09 February 2010

Timor-Leste News 27 January 2010

In this editionNational News’ Headings:

*Community leaders’ contribution is important to produce development
programs: Horta

*Horta calls for community leaders to help resolve conflict

*Timorese Youth Council calls for Govt to reactivate PNTL

*Community leaders concerned about UN Police’s work

*Police to set up security post in dangerous areas

*AMP-PUN supports reforms over Govt

*PM Gusmão can substitute ministers: Carrascalão

*Parliament sets up a joint investigation commission

*Commanders condemn police officers’ attitude

*Horta to meet with Xanana and Longuinhos talking on police’s
reactivation
*Timor-Leste and Indonesian Govt to improve human resource
*13 detained during the special operation
*Community leaders urge PNTL’s reactivation

*Aderito, Valente and Ximenes are candidates for KAK commissary

*Parliament urges Govt to pay attention to UN Police’s work

*Community leaders concerned because PNTL stop carrying out its work

*Monteiro: “Some suspects escape to Dili”

*Timor-Leste’s education is worst

*Akadiru-Hun Chief of village calls UN Police to leave his office

*Lautem District police becomes unity symbol for Timor-Leste: UN

*MP urge Govt to recuperate and responsible for Atauro case

*Police commit violence, as law is not strongly implemented

*People do not trusting a lot in UN Police: Editorial of STL

National News:

*Community leaders’ contribution is important to produce development programs: Horta
*Radio Timor-Leste, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

President Jose Ramos Horta said contribution of the community leaders were important to produce development programs.

The president made the comments after meeting with the community leadersat the palace of the president on Tuesday (26/1).

Horta stressed that the villages’ chiefs should approach the communities to identify problems faced and seek for solution with the Government.

The president office is also ready to accept budget proposal from the community leaders which would help resolve conflict involving young gangs.


*Horta calls for community leaders to help resolve conflict
*Radio & Televizaun Timor-Leste, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

President Jose Ramos Horta has called for the community leaders in the Capital Dili to help resolve conflict between young gangs within the community.

“You should hold dialog with the young gangs that engaged in the
conflict, such as martial art clubs or young gangs. I am also ready to talk to them and we want to know the reason why the engage in conflict,”Horta said.

Horta added that the office of president would continue supporting the community leaders to create Dili become city of peace.


*Timorese Youth Council calls for Govt to reactivate PNTL
*Radio Timor-Leste, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

The Timorese National Youth Council (CNJTL) has called for the
Government to reactivate the Timorese National Police (PNTL) to provide security in the country.

CNJTL President Leovogildo Hornai made the comments during a telephone interview regarding the decision of the Government to limit the PNTL’s role.

Hornai said the PNTL should reassume its responsibility to respond to situation in the Capital Dili and districts in relation to act of violence which were staying in high after the police’s role limited.

According to him judicial process against the PNTL‘s individual officer should be charged legally and the efforts of reforming the PNTL should be implemented without limiting its competence.


*Community leaders concerned about UN Police’s work
*Radio Timor-Leste, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

The community leaders in the Capital of Dili have expressed their
concerns over the UN Police’s work when responding to situation in the terrain. They therefore call on a reactivation of the Timorese National Police (PNTL) to respond to the situation.

Fatuhada village chief, Marcelino Soares said the UN Police was late to respond to the situation in the terrain and said they had no good communication with the community when a conflict a appeared.

“We want the PNTL to be reactivated, so that it could help respond to the conflict,” Soares said.

Soares added that conflict staying in high in some suburbs of the
Capital Dili and that needed immediate response from the security
authorities.


*Police to set up security post in dangerous areas
*Televizaun Timor-Leste, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Following the Ninja activities, Timorese Police Commander, Commissary Longuinhos Monteiro has pledged to set up security post in some dangerous areas in Kovalima to provide security for the residents.

“We need to set up security posts, so that the police could provide security to the residents from Ninja activities,” Monteiro said.

Monteiro stressed that the residents also reported the UN police about Ninja, yet they only came here to collect data and said there was no strong action from the UN Police.

Monteiro also called on the residents to give the police information about those people had threatened the residents.


*AMP-PUN supports reforms over Govt
*Diario Nacional, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

The MPs from the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) and the
opposition PUN have declared their support to the call made by President Jose Ramos Horta asking Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão to reform the AMP Government.

The Democratic Party (PD) Chief of Bench Adriano Nacimento said making change to the Government was the competence of the prime minister and said his party supported it.

Nacimento stressed that the AMP Government made up of five political parties, therefore before realizing the reforms a consultation was necessary to be made.

On the other hands, MP Fernanda Borges from PUN said she supported the president’s call and asked to replace corrupted state secretaries and ministers.

*PM Gusmão can substitute ministers: Carrascalão
*Diario Nacional, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Deputy Prime Minister for Management and Public Administration, Mario Viegas Carrascalão said Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão could substitute a minister and said this was his responsibility.

“I met with the president, we did not talk about the reforms as this is a political issue and that should be directly discussed with the prime minister,” Carrascalão said.

Carrascalão stressed that the reforms should follow criteria, due to the Government was PM Gusmão’s responsibility.

He added that only the prime minister knew about both negative and positive aspects and that was his responsibility.

*Parliament sets up a joint investigation commission
*Diario Nacional, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

The Parliament has set up a joint investigation commission to launchinvestigation into individual of the Timorese National Police (PNTL) officers who are believed to have been engaged in maltreating a resident in Atauro Island.

The creation of the joint commission is made, due to the Parliament have many times questioned about the PNTL officers’ act of maltreating the residents.

Deputy Parliamentary President Vicente Guterres said the establishment of the joint commission was important to uncover what had really happened in Atauro.

MP Antonino Bianco said the attitude of some police officers in Atauro was human rights violation and said those officers should be processed legally.

*Commanders condemn police officers’ attitude
*Diario Nacional, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Timorese Police Deputy Commander, Sub Commissary Afonso de Jesus said the police commanders strongly condemned the attitude of the PNTL officers in maltreating a resident in Atauro Island.

The commander said they would firmly to process this case onward and said they would not tolerate the police officers who engaged in maltreating the residents.

“We have seen the video of the maltreatment; therefore will contact all the media outlets coming to cover at three. We the commanders condemn such excessive act in the terrain,” De Jesus said.

*Horta to meet with Xanana and Longuinhos talking on police’s
reactivation
*Diario Nacional, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

President Jose Ramos Horta has planned to meet with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão who is also minister for defense and security and Timorese National Police (PNTL) Commander, Commissary Longuinhos Monteiro for conveying the community leaders’ recommendations about reactivating the PNTL.

The president said they would discuss to find out solution to this issue, yet this would go slowly, as Delta Nova case had made people angry.

Horta stressed that he had no competence to put hands into the decision of reactivating the PNTL, but he would speak to the prime minister and police commander.

*Timor-Leste and Indonesian Govt to improve human resource
*Suara Timor Lorosa’e, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Indonesian Foreign Minister, DR. R,M. Marty M. Natalegawa said the Indonesian Government would cooperate with the Timorese Government to better improve the human resources in Timor-Leste, mainly in education, living environment and economic sectors of the country.

The recent official visit held by the Minister for Economy and
Development, João Goncalves to Indonesia was positive as it would better strengthen both countries’ bilateral ties in the future.

Timorese delegation also met with the Indonesian Minister for Economy, Hatta Rajasa, talking on the country’s economy growth which had reached 12%.

*13 detained during the special operation
*Suara Timor Lorosa’e, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Timorese National Police (PNTL) operation team officer, Sub Inspector Andre Martins said Especial Operational Police Unit had successfully detained 13 people who were believed to have been involved in Ninja activities in Bobonaro and Kovalima districts.

Martins stressed that they had also detained four people who were
believed to leading Ninja in Bobonaro and Kovalima districts.

The four being detained are Agustinho Mendonsa, Karau Timor, Cornelio and Joaquim from Bua Malus group.

Meanwhile, Timorese Police Commander, Commissioner Police Longuinhos Monteiro said the police had identified some dangerous places where the Ninja conductd their activities; therefore the Commander deployed the police officers in the scene for securing the people.

Monteiro said those people were detained provisionally at of Kovalima police detention center and waiting for further investigation.

*Community leaders urge PNTL’s reactivation
*Suara Timor Lorosa’e, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Komoro Chief of village, Eurico da Costa de Jesus said they had met with President Jose Ramos Horta talking on the incidents happened in some suburbs around Dili and urged the Government to reactivate the Timorese National Police (PNTL) to secure the situation; otherwise it would become worst.

De Jesus said it was important to reactivate the PNTL, because the UN Police officers were unfamiliar with the Timorese people’s character.

De Jesus added the situation would become worst, because some groups continue provoking each other; it was better to reactivate the PNTL to maintain the security in the Capital of Dili.


*Aderito, Valente and Ximenes are candidates for KAK commissary
*Suara Timor Lorosa’e, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Deputy Parliamentary President, Vicente Guterres said the Parliament had received three names presented by the Government to take up the approved anti-corruption commission (KAK) commissary’s post.

Guterres said those three candidates were Aderito de Jesus, Ivo Jorge Valente and Sebastião Dias Ximenes.

Guterres said they would properly analyze their [the three candidates] documents before voting, adding that the Parliament also needed their declaration of saying their readiness to take up the KAK’s commissary.

Meanwhile, MP Aniceto Guterres from Fretilin said he totally supported the three Candidates presented by the Government, but he also concerned about the comment made by nominee Aderito de Jesus saying he would combat corruption in the country whether this would become true or not.


*Parliament urges Govt to pay attention to UN Police’s work
*Suara Timor Lorosa’e, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

MPs in the Parliament have urged the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) Government to pay an optimal attention to the work carried out by the UN Police in maintaining security as the Timorese National Police (PNTL) power has been limited.

The MPs are concern about situation regarding the recent statement of Dili District Police Commander, Inspector Pedro Belo saying that they would stop operations for maintaining security, because three of the
PNTL’s Task Force officers were wounded at the Komoro market place when they responded to a clash there.

MP Inacio Moreira from Fretilin said the UN Police’s role was to secure situation in the Dili city, but reality showed that people were not secure; therefore he called for Inspector Belo to consider properly about the decision he made to stop the PNTL’s operation.

Meanwhile, MP Duarte Nunes from the National Congress for the Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) said the UN Police was incapable of responding to incidents happened in the Dili, adding that decision made by the Dili district Police Commander, Inspector Pedro Belo to stop their operation would appear negative impact on the people’s lives.


*Community leaders concerned because PNTL stop carrying out its work
*Suara Timor Loro Sa’e, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

The community leaders are concerned about the decision made by the Dili District Police Commander’s decision of halting their operations in the Capital Dili. The community leaders urge the Government to reactivate the PNTL, as act of violence is currently staying in high.

A community leader, Martinho Pereira said President Horta had pledged to talk to the Government about reactivating the PNTL for responding to situation.

“The Government should accelerate it, as our country needs police to control,” Pereira said.

The community leaders also called on the Government to resolve it soon within the PNTL and UN Police, so that people could remain calm.


*Monteiro: “Some suspects escape to Dili”
*Timor Post, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Timorese Police Commander, Commissioner Police Longuinhos Monteiro said some suspects who were believe to have been engaged in Ninja groups had escaped to Dili when the PNTL held operations.

“We have information that some suspects have escaped to Dili, but we will not let them free,” Monteiro said.

Monteiro added they had detained three suspects who were believed to engage in killing two children recently in Kovalima district.

Monteiro explained the two groups who were accused of involving in Ninja group were Bua-malus and Karau-Timur Groups.


*Timor-Leste’s education is worst
*Timor Post, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

MP Fernanda Borges from the National Unity Party (PUN) said the findings of the research conducted by the World Bank last year showed that quality of education in Timor-Leste was worst.

Borges said 50% of the elementary school children were incapable of reading and were poor in reading skill.

Borges said illiteracy numbers in the country would increase in the future if the Government did not take a necessary action to resolve this issue.


*Akadiru-Hun Chief of village calls UN Police to leave his office
*Timor Post, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Bidau Akadiru-Hun Chief of village has called for the Government to urge the UN Police officers who are staying at the chief of village office to leave it shortly.

The chief of village said they had not worked properly so far, because the space for them to conduct their work was limited.

“We have always asked help from another village, because there is no space for us to carry out our work,” the chief of village said.

Meanwhile, President Jose Ramos Horta said actually this issue had been resolved and questioned why the UN Police did not build up an office to facilitate them?.


*Lautem District police becomes unity symbol for Timor-Leste: UN
*Timor Post, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Ameerah Haq said Lautem District Police was a symbol of unity in Timor-Leste.

Haq made the comment during her official visit in Lautem district on Tuesday (26/01).

Haq said Lautem district police had received security responsibility from the UN Police in May last year, adding they had successfully conducted their work in the field, this was because they had made efforts to maintain security in collaboration with the UN Police.

Haq also called for the Lautem District police to plasticize their skills obtained from the training provided by the UN Police.

Meanwhile, Timorese Operational Commander, Inspector Mateus Fernandes said together with the UN Police the PNTL would make efforts to provide security for all the people in the country.


*MP urge Govt to recuperate and responsible for Atauro case
*Timor Post, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

MPs in the Parliament have urged the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) Government to seek for solution to the maltreatment case committed by the Timorese National Police (PNTL) officers in Atauro.

MPs also called for the PNTL institution to be responsible for the case, because their bad attitude had left Leo Comachose suffered and 12 students’ school documents were on fire.

MP Osorio Florindo from Fretilin said the Parliamentary Committee A for Constitution, Justice, Public Administration and the Government Legislation and Committee B for Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security and Committee F for Health, Education and Culture had form a joint team in order to see what had really happened in Atauro Island.

MP Ilda da Conceicão from Fretin also called for the Government to recuperate those victims in the Atauro Island.


*Police commit violence, as law is not strongly implemented
*Diario Nacional, January 27, 2010 language source: Tetun

Program Manager of Strengthening Law and Human Right, Rogerio Viegas Vicente said the Timorese National Police (PNTL) did not strongly implement laws and said it had led some of the PNTL officers engaged in act of crime.

Vicente made the comments regarding the maltreatment committed some of the police officers in the Atauro Island recently.

Vicente said the attitude of the PNTL officer had damage the PNTL
institution’s image and it clearly showed that the implementation of the law was not strong.

Vicente added that the act of the PNTL officers of maltreating the people was a crime as it against human rights.


*People do not trusting a lot in UN Police: Editorial of STL

The Dili District Police Commander, Pedro Belo has recently decided to totally halt the PNTL’s operations in the Capital Dili including to halt joint patrol with the UN Police, investigation and intelligent activities.

The decision will not be reversed means that the PNTL will not respond to any act of violence appear in the Capital Dili, due to security responsibility has been handed over to the UN Police, because some of the PNTL officer engaged in act of crime.

The PNTL has also halted coordination with the UN Police in doing patrol in relation to process of responding to clash between young gangs at Komoro market, leaving three police officers seriously wounded.

Commander Belo’s statement same with the recent comments made by the PNTL General Commander, Longuinhos Monteiro saying that the PNTL changes its working system in coordinating with the UN Police.

When there is any act of violence, the UN Police would be in front to respond situation and the PNTL will be at the back. We could analyze that changes to the working system is in relation to the Delta Nova shootings case.

Such changes have appeared major concerns from the people, the community will not trust in the UN Police to resolve violent case in the Capital Dili. One concrete example is that when the UN Police responded to the clash involving young gangs at Komoro market, the UN Police just watch and wait.

We can suspect that there some provocateurs within the UN Police, so that act of violence could not end in the Capital Dili in a way that the UN mission could be extended in the country.

Image added by ETLJB: Dili, with Atauro Island.

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