19 September 2008

Legal Reports National Media 19 September 2008

It is good to set up an anti-corruption commission, says Indonesia's KKP president – Suara Timor Lorosae 19 September 2008
President of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Commission, Antasri Azhara, said it is good will on behalf of the Timorese Government in combating corruption and that it was positive to enliven the country's economic development.

Azhara made the comments during the international conference held at the Hotel Timor on combating corruptions.

'The Timorese Government's policy of setting up an antic-corruption commission is showing a positive signal, because corruption is an error committed by Government officials to enrich themselves,' Azhara said.

Azhara added that corruption appeared because there were interests from those who had power aiming at enriching themselves with the people's money which should actually be spent for facilitating people's lives, such as constructing school buildings and clinics.

State is committed to combating corruptions, says Lasama – Suara Timor Lorosae 19 September 2008
Parliamentary President Fernando 'Lasama' de Araujo said that state bodies, such as the presidency, the parliament and the Government were committed to combating corruption in the country.

'The president of the republic, prime minister and parliamentary president and NGO’s participation in the conference shows that we have a commitment to combat corruption in the country,' Lasama said. Lasama made the comments yesterday during a speech marking the opening of 2 day international conference on anti-corruption held at Hotel Timor.

The conference was financially funded by both the Timorese Parliament and the Government of Australia.

Parliament holds international conference on corruption – Timor Post 19 September 2008
Timor-Leste has been urged to clean up corruption, collusion and nepotism known as KKN, because, like terrorism and narcotics, it would only damage the country’s economy and image.

Parliamentary President of Committee C for anti-corruption, Cipriana Pereira, said if corruption was rising in the country, it would destroy the politicians and public development, as well as the private sector.

Pereira said corruption was a major challenge in the world and that there needed to be a proper strategy to deal it well. She added that the conference was aimed at gathering ideas and thoughts for setting up a national anti corruption network.

Parliamentary President Fernando 'Lasama' Araujo said he agreed with producing a special law and having a good commitment were two main keys of combating corruption in the country.

Police should tell the truth, says Acting police commander – Timor Post 19 September 2008
Timorese Acting police Commander, Inspector Afonso de Jesus, said the police force he was currently leading had the responsibility to talk about the firearms which were still at large in the community.

The commander was responding the recent comments made by the former police commander, Paulo de Fatima Martins, saying there were no firearms belonging to police that went missing during the country’s recent crises.

'PNTL should tell the truth. It should not tell falsehoods. The police should uncover things that have gone missing,' De Jesus said. De Jesus added the security forces would make efforts and seek a proper mechanism to recall all the firearms which had gone missing.

State Secretary for Security, Francisco da Silva Guterres, Acting Police Commander, Inspector Afonso de Jesus, and F-FDTL Commander Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak had discussed about mechanisms for recalling those firearms.

Security situation returns to normal: PM Gusmao – Timor Post 19 September 2008
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, said that the security situation throughout the territory of Timor-Leste had gradually returned to normal.

The prime minister made the comments yesterday after participating in the meeting of the State Security Council at the Palace of the president. Gusmao said during the meeting he was presenting the country’s security situation to the President Jose Ramos Horta.

'The consultative body informed the president on the security situation in the country, saying generally that the security situation has returned to normal,' Gusmao said. He added during the meeting that some of his ministers were also conveying information about the problem of IDPs and the food shortage problem.

Ombudsman urges Government for strongest support – Televizaun Timor-Leste 19 September 2008
Timorese Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman, known as PDHJ, has urged the Government to provide them a strongest support in combating corruption within the country.

PDHJ Director, Sebastiao Diaz Ximenes said the 2-day international conference held was very important, as it was on corruption which had been raised in the Parliament. Ximenes said the conference was another way to gather and exchange opinions on producing relevant laws.

He called on the Government to give him more power to hold investigations into corrupt practices and hopes the Government could make proper recommendations to the court on corruption.

PSD nominates three candidates to replace Papito Monteiro: Carrascalao – Televizaun Timor-Leste 19 September 2008
Social Democratic Party (PSD) Mario Viegas Carrascalao, said his party [PSD] had presented three names to replace former state secretary for cooperative and rural development, Papito Monteiro, who resigned from the post recently.

Carrascalao said PSD had presented those names to Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, yet until now the Government was yet to decide. Carrascalao said the decision was yet to be made, as his party would also conduct consultations with the minister for economy and development.

In response to whether there are some other names from the other political parties, Carrascalao said it was the prime minister’s power to decide.

Corruption appears within state institutions: President Horta – Radio Timor-Leste 18 September 2008
President Jose Ramos Horta, said corruptions were found within the state institutions, however there had been no strong evidences.

The President called on the media to keep updating news stories relating to corruption, so that it could awake the leaders to not commit corruption. Horta made the comments today (18/9) after participating in international conference on a national network for anti-corruption at Timor Hotel.

Horta said Timor's media had worked positively in publicising corruption practices to the public in the country. He added Timor-Leste should learn corruption prevention from other countries to produce an anti-corruption law for avoiding corruption during the implementation of decentralization.

No execution to Reinado, says President Horta – Televizaun and Radio Timor-Leste 18 September 2008
President Jose Ramos Horta said there was no execution of the former rebel leader Alfredo Reinado Alves and one of his men, they [Reinado and Leopoldo] were shot because they were well-armed, trespassing on the residence of the president.

The president made the comments today (18/9) in connection with the report findings of the Hospital, saying Reinado and his follower, Leopoldino, were shot at close range. Horta said it was impossible for the defence force soldiers to capture those rebels, as they were carrying weapons.

Horta said the president guards shot at Reinado and his followers because they had disarmed first a solider at the main gate of the president's residence and attempted to enter into the president's room. Horta said the distance between the scene of Reinado's dead body and the position of the defence force soldiers was about 20 meters and the shootings were the last choice to save the president. He added he was ready to testify in the court if the court needed him to explain about the attack on his residence.

Meeting of State Security Council held – Televizaun Timor-Leste 18 September 2008
President of the Republic Jose Ramos Horta held a meeting of the State Security Council at his residence in Farol, Dili Thursday (18/9).

After the meeting, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said that during the meeting the Council members discussed issues such as the general security situation, returnees, food security, and the 2009 state budget.

In relation to security, the Secretary of State for Security, Francisco Guterres, said during the meeting a provision was set to enable PNTL and F-FDTL to work together if there is any urgent situation. Guterres also explained that the government had a plan with international organisations to deal with illegal fishing in the territory of Timor-Leste.

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