Media Release: FRETILIN rejects ceremony to receive rebels

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
FRETILIN

Media Release
April 30, 2008

FRETILIN rejects ceremony to receive rebels

The FRETILIN parliamentary group yesterday rejected participating in a ceremony to receive the rebel group led by Gastao Salsinha, saying the rebels should have faced the courts first, rather than be presented at the government palace.

The Salsinha group is linked to the alleged attack on the de facto Prime Minister on February 11, 2008.

The leader of the FRETILIN parliamentary group, Aniceto Guterres, made this clear in response to media questions. Mario Carrascalao, the Social Democratic Party leader and Member of Parliament, is also believed to have refused to attend the ceremony.

"This ceremony organized by the AMP de facto government is inappropriate. It portrays a negative image of our nation state. We cannot treat rebels in the same way we would undertake a family ceremony or a traditional ceremony. We must treat these questions of state with much more seriousness. These actions have diminished the dignity of our nation state," said Guterres.

According to Guterres these rebels should be immediately presented to the justice authorities and processed accordingly. Guterres added that as a state under the rule of law all those who violate the law are answerable to the courts and not political figures.

"The AMP de facto government has organized a reception ceremony whilst ignoring the warrants for the immediate apprehension of these rebels allegedly responsible for engaging in serious criminal action against this state. From what we hear, the rebel Salsinha and his group did not even formally surrender to authorities yesterday, but were permitted to participate in a public ceremony that was a charade. It was simply a farce for political gain."

Guterres also added: "FRETILIN views this undignified attitude by the state as projecting a negative image to our people and will only promote disrespect for the law and the constitution. It is also a blatant display by those who govern Timor-Leste today of their lack of respect for the rule of law."

Guterres said in closing that once again the FRETILIN parliamentary group congratulated the Joint Operation Command for the success in bringing the rebels to heel and acknowledged the personal efforts by Gastao Salsinha and his group as citizens of Timor-Leste to peacefully submit themselves to justice.

For further information please call Nilva Guimaraes in Dili: +670 7340389

Media Release: FRETILIN rejects ceremony to receive rebels

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
FRETILIN

Media Release
April 30, 2008

FRETILIN rejects ceremony to receive rebels

The FRETILIN parliamentary group yesterday rejected participating in a ceremony to receive the rebel group led by Gastao Salsinha, saying the rebels should have faced the courts first, rather than be presented at the government palace.

The Salsinha group is linked to the alleged attack on the de facto Prime Minister on February 11, 2008.

The leader of the FRETILIN parliamentary group, Aniceto Guterres, made this clear in response to media questions. Mario Carrascalao, the Social Democratic Party leader and Member of Parliament, is also believed to have refused to attend the ceremony.

"This ceremony organized by the AMP de facto government is inappropriate. It portrays a negative image of our nation state. We cannot treat rebels in the same way we would undertake a family ceremony or a traditional ceremony. We must treat these questions of state with much more seriousness. These actions have diminished the dignity of our nation state," said Guterres.

According to Guterres these rebels should be immediately presented to the justice authorities and processed accordingly. Guterres added that as a state under the rule of law all those who violate the law are answerable to the courts and not political figures.

"The AMP de facto government has organized a reception ceremony whilst ignoring the warrants for the immediate apprehension of these rebels allegedly responsible for engaging in serious criminal action against this state. From what we hear, the rebel Salsinha and his group did not even formally surrender to authorities yesterday, but were permitted to participate in a public ceremony that was a charade. It was simply a farce for political gain."

Guterres also added: "FRETILIN views this undignified attitude by the state as projecting a negative image to our people and will only promote disrespect for the law and the constitution. It is also a blatant display by those who govern Timor-Leste today of their lack of respect for the rule of law."

Guterres said in closing that once again the FRETILIN parliamentary group congratulated the Joint Operation Command for the success in bringing the rebels to heel and acknowledged the personal efforts by Gastao Salsinha and his group as citizens of Timor-Leste to peacefully submit themselves to justice.

For further information please call Nilva Guimaraes in Dili: +670 7340389

Comunicado de Imprensa: FRETILIN rejeita a cerimónia para receber amotinados

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE

FRETILIN

Comunicado de Imprensa
Abril 30, 2008

FRETILIN rejeita a cerimónia para receber amotinados

O grupo parlamentar da FRETILIN rejeitou ontem participar numa cerimónia para receber o grupo amotinado liderado por Gastão Salsinha, dizendo que os amotinados devem enfrentar os tribunais primeiro, em vez de serem apresentados no palácio do governo.

O grupo de Salsinha está ligado ao alegado ataque ao Primeiro-Ministro de facto em 11 de Fevereiro de 2008.

O líder do grupo parlamentar da FRETILIN, Aniceto Guterres, deu esta resposta clara a perguntas dos media. Pensa-se que Mário Carrascalão o líder do PSD e deputado, recusou também estar presente na cerimónia.

"Esta cerimónia organizada pelo governo de facto da AMP é incorrecta. Dá uma imagem negativa do Estado da nossa nação. Não podemos tratar amotinados da mesma maneira que trataríamos uma cerimónia da família ou uma cerimónia tradicional. Devemos tratar estas questões de Estado com muita mais seriedade. Estas acções diminuíram a dignidade do Estado da nossa nação," disse Guterres.

De acordo com Guterres estes amotinados deviam ter sido imediatamente apresentados às autoridades da justiça e processados correctamente. Guterres acrescentou que num Estado sob o domínio da lei todos os que violaram a lei respondem perante os tribunais e não perante figuras políticas.

"O governo de facto da AMP organizou uma cerimónia de recepção ao mesmo tempo que ignorava o mandato para a apreensão imediata desses amotinados alegadamente responsáveis por se engajarem em acções criminosas graves contra o Estado. Pelo que ouvimos, o amotinado Salsinha e o seu grupo nem mesmo se renderam formalmente às autoridades ontem, mas foram autorizados a participar numa cerimónia pública que foi uma charada. Foi simplesmente uma farsa para ganhos políticos."

Guterres acrescentou ainda: "A FRETILIN vê esta atitude indigna pelo Estado como projectando uma imagem negativa para o nosso povo e apenas promoverá desrespeito pela lei e pela constituição. É também uma mostra descarada pelos que hoje governam Timor-Leste da sua falta de respeito pelo primado da lei."

Guterres disse a fechar que mais uma vez o grupo parlamentar da FRETILIN saúda o Comando da Operação Conjunta pelo sucesso em trazer os amotinados e reconheceu os esforços pessoais de Gastão Salsinha o o seu grupo como cidadãos de Timor-Leste para se entregarem pacificamente à justiça.

Para mais informação por favor ligue a Nilva Guimarães em Dili: +670 7340389