11 June 2007 View all news | Send to a friend | Print
By Tito Belo
An East Timor fugitive army rebel said he would personally seek out those behind last year's violence if the government refuses to negotiate with him immediately.
Alfredo Reinado escaped last August along with 50 other inmates from a prison where he was being held on charges of involvement in a wave of violence that killed 37 people and drove 150,000 from their homes earlier that year.
"I insist East Timor authorities must hold dialogue as soon as possible, so that we can resolve the problems," Reinado told Reuters by telephone from his hideout.
"We have been very patient but if they delay the dialogue we will lose our patience. We will come down to the town to capture the perpetrators of the crisis," the former military police chief said, referring to last year's violence.
Reinado said he and his followers would not lay down arms.
"I am not a thief but I am still an active member of East Timor's defence force. We are defending the dignity of the military and are serving the nation," he said.
Reinado, East Timor's former military police chief, has been accused of raiding a police post and making off with 25 automatic weapons while on the run.
He managed to evade a raid by Australian-led troops in March, which caused thousands of his supporters to protest in the capital.
Reinado said he would only turn himself in once the ruling Fretilin party is no longer in power and foreign troops sent into East Timor after last year's violence are out of the country.
President Jose Ramos-Horta said he believed Reinado should face justice. "I told you, Alfredo Reinado's case is complicated because it is about justice, but the negotiation continues," he told reporters.
"I have given the opportunity to prosecutors and bishops to negotiate with Alfredo Reinado, so that he can face justice because we only get justice from a court, not through a political compromise," Ramos-Horta said.
Ramos-Horta, a Nobel peace prize winner who spent years abroad as a spokesman for East Timor's struggle for independence from Indonesian occupation, was installed as president last month.
His victory has raised hopes of greater stability in a nation still struggling to heal divisions five years after it won independence from Indonesia.
Brought to you by REUTERS
© REUTERS 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
E Timor defiant on boost to forces
E Timor defiant on boost to forces
Mark Dodd
June 14, 2007
EAST Timor's Prime Minister has thumbed his nose at Australia by announcing plans to give military chiefs free rein to spend millions of dollars raised from oil and gas fields to upgrade the country's defence force.
Just a week after Foreign Minister Alexander Downer called on the impoverished nation to spend money on infrastructure, not weapons, Prime Minister Estanislau da Silva has endorsed pre-election military spending and argued the armed forces should have more autonomy on procurement.
While Mr Downer said last night he was confident the plan would not proceed, Mr da Silva has told East Timorese reporters that the Timor Defence Force should manage its own finance and recruitment and should pursue development of its assets.
This would weaken the current system, under which parliament oversees defence procurement.
The news triggered a warning from defence expert Bob Lowry that the tiny nation could descend into chaos if it spent its scarce resources on weapons and allowed the watering down of good governance standards.
The Australian revealed last week that East Timor had produced the equivalent of a defence white paper outlining a plan for big military spending.
Mr da Silva said: "The head of the Government agrees with F-FDTL (the defence force) on the question of financial procurement, which should be the responsibility of the defence ministry in order to allow it to improve its work. To continue this program (Force 2020), attention needs to be given to purchasing new equipment, including a naval component allowing the F-FDTL to operate in East Timorese waters."
The 2020 report, prepared without the advice of Australian defence officials or others helping keep security in East Timor, recommended the purchase of several missile-equipped corvette-class warships to enforce the country's vulnerable maritime zone.
Last night, Mr Downer played down the Prime Minister's remarks, linking them to electioneering ahead of a national poll on June 30.
"I am confident Force 2020 will not happen as East Timor does not have the resources to deliver such a large military," he said. "Australian and international defence advisers are working with their East Timorese counterparts on the 2007-2010 force development plan to develop realistic capabilities."
Mr Lowry, an expert consultant in Southeast Asian politics and defence, warned the events pointed to a real danger that East Timor's fragile democracy could be derailed.
"Some people in the Australian defence community over there (East Timor) are saying, 'don't get too worried, it's just an aspirational doctrine'. But the trouble with these sort of things (defence plans) is, they do infiltrate themselves into the political system.
"Anyone with half a brain would know there is only one role for the (East Timor) military - if they decide to have one - and that is to back up the police."
Mark Dodd
June 14, 2007
EAST Timor's Prime Minister has thumbed his nose at Australia by announcing plans to give military chiefs free rein to spend millions of dollars raised from oil and gas fields to upgrade the country's defence force.
Just a week after Foreign Minister Alexander Downer called on the impoverished nation to spend money on infrastructure, not weapons, Prime Minister Estanislau da Silva has endorsed pre-election military spending and argued the armed forces should have more autonomy on procurement.
While Mr Downer said last night he was confident the plan would not proceed, Mr da Silva has told East Timorese reporters that the Timor Defence Force should manage its own finance and recruitment and should pursue development of its assets.
This would weaken the current system, under which parliament oversees defence procurement.
The news triggered a warning from defence expert Bob Lowry that the tiny nation could descend into chaos if it spent its scarce resources on weapons and allowed the watering down of good governance standards.
The Australian revealed last week that East Timor had produced the equivalent of a defence white paper outlining a plan for big military spending.
Mr da Silva said: "The head of the Government agrees with F-FDTL (the defence force) on the question of financial procurement, which should be the responsibility of the defence ministry in order to allow it to improve its work. To continue this program (Force 2020), attention needs to be given to purchasing new equipment, including a naval component allowing the F-FDTL to operate in East Timorese waters."
The 2020 report, prepared without the advice of Australian defence officials or others helping keep security in East Timor, recommended the purchase of several missile-equipped corvette-class warships to enforce the country's vulnerable maritime zone.
Last night, Mr Downer played down the Prime Minister's remarks, linking them to electioneering ahead of a national poll on June 30.
"I am confident Force 2020 will not happen as East Timor does not have the resources to deliver such a large military," he said. "Australian and international defence advisers are working with their East Timorese counterparts on the 2007-2010 force development plan to develop realistic capabilities."
Mr Lowry, an expert consultant in Southeast Asian politics and defence, warned the events pointed to a real danger that East Timor's fragile democracy could be derailed.
"Some people in the Australian defence community over there (East Timor) are saying, 'don't get too worried, it's just an aspirational doctrine'. But the trouble with these sort of things (defence plans) is, they do infiltrate themselves into the political system.
"Anyone with half a brain would know there is only one role for the (East Timor) military - if they decide to have one - and that is to back up the police."
UN ENVOY TO TIMOR-LESTE URGES DEMOCRATIC ELECTION PROCESS
Press Release - UN News Center
Jun 12 2007
With campaigning for Timor-Leste's parliamentary elections in full swing, the senior United Nations envoy to the country today called on all concerned to ensure a democratic process.
"It is important that campaign messages be delivered freely, fairly and without violence or intimidation or misuse of state resources," he said in a news release.
So far, only four of the more than 150 campaign activities held across Timor-Leste by the 16 political parties have been marred by violent incidents, according to the UN Integrated Mission there (UNMIT).
Mr. Khare stressed that the 30 June elections should have a restorative and unifying impact and must not lead to divisiveness.
In view of a number of security incidents that occurred during this campaigning period, the Special Representative reminded all political players that justice and the rule of law will be upheld. "Those who break the law and use political campaigning as an opportunity to indulge in criminal activity will continue to be dealt with swiftly by police in Timor-Leste," Mr. Khare said.
UNMIT is mandated by the Security Council to support Timor-Leste in all aspects of the 2007 presidential and parliamentary electoral process.
Jun 12 2007
With campaigning for Timor-Leste's parliamentary elections in full swing, the senior United Nations envoy to the country today called on all concerned to ensure a democratic process.
"It is important that campaign messages be delivered freely, fairly and without violence or intimidation or misuse of state resources," he said in a news release.
So far, only four of the more than 150 campaign activities held across Timor-Leste by the 16 political parties have been marred by violent incidents, according to the UN Integrated Mission there (UNMIT).
Mr. Khare stressed that the 30 June elections should have a restorative and unifying impact and must not lead to divisiveness.
In view of a number of security incidents that occurred during this campaigning period, the Special Representative reminded all political players that justice and the rule of law will be upheld. "Those who break the law and use political campaigning as an opportunity to indulge in criminal activity will continue to be dealt with swiftly by police in Timor-Leste," Mr. Khare said.
UNMIT is mandated by the Security Council to support Timor-Leste in all aspects of the 2007 presidential and parliamentary electoral process.
Gusmao's party tipped to win Timor polls despite lack of policies: ICG
http://nationmultimedia.com/worldhotnews/read.php?newsid=30036768
Jakarta - The new party of East Timor's ex-president Xanana Gusmao appears likely to head a government after parliamentary polls this month despite a lack of policies to lure voters, a report said Wednesday.
The International Crisis Group said that ahead of the June 30 polls, personalities rather than party platforms were swaying East Timor's voters and that no party was offering concrete solutions to the tiny country's problems.
Gusmao, a former independence fighter who remains popular across the impoverished half-island nation, has formed a new party in a bid to take the prime ministership after stepping down as president last month.
But his party, the Congresso Nacional De Reconstrucao de Timor-Leste (CNRT), "has a poorly developed structure, no policies and little more going for it than its leader's charisma," the ICG report said.
"That, however, may be sufficient," it added, noting that based on last month's presidential polls, the CNRT is likely to win 20 to 25 per cent of the vote and then ally with smaller parties to form a parliamentary majority.
Gusmao's ally, President and Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta, won 22 per cent of the vote in the first round and 69 per cent of the presidential run-off.
A CNRT-led coalition, the Brussels-based think tank said, would be more consultative and transparent than the Fretilin-led government of Mari Alkatiri, though it may be less cohesive and less competent in economic management.
Of all the parties contesting the polls, only Fretilin, the ICG said, "seems to have any understanding of the complex technical issues involved in management of revenues and regulation of the petroleum sector."
East Timor has more than one billion dollars from oil and gas revenues locked away in a Petroleum Fund, and a debate over how, and how quickly, the money should be spent has emerged.
Fretilin has dominated parliament since East Timor officially gained independence from Indonesia after decades of occupation in 2002.
Alkatiri was forced however to resign last year amid unrest in the wake of his sacking of around a third of the army.
Street battles between rival security factions led to at least 37 deaths and forced Dili to ask for international peacekeepers to be dispatched to restore a fragile calm.
The ICG said that a CNRT-led coalition would be in a better position to address the political and social divides exposed by last year's bloodshed and more open to advice on how to rebuild and strengthen national institutions.
"But implementation of programmes... will depend not just on political will, but also on professional skills," it warned.
The ICG noted that Gusmao was not widely seen as a promising prime minister "because of his impatience with detail, among other things," so his advisers are recommending he have two deputies.
The report also warned that while presidential elections were largely peaceful, "accusations and inflammatory rhetoric may feature heavily in the parliamentary campaign in a way that could heighten tensions and lead to more violence."
Nevertheless, the fact that the presidential vote took place with few serious incidents showed that the country may emerge from last year's crisis more easily than first thought, it concluded.
Agence France Presse
Jakarta - The new party of East Timor's ex-president Xanana Gusmao appears likely to head a government after parliamentary polls this month despite a lack of policies to lure voters, a report said Wednesday.
The International Crisis Group said that ahead of the June 30 polls, personalities rather than party platforms were swaying East Timor's voters and that no party was offering concrete solutions to the tiny country's problems.
Gusmao, a former independence fighter who remains popular across the impoverished half-island nation, has formed a new party in a bid to take the prime ministership after stepping down as president last month.
But his party, the Congresso Nacional De Reconstrucao de Timor-Leste (CNRT), "has a poorly developed structure, no policies and little more going for it than its leader's charisma," the ICG report said.
"That, however, may be sufficient," it added, noting that based on last month's presidential polls, the CNRT is likely to win 20 to 25 per cent of the vote and then ally with smaller parties to form a parliamentary majority.
Gusmao's ally, President and Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta, won 22 per cent of the vote in the first round and 69 per cent of the presidential run-off.
A CNRT-led coalition, the Brussels-based think tank said, would be more consultative and transparent than the Fretilin-led government of Mari Alkatiri, though it may be less cohesive and less competent in economic management.
Of all the parties contesting the polls, only Fretilin, the ICG said, "seems to have any understanding of the complex technical issues involved in management of revenues and regulation of the petroleum sector."
East Timor has more than one billion dollars from oil and gas revenues locked away in a Petroleum Fund, and a debate over how, and how quickly, the money should be spent has emerged.
Fretilin has dominated parliament since East Timor officially gained independence from Indonesia after decades of occupation in 2002.
Alkatiri was forced however to resign last year amid unrest in the wake of his sacking of around a third of the army.
Street battles between rival security factions led to at least 37 deaths and forced Dili to ask for international peacekeepers to be dispatched to restore a fragile calm.
The ICG said that a CNRT-led coalition would be in a better position to address the political and social divides exposed by last year's bloodshed and more open to advice on how to rebuild and strengthen national institutions.
"But implementation of programmes... will depend not just on political will, but also on professional skills," it warned.
The ICG noted that Gusmao was not widely seen as a promising prime minister "because of his impatience with detail, among other things," so his advisers are recommending he have two deputies.
The report also warned that while presidential elections were largely peaceful, "accusations and inflammatory rhetoric may feature heavily in the parliamentary campaign in a way that could heighten tensions and lead to more violence."
Nevertheless, the fact that the presidential vote took place with few serious incidents showed that the country may emerge from last year's crisis more easily than first thought, it concluded.
Agence France Presse
Monday, June 4, 2007
The War On Christianity
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/indones/articles/20070604.aspx
June 4, 2007: In West Java, Islamic terrorists have forcibly closed another Christian church. Typically, a mob of Islamic militants will invade a church, during services, and desecrate the place, drive the worshipers out, and attack any clergy, all the time shouting Islamic slogans. When the police investigate, none of the known Islamic militant groups will take credit for the attack. In the last three years, at least 30 Christian churches have been forced to close in West Java.
June 3, 2007: Pleading poverty, Indonesia has called on Japan, China and South Korea to help provide security for the Malacca Straits. This narrow sea lane carries much of the oil needed to sustain economic activity in Japan, China and South Korea. The narrow straits are vulnerable to terrorist attack (like sinking a large tanker, to block passage).
May 31, 2007: Partisan and gang violence continues in East Timor, making the capital a particularly dangerous place to be, especially whenever peacekeepers or police are not in the immediate area. Police are being accused of taking sides, and using their weapons, at some political rallies. There will be elections for the president and parliament in a month.
May 30, 2007: In East Java, villagers demonstrating over navy efforts to develop land, led to at least a dozen people getting shot by marines. The marines later claimed they had not aimed directly at the people, but too many witnesses saw what happened. The military has long owned large amounts of unused land, some of it claimed by locals. Attempts by local civilians to sort the matter out in the courts has not been successful. There's always been a lot of corruption in Indonesia, in the military and the courts.
May 27, 2007: East Timor Rebel Major Alfredo Reinado has now shown up on Indonesian television, in a recorded interview. Appearing in a clean military uniform, and looking quite confident, Reinado demanded that criminal charges against him be dropped. Australian troops believed they had Reinado on the run, but now it's possible that Reinado has escaped into Indonesian West Timor. Reinado support comes from the western part of East Timor, and friends there could have gotten him across the border. At the same time, a policeman was shot outside the capital, in an area Reinado was thought to be hiding. Reinados few remaining followers have guns.
June 4, 2007: In West Java, Islamic terrorists have forcibly closed another Christian church. Typically, a mob of Islamic militants will invade a church, during services, and desecrate the place, drive the worshipers out, and attack any clergy, all the time shouting Islamic slogans. When the police investigate, none of the known Islamic militant groups will take credit for the attack. In the last three years, at least 30 Christian churches have been forced to close in West Java.
June 3, 2007: Pleading poverty, Indonesia has called on Japan, China and South Korea to help provide security for the Malacca Straits. This narrow sea lane carries much of the oil needed to sustain economic activity in Japan, China and South Korea. The narrow straits are vulnerable to terrorist attack (like sinking a large tanker, to block passage).
May 31, 2007: Partisan and gang violence continues in East Timor, making the capital a particularly dangerous place to be, especially whenever peacekeepers or police are not in the immediate area. Police are being accused of taking sides, and using their weapons, at some political rallies. There will be elections for the president and parliament in a month.
May 30, 2007: In East Java, villagers demonstrating over navy efforts to develop land, led to at least a dozen people getting shot by marines. The marines later claimed they had not aimed directly at the people, but too many witnesses saw what happened. The military has long owned large amounts of unused land, some of it claimed by locals. Attempts by local civilians to sort the matter out in the courts has not been successful. There's always been a lot of corruption in Indonesia, in the military and the courts.
May 27, 2007: East Timor Rebel Major Alfredo Reinado has now shown up on Indonesian television, in a recorded interview. Appearing in a clean military uniform, and looking quite confident, Reinado demanded that criminal charges against him be dropped. Australian troops believed they had Reinado on the run, but now it's possible that Reinado has escaped into Indonesian West Timor. Reinado support comes from the western part of East Timor, and friends there could have gotten him across the border. At the same time, a policeman was shot outside the capital, in an area Reinado was thought to be hiding. Reinados few remaining followers have guns.
Foreign troops deployed after 2 killed in East Timor campaign violence
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/04/asia/AS-GEN-East-Timor-Campaign-Violence.php
The Associated PressPublished: June 3, 2007
DILI, East Timor: International troops were rushed Monday to a volatile region of East Timor where two men were fatally shot during campaigning for parliamentary elections later this month, authorities said.
One of the dead was a campaign worker for independence hero Xanana Gusmao, who is running for prime minister in the upcoming polls, seen as key to restoring stability in the tiny nation, police said.
An off-duty police officer was suspected in the killing in Viqueque district, the United Nations said, indicating bitter divisions in the country's security forces and ruling elite that exploded into violence and political turmoil last year remain a threat.
Later Sunday, Timorese police opened fire on a crowd confronting Gusmao and his supporters as they attempted to return the body to the man's family, the U.N. statement said, citing initial reports. A 24-year-old man was fatally shot and a 16-year-old boy was injured in the incident at a roadblock.
A platoon of foreign troops led by Australian soldiers was deployed to the district and the United Nations was reviewing its election security strategy, the statement said. A platoon typically contains between 30 and 40 soldiers.
"This is a very sad day for me and for East Timor's democracy," said Gusmao. "I again call on all people of our young nation to give up violence. With violence we only hurt ourselves, our country, and those that we love."
East Timor, which broke from Indonesian rule in a U.N.-sponsored 1999 ballot, had been heralded as a success in nation-building until a rift in the police and armed forces escalated into gunbattles, looting, arson and gang warfare just over a year ago. The violence killed 37 people and drove 155,000 from their homes.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta was elected president on May 9, raising hopes of stability, although more than 3,000 international police officers and soldiers remain stationed in the country to maintain peace and order.
Ramos-Horta took over from Gusmao, who was imprisoned during Indonesia's occupation for leading the resistance to Jakarta's rule.
Political commentators have expressed fear that efforts by Gusmao and Ramos-Horta to sideline the Fretilin party — which currently holds a majority of seats in the legislature — could lead to more bloodshed.
Last week, a hand grenade killed a man and wounded three others, while supporters of rival candidates clashed with machetes and rocks elsewhere in the country, wounding a dozen people.
East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, is the youngest and poorest country in Asia, with an unemployment rate of around 50 percent. About two-thirds of children under age 5 are malnourished.
The Associated PressPublished: June 3, 2007
DILI, East Timor: International troops were rushed Monday to a volatile region of East Timor where two men were fatally shot during campaigning for parliamentary elections later this month, authorities said.
One of the dead was a campaign worker for independence hero Xanana Gusmao, who is running for prime minister in the upcoming polls, seen as key to restoring stability in the tiny nation, police said.
An off-duty police officer was suspected in the killing in Viqueque district, the United Nations said, indicating bitter divisions in the country's security forces and ruling elite that exploded into violence and political turmoil last year remain a threat.
Later Sunday, Timorese police opened fire on a crowd confronting Gusmao and his supporters as they attempted to return the body to the man's family, the U.N. statement said, citing initial reports. A 24-year-old man was fatally shot and a 16-year-old boy was injured in the incident at a roadblock.
A platoon of foreign troops led by Australian soldiers was deployed to the district and the United Nations was reviewing its election security strategy, the statement said. A platoon typically contains between 30 and 40 soldiers.
"This is a very sad day for me and for East Timor's democracy," said Gusmao. "I again call on all people of our young nation to give up violence. With violence we only hurt ourselves, our country, and those that we love."
East Timor, which broke from Indonesian rule in a U.N.-sponsored 1999 ballot, had been heralded as a success in nation-building until a rift in the police and armed forces escalated into gunbattles, looting, arson and gang warfare just over a year ago. The violence killed 37 people and drove 155,000 from their homes.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta was elected president on May 9, raising hopes of stability, although more than 3,000 international police officers and soldiers remain stationed in the country to maintain peace and order.
Ramos-Horta took over from Gusmao, who was imprisoned during Indonesia's occupation for leading the resistance to Jakarta's rule.
Political commentators have expressed fear that efforts by Gusmao and Ramos-Horta to sideline the Fretilin party — which currently holds a majority of seats in the legislature — could lead to more bloodshed.
Last week, a hand grenade killed a man and wounded three others, while supporters of rival candidates clashed with machetes and rocks elsewhere in the country, wounding a dozen people.
East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, is the youngest and poorest country in Asia, with an unemployment rate of around 50 percent. About two-thirds of children under age 5 are malnourished.
Call for inquest into East Timor death
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1942280.htm
A Darwin-based East Timor activist says there is more than enough evidence for the Northern Territory coroner to hold an inquest into the death of an Australian man 32 years ago.
Roger East, 29, is believed to have been shot dead by Indonesian soldiers while working in East Timor.
Rob Wesley-Smith says he knows of several people who witnessed what happened, and he knows where the body is buried.
"[My] Timor activist colleague Brian Manning said that he met a Chinese woman who stopped over the body on the beach," he said.
"Other people [including] Peter Cranaher have done research to identify where we think the body is buried.
"I've been to that spot ... unfortunately it's under a large wall."
Mr Wesley-Smith says he is hoping justice will prevail soon, and international politics will not get in the way.
"I think the person handling it has been away and gets back this week and probably needs a few days to get up to speed."
A Darwin-based East Timor activist says there is more than enough evidence for the Northern Territory coroner to hold an inquest into the death of an Australian man 32 years ago.
Roger East, 29, is believed to have been shot dead by Indonesian soldiers while working in East Timor.
Rob Wesley-Smith says he knows of several people who witnessed what happened, and he knows where the body is buried.
"[My] Timor activist colleague Brian Manning said that he met a Chinese woman who stopped over the body on the beach," he said.
"Other people [including] Peter Cranaher have done research to identify where we think the body is buried.
"I've been to that spot ... unfortunately it's under a large wall."
Mr Wesley-Smith says he is hoping justice will prevail soon, and international politics will not get in the way.
"I think the person handling it has been away and gets back this week and probably needs a few days to get up to speed."
Remembering the Activist Priest Mangunwijaya and East Timor
http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?no=364797&rel_no=1
Please note this article has only been lightly edited.
The recent diplomatic row between Indonesia and Australia has once again opened the painful wounds Indonesia and East Timor had to deal with for many years.
Sutiyoso, the governor of Jakarta, was officially invited by Australia for a three-day visit (May 27-29) to renew the sister city cooperation between Jakarta and Sydney. The governor, however, decided to cut short his visit after two New South Wales' police officers bearing a subpoena tried to summon him to testify at the Deputy State Coroner Dorelle Pinch's inquest on Wednesday over the "Balibo Five" incident of Oct. 16, 1975.
Balibo Five" refers to the death of five Australian-based newsmen in Balibo, East Timor as Indonesian troops entered the area. The story's official version suggests that the British, Australian and New Zealand journalists were caught in the crossfire. But the victims' families and especially the coroner of the TV cameraman Brian Peters, however, claim a cover-up by Jakarta and Canberra.
They insisted the five were deliberately shot by the Indonesian troops entering East Timor when colonial Portugal left the area after nearly 400 years of rule. The then Captain Sutiyoso admitted to have led the troop into Balibo but denied any involvement in the incident.
It took days for Australia to apologize for the incident in Sydney. As I followed the turn of events, I could not help feeling offended as a fellow Indonesian. Indeed, there could have been a better way of handling the case within the principles of international relations. Yet as I tried to consider all aspects of what happened, I was reminded of the late humanitarian genius, Y.B. Mangunwijaya a Yogyakarta-based Diocesan Catholic priest, who in 1997 gladly accepted me as his assistant and researcher for 3 months.
Fr. Mangunwijaya, a multi-awarded architect, novelist and social worker, was a well-known freedom fighter whose deep involvement in the East Timor problems brought him into close contact with student activists, intellectuals and military officers who sought advice from him. For several decades until his death on February 10, 1999, he had been a trusted comrade-in-arms for everyone regardless of political and religious backgrounds.
Fr. Mangunwijaya's advice to all parties on East Timor was clear and unwavering: dialogue and justice building for all the people. In a letter to his friend B.J. Habibie, he reminded the then Vice President of Indonesia that if the majority through democratic means wanted independence, Indonesia had to learn to live side by side with East Timor for they share common cultural and economic ties.
The activist students who came to him belonged to two factions, those in favor of an independent East Timor and those who wanted it to remain an integral part of Indonesia. Fr. Mangunwijaya understood that East Timor's long history of suffering under Portugal’s colonial rule instilled in the pro-independence faction the belief that Indonesia was addressing the long neglected programs of poverty eradication and infrastructural development. He shared their fear of a backlash shall a disintegration from Indonesia occur.
Being Catholic, the Timorese found in Fr. Mangunwijaya the embodiment of the Christian notion of the "good shepherd." He repeatedly stressed the importance of people who often end up reduced into mere numbers of casualties. These people had faces, had names. Their well-being should be the priority of any political agenda, a conviction which times made him at odd with parties suspicious of his political leanings.
In another letter to B.J. Habibie, who was instrumental in paving the way for an independent East Timor, Fr. Mangunwijaya thanked him for his courage to cut off the "gordian knot" -- an initiative that would forever be remembered by Indonesia and East Timor. He warned Habibie of the increasing armed civilians whom he believed would plunge the people into a civil war and burdened the army with another conflict.
The priest referred to violence between militiamen, troops and civilians. Many Timorese fell victim in the riots following the 1999 UN-backed referendum. Many Indonesians were forced to leave East Timor as their properties were looted. These left them poor and jobless. The Timorese who decided to be Indonesians, on the one hand, had to leave behind their families in East Timor.
I am certain that Fr. Mangunwijaya, had he been still alive, would have given a more even perspective about the recent diplomatic row between Indonesia and Australia. As somebody who was fortunate to have spent time with him, I am sure that the so-called "hidden" hero of East Timor would have stood by the teachings he tried to convey during his lifetime: it is not politics per se that matters but politics that ensures the people's welfare. This made Bishop Carlos Belo invite him to Oslo in December 1996 when the Bishop and Jose Ramos Horta (now President of East Timor) shared the Nobel Peace Prize.
The rights of the five journalists and their families should be upheld by both Jakarta and Canberra. It should be carried out in "proper courtesy" between two equal sovereign countries, as Australian Prime Minister John Howard himself said. Similarly, Indonesia and East Timor should also find the best solution for the repatriation of the displaced Indonesians who, I believe, have the most to say about the matter.
Please note this article has only been lightly edited.
The recent diplomatic row between Indonesia and Australia has once again opened the painful wounds Indonesia and East Timor had to deal with for many years.
Sutiyoso, the governor of Jakarta, was officially invited by Australia for a three-day visit (May 27-29) to renew the sister city cooperation between Jakarta and Sydney. The governor, however, decided to cut short his visit after two New South Wales' police officers bearing a subpoena tried to summon him to testify at the Deputy State Coroner Dorelle Pinch's inquest on Wednesday over the "Balibo Five" incident of Oct. 16, 1975.
Balibo Five" refers to the death of five Australian-based newsmen in Balibo, East Timor as Indonesian troops entered the area. The story's official version suggests that the British, Australian and New Zealand journalists were caught in the crossfire. But the victims' families and especially the coroner of the TV cameraman Brian Peters, however, claim a cover-up by Jakarta and Canberra.
They insisted the five were deliberately shot by the Indonesian troops entering East Timor when colonial Portugal left the area after nearly 400 years of rule. The then Captain Sutiyoso admitted to have led the troop into Balibo but denied any involvement in the incident.
It took days for Australia to apologize for the incident in Sydney. As I followed the turn of events, I could not help feeling offended as a fellow Indonesian. Indeed, there could have been a better way of handling the case within the principles of international relations. Yet as I tried to consider all aspects of what happened, I was reminded of the late humanitarian genius, Y.B. Mangunwijaya a Yogyakarta-based Diocesan Catholic priest, who in 1997 gladly accepted me as his assistant and researcher for 3 months.
Fr. Mangunwijaya, a multi-awarded architect, novelist and social worker, was a well-known freedom fighter whose deep involvement in the East Timor problems brought him into close contact with student activists, intellectuals and military officers who sought advice from him. For several decades until his death on February 10, 1999, he had been a trusted comrade-in-arms for everyone regardless of political and religious backgrounds.
Fr. Mangunwijaya's advice to all parties on East Timor was clear and unwavering: dialogue and justice building for all the people. In a letter to his friend B.J. Habibie, he reminded the then Vice President of Indonesia that if the majority through democratic means wanted independence, Indonesia had to learn to live side by side with East Timor for they share common cultural and economic ties.
The activist students who came to him belonged to two factions, those in favor of an independent East Timor and those who wanted it to remain an integral part of Indonesia. Fr. Mangunwijaya understood that East Timor's long history of suffering under Portugal’s colonial rule instilled in the pro-independence faction the belief that Indonesia was addressing the long neglected programs of poverty eradication and infrastructural development. He shared their fear of a backlash shall a disintegration from Indonesia occur.
Being Catholic, the Timorese found in Fr. Mangunwijaya the embodiment of the Christian notion of the "good shepherd." He repeatedly stressed the importance of people who often end up reduced into mere numbers of casualties. These people had faces, had names. Their well-being should be the priority of any political agenda, a conviction which times made him at odd with parties suspicious of his political leanings.
In another letter to B.J. Habibie, who was instrumental in paving the way for an independent East Timor, Fr. Mangunwijaya thanked him for his courage to cut off the "gordian knot" -- an initiative that would forever be remembered by Indonesia and East Timor. He warned Habibie of the increasing armed civilians whom he believed would plunge the people into a civil war and burdened the army with another conflict.
The priest referred to violence between militiamen, troops and civilians. Many Timorese fell victim in the riots following the 1999 UN-backed referendum. Many Indonesians were forced to leave East Timor as their properties were looted. These left them poor and jobless. The Timorese who decided to be Indonesians, on the one hand, had to leave behind their families in East Timor.
I am certain that Fr. Mangunwijaya, had he been still alive, would have given a more even perspective about the recent diplomatic row between Indonesia and Australia. As somebody who was fortunate to have spent time with him, I am sure that the so-called "hidden" hero of East Timor would have stood by the teachings he tried to convey during his lifetime: it is not politics per se that matters but politics that ensures the people's welfare. This made Bishop Carlos Belo invite him to Oslo in December 1996 when the Bishop and Jose Ramos Horta (now President of East Timor) shared the Nobel Peace Prize.
The rights of the five journalists and their families should be upheld by both Jakarta and Canberra. It should be carried out in "proper courtesy" between two equal sovereign countries, as Australian Prime Minister John Howard himself said. Similarly, Indonesia and East Timor should also find the best solution for the repatriation of the displaced Indonesians who, I believe, have the most to say about the matter.
Author says Aust extorted East Timor over oil, gas
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s1940479.htm
PM - Friday, 1 June , 2007 18:46:00
Reporter: Mark Colvin
MARK COLVIN: "Shakedown" is a slang term for an act of extortion, and a shakedown is what the writer Paul Cleary calls the way Australia acted towards East Timor over the oil and gas in the sea between our two countries.
Mr Cleary is a former journalist who was appointed by the World Bank as an adviser to East Timor's Prime Minister in the oil and gas negotiations.
His new book on the story is called Shakedown, and I asked him first, if East Timor's case for the resources was so cut and dried, why had the Indonesians, who were in charge before Timorese independence, agreed so easily to Australia's demands.
PAUL CLEARY: Indonesia signed that agreement when international law in this area was in its infancy and subsequent to that the Foreign Minister said Australia had taken Indonesia to the cleaners.
MARK COLVIN: So you're saying that Australia kind of behaved as some kind of regional bully?
PAUL CLEARY: I think there was a lot of bully that went on. Mr Downer pounding the table saying "we're a rich country, we can sit this out for 30, 40, 50 years". And also really threatening East Timor to sever its economic lifeline to stop development in the Timor Sea unless East Timor signed over its rights to 80 per cent of the biggest field in the area.
Meanwhile Australia was already exploiting the resources, which was actually contrary to international law. I think people in East Timor would've wanted it to take longer but however I think the Government particularly in the interim period from 2000 when the UN was in control in the transitional government, there was a need to get the revenue, so that's why the Timor Sea Treaty was negotiated in 2000 and signed in 2002.
MARK COLVIN: And then we got to this point in 2004 when the East Timorese patience just ran out and one of the signals was actually on this program when Jose Ramos-Horta came on spoke to me about what the DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) negotiator Doug Chester had just done.
(excerpt from PM interview)
JOSE RAMOS HORTA: The Australian side basically imposed on us an ultimatum. Mr Doug Chester, the Senior Official from Foreign Affairs, DFAT, that led the Australian delegation simply said "take it or leave it".
MARK COLVIN: So what did you say to this "take it or leave it"? offer?
JOSE RAMOS HORTA: Of course we can't accept ultimatums, we cannot accept blackmail, we are poor but we have a sense of honour, a sense of dignity of our rights.
MARK COLVIN: Jose Ramos Horta is a man, usually very moderate words. What was the significance of what he said?
PAUL CLEARY: He is, I mean, in this book I call Mr Ramos Horta the consummate diplomat, he always is very measured and this is a rare example of him really loosing his cool, loosing his patience. Because this is a classic example of the bullying tactics that were being used, Mr Doug Chester telling the Timorese, "You hand over your rights to this field by 5 pm on October 28th and we'll give you $3-billion and that's it," and Timor by digging in standing up for its rights, managed to get 3 times that amount of current oil prices.
MARK COLVIN: So it was worth hanging on?
PAUL CLEARY: Oh definitely. I think the Timorese are, realized once they got the revenue under the Timor Sea Treaty, and once Australia ratified that treaty the revenue began to flow. They had a bit more comfort they could afford to stand their ground and to really get the deal they thought was fair.
And in the end I think what the Timorese got was probably the 50 per cent share of Greater Sunrise, probably the minimum acceptable to the Timorese and the maximum that Australia was willing to give up.
MARK COLVIN: So it ended without irreparable damage to the relationship between the two sides. What about the situation in East Timor, the spending of the money?
PAUL CLEARY: Timor does have a very good system to save the money. This was modeled on Norway, which really does have a very excellent system, very transparent, very robust, really cannot be tampered with.
MARK COLVIN: They used their oil to really create a massive future fund…
PAUL CLEARY: Exactly, it was a massive future fund. Something that Australia could actually think about well with all the revenue we're getting from the commodity boom.
Essentially Timor is only spending about half the money and the idea is at the end of it, when the oil runs out, they'll have this massive fund and they can live of the interest forever.
MARK COLVIN: This is to overcome what some people call the curse of oil?
PAUL CLEARY: The resource curse, that's right, or the paradox of plenty. All these problems that these countries get a huge influx of revenue, it inflates their exchange rate, political leaders go and spend money on weapons and big grandiose palaces and things. So the idea is to have the fiscal discipline.
The problem with Timor had been though is that they haven't done a very good job spending the money. And this has been the real weakness in the current government.
MARK COLVIN: Because what we see, what we tend to see on our television screens from Timor recently has been riots and poverty.
PAUL CLEARY: Well exactly, you got massive youth unemployment. I mean the East Timor economy went backwards for four years straight in per capita terms.
I mean no developing country coming out of a post conflict situation can really stay together under that situation. And that was really I think the background to this crisis that a lot of people will have overlooked.
That it was the Government's failure with the UN withdrawing rapidly and I think that was a problem Australia urged that of the United Nations to pull out the peacekeepers.
The economy imploded, and the Government was very fiscally conservative, I think they had some quite patronising ideas about the Timorese, that you can't trust them with money, and they'll have this dependency mentality but there just wasn't enough money circulating around the economy.
MARK COLVIN: Paul Cleary whose book Shakedown was released today.
PM - Friday, 1 June , 2007 18:46:00
Reporter: Mark Colvin
MARK COLVIN: "Shakedown" is a slang term for an act of extortion, and a shakedown is what the writer Paul Cleary calls the way Australia acted towards East Timor over the oil and gas in the sea between our two countries.
Mr Cleary is a former journalist who was appointed by the World Bank as an adviser to East Timor's Prime Minister in the oil and gas negotiations.
His new book on the story is called Shakedown, and I asked him first, if East Timor's case for the resources was so cut and dried, why had the Indonesians, who were in charge before Timorese independence, agreed so easily to Australia's demands.
PAUL CLEARY: Indonesia signed that agreement when international law in this area was in its infancy and subsequent to that the Foreign Minister said Australia had taken Indonesia to the cleaners.
MARK COLVIN: So you're saying that Australia kind of behaved as some kind of regional bully?
PAUL CLEARY: I think there was a lot of bully that went on. Mr Downer pounding the table saying "we're a rich country, we can sit this out for 30, 40, 50 years". And also really threatening East Timor to sever its economic lifeline to stop development in the Timor Sea unless East Timor signed over its rights to 80 per cent of the biggest field in the area.
Meanwhile Australia was already exploiting the resources, which was actually contrary to international law. I think people in East Timor would've wanted it to take longer but however I think the Government particularly in the interim period from 2000 when the UN was in control in the transitional government, there was a need to get the revenue, so that's why the Timor Sea Treaty was negotiated in 2000 and signed in 2002.
MARK COLVIN: And then we got to this point in 2004 when the East Timorese patience just ran out and one of the signals was actually on this program when Jose Ramos-Horta came on spoke to me about what the DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) negotiator Doug Chester had just done.
(excerpt from PM interview)
JOSE RAMOS HORTA: The Australian side basically imposed on us an ultimatum. Mr Doug Chester, the Senior Official from Foreign Affairs, DFAT, that led the Australian delegation simply said "take it or leave it".
MARK COLVIN: So what did you say to this "take it or leave it"? offer?
JOSE RAMOS HORTA: Of course we can't accept ultimatums, we cannot accept blackmail, we are poor but we have a sense of honour, a sense of dignity of our rights.
MARK COLVIN: Jose Ramos Horta is a man, usually very moderate words. What was the significance of what he said?
PAUL CLEARY: He is, I mean, in this book I call Mr Ramos Horta the consummate diplomat, he always is very measured and this is a rare example of him really loosing his cool, loosing his patience. Because this is a classic example of the bullying tactics that were being used, Mr Doug Chester telling the Timorese, "You hand over your rights to this field by 5 pm on October 28th and we'll give you $3-billion and that's it," and Timor by digging in standing up for its rights, managed to get 3 times that amount of current oil prices.
MARK COLVIN: So it was worth hanging on?
PAUL CLEARY: Oh definitely. I think the Timorese are, realized once they got the revenue under the Timor Sea Treaty, and once Australia ratified that treaty the revenue began to flow. They had a bit more comfort they could afford to stand their ground and to really get the deal they thought was fair.
And in the end I think what the Timorese got was probably the 50 per cent share of Greater Sunrise, probably the minimum acceptable to the Timorese and the maximum that Australia was willing to give up.
MARK COLVIN: So it ended without irreparable damage to the relationship between the two sides. What about the situation in East Timor, the spending of the money?
PAUL CLEARY: Timor does have a very good system to save the money. This was modeled on Norway, which really does have a very excellent system, very transparent, very robust, really cannot be tampered with.
MARK COLVIN: They used their oil to really create a massive future fund…
PAUL CLEARY: Exactly, it was a massive future fund. Something that Australia could actually think about well with all the revenue we're getting from the commodity boom.
Essentially Timor is only spending about half the money and the idea is at the end of it, when the oil runs out, they'll have this massive fund and they can live of the interest forever.
MARK COLVIN: This is to overcome what some people call the curse of oil?
PAUL CLEARY: The resource curse, that's right, or the paradox of plenty. All these problems that these countries get a huge influx of revenue, it inflates their exchange rate, political leaders go and spend money on weapons and big grandiose palaces and things. So the idea is to have the fiscal discipline.
The problem with Timor had been though is that they haven't done a very good job spending the money. And this has been the real weakness in the current government.
MARK COLVIN: Because what we see, what we tend to see on our television screens from Timor recently has been riots and poverty.
PAUL CLEARY: Well exactly, you got massive youth unemployment. I mean the East Timor economy went backwards for four years straight in per capita terms.
I mean no developing country coming out of a post conflict situation can really stay together under that situation. And that was really I think the background to this crisis that a lot of people will have overlooked.
That it was the Government's failure with the UN withdrawing rapidly and I think that was a problem Australia urged that of the United Nations to pull out the peacekeepers.
The economy imploded, and the Government was very fiscally conservative, I think they had some quite patronising ideas about the Timorese, that you can't trust them with money, and they'll have this dependency mentality but there just wasn't enough money circulating around the economy.
MARK COLVIN: Paul Cleary whose book Shakedown was released today.
EAST TIMOR: OPTIMISM ON UPCOMING ELECTIONS
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Politics&loid=8.0.421589641&par=0
New York, 4 June (AKI) - The head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) on Monday voiced optimism that upcoming parliamentary elections there will be as peaceful as the recent presidential ballot, and predicted the possible need for a coalition government. "They went much better than any one of us could have expected," UNMIT chief Atul Khare told reporters in New York Monday, referring to the two rounds of the presidential election in April and May, which led to the swearing in of President Jose Ramos-Horta just weeks ago.
The biggest challenge following the upcoming parliamentary elections, Khare said, would be the process of forming a government in the country.
“It is abundantly clear to me that with 14 political parties in the fray, possibilities of forming a coalition government would have to be examined very carefully. It appears as practically unlikely that that any political party would get a clear majority,” he stated.
He pointed to the need to strengthen the security sector, taking into consideration of the future role of the army and police. Justice, governance and development will also require attention, he said.
“We trust that the new government, the new leaders, would be in a position to address these challenges, supported by the United Nations, as they have been over the past several years,” Khare said.
He said agreements recently signed by the parties will facilitate the upcoming polls.
The Political Party Accord covers basic principles of governance after the elections, committing all parties to a constructive and inclusive democratic process for the new government and opposition.
The Code of Conduct signed by all political parties commits them, their candidates, their representatives and supporters to accept the results, or to challenge them only in competent courts, and to campaign positively through programmes of action not personal criticism of other candidates.
Khare said the Accord “bodes well for [the] development of a genuine multi-party, liberal democracy” in Timor-Leste.
The UN Mission, deployed following an outbreak of deadly violence last year, is helping with all aspects of the 2007 electoral processes, including technical and logistical support, electoral policy advice and verification.
New York, 4 June (AKI) - The head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) on Monday voiced optimism that upcoming parliamentary elections there will be as peaceful as the recent presidential ballot, and predicted the possible need for a coalition government. "They went much better than any one of us could have expected," UNMIT chief Atul Khare told reporters in New York Monday, referring to the two rounds of the presidential election in April and May, which led to the swearing in of President Jose Ramos-Horta just weeks ago.
The biggest challenge following the upcoming parliamentary elections, Khare said, would be the process of forming a government in the country.
“It is abundantly clear to me that with 14 political parties in the fray, possibilities of forming a coalition government would have to be examined very carefully. It appears as practically unlikely that that any political party would get a clear majority,” he stated.
He pointed to the need to strengthen the security sector, taking into consideration of the future role of the army and police. Justice, governance and development will also require attention, he said.
“We trust that the new government, the new leaders, would be in a position to address these challenges, supported by the United Nations, as they have been over the past several years,” Khare said.
He said agreements recently signed by the parties will facilitate the upcoming polls.
The Political Party Accord covers basic principles of governance after the elections, committing all parties to a constructive and inclusive democratic process for the new government and opposition.
The Code of Conduct signed by all political parties commits them, their candidates, their representatives and supporters to accept the results, or to challenge them only in competent courts, and to campaign positively through programmes of action not personal criticism of other candidates.
Khare said the Accord “bodes well for [the] development of a genuine multi-party, liberal democracy” in Timor-Leste.
The UN Mission, deployed following an outbreak of deadly violence last year, is helping with all aspects of the 2007 electoral processes, including technical and logistical support, electoral policy advice and verification.
Horta condemns rally shootings
http://www.worldnewsaustralia.com.au/region.php?id=137497®ion=2
East Timor's new president Jose Ramos Horta says the nation's police force still suffers from a lack of discipline, after police allegedly shot two activists.
Saying the deaths had embarrassed the nation, Mr Ramos Horta said those responsible for shooting dead the activists during rallies for a new party headed by former East Timor president Xanana Gusmao, should receive "severe punishment".
The United Nations yesterday stepped up security in Viqueque, south east of Dili, amid rising tensions after the deaths of the two men, supporters of Gusmao's party, National Congress for Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT).
UN Police fired warning shots and tear gas in Viqueque market on Sunday afternoon after fighting broke out between CNRT supporters and opponents following a CNRT rally in the Fretilin-stronghold.
One man, Alfonso "Kuda Lay" Guterres, died after he was allegedly shot by an off-duty Timorese police officer.
Another CNRT supporter, 24, was shot dead and a 16-year-old youth injured shortly later, as a group of CNRT supporters, accompanied by the former president, attempted to return the dead man's body to Ossu.
"Initial reports indicate that PNTL (East Timor police) fired shots to control a crowd at a roadblock near Ossu," the acting head of the UN's mission in East Timor, Eric Tan said.
The Australian-led international stabilisation force has deployed a platoon to the region.
'Discipline lax'
Mr Ramos Horta, who was due to fly to Jakarta this afternoon for his first official visit as president, said the police entrusted to safeguard the elections had failed in their duty.
"Several members of the PNTL have engaged in crime ... We see that indiscipline is still very strong within the PNTL," he said.
He warned: "There is no impunity in this country".
Reform of East Timor's security sector is considered key to the country's future, after clashes between elements of the police and defence forces sparked last year's crisis, resulting in 37 deaths.
Former president Gusmao, meanwhile, declared it a "sad day" for democracy in East Timor.
The CNRT party is likely to pose a major challenge to East Timor's ruling Fretilin party in the June 30 poll, and Mr Gusmao will become Prime Minister if it wins.
Yesterday he joined other leaders in calling for peace, warning that those responsible didn't want a peaceful election process.
"I again call on all people of our young nation to give up violence. With violence we only hurt ourselves, our country, and those that we love."
Search for shooter
Meanwhile, the UN's Mr Tan said police were still searching for the off-duty police officer believed responsible for Mr Guterres' death and the motive was unknown.
"We are treating both shootings seriously," he said.
"Neither incident suggests an attempt on Mr Gusmaos life."
Mr Tan said East Timor's leaders had met and urged political supporters to remain calm ahead of the June 30 poll.
Fretilin condemned the violence and called for a full investigation, saying the dead man had been armed.
"There also needs to be an inquiry to explain why a campaign member of a political party was armed with a gun and to determine the person that provided him with that weapon," Fretilin secretary general Mari Alkatiri said.
East Timor's new president Jose Ramos Horta says the nation's police force still suffers from a lack of discipline, after police allegedly shot two activists.
Saying the deaths had embarrassed the nation, Mr Ramos Horta said those responsible for shooting dead the activists during rallies for a new party headed by former East Timor president Xanana Gusmao, should receive "severe punishment".
The United Nations yesterday stepped up security in Viqueque, south east of Dili, amid rising tensions after the deaths of the two men, supporters of Gusmao's party, National Congress for Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT).
UN Police fired warning shots and tear gas in Viqueque market on Sunday afternoon after fighting broke out between CNRT supporters and opponents following a CNRT rally in the Fretilin-stronghold.
One man, Alfonso "Kuda Lay" Guterres, died after he was allegedly shot by an off-duty Timorese police officer.
Another CNRT supporter, 24, was shot dead and a 16-year-old youth injured shortly later, as a group of CNRT supporters, accompanied by the former president, attempted to return the dead man's body to Ossu.
"Initial reports indicate that PNTL (East Timor police) fired shots to control a crowd at a roadblock near Ossu," the acting head of the UN's mission in East Timor, Eric Tan said.
The Australian-led international stabilisation force has deployed a platoon to the region.
'Discipline lax'
Mr Ramos Horta, who was due to fly to Jakarta this afternoon for his first official visit as president, said the police entrusted to safeguard the elections had failed in their duty.
"Several members of the PNTL have engaged in crime ... We see that indiscipline is still very strong within the PNTL," he said.
He warned: "There is no impunity in this country".
Reform of East Timor's security sector is considered key to the country's future, after clashes between elements of the police and defence forces sparked last year's crisis, resulting in 37 deaths.
Former president Gusmao, meanwhile, declared it a "sad day" for democracy in East Timor.
The CNRT party is likely to pose a major challenge to East Timor's ruling Fretilin party in the June 30 poll, and Mr Gusmao will become Prime Minister if it wins.
Yesterday he joined other leaders in calling for peace, warning that those responsible didn't want a peaceful election process.
"I again call on all people of our young nation to give up violence. With violence we only hurt ourselves, our country, and those that we love."
Search for shooter
Meanwhile, the UN's Mr Tan said police were still searching for the off-duty police officer believed responsible for Mr Guterres' death and the motive was unknown.
"We are treating both shootings seriously," he said.
"Neither incident suggests an attempt on Mr Gusmaos life."
Mr Tan said East Timor's leaders had met and urged political supporters to remain calm ahead of the June 30 poll.
Fretilin condemned the violence and called for a full investigation, saying the dead man had been armed.
"There also needs to be an inquiry to explain why a campaign member of a political party was armed with a gun and to determine the person that provided him with that weapon," Fretilin secretary general Mari Alkatiri said.
East Timor deaths embarrass nation
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=29&ContentID=30516
East Timor’s new president Jose Ramos Horta says the nation’s police force continues to suffer from a lack of discipline, after officers allegedly shot dead two activists during rallies for a new party headed by former East Timor president Xanana Gusmao.
Saying the deaths had embarrassed the nation, Ramos Horta declared those responsible should receive “severe punishment”.
The United Nations today stepped up security in Viqueque, south east of Dili, amid rising tensions after the deaths of the two men, supporters of Gusmao’s party, the National Congress for Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT).
UN Police fired warning shots and tear gas in Viqueque market yesterday afternoon after fighting broke out between CNRT supporters and opponents, following a CNRT rally in the Fretilin-stronghold.
One man, Alfonso “Kuda Lay” Guterres, died after he was allegedly shot by an off-duty Timorese police officer.
Another CNRT supporter, 24, was shot dead and a 16-year-old youth injured shortly after, as a group of CNRT supporters, accompanied by the former president, attempted to return the dead man’s body to Ossu.
“Initial reports indicate that PNTL (East Timor police) fired shots to control a crowd at a roadblock near Ossu,” the acting head of the UN’s mission in East Timor, Eric Tan said.
The Australian-led international stabilisation force has deployed a platoon to the region.
East Timor’s new president Jose Ramos Horta says the nation’s police force continues to suffer from a lack of discipline, after officers allegedly shot dead two activists during rallies for a new party headed by former East Timor president Xanana Gusmao.
Saying the deaths had embarrassed the nation, Ramos Horta declared those responsible should receive “severe punishment”.
The United Nations today stepped up security in Viqueque, south east of Dili, amid rising tensions after the deaths of the two men, supporters of Gusmao’s party, the National Congress for Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT).
UN Police fired warning shots and tear gas in Viqueque market yesterday afternoon after fighting broke out between CNRT supporters and opponents, following a CNRT rally in the Fretilin-stronghold.
One man, Alfonso “Kuda Lay” Guterres, died after he was allegedly shot by an off-duty Timorese police officer.
Another CNRT supporter, 24, was shot dead and a 16-year-old youth injured shortly after, as a group of CNRT supporters, accompanied by the former president, attempted to return the dead man’s body to Ossu.
“Initial reports indicate that PNTL (East Timor police) fired shots to control a crowd at a roadblock near Ossu,” the acting head of the UN’s mission in East Timor, Eric Tan said.
The Australian-led international stabilisation force has deployed a platoon to the region.
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