| Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation |
MINISTER OF JUSTICE: GOVERNMENT WILL CONFISCATE ALL IDENTIFIED ASSETS
STL-Dili, Sept.17.03 - The Minister of Justice, Domingos Sarmento said on Monday, that the government has been identifying all its assets and that people who refuse to follow the notifications issued by the government, will be evicted, "regardless of which political affiliation they belong to".
Sarmento pointed out to the case of Mario Viegas Carrascalão who was evicted from the house he was living; the property had been identified as belonging to the State.
He also pointed out the case of Santina Quentino, coordinator of Fretilin's Central Committee (CCF), who was evicted last week from a house belonging to the State, for having refused to follow instructions issued by the Land and Property Department. He noted that the media had been impartial in their reports on Mario Carrascalão eviction.
PM ALKATIRI HEADS DELEGATION TO CHINA, US AND UNITED EMIRATE
STL-Dili, Sept.17.03 - Prime Minister Alkatiri left Dili on Tuesday, heading a government delegation which will pay an official visit to China. According to Lusa, the delegation will also visit the United Arab Emirates and the USA.
In China Alkatiri is scheduled to meet with his counterpart, Wen Jiabao, the President of the Republic, Hu Jintao and the President of the National Popular Permanent Committee, while members of his delegates will meet with their Chinese counterparts. In the UAE he will participate in the World Bank and the IMF meetings.
Before returning to Timor-Leste, Alkatiri will attend the UN Security Council session, which will analyze the future presence of UN in Timor-Leste after UNMISET mandate. The ministers of Finance, Agriculture, Health as well as the Secretary of State for Defense and Tourism take in the delegation.
PM LEEDS A DELEGATION FOR OFFICIAL VISIT TO CHINA
Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri today led a delegation to the People's
Republic of China for an official visit. Included in the delegation are the
Minister of Finance and Planning, Mrs Madalena Boavida, the Minister of
Agriculture, Mr Estanislau da Silva, the Minister of Health, Dr Rui de Araujo, State Secretary for Defense, Mr Roque Rodrigues, State Secretary for Tourism and Investment, Mr Jose Teixeira, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Olimpio Branco and the FDTL Chief of Staff, Col Tito Cristovao. The article said that in
Beijing, PrimeMinister Mari Alkatiri will met with his counterpart Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN DETAINED FOR "BAD BEHAVIOR"
LUSA, Sept.17.03 - An Australian citizen was detained by the Timorese police early Monday morning for "misbehaving", reported the Portuguese news agency, Lusa.
According to the news agency, an Australian woman was detained based on a mandate issued on Friday afternoon as a consequence of a complaint, which her lawyers are yet to learn. Kim-Louise Miller said she was detained on Monday morning based on a mandate issued in Indonesian language which did not explain the motive of the detention.
"The police did not talk to me about this case," said Miller, adding that "the only thing I know is that the document cited article 35, something that the police translator explained had to do with "bad behavior". The Prosecutor in charge of the case has released the woman, who works for a private company, under the custody of an international UN police.
TL CONDEMNS COUP D'ETAT IN GUINÉ-BISSAU
LUSA, Sept.17.03 - The Timorese government on Tuesday released a communiqué condeming the coup d'Etat in Guiné-Bissau and expressing concerns about the conditions the population of the country continue to face.
"The Government of Timor-Leste strongly appeals to the military authorities, authors of the coup to make all efforts for the re establishment of the legality and the Constitutional democratic order", refers the communiqué. In the document the government stated that the Council of Ministers debated the issue on Monday recalled that Dili and Guiné-Bissau have always maintained ties of friendship and solidarity.
FORMER INDONESIAN SOLDIER ON TRIAL AGAINST HUMANITY
STL, Sept.17.03 - On Thursday the trial of the first former Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) soldier charged with Crimes Against Humanity commenced in the Special Panel for Serious Crimes of the Dili District Court in Timor-Leste.
The accused, Marcelino Soares, the former head commander of TNI in Hera village is indicted upon three counts of Crimes Against Humanity (murder, torture and persecution by unlawful detention) arising from the arrest and torture of three members of the Timorese pro-independence group, by Timorese and
Indonesian soldiers, and the subsequent murder of one of the arrested persons, Luis dias Soares on or about 20 April 1999.
The accused is alleged to have had direct command and cnotrol over the East Timorese TNI soldiers s
tationed in Hera.
PRESIDENT GUSMÃO VISITS MANUFAHI AND AILEU
STL, Sept.17.03 - On Monday President Gusmão began a three-day visit to the Districts of Manufahi and Aileu starting in the village of Orsonako. The visit is part of the ongoing Open Presidency Program which provides a forum for the President to meet with the local population, to hear their concerns and to work together to find solutions, reported the President's Office on Monday.
BISHOP NASCIMENTO SAYS THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ERODE THE CHURCH'S FOUNDATION
STL, Sept.17.03 - In a carefully worded statement Bishop of Dili and Baucau Diocese,
Monsignor Basilio do Nascimento, has warned the people of Timor-Leste of the
emergence of communism in the new nation.
He said that every nation is sovereign and independent and they have the right to organize themselves.
Bishop Nascimento said that we should be prudent in serving our people. He also said that we should be vigilant as a snake and low profile as a dove. Bishop
Nascimento said that there are rumors of a revitalization of communism in Timor-Leste. He said that rumors are sometimes true, but also could be wrong.
Bishop Nascimento said that Timor-Leste is wounded and it takes time to heal. He also said that the Catholic Church is strong in Timor-Leste, and there are some people who want to weaken this foundation by eroding it slowly. (A reference to the emergence of communism).
THE GOVT WILL ENFORCE LAND AND PROPERTY LAW
STL, Sept.17.03 - The Minister of Justice, Mr Domingos Sarmento, said that the Government
is assessing its assets and those who live in the Government premises will
be evicted if they do not comply with Government regulations.
Mr Sarmento
said "if they live in the Government premises (Portuguese or Indonesian regime
ownership) and if they do not obey the law, they will be expelled or evicted from
the Government's premises. We have committed to enforce the law without
preferences, whoever or whatever their political affiliation.
DO NOT JUDGE CPD-RDTL ILLEGAL
STL, Sept.17.03 - STL sought opinions from members of the National Parliament including the Vice President of KOTA Party, Mr Clementino dos Reis Amaral, and member of the National Parliament from PSD, Mrs Lucia Lobato, regarding the Prime Minister's statement on the regulation of illegal groups. The article said that both stated that all parties should not judge the CPD-RDTL as legal or illegal organization, because there is no law to regulate organizations or political parties.
CPD-RDTL DO NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE
During the "Open Government" visit to the District of Ainaro the Prime
Minister Mari Alkatiri and the Speaker of the National Parliament, Mr Francisco
Guterres Lu-Olo, said that the legitimate government is the one who is talking
to the people. They said that there are groups like CPD-RDTL which is not
representing the people. They said that the CPD-RDTL was created in 1999 by
declaring itself as the 1975 Constitution Defender.
TL PARLIAMENT WILL VISIT SWITZERLAND AND NORWAY
STL, Sept.17.03 - A delegation of Timor-Leste's National Parliament comprising members
from Fretilin, PSD, PD, ASDT, UDT, AND PDC will visit Switzerland and Norway
on 11 October. The delegation will be led by the House Speaker, Mr Francisco
Guterres Lu-Olo.
The article said that among topics to be discussed during the
visit, are the duties and function of the National Parliament and the relationship
between Parliament and the Government, civil society and community. The article said that in addition to the visit to Switzerland and Norway, the National
Parliament also will attend a meeting of Parliamentarians of Portuguese Speaking Countries in Brazil.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Cooperation, GPA Building #1, Ground Floor, Dili, East Timor
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