Media Release - FRETILIN questions Australian military presence after civilian bashing complaint

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
FRETILIN

Media release

October 17, 2007

FRETILIN questions Australian military presence after civilian bashing complaint

Reports that a Timorese security guard was severely beaten by six Australian soldiers opened up a parliamentary debate yesterday about the legal status, role, command structure and duration of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) presence in Timor Leste.

FRETILIN MP Antoninho Bianco presented parliament with a complaint by Mr Abilio Fatima, 41, who is employed by Maubere Security to protect the warehouse of the Ministry of Social Security in the Dili suburb of Kintal Bot.

In a complaint to the police, Mr Fatima alleged that at 10.30pm last Sunday, October 14, he was on duty, talking to some neighbours, when two ADF vehicles arrived, with about 12 soldiers, six of whom alighted and ordered Mr Fatima and the neighbours to disperse and go indoors.

Mr Fatima explained through a Tetum language interpreter attached to the soldiers that he was on duty, that regular police patrols never ordered him to leave his post, and asked why the soldiers were so concerned with ordinary civilians like him instead of with cases like Alfredo Reinado, the rebel soldier, and his armed group.

Mr Fatima alleged that after he mentioned Reinado he was immediately struck with rifle butts many times in the head, upper arms and back, and then bitten on the right upper arm by a soldiers' guard dog. Two of his neighbours were also assaulted and fled to their homes, but Mr Fatima stayed at his post.

Next morning, Mr Fatima made a complaint to Fretilin MPs at Parliament House, and then went to the National Hospital for treatment, before going to the Dili Police Headquarters to register his complaint.

Many MPs including from the non-FRETILIN side of parliament supported a call for a full and thorough investigation into this incident as one of a string of incidents of ADF maltreatment of civilians.

The President of the Parliament, Fernando Lasama Araujo MP (Democratic Party), directed that the matter be referred to parliamentary Committee A (Constitution, Rights and Justice) so that the Secretaries of State for Defence and Security respectively could be requested to come to the parliament and respond to these issues raised regarding the ADF conduct.

FRETILIN MP Estanislau da Silva said the time had come to re-evaluate the presence of the ADF, to determine how many, for what purpose and for how long they should remain in Timor-Leste. He stressed that there was a sentiment of hostility building up because of some of the actions of the ADF and that the parliament should be careful that this sentiment did not become overwhelming and manifest itself in negative ways. "We have to act to prevent this from occurring, as we have had a history of this occurring with occupying armies in the past," said Mr Da Silva.

These views were supported by CNRT MP Cecilio Caminha who called for transparency in dealing with cases of abuse of power by the ADF. FRETILIN MP Jose Teixeira called for the Australian military force to come under the UN command, to make it more accountable.

FRETILIN MP Francisco Branco argued that even if the presence of the ADF in Timor-Leste was ultimately ratified by the National Parliament, the officers who ordered operations, such as when ADF troops shot dead Timorese at the Dili Airport IDP Camp or in the attack on the Alfredo group in Same, should be investigated for the legality of their actions.

For further comment: Jose Teixeira MP +670 728 7080

Comunicado de Imprensa - FRETILIN questiona a presença militar Australiana depois de vergonhosa queixa de um civil

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
FRETILIN

Comunicado de Imprensa

Outubro 17, 2007

FRETILIN questiona a presença militar Australiana depois de vergonhosa queixa de um civil

Relatos de um guarda de segurança Timorense ter sido severamente espancado por seis soldados Australianos abriram ontem um debate parlamentar sobre o estatuto legal, o papel, a estrutura de comando e a duração da presença da Força Australiana da Defesa (ADF) em Timor-Leste.

O deputado da FRETILIN Antoninho Bianco apresentou no parlament uma queixa do Sr Abílio Fátima, de 41 anos, que está empregado pela Maubere Security para proteger o armazém do Ministério da Segurança Social em Kintal Bot, subúrbio de Dili.

Numa queixa à polícia, o Sr Fátima alegou que às 10.30pm do Domingo passado, 14 de Outubro, ele estava de serviço, falando com alguns vizinhos, quando chegaram dois veículos da ADF, com cerca de 12 soldados, seis dos quais desmontaram e ordenaram ao Sr Fátima e aos vizinhos para dispersarem e irem para dentro.

O Sr Fátima explicou por intermédio de um intérprete de língua Tétum ligado aos soldados que estava de serviço, que patrulhas regulares da polícia nunca lhe tinham dado ordens para sair do seu posto, e perguntou porque é que os soldados estavam tão preocupados com civis comuns como ele em vez de com casos como o de Alfredo Reinado, o soldado amotinado, e o seu grupo armado.

Alegou o Sr Fátima que depois de ter mencionado o Reinado que foi imediatamente agredido com os cabos das carabinas muitas vezes na cabeça, parte superior dos braços e costas, e depois mordido na parte de cima do braço direito pelo cão de guarda de um soldado. Dois dos seus vizinhos foram também atacados e fugiram para as suas casas, mas o Sr Fátima permaneceu no seu posto.

Na manhã seguinte, o Sr Fátima fez uma queixa aos deputados da Fretilin no edifício do Parlamento e depois foi ao Hospital Nacional para tratamento, antes de ir ao Quartel da Polícia de Dili registar a sua queixa.

Muitos dos deputados incluindo do lado não-FRETILIN apoiaram um pedido para uma investigação completa e adequada a este incidente como um de uma fiada de incidentes de maus tratos da ADF a civis.

O Presidente do Parlamento, Fernando Lasama Araújo (Partido Democrático), indicou que a material deve ser enviada para a Comissão Parlamentar A (Constituição, Direitos e Justiça) para que os Secretários do Estado de Defesa e Segurança respectivamente possam ser chamados a virem ao parlamento e responderem a estas questões levantadas em relação ao comportamento da ADF.

O deputado da FRETILIN Estanislau da Silva disse que chegara a altura para re-avaliar a presença da ADF, para determinar quantos, para que propósito e durante quanto tempo devem permanecer em Timor-Leste. Sublinhou que há um sentimento de hostilidade a construir-se por causa de algumas das acções da ADF e que o parlamento deve ter em atenção que este sentimento não se torne proeminente e que não se manifeste ele próprio de maneiras negativas. "Temos de actuar para prevenir que isto ocorra, dado que temos uma história disto acontecer com exércitos ocupantes no passado," disse o Sr Da Silva.

Estas opiniões foram apoiadas pelo deputado do CNRT Cecílio Caminha que exigiu transparência no tratamento de casos de abuso de poder pela ADF. O deputado da FRETILIN José Teixeira exigiu que os militares Australianos fiquem sob comando da ONU, para os responsabilizar mais.

O deputado da FRETILIN Francisco Branco argumentou que mesmo que a presença da ADF em Timor-Leste fosse por fim ratificada pelo Parlamento Nacional, os oficiais que ordenaram operações, como quando tropas da ADF mataram a tiro Timorenses no Campo de deslocados do Aeroporto de Dili ou no ataque ao grupo de Alfredo em Same, deviam ser investigados sobre a legalidade das suas acções.

Para mais comentários: deputado José Teixeira +670 728 7080

FRETILIN Parliamentary Group - Statement (Declaracao Politica) to the Parliament

FRETILIN Parliamentary Group

Statement (Declaracao Politica) to the Parliament
Regarding Confidence and Dismissal of the Prosecutor General of the Republic



We all know that the newspaper, Jornal Tempo Semanal (on 1 October 2007) published a news item of a telephone conversation between Mr. Longuinhos Monteiro, prosecutor general of the republic and Mr. Leandro Isaac, but which also involved Mr. Herminigildo Pereira, also known as “Agio”, former Chief of Staff of the President of the Republic, and actual Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers.

Until now, none of us know when, how or who recorded this telephone conversation, but we know that suddenly the recording of the conversation was disseminated by mobile telephone “Bluetooth”, and lately its contents were published by newspapers. This is also news to FRETILIN, but it is not this fact which concerns FRETILIN.

Mr. President of the National Parliament,

The FRETILIN Parliamentary Group is extremely concerned on hearing this recording of a telephone conversation that involves the Prosecutor General of the Republic as a party. It demonstrates clearly to the Timor-Leste public as a whole, but most of all to us Members of this Parliament, that the Prosecutor General of the Republic has not conducted himself in a manner which is fitting with his position as a representative of our state in investigating judicial cases, and has raised doubts as to the ongoing neutrality and independence of the justice system in our country.

This telephone conversation, which has already been made public, also shows everyone that the Prosecutor General of the Republic is extremely close to politicians, especially those who were involved with the 2006 crisis to bring down the FRETILIN government and create instability in our country. In this conversation the Prosecutor General of the Republic displays that he has a friendship and political trust with Mr. Leandro Isaac who was involved with the crisis last year and who the International Commission of Inquiry Report handed down on 2 October 2006 recommended be investigated, so as to determine whether he was involved in any criminal conduct. There is also other evidence which was shown on Television of Mr. Leandro Isaac armed during the crisis and in the company of a group who had mounted an assault on the home of Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak in Lahane on 24 May 2006.

The FRETILIN Parliamentary Group is also concerned with the threats made by Mr. Longuinhos Monteiro against the journalists from Jornal Tempo Semanal, especially the journalist who wrote the article of 1 October 2007, that he may open the case against an NGO which raised allegations of corruption involving him personally. This demonstrates conduct involving abuse of both power and of the position he holds as Prosecutor General of the Republic.

During the parliamentary election campaign the National Elections Commission referred a complaint by FRETILIN of unlawful use of its symbols to the Prosecutor General of the Republic for investigation. This case had grave consequences and prejudice for FRETILIN during the election campaign and created confusion amongst the voters. But until this day, an investigation has not been initiated by the Prosecutor General of the Republic, no legal action has been taken; it has not moved forward at all. Is it because the case involved a complaint by FRETILIN, whom the Prosecutor General has been conspiring from the beginning to bring down, that it was decided to be left unattended?

Mr. President of the National Parliament,

Illustrious Members of Parliament.

The FRETILIN Group also finds it regrettable that the conversation referred to involved the Chief of Staff of the then President of the Republic and current Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers in this de facto government, Mr. Herminigildo Pereira. His involvement also shows everyone that another institution of state sovereignty such as the Presidency of the Republic through his Chief of Staff was involved with groups who took action to bring down the FRETILIN government, which resulted in nearly 150,000 Timorese becoming internally displaced and nearly 6,000 homes destroyed, as well as deaths and injuries to persons.

The facts regarding the involvement of certain persons shown here today, has already resulted in a negative precedent for the state of Timor-Leste, especially in the area of justice, because we can see that persons who have a duty and obligation to perform their functions in accordance with the law, with objectivity, with neutrality and with exception, easily subject themselves to political influence, especially from the government. Today we see those persons who are the subject of this statement still occupying their positions and some even attained positions in the de facto government.

For these reasons this FRETILIN Parliamentary Group, as representatives of the people in the National Parliament through the mandate from 120,000 voters in the parliamentary elections of 30 June last, declares that Mr. Longuinhos Monteiro no longer has the requisite trust to continue to perform the functions of the Prosecutor General of the Republic for the state of Timor-Leste with independence, in accordance with the law and without political influence.

As such the FRETILIN Group requests the institutions with the responsibility, especially His Excellency the President of the Republic to remove Mr. Longuinhos Monteiro as Prosecutor General of the Republic in accordance with the terms of the Constitution, and to initiate an in depth inquiry or investigation with respect to Mr. Longuinhos Monteiro, Mr. Herminigildo Pereira and any others, for their involvement in the crisis and for any other abuse of power for which there may be indications similar to in this case.

Thank You,

Dili, 15 October 2007

From the Leader of the FRETILIN Parliamentary Group
Aniceto L. Guterres Lopez

Grupo Parlamentar da FRETILIN :Declaração Politica ao Parlamento

Grupo Parlamentar da FRETILIN

Declaração Politica ao Parlamento
Em relação à confiança e demissão do Procurador-Geral da República



Sabemos todos que o jornal, Jornal Tempo Semanal (em 1 Outubro de 2007) publicou uma notícia sobre uma conversa telefónica entre o Sr. Longuinhos Monteiro, procurador-geral da República e o Sr. Leandro Isaac, mas que envolveu também o Sr. Herminigildo Pereira, também conhecido por “Agio”, antigo Chefe de Gabinete do Presidente da República, e actual Secretário de Estado para o Conselho de Ministros.

Até agora, ninguém sabe quando, como e quem gravou esta conversa telefónica, mas sabemos que de repente a gravação da conversa foi disseminada por telemóvel “Bluetooth”, e ultimamente o seu conteúdo foi publicado por jornais. Isto é também notícia para a FRETILIN, mas não é este facto que preocupa a FRETILIN.

Sr. Presidente do Parlamento Nacional,

O Grupo Parlamentar da FRETILIN ficou extremamente preocupado ao ouvir esta gravação duma conversa telefónica que envolve o Procurador-Geral da República como um dos participantes. Isso demonstrou claramente à população de Timor-Leste como um todo, mas principalmente a nós todos Membros deste Parlamento, que o Procurador-Geral da República não se conduziu ele próprio de maneira adequada com a sua posição como representante do nosso Estado na investigação de casos judiciais, e tem levantado dúvidas sobre a neutralidade em curso e sobre a independência do sistema da justiça no nosso país.

Esta conversa telefónica, que já é do conhecimento público, mostra ainda a toda a gente que o Procurador-Geral da República está extremamente próximo de políticos, especialmente daqueles que estiveram envolvidos na crise de 2006 que derrubou o governo da FRETILIN e criou instabilidade no nosso país. Nesta conversa o Procurador-Geral da República mostra que tem uma amizade e confiança política com o Sr. Leandro Isaac que esteve envolvido com a crise do ano passado e que o Relatório da Comissão Internacional de Inquérito entregue em 2 de Outubro de 2006 recomendou que seja investigado, para determinar se esteve envolvido nalgum comportamento criminoso. Há ainda outra evidência que foi mostrada na Televisão do Sr. Leandro Isaac armado durante a crise e na companhia de um grupo que tinha montado um assalto à casa do Brigadeiro-General Taur Matan Ruak em Lahane em 24 de Maio de 2006.

O Grupo Parlamentar da FRETILIN está também preocupado com as ameaças feitas pelo Sr. Longuinhos Monteiro contra os jornalistas do Jornal Tempo Semanal, especialmente contra o jornalista que escreveu o artigo de 1 de Outubro de 2007, que ele pode abrir o caso contra uma ONG que levantou alegações de corrupção envolvendo-o pessoalmente. Isto demonstrava comportamento envolvendo abuso de poder e da sua posição como Procurador-Geral da República.

Durante a campanha das eleições legislativas a Comissão Nacional de Eleições referiu-se a uma queixa feita pela FRETILIN de uso ilegítimo dos seis símbolos de Procurador-Geral da República para investigação. Este caso teve consequências sérias e prejuízos para a FRETILIN durante a campanha eleitoral e criou confusão entre os eleitores. Mas até hoje, não foi iniciada uma investigação pelo Procurador-Geral da República, não foi tomada nenhuma acção legal; nada avançou. É por causa do caso envolver uma queixa da FRETILIN, contra quem o Procurador-Geral tem andado a conspirar para derrubar desde o princípio, que foi decidido deixar sem atender?

Sr. Presidente do Parlamento Nacional,

Ilustres Membros do Parlamento.

O Grupo da FRETILIN acha ainda lamentável que a conversa referida envolva o Chefe do Gabinete do então Presidente da República e corrente Secretário de Estado do Conselho de Ministros neste governo de facto, Sr. Herminigildo Pereira. O seu envolvimento mostra também a toda a gente que uma outra instituição da soberania do Estado como a Presidência da República através do seu Chefe de Gabinete estivesse envolvido com grupos que actuaram para derrubar o governo da FRETILIN, que resultou em perto de 150,000 Timorenses se tornarem deslocados e perto de 6,000 casas destruídas, bem como em mortes e pessoas feridas.

Os factos em relação ao envolvimento de certas pessoas mostradas hoje aqui, já resultou num precedente negativo para o Estado de Timor-Leste, especialmente na área da justiça, porque podemos ver que pessoas que têm um dever e a obrigação de realizar as suas funções de acordo com a lei, com objectividade, com neutralidade e com excepção, eles próprios facilmente sujeitos a influência política, especialmente do governo. Hoje vemos essas pessoas que são os sujeitos desta declaração a ocuparem ainda as suas posições e algumas mesmo a obterem posições no governo de facto.

Por estas razões este Grupo Parlamentar da FRETILIN, como representantes do povo no Parlamento Nacional através do mandato de 120,000 eleitores nas eleições legislativas de 30 de Junho passado, declara que o Sr. Longuinhos Monteiro já não tem mais a confiança requerida para continuar a desempenhar as funções de Procurador-Geral da República com independência no Estado de Timor-Leste, de acordo com a lei e sem influência política.

Como tal o Grupo da FRETILIN requere às instituições com responsabilidade, especialmente a Sua Excelência o Presidente da República para remover o Sr. Longuinhos Monteiro de Procurador-Geral da República de acordo com os termos da Constituição, e para iniciar um inquérito em profundidade ou uma investigação ao Sr. Longuinhos Monteiro, Sr. Herminigildo Pereira e quaisquer outros, pelo seu envolvimento na crise e por qualquer outro abuso de poder pelo qual pode haver indicações similares a este caso.

Obrigado,

Dili, 15 Outubro 2007

Do Líder do Grupo Parlamentar da FRETILIN
Aniceto L. Guterres Lopez

Statement by the Leader of the FRETILIN Parliamentary Group, Aniceto Guterres, on the debate and Vote on General Budget of the State

Statement by the Leader of the FRETILIN Parliamentary Group, Aniceto Guterres, on the debate and Vote on General Budget of the State for the period 1 July to 31 December 2007, on 8 October 2007.

People of Timor-Leste

The debate in the specificity which we have all witnessed in this national Parliament over the last days in this National Parliament has continued to arouse concerns in our FRETILIN Group with respect to the proposed General Budget of the State for the period 1 July to 31 December 2007, and with respect to which all of us parliamentarians are about to undertake a final and global vote on.

I would like to restate to everyone that the concerns expressed by us in our FRETILIN Group’s political declaration yesterday (7 October 2007) remain valid to us and are maintained by us, with the exception of our statements relating to the issue of the veterans and the illegality of the Secretary of State for the “Autonomous Region of Oecusse”.

Still a big concern for us is the budget allocation for the establishment of a Task Force to Combat Poverty in the Office of The President of the Republic, a budget for which there has been neither any explanation nor justification given to us. None of us know for what purpose it is proposed to spend this money. Is it perhaps simply for distribution to the poor? If so, is this the effective means of combating poverty? Or will it simply create dependency which will forever impede people from rising out of poverty? Perhaps it will be for holding Open Presidency meetings over the next two months?

The government as the executive has the primary responsibility to combat poverty through its development program. Although the President of the Republic has a political responsibility to involve himself with this issue as with many others, because we have not been provided with any justification on the proposal, we can only say that it seems to us to simply be a proposal for a slush fund for arbitrary expenditure. This would result in the Presidency acting in a manner which would not be in keeping with the principles of transparency and accountability.

We were extremely saddened by the parliament’s decision to authorise the government to transfer USD$40 million from the Petroleum Fund, disregarding the procedures established in the Petroleum Fund law to obtain prior approval from the Independent Petroleum Fund Consultative Council. This has resulted in a negative precedent for Timor-Leste which had previously been widely internationally recognised for its strong commitment to the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability in the management of the people’s petroleum revenues.

This has also illustrated that this de facto government has no commitment to “reform or change” as they had previously widely proclaimed during the lection campaign.

We all acknowledge that the issue of the internally displaced persons in our country is an extremely urgent and important issue for us all. In the past all political parties who are now represented in this parliament promised to resolve the issue of the displaced persons in the “short term” and criticised the previous FRETILIN for not having done so. They thought they could perform miracles. Now they are telling us we have to be realistic, and have allocated a meagre USD$2 million towards assistance for displaced persons, for such things as purchasing of new tents for them. It is clear that people who have already been living under tents for a long time now will have to continue to live under tents.

Our proposals for additional funding to provide assistance for and attempt to resolve the issue urgently was defeated by the de facto government and their proxies in the parliament.

On one hand they are saying that there is an existing lack of capacity to execute such a large amount on displaced persons in such a short period of time, but on the other hand we see them proposing to spend a very large amount of money on goods and services, even though they do not have a plan for its execution. From this we can clearly already see that they lack honesty, they do not have a moral conscience, they have already lost their sensitivity to these people who are undergoing hardship in our country. They have shown they do not serious on the issue of the displaced persons because they have failed to give them due importance in this budget.

Due to all of these concerns the FRETILIN Parliamentary Group opposes this law on the General Budget of the State.

Lastly, we hold grave concerns as to how they will execute such a large budget in such a short period of time involving an unduly large amount of money, even though it will simply involve spending. The FRETILIN Parliamentary group strongly doubts this Government’s capacity to execute this budget. As this de facto Government says it can execute all of it, and are rejecting the need to reduce the large amount allocated to goods and services, we will expect there to be no “carryovers”, as they demonised the previous FRETILIN government for having previously done. Otherwise, we will expect that we will all turn out to in fact be “devils” and in doing so illustrating this de facto government’s in capacity to govern, and that in accordance with what His Excellency Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão said: “Whoever steals even a quarter (25 cents), out! Whoever cannot do his job, out! Whoever does not know how to govern, out!!”

FRETILIN will expect this de facto government to comply with its promise in this regard, in January 2008.

Thank you.

Aniceto Guterres, Leader of FRETILIN Parliamentary Group.

8 October 2007

Deklarasaun Bancada Parlamentar Fretilin - Kona ba Aprovasaun OGE ba periodo 01 Julho – 31 Dezembro '07

Povo Timor – Leste tomak

Hafoin debate especialidade no votasaun hirak nebe ita hotu asiste iha
Parlamento Nacional ida ne'e, ami Bancada Parlamentar Fretilin
continua preokupa ho OGE periodo 01 de Julho ate 31 de Dezembro 2007
nebe deputados hotu atu halo ona votasaun final e global. Ba dala
uluk hau hakarak fo hanoin hikas ba ema hotu, katak declaracao
politica nebe Bancada Fretilin hato'o tiha ona horseik antes hakotu
debate generalidade, continua valida no mantem nafatin, exepto
declaracao kona ba veteranos, no seluk tan kona ba ilegalidade
Secretariado Estado Regiao Autonoma de Oecusse nian.

Preocupasaun bot ida, mak konaba fundo ba task force luta contra
probreza iha orcamento Presidencia da Republica, fundo ida nebe laiha
esplikasaun ka justifikasaun. Ita hotu lahatene osan ida ne'e atu
uza ba saida. Karik atu fahe osan ba ema kiak sira, nune'e bele
combate ona pobreza? Ka kria tan fali dependencia ke halo ema nunca
mais atu sai husi kiak? Karik atu halao Presidencia Aberta durante
fulan rua oin mai ?

Em termos de competencia, luta contra pobreza kompete ba governo liu
hosi nia programa desevolvimento. Maske politikamente, Presidente da
Republica iha responsabilidade atu envolve'an iha asunto ida ne'e,
maibe tanba laiha justifikasaun, ita bele dehan katak, ida ne'e
hamosu duni saku azul para sira bele gasta osan conforme idak-idak
nia hakarak. Nune'e ita hamosu presedente nebe ladiak ba ita nia
prinsipio transparencia no akuntabilidade.

Ita triste tebes bainhira parlamento nasional halo aprovasaun hodi
autoriza governo atu halo levantamento osan fundo minarai nian $40
milhoes, la tuir procedimentus nebe lei fundo petróleo nian haruka.
Hirak ne'e hotu hamosu presdente a'at ba Timor Leste nebe hahi'i
prinsipio fundamental ba transparência no akuntabilidade. Ne'e hatudu
mos katak kontra fali intensaun politika atu halo"reforma ka mudanca"
nebe governo de fakto halo bebeik ona kampanya.

Ita hotu reconhece katak deslokados sai hanesan problema ida ke
urgente no importante tetebes. Uluk, partidos sira nebe ohin loron
hetan fatin iha Parlamento ne'e, hotu-hotu halo promesa atu resolve
problema deslokados iha curto prazo, hanoin bele halo milagre. Agora
sira dehan ita tenke realista, hodi fo osan ba deslokados $2 milhoes
deit atu hola tan tenda ho seluk-seluk tan. Nune'e ema tenke hela
nafatin iha tenda okos, maske ema barak kleur ona terus iha tenda
okos. Ho maioria parlamentar nebe sira iha, Sira rejeita atu aumenta
osan atu resolve problema ne'e urgentemente. Iha parte ida sira dehan
laiha kapasidade atu executa osan barak iha tempo badak, maibe iha
parte seluk fali osan atu gasta ba bens e servisus, nebe bot tetebes
maske laiha plano atu uja, ba ida ne'e sira dehan bele executa. Hosi
ne'e, hatudo ona katak sira laiha honestidade, laiha konsiensia
moral, lakon ona nia sensibilidade ba povo sira nebe terus hela. Sira
laiha seriedade atu fo importancia ba assunto deslokados.

Tanba preocupacao hirak ne'e hotu, ami Bancada Fretilin kontra lei
orcamento geral do estado ida ne'e.

Ikus, preocupacao bot liu maka oin sa executa orcamento ida ne'e iha
tempo badak ho osan nebe bot demais, ultrapasa kibit governo nian,
mesmo ke atu halo deit despeza. Bancada Fretilin duvida kapasidade
governo nian atu executa. Maske Governo de facto hateten katak bele
executa hotu, tanba ne'e lakohi koa osan ba bens e servisus, ami hein
katak sei laiha tan carried over hanesan diabo Governo Fretilin nian
uluk. Se lae, kala ita sai diabo hotu, nune'e hatudu ona incapacidade
Governo de facto nian atu ukun, ke, hanesan SE Sr Kayrala Xanana
Gusmao hateten tiha ona katak: se mak naok kwarter ida, sai ! Se mak
lahatene servisu, sai! Se mak la hatene ukun, sai!!! Bancada Fretilin
hein Governo de facto cumpre nia promesa hirak ne'e, iha Janeiro tinan
2008.

Mak ne'e deit, obrigado

Deputado Aniceto Guiterres, Chefe Bankada FRETILIN

Media Release - Minister threatens to sack foreign judges

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
FRETILIN

Media Release
Friday 5 October 2007


Minister threatens to sack foreign judges

Timor Leste's new government has renewed its attack on the
independence of the judiciary, with Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato
threatening to terminate the contracts of United Nations-appointed
foreign judges 'who are not performing well.'

FRETILIN Member of Parliament Domingos Sarmento today called on
Lobato to withdraw her threat and apologise to the judiciary. "If
sherefuses to apologise then Prime Minister Gusmao must dismiss her
from the ministry," said Sarmento, a former Justice Minister and
liberation fighter.

In an interview with Timor Leste television TVTL on 3 October,
Minister Lobato said her government would 'evaluate the
performance'of foreign judges and terminate the contracts of those
who were not performing well.

Domingos Sarmento said: "It is not the government's role to pass
judgement on the work of the judiciary. That is the job of the
Superior Council for the Judiciary mandated as an independent body
under the constitution."

Sarmento said Lobato appeared determined to interfere with the
judicial process relating to Alfredo Reinado, the army mutineer and
prison escapee who led an armed band in a violent coup attempt
against the FRETILIN government last year.

The Dili newspaper Suara Timor Lorosae on 3 October reported Lobato as
saying the government had 'formed a task force to find a solution
acceptable to all parties, including Alfredo Reinado.'

A United Nations Independent Special Commission of Inquiry in
October 2006 recommended Reinado be prosecuted for his role in
leading an attack on government troops in which five people were
killed and 10 seriously injured. Reinado remains at large but he and
his co-accused have been indicted and are scheduled to be tried in
December this year.

Domingos Sarmento said:" Minister Lucia Lobato appears to understand
nothing about the separation of powers and shows no respect for the
independence of the judiciary.

"Reinado's case ought to be judged according to law and proper
judicial procedure and not by a process of negotiation between the
fugitive and politicians who have benefited from his support."

Sarmento said Minister Lobato took her first swipe at the judiciary
on the first day of the new government, 8 August, when she blocked
ajudge's order allowing a jailed former minister to travel abroad
for medical treatment.

"Minister Lucia Lobato prevented the former minister's aircraft from
leaving Dili and then tried to insist that the former minister's two
children remain in Timor Leste as virtual hostages pending his
return from treatment.

"The judge who issued the order, Justice Ivo Rosa had to issue a new
direction saying the Justice Minister could be in contempt of court
if she prevented the former minister from travelling.

"The new government's actions are in sharp contrast to the former
FRETILIN government which scrupulously avoided interfering with the
justice system," Sarmento said.

For more information, please contact:

Jose Teixeira (+670) 728 7080

www.timortruth.com, www.fretilin-rdtl.blogspot.com