interest of the people and were satisfied with their monthly salary. But when the time comes to rule – principles change.

Lu-Olo: Fretilin-ASDT continuing their platform to rule – Timor Post

Fretilin and ASDT began implementing their platform when ASDT President Francisco Xavier do Amaral, with his Acting Secretary-General Francisco Gomes, said they would withdraw the party from AMP.

Fretilin President Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo said that Fretilin-ASDT will implement their programs as outlined in their accord.

“Together, we will correction the bad mistakes of the AMP Government in order to move the nation forward.

The AMP Government does not deserve to serve the people, as it is creating problems in the country,” Mr. Lu-Olo said.

The withdrawal of ASDT from AMP may guarantee early elections, he added..

The President of Fretilin President also said that there are many ways and mechanisms which can be used to force early elections, even though AMP still holds a majority in the National Parliament.

The Minister of Economy and Development, João Gonçalves said that the AMP’s development programs are moving forward and there will not be early elections.

“Dr. Mari Alkatiri is frightened because AMP is beginning to do something. This means that they want early elections,” said Mr. Gonçalves on Wednesday (28/5) in the Government Palace, Dili.

Mr. Gonçalves also said that the AMP Government and political leaders will not permit early elections.

UNDERTIM: we will never let AMP be brought down – Diario Nacional

Regarding political statements by the leader of ASDT who decided to withdraw from the AMP coalition, the UNDERTIM bench chief in the parliament, Cornelio Gama ‘L-7,’ said that he will never let the AMP Government be rocked during its term in government.

“We have reasons not to let the AMP government fall. We believe and guarantee that AMP will bring development to the people and we also do not want AMP shaken – we have the same principles, we want to solve the nation’s problems,” said Mr. L-7 on Wednesday (28/5) in the National Parliament, Dili.

According to Mr. L-7, at present the AMP Government is solving IDPs’ and the petitioners’ problems, and improving people’s lives.

Regarding statement of the ASDT leaders, L-7 said that it is difficult to bring down the AMP Government as all the veterans are gathered together at this time to support the Xanana-led government.

Gil Alves: Xavier’s retirement was an individual decision – Suara Timor Lorosa’e, Timor Post and Diario Nacional

MP ASDT Gil Alves said that he considers the declaration of the ASDT president Francisco Xavier do Amaral on behalf of the ASDT party to pull the party out of the AMP alliance as an individual decision.

It does not affect ASDT MPs’ continuous work to support the AMP in the National Parliament for the improvement of the country. Therefore, ASDT MPs in the National Parliament continue to support AMP, said Mr. Alves.

He added that even though there is a contradiction between the President of ASDT and ASDT MPs in the National Parliament, it does not mean that ASDT has divided into two groups.

“So far, the ASDT party is not divided. We continue to be strong,” said Mr. Alves on Wednesday (28/5) at National Parliament.

Ed: Pardon for Rogerio Lobato is unfair – Suara Timor Lorosa’e

Some Timorese people are questioning President Jose Ramos Horta's pardon of Rogerio Lobato, especially since the President Ramos Horta demonstrated a change of attitude since returning from medical attention in Darwin Australia.

Many people including politicians, lawyers, members of the parliament and youth were surprised when the President decided to pardon to M. Rogerio Lobato. Some believe that this decision is a way of circumventing the constitution.

As a chief of State, the President has the right to grant a pardon to any prisoner. However, as it was not yet time for Rogerio Lobato to receive a pardon from the President, the decision might not support the justice system.

It was unfair to pardon Rogerio Lobato because his family sacrificed themselves during the past war. Many others also scarified themselves and lost their families during the war. By this reasoning, the pardon is unacceptable.

Up until now, some of these families have still not received compensation from the government. There is no proper logic behind this decision.

We wait …

CNRT: not frightened of ASDT's decision – Diario Nacional

Vice President of the CNRT bench in the parliament, Pedro da Costa said that AMP is not frightened even though ASDT President Francisco Xavier do Amaral and elected representatives from the districts have decided to leave AMP.

Mr. da Costa said that the decision of ASDT's leader will not influence the AMP Government’s activities as AMP still has the majority of the National Parliament.

...

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