Media Release: FRETILIN calls for support to military operation and urges peaceful surrender

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE

FRETILIN

MEDIA RELEASE

Dili, 25.02.08



FRETILIN calls for support to military operation and urges peaceful surrender

FRETILIN today urged its supporters to give every assistance to the military operation underway to capture army mutineers suspected of having carried out the attacks in Dili on February 11.

At the same time, the party appealed to armed fugitives to surrender peacefully, in order to avoid further death and suffering.

FRETILIN President Francisco Guterres LuOlo and General Secretary Mari Alkatiri made the appeal at a press conference at the parliament in Dili.

Both speakers stressed that FRETILIN did not want to see the people of Timor-Leste undergo any further death or suffering during the extended State of Siege and military operation authorized by the government against groups involved in the attacks on the President of the Republic and the de facto Prime Minister.

“On behalf of FRETILIN and its parliamentary wing we appeal to all armed groups of fugitives led by Mr. Gastao Salsinha to voluntarily surrender themselves to the security forces,” party president LuOlo said.

FRETILIN Secretary General Dr. Mari Alkatiri said: “We appeal to the people, including FRETILIN members and supporters to provide every assistance they can to the F-FDTL/PNTL joint command operation to enable them to undertake their operations with success.”

Dr Alkatiri appealed “especially to Gastao Salsinha and his armed group not to resist the military operations being undertaken against them. It is better for you to surrender. You will only be able to contribute to the process of achieving the truth and justice if you remain alive.”

He added: “Our people have suffered enough, with many still living under tents and tarpaulins. Some are still suffering effects of injuries from violence and some have died. Our country does not need any more dead or wounded. For this reason, our party, who is accountable to the people, appeals to all armed groups to surrender themselves and their weapons, so that we can resolve this issue with justice and peace.”

Both LuOlo and Alkatiri vowed that FRETILIN would continue to work hard in the parliament to ensure that Timor-Leste does not experience any more unnecessary death or suffering during the State of Siege.

“FRETILIN repeats its call made from the beginning of the crisis, that any persons providing assistance to the fugitive armed groups should cease doing so because it will only bring grief and suffering to them and their families,” added LuOlo.

Finally, FRETILIN appealed to all major institutions in Timor-Leste, including the Catholic Church, other religious organizations and NGOs to contribute to seeking a path that will enhance the welfare of all Timorese in this time of national crisis.

For Further Information call Nilva Gimaraes, Media Officer, FRETILIN Parliamentary Group +670 734 0389

Media Release: Police investigation misused to smear Fretilin and silence MP

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE

FRETILIN

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday February 20, 2008

Police investigation misused to smear Fretilin and silence MP

The police investigation into last week’s shooting of Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta is being misused for political purposes to intimidate and discredit Fretilin, the party’s general secretary, Mari Alkatiri said today.

Dr Alkatiri said Fretilin member of parliament and media spokesman Jose Teixeira was taken to Dili police headquarters last night in a blatant attempt to blacken his name and damage Fretilin’s image.

“This is political persecution – Teixeira is an effective media spokesman and someone in authority wants to shut him up,” he said.

“I demanded an explanation from Timor Leste Police commander Afonso de Jesus who was unable to give any explanation why Teixeira was taken in.

“It is a disgraceful attempt to politicise the police force and use the investigation into the shooting of the president for party-political gain.”

Jose Teixeira, the minister for energy in the former Fretilin government, said six car loads of armed Timorese police took him from his home at 7.15pm on the orders of deputy police commander (operations) Mateus Fernandes.

“They had no warrant for my arrest and the operation apparently was conducted without the knowledge of the senior police investigating officer,” Teixeira said.

“I was brought before the senior police investigator who said my questioning would take place the following day (Wednesday) because he had not yet been briefed on the line of questioning to be taken.

“I was released after a protest from Dr Alkatiri.

“The police asked me to present myself at police headquarters for questioning this morning.

“Given the heavy handed manner in which I was dealt with, without any legal justification, I am taking legal advice as to my options. I have nothing to hide from the investigation, but this is still a country under the rule of law and it is the law which should prevail in dealing with citizens’ rights.”

Contact: Jose Teixeira in Dili phone +670 728 7080

Media Release: FRETILIN condemns attacks on President and Prime Minister, calls for resignations, Independent International Commission of Inquiry,

MEDIA RELEASE

Dili, 12.02.08

FRETILIN MPs call on Timor-Leste's Secretaries of State for Security and Defence to resign: Demand Independent International Commission of Inquiry

FRETILIN MPs Arsenio Bano and Estanislau da Silva, today called in parliament for the resignation from the AMP de facto government, of the Secretary of State for Security, Francisco Guterres and the Secretary of State for Defence, Julio Tomas Pinto, citing negligence and incapacity by them to properly manage their portfolios.

"We call on the Secretary of State for Security, Francisco Guterres and the Secretary of State for Defence, Julio Tomas Pinto to resign as a result of their demonstrated negligence and incapacity in coordinating and ensuring that both the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister of this country were adequately protected," Bano said.

"We have a large number of police that have now been reactivated. We have sufficient active F-FDTL soldiers. We have over 1,700 UN police and 900 International Military Forces in this country. It is not simply a matter for the police or the forces to be answerable. As the responsible members of government, it is they who ultimately have to account to the public and have been found wanting. As the responsible members of government they have the responsibility of ensuring that these resources available to us are coordinated to adequately protect the constitutional leaders of this country and the people. If they cannot guarantee the security of the President and the Prime Minister, how are they going to guarantee the security and defence of our people?" asked MP Arsenio Bano, who is also FRETILIN Party Vice President.

Another FRETILIN MP, and former Timor-Leste Prime Minister Estanislau da Silva, informed the parliament there had been a grave act of negligence with regard to the lack of timely response to the assistance needed by the President.

"In the case of the President there is the added unforgivable neglect of medical assistance not arriving for well over half an hour after there had been a call for assistance by him whilst he was lying bleeding on the ground. He telephoned his chief of staff who in turn called the ambulance, but it took over half an hour for them arrive, whilst there was an UNPOL roadblock less than a kilometer away."

"But this is not all. There were many serious questions that needed to be answered that have not been answered. Questions as to why despite over one hour having lapsed between the shooting of the President and the attempt on the Prime Minister, action had not been taken by either members of government responsible for security to immediately secure the security of the Prime Minister," Da Silva told the parliament.

Da Silva closed in saying that there were many questions of lapses of security and regarding the criminal attempts themselves that the people of Timor-Leste demand be answered. "We need an International Commission of Inquiry to fully and properly investigate this in an independent and transparent manner, so that justice can prevail and the perpetrators of these crimes can be punished by the law," he said.

For further information contact José Teixeira on +670 7287080 or Filomeno Aleixo on +670 734 0383

MEDIA RELEASE

Dili, 12.02.08

FRETILIN condemns criminal attacks on Timor-Leste's President and Prime Minister: Demands Independent International Commission of Inquiry

The FRETILIN leader in the Timor-Leste National Parliament Francisco Miranda Branco yesterday (11 February 08) strongly condemned the criminal attacks on the President of the Republic, Dr. José Ramos-Horta, and de facto Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in a formal statement to the parliament. In his statement on behalf of all FRETILIN members of the parliament Branco reiterated yesterday's strong condemnation by the FRETILIN Secretary General, Dr. Mari Alkatiri, and gave FRETILIN's full support to cooperate with the state security authorities, the UN and international forces in any way it can to maintain peace and stability in their wake.

"Each and every FRETILIN member in this parliament, vehemently condemns this act, which is without doubt a criminal act against the state of Timor-Leste. We hope and pray that the President makes a speedy recovery from this brutal attack on him. Our sympathies are with him and his family in this very difficult time."

"As a party in this parliament we vow to work with all our capacity and cooperation with the other state institutions and authorities to ensure that these criminal acts do not disrupt further the peace and stability and the country and for its full restoration," Branco said.

"Like all other Timorese, we are shocked that this event has occurred precisely when the President had reached excellent progress in his efforts to bring the political leadership of the country together to find a path towards resolving our nation’s current problems in a consensual way," Branco added.

"FRETILIN in this parliament is also concerned that the President of the Republic could be shot by a would be assassin, lead by an identified and widely known fugitive from justice, so close to his residence, and that the Prime Minister could be ambushed on a regular route he takes to his office each day, whilst we have such a large UNPOL and International Stabilization Force presence in this country," questioned Branco.

Branco added that these questions demanding accountability from the authorities responsible for security are graver given the public disclosure of the fact that there was information that the authorities had obtained late last week of potential security related actions this week.

For further information contact José Teixeira on +670 7287080 or Filomeno Aleixo on +670 734 0383

Media Release: FRETILIN condemns reports of attack on Timor-Leste’s President and Prime

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
FRETILIN
MEDIA RELEASE

Dili, 11.02.08

FRETILIN condemns reports of attack on Timor-Leste’s President and Prime
Minister: Demands answers from UN and ISF

The Secretary General of FRETILIN Dr. Mari Alkatiri strongly condemned the reported
attacks on the President of the Republic, Dr. José Ramos-Horta, and Xanana Gusmao,
and gave FRETILIN’s full support to cooperate with the security authorities in any way it
can to maintain peace and stability in their wake.

There have been separate unconfirmed reports of an attempt also on the de facto Prime
Minister. Dr. Alkatiri and FRETILIN have issued a strong condemnation of both
reported attacks.

“We are shocked that this has happened, if the media reports are true. This comes as a
total surprise given the recent positive developments, as a result of the President’s tireless
efforts to find a mechanism of national political consensus to find solutions to the critical
issues that are faced by our country,” said Alkatiri.

“FRETILIN is also concerned that the Head of our State and Head of Government could
be so easily reached by a breach in security. UNMIT and the International Stabilization
Forces are principally responsible for security in our country at this time. We demand
answers as to how these breaches in security could possibly happen if the reports are
proven to be true,” closed Alkatiri.
For further information contact José Teixeira on +670 7287080