UN hands power back to East Timor police

By Sara Everingham and staff

Updated 7 hours 13 minutes ago

PHOTO: The United Nations is planning to accelerate the draw-down of its mission in East Timor over the next month. (Bay Ismoyo: AFP)

AUDIO: Discussion on the end of the UN mission in East Timor (ABC News)

MAP: East Timor

The United Nations has handed over full control of policing operations to the East Timorese National Police Force (PNTL) at a ceremony in Dili.

The current UN deployment - the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) - came in 2006, after a political crisis in which dozens were killed and hundreds-of-thousands displaced.

Police Officers from more than 40 countries, including Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Philippines, arrived to help with police duties, restore order and conduct training.

The head of UNMIT, Finn Reske-Nielsen, says the bulk of peacekeepers will now leave over the next six weeks.

"We expect that most of our personnel will leave by the middle of December," he said.

"We will still have a handful of people left here by 31 December in order to sort of formally close what would be then be almost 13 years of UN peacekeeping and political missions in this country."

Mr Reske-Nielsen says a recent evaluation by the UN and East Timor found the PNTL was ready to take back control, but still needed improvement in several areas, including discipline.

"Although the way of dealing with problems might not be up to international standards, in the Timorese context they are really ready to do their job," Nelson Belo, director of the security organisation Fundasaun Mahein, told Radio Australia's Connect Asia program.

East Timor's Government says it plans to keep developing its security forces with continued help from countries like Australia after the UN withdrawal.

The 20 Fastest Growing Economies In The World

#7: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

 

Est. 2012 GDP: +10.00% 

Est. 2013 GDP: +10.00%

Est. 2013-2017GDP CAGR: +11.92%

Economy: Offshore drilling for oil and gas is the principal source of government revenues. The government has increased spending on infrastructure to continue to repair damages caused by Indonesian troops in 1999. Unemployment and dependence upon O&G are roadblocks to growth.

Sources: IMF World Economic Outlook, CIA World Handbook

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-fastest-economies-2012-10?op=1#ixzz2AZqHPn2S

Timor may walk away from gas treaty with Australia

Stephanie March

Updated 2 hours 10 minutes ago

VIDEO: East Timor may walk away from Australian oil treaty (ABC News)

PHOTO: East Timor is considering walking away from its treaty with the Australian government and Woodside Petroleum. (7pm TV News WA)

MAP: East Timor

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-15/an-timor-to-walk-away-from-treaty/4313128?section=australianetworknewsEast Timor is considering walking away from its treaty with the Australian government over the development of oil and gas fields in the Timor Sea.

The three parties are signatories to an agreement that governs the rights each have to the resources under the Timor Sea.

Timor has been pushing for a pipeline to be built from the Greater Sunrise gas field in the Sea to a yet-to-be-built processing plant on its south coast.

It believes the pipeline would create much needed jobs and infrastructure for East Timor.

But resources giant Woodside says this would not be commercially viable, wanting to build an offshore floating platform instead.

Timorese government lawyer Pierre-Richard Prosper has been in Australia lobbying government officials in Canberra to support Dili's position over a pipeline.

"This is not simply an issue between Timor and the operators," he said.

"When you look at the treaty there is also another party, that is the Government of Australia, so they have a voice, and they have the opportunity to speak up and cite a preference."

Mr Prosper says East Timor is mulling leaving the treaty when it expires in February next year.

"Timor could easily find a new partner that would be willing to have a pipeline to come through," he said.

"Up in the northern part of Asia there is a big country there that I am sure would be very interested in an opportunity to have some gas."

PHOTO: East Timor may walk away from its treaty with Australia and Woodside Petroleum over the development of oil and gas fields in the Timor Sea. (ABC TV)

Changing boundaries?

East Timor would spark a battle for a new maritime boundary if it walks away from its treaty with Australia,

The boundary presently in place between East Timor and Australia only exists because of the oil and gas treaty.

An international law expert at the Australian National University, Professor Donald Rothwell, says the changes may be drastic.

"There could in fact be quite a radical shift in the way in which the boundaries are aligned if a permanent boundary were settled," he said.

He says the shift could also affect both countries resources and fishing rights.

"That would extend to both sea bed resource rights, living column resource rights, such as fish and also other rights to associated activities within that region which could prove to be quite valuable in terms of biodiversity for example," he said.

Professor Rothwell says the relationship between Australia and East Timor will also be at stake should Dili leave the treaty.

"When a treaty has been concluded in good faith between two countries, if one of those countries is to unilaterally break the terms of that treaty, that in my view does have a significant impact upon the ongoing relationship between two counties and will inevitably lead to a lack of confidence as to the ability of those countries to reach a new treaty arrangement," he said.

The Australian Foreign Minister and Resources Minister have declined to comment on the issues raised by East Timor

Soares holds meeting with PR TMR

Roberto Soares

*Radio Timor-Leste October 10, 2012 language source: Tetun

State Secretary for ASEAN Roberto Soares has a held meeting with President of the Republic Taur Matan Ruak to inform him about his future plans and preparations.

Soares said the plan that he would implement next year would focus on socialization about joining ASEAN to all citizens.

He added 2013 was important for Timor-Leste to begin its integrated plans to better prepare itself before joining ASEAN.

"I use this opportunity to meet with president TMR to inform him about the plan and preparations that my secretariat will carry out in 2013."

"The plan that we will realize in 2013 firstly we will hold concentration and maxim explanation about ASEAN to our citizens," Soares said.

No China influence in Timor: Ramos Horta

Dr. Jose Ramos Horta

EAST Timor's former president Jose Ramos-Horta has dismissed what he says are Australian suggestions that his country is growing closer to China.

David Benluk, AAP

Delivering a lecture at the University of Tasmania, Dr Ramos-Horta said East Timor had snubbed the offer of cheap loans from China, joking that the emerging superpower had more influence over Australia.

"In Africa everybody rushes in to have cheap loans with China ... we are making ourselves a bit too difficult to get," he said.

"So it's not what academics at the ANU (Australian National University) suggest, (that) it's growing Chinese influence."

The Nobel Laureate said the only Chinese contribution to his country had been help with the construction of three government buildings - the defence and foreign ministries and the presidential office.

"Does that make a country under the influence of China?" he asked.

"How about Australia? They sell almost everything to China.

"ANU is not worried about that.

"They're worried about three buildings that China put up in Timor-Leste."

But Dr Ramos-Horta said his country had an excellent relationship with the Asian giant.

"I've met Timorese in China speaking Mandarin better than Kevin Rudd," he joked.

The former foreign minister, prime minister and president, who survived an assassination attempt in 2008, said the country's "new generation" government under national hero Xanana Gusmao had no choice but to succeed.

He said improvements in education, health and the reduction of poverty were vital.

"He has to deliver," Dr Ramos-Horta said.

"Our people have been waiting for far too long for simple clean water, to have a few electric bulbs at home to be able to study at night.

"Will he be able to? I believe so, as long as the cabinet is absolutely loyal to him and as long as our development partners redirect their attention, energy and resources to where it can make a difference."

Japan provides US$ 97 thousand for installing clean water in Oe-Cusse

Japanese Ambassador Hanada

*Independente, October 8, 2012 Language source: Tetun

The Japanese Government works together with Non-Government Organization (NGO) Y-ACT has inaugurated clean water project in Oecusse which spent more than US$ 97 thousand in which the project uses Solar panel System.

Japanese Ambassador, Yoshitaka Hanada appreciates and proud of the opportunity for helping Timor-Leste's development through several projects that they have offered.

"I am happy because the Japanese Government has the opportunity to contribute to this project since rural development as an important area from Japanese's assistance in Timor-Leste," he said.