TL needs a lot of money to join ASEAN, says Soares

State Secretary for ASEAN, Mr. Roberto Soares

*Radio Timor-Leste October 24, 2013 language source: Tetun

The State Secretary for Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Affairs, Roberto Soares said his secretariat had  executed the 2012 General State Budget (OGE) for capacity building, Timor-Leste's participation in the ASEAN summit and socialisation of the ASEAN matters to the people in the country. 

Soares said his secretariat needs to propose to the parliament  a higher budget for his secretariat because Timor-Leste’s preparation to join ASEAN needs a lot of money. 

“OGE for 2013 my secretariat will propose to the Parliament to add more money to be  allocated for the secretariat state of ASEAN,” Soare said.

TL will develop Guinea Bissau's Petroleum Resources

Minister Alfredo Pires

*Independente, October 23, 2013 Language source: Tetun

Timor-Leste gets honorable task from Guinea Bissau to develop petroleum resources in that country and Timor-Leste will help developing Guine Bissau’s human resources. 

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources (MPRN), Alfredo Pires said Guine Bissau called on Timor-Leste to support technically exploration of petroleum in that Country. 

On Tuesday 22 at Governmental Palace, MPRN Alfredo Pires said, “Guine Bissau will construct resident for Timorese Technical Team to stay in that country when the team go to that country to help the country’s petroleum exploration.”

Minister Babo: Oe-cusse should be prepared before becoming special zone

The Inauguration of Mahata Port - Oecusse. Photo: Arsenio Bano

*Televizaun Timor-Leste, October 22, 2013 language source: Tetun

The Minister of Justice, Dionisio Babo Soares said all entities in the enclave Oe-cusse district should make preparations before welcoming the process of special economy zone in the area. 

The minister made the comments during his official visit to Oe-cusse to take a closer look  at Oe-cusse people’s preparations for the implementation of the Government’s master plan projects. 

Babo affirmed that the ongoing preparations of the public civil servants are part of concentration phase before the implementation of the special economy zone project plans. 

”It is actually efforts of strengthening institutional capacity as Oe-cusse is going to become special economy zone,” he said.

Constancio Pinto: "It takes long time to join ASEAN"

Vice Minister for Foreing Affairs and Cooperation, Constancio Pinto

*Suara Timor Lorosae, October 22, 2013 Language source: Tetun

Currently the State Secretariat for Association South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) affairs is disseminating information about Timor-Leste’s application to join ASEAN but vice minister for foreign affairs and cooperation acknowledged the process of joining the association will take longer time. 

“It is the State Secretary for ASEAN's responsibility. As far as I know, currently the State Secretary is disseminating information about Timor-Leste’s application to join ASEAN and I think to join ASEAN needs long time," said Mr. Pinto on Friday (18/10/2013). 

The National Parliament (PN) Committee B (for Foreign Issues) member, Ana Ribeiro said before becoming ASEAN member, Timor-Leste neededs to prepare its human resources and other areas that needed to be prepared.

TL is fragile in Asia, but pride in Africa

PM Xanana Gusmao & Eis PM Mari Alkatiri in Guine Bissau Recently

*Independente, October 21, 2013 Language source: Tetun
 
As new country, Timor-Leste is categorized as fragile country in Asia because after independence there were many conflicts that happened during the nation building process, but slowly the situation is re-established. 

Therefore, recently Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and former Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri visited Guine Bissau to share experience to the people in that country to resolve their problem. 

After returning to Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said that Guinea Bissau needed to know Timor-Leste’s experience on how to resolve the conflicts because even it had gained its independence for long time, but its people still killing another. 

”Guine Bissau people continue calling for Timor-Leste’s support, therefore, Timor-Leste has established and agency in that country to pay attention to problems that happens in that Continent,” 

Xanana Gusmao said at Nicolau Lobato Air Port on Friday 18.

Chinese Company to construct stadium for Timor-Leste

SEJD Miguel Manitelo

*Televizaun Timor-Leste, October 21, 2013 language source: Tetun

A Chinese Company through the Chinese ambassador to Timor-Leste has submitted a proposal to the State Secretariat of Youth and Sport to construct a new-international standard foot ball stadium in Tasitolu. 

Speaking to journalists, State Secretary for Youth and Sport, Miguel Manetelo said they had taken a look closer at the place which would be used for constructing stadium and said this Chinese Company agreed with it. Mr. Manetelu affirmed he would talk with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao about the place and the proposal of the company. 

”According to the verbal communication from the embassy of China in Dili, they asked the Government to prepare place for constructing stadium,” he said. 

The construction of the stadium is free of charge. The Government of China had constructed numbers of buildings to be used for state institutional activities.

The planned Indoor stadium to be built in Hera

Blogger's note

Of course one cannot reject a gift! China's help cannot be rejected but does Timor Leste need another football Stadium? What do the country need it for when it does not even have a local football league? How about the above proposed indoor stadium? when is it going to be constructed and what are the people going to use it for when the most pressing issues for youth are good education and employment?  

The government should be smart in using this another gift. Many of the China's gifts have been mostly for show, difficult to maintain and lack of aesthetic value. It is somewhat one size fit all and the negotiations have been either 'take it or leave it'.

If China wants, they can build the stadium in Baucau, where football is mostly adored and skilfully played. It will then make not only Dili as the center of Timor but also other places outside of the capital. 

There is no pressing SEAGames or CPLP games yet  at the door. so, do not hurry to use up spaces in Tacitolu where the government could carefully plan for its future use. 

Let's hope the government is wise enough in dealing with this big gift!

ADB And JICA Team Up To Help Timor-leste Prepare For Asean Membership

ADB News Release 

                                                                                                             

DILI, TIMOR-LESTE (17 October, 2013) – Government ministers and officials, Asian Development Bank  (ADB) staff, and representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) met today to prioritize actions to get Timor-Leste ready for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) membership. 

 

Timor-Leste applied for membership in ASEAN in March 2011. 

 

“ADB is pleased to work with JICA in supporting the Government of Timor-Leste as it pursues closer economic ties with Asia,” said Shane Rosenthal, Resident representative of ADB’s Timor-Leste Resident Mission.

 

ADB and the Government of Timor-Leste are cooperating to get the country ready to benefit from closer economic ties with Southeast Asia through a technical assistance initiative. The ADB support will help Timor-Leste to create or amend legislation to comply with ASEAN requirements, forecast and plan for economic opportunities and challenges created by ASEAN membership, and strengthen government officials’ skills in areas needed to fulfill the commitments of ASEAN membership. 

 

Today’s workshop was organized by the Timor-Leste Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation with the support of ADB. 

 

During the workshop, stakeholders planned priority action steps to address Timor-Leste’s capacity challenges related to ASEAN membership and integration. 

 

ADB's long-term strategic framework, Strategy 2020, makes regional cooperation and integration one of the five core areas for achieving its mission to reduce poverty in Asia and the Pacific. ADB is integrating regional cooperation and integration into all operations to help developing member countries address regional challenges and opportunities through collective action.

 

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2012, ADB assistance totaled $21.6 billion, including cofinancing of $8.3 billion.

  

*****

6 ADB Avenue
Mandaluyong City 
1550 Metro Manila
Philippines
Tel (632) 632-4444
Fax (632) 636-2444

Martial arts club ban prompts growing concern in East Timor | Asia Pacific | ABC Radio Australia

Martial arts club ban prompts growing concern in East Timor | Asia Pacific | ABC Radio Australia

Photo: news.com.au 

Updated 11 October 2013, 13:06 AEST

There's concern in East Timor that a recent ban on martial arts clubs could be pushing young people into the grip of organised crime.
Martial arts club ban prompts growing concern in East Timor (Credit: ABC) 

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao outlawed the popular clubs in July after a spate of attacks prompted widespread unease about gang violence.

The ban has divided people in East Timor but all agree it's not band aid solution to the country's problem with violent crime.

Presenter:Sam Bolitho

Speakers: James Scambary, Australian researcher; Nelson Belo, Fundasaun Mahein

 

BOLITHO: Martial arts clubs have a long history in East Timor. Introduced during the Indonesian occupation, they have become an entrenched part of Timorese society.

But, as Australian researcher James Scambary explains, it's the clubs' association with organised crime that has many concerned.

SCAMBARY: "They use martial arts groups in the way that say we might use bikie groups in Australia, like a franchise. They provide security for the brothels, for the gambling operations and some of the worst battles have been over control of these sometimes quite lucrative rackets.

BOLITHO:Mr Scambary is currently studying communal violence as part of his PhD at the Australian National University, and he's been keeping a close eye on the situation in East Timor.

SCAMBARY: There was a series of really high profile conflicts. One was in the Cova Lima District, another one in Ainaro and each resulted in loss of life and up to I think 100 houses, 60 to 100 houses burnt down in each incident. It seemed to be quiet for a while and then itramped up again. Most recently there was spate of murders and fighting in Dili itself.

 

BOLITHO:It prompted Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in July to ban all martial arts clubs, saying the violence was intolerable and he'd run out of patience.

Mr Scambary supports the ban and says in the past, moves to regulate martial arts clubs have been effective.

SCAMBARY: A lot of the fighting was provoked by groups parading in their uniforms, walking through the village, so you know they either provoked the fight or the sight of them provokes reaction. So once they stopped that it stopped the source of conflict.

BOLITHO:But he warns the ban won't get to the root cause of the fighting: things like urban migration and access to water supplies.

SCAMBARY: You can stop the martial arts groups but you can't stop the communal fighting if you don' t remove the source of it. So a lot of it is family stuff. It's just on the surface it appears to be martial arts groups because people align themselves with a group to protect themselves.

BOLITHO:Fundasaun Mahein is a Timorese NGO that specialises in security and defence issues.

Its director, Nelson Belo, is worried the ban on martial arts clubs might push more people into organised crime.

BELO: I think because of these martial arts bans, and then there is no more organisations and then some of the members of the martial arts, ex- martial arts members been recruited to this action.

BOLITHO:But he says the ban isn't the only factor.

BELO: No no. It's not the only one but it's part of the every single year they increase of our state budget and also there is a question of the budget also not benefiting the ordinary Timorese so then the unemployment numbers also getting increased.

BOLITHO: Fundasaun Mahein recently released a report documenting what it sees as "new types" of organised crime in East Timor.

BELO: They way of their attack is very uniform. They use vehicles, motorbikes, and then target any place where we identified before.

BOLITHO:Mr Belo's group has made four recommendations to combat this "new form" of crime.

They're calling for intelligence agencies to be better resourced, a co-ordinated approach from government ministries, village chiefs to be given the power to monitor citizens and an increased police presence.

James Scambary welcomes the recommendations but questions whether East Timor has the resources to carry them out.

SCAMBARY: It's all good but I just don't think it's really going to happen. But finding ways of empowering communities to take control of crime prevention in their own communities would I think be more effective.

B/A: Radio Australia was unsuccessful in its attempts to contact the East Timor Police Force for comment.

Timor Plaza to transform 'Dolok Oan' landscape to be like Bali

Dolok Oan - Cristo Rei. Photo: google.com

Renova Timor - Timor Plaza Group. (TP Grp.) is reported to have been granted the license to develop 'dolok oan', the white beach area behind the statue of Cristo Rei, to be a modern tourist spot like Bali. According to timoroman.com, the Jape family, who also owns Timor Plaza - the shopping and recreational complex at the center of Dili - is ready to invest US$30-50 million to the area and is ready to be inaugurated in three years time. TP Grp. is already granted the license from the land and property office as well as license from environmental office to kick off the project. 

If ever the project is pushed through, TPGrp. is the first Timorese family who is serious and believe in the economic development of the country. The family is the first Timorese who have invested about US$27 million in the construction of Timor Plaza and is continuously building the country's private sector development around its complex. It is an initiative that other private sectors should follow, rather than focusing solely on government projects as Consorcio Nacional Timorense (CNT) does. 

The country's strategic development plan (PEDN) outlines private sector as the key to future sustainable economic growth. Probably, the Jape family is just doing that. 

Timor Plaza Sei Fila Panorama Dolok Oan Sai Bali

TIMOROMAN,DILI – Manager Kompanha Timor Plaza, Quintiliano Moniz Carvalho, informa atu halo panorama Dolok Oan, (area nebe partense iha Estatua Kristu Rei nia sorin hateke husi Dili), sai hanesan Bali, Indonezia iha tempu tinan 3 nia laran. Estadu no Governu bele ona inagura fatin nee Turista nee tuir tempu neebe termina, nee tanki mai husi servisu hamutuk ema hotu nian, no kompania prontu atu investe 30 – 50 Miloens.

“Nebe ami promete ba orgaun sira tomak, povu sira tomak katak,  tinan tolu tan ita sei ba tesi fita iha Dolok Oan no timor sei iha tan buat foun ida. Avo Jape nee iha hanoin diak tebes mesmu nia katuas ona, nia sempre hateten la kleur tan hau mate, maibe nia (Jape) hakarak nia osan nee tenki rai iha nee hodi Dezemvolve ba nasaun ida nee. dehan Quintiliano, ba timoroman.com liu husi entrevista ho timoroman.com, iha Timor Plaza rasik.

Nia akresenta prosesu tratamentu ba fatin konstrusaun erejolvidu, ila iha problema tanba iha ona lisensa Ambiental husi Meiu Ambiente, Ministeriu Justisa, hetan ona rekonhesementu husi Rede ba Rai, inklui komunidade rasik nebe ho laran haksolok fo fatin nee, maski antes nee iha kritikas husi parte balun.

“Horbain hirak Rede ba Rai rasik sira protesta ami loke fatin turismu nee. Maibe ami rekonhese katak nee ami nia failansus, iha buat ruma nebe maka ami la dun hatene. Ami so hanoin deit katak Terra proridade fo ona mak nee ona, maibe too ikus prsija mos arpvasaun husi parte balun, Ejemplu hanesan Meiu Ambiente no diresaun sira nebe trata asuntu kona ba rai nian, maibe kritikas sira nee ami simu para hadia ami nia aan, tanba se lae, sala mos ami ba deit, hatutan Manager nee.

Maibe, ami rekonhese nafatin sira  ami haruka karta ba husu sira nia autorijasaun, ho sira nia koperasaun. Ba ami nia parte maka nee, ami prontu atu simu kritika hotu nebe iha, ho kritika nee maka hodi hadia ami nia aan wainhira ami sala, se ami ema la kritika no protesta,  sala mos ami ba deit tanba la iha ema ida hase ami. Tanba nee maka ami la iha problema ho kritika sira nee ami simu ho liman rua. maibe, importante ba ami maka nee, ami hanoin atu desemvolve nasaun ida nee ba oin, e atu realiza nia promesa sira nebe maka promete ona ba estadu Timor Leste, dehan Manager.

Nia hatutan mos, rai nee alende halo arendamentu ho Estadu, maibe iha rai privadu rasik nebe sosa iha komunidade sira ho luan 80.000 kuadradus, sei investe osan husi 30 – 50 Milioens de Dolares amerikanu, no promete sei konvida Governu Estadu, no povu Timor Leste tomak atu ba koa fita/resmi iha tinan tolu mai tan. (pol)

http://timoroman.com/timor-plaza-sei-fila-panorama-dolok-oan-sai-bali/ 

F-FDTL initiates handing over their Martial Arts atributes

F-FDTL hand over their martial arts attributes to the State. Photo: Lirio Fonseca

Renova Timor - The Timorese Defence Force (F-FDTL) has initiated the handing over of martial arts attributes to the state as a sign of its seriousness in banning martial arts activities in the country. The handover takes place at the F-FDTL headquarter in Fatuhada, Dili today (4 October 2013). This handover took place after strong pressures from the Military's leader, Major General Lere Anan Timor, to his members to detest martial arts and violent activities in the country. The General who is known for single minded and straight-forward person, warned the military members either to leave martial arts group or leave the Defence Force. The military commander also urged the National Policy (PNTL) to handover their martial arts attributes to their leaders to show their neutrality in serving as the defender of the State. 

Martial arts groups such as PST, SH, KORK and Kera have been accused of sporadic violence in the country's capital, Dili. Prior to the elections last year, the then AMP government issued a resolution banning martial arts activities in the country. The resolution was extended in July this year but it did not take effect because allegedly some Military and the Police members are involved or behind the martial arts groups. 

Despite the government's heavy hand on martial arts activities, violence continues to take place in several suburbs of Dili. Last month, 3 people were wounded and one died of youth attacks. The Police have been heavily criticised for being slow to respond to the situation but nevertheless the criminals were captured the situation is under control.

This F-FDTL initiative is a sign of stability and seriousness of the government to provide peace, development and prosperity to its people. 

Timor-Leste denied vote buying by Russia for the Organisation of Expo 2020

Timor-Leste rejeita compra de voto pela Rússia para organização da Expo 2020

José Luis Guterres

O Governo de Timor-Leste rejeitou hoje a informação veiculada na imprensa russa da compra do voto timorense para a organização da Expo 2020 e admitiu recusar o apoio à Rússia caso a notícia seja verdade.

“Nós rejeitamos completamente a informação que vem veiculada na imprensa”, afirmou à agência Lusa o ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros timorense, José Luís Guterres.

O trissemanário russo Novaya Gazeta noticiou na sua última edição que a Rússia comprou votos de apoio de Estados minúsculos do Pacífico, incluindo Timor-Leste, para a organização da Exposição Mundial de 2020, citando documentos diplomáticos russos.

Segundo o chefe da diplomacia timorense, as autoridades do país receberam uma delegação da Rússia, onde estavam vários diretores do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros russo, mas “em nenhuma ocasião se falou nem da troca de votos, nem de condicionar o nosso apoio a algum apoio financeiro”.

“Nunca isso esteve em cima da mesa. Tive oportunidade de reiterar à delegação que apoiávamos por decisão do primeiro-ministro, mas, ao nível do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros, o que eu disse aos membros da delegação foi que sendo a Rússia um membro do Conselho de Segurança e depois de nos ter apoiado tantos anos tínhamos decidido que podíamos retribuir esse apoio, dando esse voto à Rússia para a organização da Expo”, explicou José Luís Guterres.

O ministro timorense disse também que a delegação teve um encontro com o Presidente da República, Taur Matan Ruak, e com o primeiro-ministro, Xanana Gusmão, que falou da necessidade da comunidade internacional, incluindo a Rússia, como país desenvolvido, olhar mais para os “assuntos dos pequenos países do Pacífico”, nomeadamente para os problemas relacionados com as alterações climáticas.

“Não se falou de maneira nenhuma de eles terem de publicar poemas ou livros de quem quer que seja. Nunca isso foi discutido. Eu tive em todas as reuniões”, insistiu José Luís Guterres.

Segundo os documentos citados pelo jornal russo, Timor-Leste vendeu o seu voto “pela tradução e edição em língua russa da coletânea de poemas “Meu Mar”, do primeiro-ministro de Timor Leste, X. Gusmão”.

O jornal cita uma carta escrita por A. Tatarinov, diretor da terceira secção do Departamento da Ásia do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros russo.

A delegação russa, liderada por Arkady Chernetskiy, que pertence ao grupo que está a organizar a candidatura da Rússia à Expo 2020, esteve em Timor-Leste a 24 de abril.

Nas declarações à Lusa, o chefe da diplomacia timorense admitiu também a possibilidade de Timor-Leste recuar no seu apoio à Rússia caso se confirme a veracidade das declarações do diretor do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros russo.

“Nós vamos averiguar, porque aparentemente citam declarações de um diretor do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros russo. No caso daquelas declarações terem sido do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros russo obviamente que Timor-Leste não vai apoiar a Rússia”, afirmou.

“Não vamos apoiar a Rússia porque é uma especulação e desacredita a diplomacia timorense e por isso mesmo não vamos de maneira nenhuma, se isso for verdade, dar o nosso apoio à Rússia e queremos uma explicação”, salientou.

Neste momento, a Rússia já está a organizar os Jogos Olímpicos de inverno de 2014 e o Campeonato do Mundo de Futebol de 2018.

Na corrida à organização da Expo-2020, Moscovo tem como concorrentes a Turquia, o Brasil e os Emiratos Árabes Unidos.

A Rússia não tem embaixada em Timor-Leste.

MSE (JM) // MLL

Lusa/Fim

PNTL identifies Kibata’s links

Radio Timor-Leste October 1, 2013 language source: Tetun

The Timorese National Police (PNTL) has identified two groups which cooperate with Kibata, such as Monster [life should suffer] and Dewa Mabuk [drunken monk] which are working with Kibata to create instability in the capital of Dili. 

The police Operational Commander, Superintendent Armando Monteiro called for the contribution of the people by informing the police if found some illegal groups within the community. Monteiro said based on the result of investigation these groups were paid by certain people in the capital of Dili. 

”PNTL has identified three groups such as Kibata, Monster and Dewa Mabuk, we are calling on the people’s contribution by informing the police when identifying some illegal groups in the country,” Monteiro said.

Blogger's note:
It would be interesting to hear names of the people or corporations that financed this youth-led instability. It will not be surprising if it involves  foreign Multinational Corporations, as a friend told me. Bear in mind that the small country is now enjoying a little bit of peace after the 2006 foreign-backed military crisis and civil war. The same groups could still be the ones that do not want the maritime boundaries  be drawn and the exploration of the greater sunrise be piped to Timor's shore. Once the country is insecure, they have the reason to say that it is economically not viable to have the LNG plants on Timorese soil. Atencao e vigilancia maxima!