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Local Daily News

February 06, 2019

Japan and TL to discuss about Nicolao Lobato Airport GMN TV, February 3, 2019 language source: Tetun Minister for Transportation and Telecommunication, Jose Agustinho da Silva said the Government of Timor-Leste and Japanese Government would discuss about constructions of Nicolao Lobato Airport shortly. Mr. Silva affirmed that the construction of International Nicolao Lobato Airport would get start this year; therefore, technical team would come to observe conditions of the airport. “Technical team from Japan will arrive in Timor-Leste on the 2nd of February. They are scheduled to meet with technical team of Timor-Leste. They are also scheduled to have a meeting with Prime Minister,” he said.

House speaker launches study tour program between Australia and TL Televizaun Timor-Leste, February 5, 2019 language source: Tetun House Speaker of the National Parliament, Arao Noeh Amaral on Tuesday (5/2) officially launched study tour program so called intercambio between Timor-Leste and Australia. TVTL reported that through this program, the members of the Parliament of the two countries could exchange their ideas and thoughts about gender equality and women’s right to economy and politics in each country. Mr. Amaral said this program would help facilitate Timorese female MPs to increase their knowledge in the field of politics as far women’s participation in the politics was less. Meanwhile, Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Peter Robert said he was confident that this program would strengthen women’s rights in all sectors.

US ambassador introduces new legal advisor for TL Televizaun Timor-Leste, February 5, 2019 language source: Tetun US Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Kathleen Fitzpatrick on Monday (4/2) introduced the embassy’s new legal advisor to Timor-Leste. This US legal advisor is assigned for two years in the country to provide training for judicial sectors. TVTL, the public television reported that the US embassy’s legal advisor would help support Timorese legal practitioners to fight against transnational crime, the organized crime and money laundering in the country. “I am here to introduce our legal advisor David to the minister, where I explained about his work for two years on how to provide training for the country’s judicial sector,” she said.

Opposition parties call on High Court to review Petroleum Law Independente, February 6, 2019 Members of and the Democratic Party called for the High Court to investigate the government’s bid to increase access to the nation’s petroleum fund for investment in energy projects, after questioning the legality of the law change. Francisco Miranda Branco, the Deputy Chair of Fretilin party, who was amongst the Fretilin members who opposed the law change when it was voted in parliament December 2018, announced a letter had been submitted to the High Court in parliament on Friday. Some 23 members of the Fretilin and DP party have confirmed they signed the letter. Branco said the signatories were “concerned” about the sustainable use of Petroleum Fund under a decree change. Opposition parties have said changes to the Petroleum Activity Regulation (LAP) could dilute the difference between financial assets and other assets. The law change would also remove a 20 percent cap on state participation in oil projects, allowing projects to bypass approvals by parliament. The request came while the government was continuing to face questions from opposition members about the financial security its oil and gas industry development plans, and while parliament voted Friday to cap the maximum amount to be withdrawn from the Petroleum Fund at US$1, 194.4 million.

Previously, President of the Republic Lu-Olo directly challenged the law change, saying in a statement on 14 December that he vetoed the decree to “prevent the over-stretching of the Petroleum Fund’s direct investment rules and policies.” Arao Noe, the President of National Parliament, confirmed a letter had been sent to the High Court and a response was expected in 10 days. Sources close to Dili believe hold-ups to the law change could potentially delay the government’s US$650 million buyout of ConocoPhillips’ and Royal Dutch Shell holdings in the Greater Sunrise gas project. Noe said securing funds to pay for the Sunrise interest shares was critical to avoid missing the March 2019 payment deadline. In November, Timor-Leste government announced an agreement to buy Shell’s 26.56 percent staking in the Sunrise project for US$300 million, after ConocoPhillips agreed in October to sell its 30 percent stake for US$350 million. The Sunrise interest purchases are subject to the funding approval by Timor-Leste Council of Ministers and parliament, as well as regulatory and other approval.

A military officer shot and wounded a young man in Kaikoli Independente, February 6, 2019 Language source: Tetun A military officer from Military Police Unit (PM) is allegedly shot and wounded a young man on Saturday in Kaikoli, Dili. The incident happened around 16:00 and left the community scattered in panic. A bystander and also a victim, Casimiro da Costa Ximenes recalled the military police officer came looking for a man with initial IC who was involved in a case, but the man had run away and the military police officer beat young men in the area and shot a man. “We don’t know what the problem is, but the military officer came, beat us and even shot one of our friend. He seemed like off-duty because he was in civilian clothes, but carried weapon,” Mr. Ximenes told reporters after reported the case to National Parliament Committee B for security and defense on Monday. He said the wounded victim was currently getting medical treatment at National Hospital of Guido Valadares (HNGV). At the same place, Parliament Committee B member, Joaquim Dos Santos condemned the military police officer’s act and called on the government to pay serious attention to the military officers who had act out of law. Dos Santos said the incident like this had been happened for many times and it had to be stopped and it was government’s responsibility to make sure it did not happen again. Last week, it was also reported that several military officers had maltreated community in Baucau Municipality. Four Military officers were reported to have beaten up several young men in Tirilolo of Baucau.

Dengue case is high in Ermera Independente, February 6, 2019 Language source: Tetun Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Health reported during the rainy season, hospitals and clinics have filed many dengue patients, amongst 13 Municipalities, Ermera has the highest number. The Health Ministry’s report revealed there were 38 patients of dengue from Ermera Municipality. The Deputy Minister of Health, Elia De Araujo said the patients were currently getting medical treatment at National Hospital of Guido Valadares (HNGV). “Dengue happens because of lack of awareness from community during rainy season to clean up their environment to kill mosquitoes that have the virus,” Minister Araujo said at Government Palace on Monday (04/02). The Minister called on health professionals in all municipalities to continue socializing to community about dengue and the importance of cleaning up their environment and use mosquitoes repellent and nets when sleeping to prevent them from getting the disease.

World Bank Timor-Leste and MOP talk about rehabilitation of Aituto-Gleno road Independente, February 6, 2019 Language source: Tetun The World Bank of Timor-Leste’s Country Director, Macmillan Anyanwu met with the Minister of Public Work (MOP), Salvador Pires to discuss about the implementation of Aituto-Gleno road rehabilitation project. A press release revealed the feasibility study of the road rehabilitation project was almost done, therefore, the two parties would like to prepare for the implementation of the project. In the meeting, Mr. Pires called for World Bank to continue providing technical assistance during the implementation of the project to ensure the quality of the project.

SEII and ADB discuss cooperation program Independente, February 6, 2019 Language source: Tetun The State Secretary for Equality and Inclusion (SEII), Maria Jose De Jesus met with the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Director Paolo Spantigati to discuss about cooperation programs that left no one behind. During the meeting, the two parties also discussed about their on-going cooperation programs and strategies that needed to better improve the programs to meet gender equality and other social inclusion needs. SEII and ADB also talked about other potential cooperation programs and assessment of gender issues nationally to create programs that could address the problems.

USAID builds laboratory of midwifery for INS GMN Diario Nacional, February 6, 2019 Language source: Tetun Timor-Leste’s Deputy Minister of Health, Elia Dos Reis inaugurated a laboratory of midwifery which was built by Timor-Leste’s government’s development partner, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Monday (04/02). “I am calling on health professionals, particularly, trainers in INS to use the laboratory to and help students of midwifery because I think theory without practice is useless, and I recognized you have done your best through this time amid lack of facilities and now with this new laboratory, I hope it will give you new spirit to do your best,” Minister Dos Reis said after inaugurating and handing over the laboratory to INS. She said the laboratory was built through a generous support from the people of America and offered to Timor-Leste’s National Institute of Health (INS) to facilitate midwives training midwifery students. At the same place, INS Director, Antonio Bonito thanked USAID and the People of America who had built the laboratory and equipped with proper equipments to train new midwifery students because INS had been lacked facilities. Despite the laboratory, USAID will also offer training modules to Komoro Health Center, Vera Cruz Health Center, and Suai Referral Hospital. The total fund for building the laboratory and training equipments is US$4million.

Timor-Leste yet to have law on child protection GMN Diario Nacional, February 6, 2019 Language source: Tetun Until now Timor-Leste has not yet had its own law of child protection despite the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2003. On Monday (04/02), Fundasaun Forum Komunikasaun Joventude (FFKJ) of Don Bosco met with President of the Republic Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo calling on President Lu-Olo to talk to National Parliament to discuss and approve Timor-Leste’s Child Protection Law draft that had submitted to them few years ago. “The works of taking care of the children who are abandoned and experienced violence needs regulations and laws, therefore, we met with President of the Republic to inform him about the problems and the need of the Child Protection Law,” FFKJ Director Cipriano Oliveira told reporters outside Presidential Palace after meeting with the President. FFKJ of Don Bosco has been taken in 122 children who have been abandoned and experienced violence and some of them have been returned to their families after mediation, there are at least 30 children who are still under FFKJ Don Bosco’s care.

February 04, 2019

General Lere calls for more development in F-FDTL Televizaun Timor-Leste, February 2, 2019 language source: Tetun Chief of Defence Force (F-FDTL), Major-General Lere Anan Timur has called on the current Government to better develop the country’s defence force in order to strengthen security throughout the national territory. Apart from this, Lere also called on the Government to help develop Timorese National Police Force (PNTL), so that the country’s two security forces could support each other when the State faced any security threat. “Within ten years, I cannot say things are all going well or not going well, however there have been progressives that we have achieved. Being commander for the defence force, I am trying to improve and make it better,” he said after taking part in the commemoration day of F-FDTL on Saturday (2/2). Meanwhile, President of the Republic, Francisco “Lu-Olo” Guterres in his speech marking the commemoration day, he thanked all the donors for their assistances and supports in developing the country’s defence force.

Govt to rehabilitate sea ports to invest in maritime area Televizaun Timor-Leste, February 2, 2019 language source: Tetun Government is planning to rehabilitate all sea ports in southern and eastern cost of the country to help invest in the country’s maritime area. During a joint seminar with Japan International Corporation (JICA), Minister for Transportation and Telecommunication, Agustinho da Silva said the Government would focus on investment in maritime area as part of the country’s development. Mr. Silva affirmed that rehabilitation of Com Port of Lautem, Caerabela Port of Baucau and Betano Sea Port of Manufahi had been in the Government’s agenda to be implemented. “Another brilliant program of the Government is on how to open up the maritime line from the north to the south of Timor-Leste. It has been in the plan, the development of maritime area in the country north and west in the future,” he said.

Lere and Japanese General talk on military cooperation Televizaun Timor-Leste, January 2, 2019 language source: Tetun Chief of Defense, Major General Lere Anan Timur and Japanese Military Commander, Lieutenant General, Takasi Motomacu on Friday (1/2) met to talk about strengthening military cooperation in the future. General Lere said F-FDTL had been in cooperation with more than 20 countries’ defence force, which included cooperation with Japanese defence. He affirmed that cooperation with Japan and other countries focused on military training and human resource development of the country’s defence force. “We have built military cooperation with more than 20 countries; the top priority of the defense force is human resource capacity building. Formation provided for our officials in order to prepare them for leading the defense force in the future,” he said.

Mahein calls for reactivation of martial art clubs Radio Timor-Leste, February 1, 2019 language source: Tetun NGO Mahein has called on the National Parliament to reactivate the martial art clubs, namely PSHT, Kera Sakti and KORK, which the Government closed down last few years, following their engagement in acts of violence in the country. Deputy Director for Mahein, Joao Almeida said political parties should not only use those martial art clubs to get votes in the elections, but should keep the promises they made in the political campaign, saying if they won the elections, they would reactivate the closed down martial art clubs. “The political parties, which are now in power, like AMP coalition in the Parliament, CNRT, PLP, the opposition Fretilin party and other parties getting sits in the Parliament should keep their promises. Do not use the martial art clubs to get power,” he said. Almeida added that these three martial art clubs openly supported those political parties during the political campaign, although they were ban from doing exercises.

Parliament votes to remove Greater Sunrise buys from 2019 budget Independente, February 4, 2019 National Parliament approved an amendment to the 2019 General State Budget bill on Thursday to remove US$650 to buy into Greater Sunrise joint venture. Timor-Leste had agreed to buy Royal Dutch Shell and ConocoPhillips stakes in the Greater Sunrise natural gas fields for $300million and $350million respectively. Forty members voted in favor and 25 against. Representatives of the opposition Fretilin, who opposed the government’s budget, voted against the change. Prime Minister , called on business people to “trust in Timor-Leste” as a place providing “opportunity to develop their businesses”, in an address to parliament after the vote. The revised 2019 budget is $1.4 billion. Because of the budget law change, the President of the Republic now has 30 days to decide whether to veto or promulgate the new version.

Fretilin calls for changes in court summons procedure Independente, February 4, 2019 Fretilin has called for an investigation into the summons procedures of the High Court after the General Secretary for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party failed to attend his recent court hearing. The opposition party said it found errors in the way Francisco Kalbuadi Lay was issued a notification of arrest without it first being submitted to National Parliament for revocation of legal immunity. During a debate in parliament about the proceedings, Fretilin member Aniceto Guterres, said Lay as a citizen of Timor-Leste must cooperate with the law, but also urged the court to follow correct procedure. Duarter Nunes, the Chairman of CNRT, said Lay could not attend the hearing as he was receiving medical treatment in Singapore. Nunes said Lay would return to Timor-Leste in the coming weeks. Lay has been previously caught up in a football corruption scandal, and had Timor-Leste banned for two years by FIFA.

President Lu-Olo warns Govt to invest more in productive areas Independente, February 4, 2019 language source: Tetun The President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, has warned government to invest more in productive areas such as agriculture, health, education and tourism. President Lu-Olo said he had received the revised version of 2019 General State Budget from National Parliament on Friday (01/02) He hoped the government and National Parliament had taken into considerations all his concerns and recommendations when amending the 2019 General State Budget. “I have called on National Parliament to review the government’s proposed budget to allocate more money into areas that are very important to people such as education, health, agriculture, and water and sanitation. I hope they have considered all the recommendations in the new proposed bill that I received on Friday,” President Lu-Olo told reporters in Fatuhada, Dili on Saturday (02/02). On January 23, President Lu-Olo vetoed the government’s first bill of US$2.132 billion, the highest budget in the nation’s history, criticizing the government’s plan of developing oil and gas sector at the expense of devoting attention to education, health and other public services. On Thursday (31/01), National Parliament had approved an amendment to the 2019 General State Budget by removing US$650 budget to buy Greater Sunrise joint venture interests and keeping budget allocations to other sectors utterly intact. Responding to the parliament’s second approval of 2019 budget bill without adding more budgets to productive sectors, Timor-Leste’s Non Government Organizations Forum (FONGTIL) is concerned the government has not lived up to its promise to improve people’s lives. “We are concerned because when amending the budget, there is no proposal to add more money to areas such as agriculture, health, water and sanitation and other basic infrastructure,” FONGTIL Director, Daniel Dos Santos Do Carmo said. The revised budget is US$1.4 billion. Only around one eighth of the budget expenditure is devoted to health, education, clean water and agriculture comparing to 21 percent that allocated to oil and gas development projects. Because of the changes to the bill, the President of the Republic has 30 days to decide whether to veto or enact the budget.

ADB and ADN hold talks on Timor-Leste’s Electric Power Management Independente, February 4, 2019 language source: Tetun The Asian Development Bank (ADB) representatives met with Director-General of National Development Agency (ADN) Samuel Marcal to discus about Timor-Leste’s electric power management. In the meeting ADB presented a proposal to change the power distribution and maintenance system to ensure quality of power supply to consumers. ADN Director, Samuel Marcal thanked ADB for its presentation and key recommendations to improve Timor-Leste’s power distribution and maintenance system. He said every year the Timorese government spent big amount of money to its energy system, therefore, changes in power management and maintenance system was important to reduce cost and government expense.

Hundreds of Kmanek Supermarket staffs become jobless Independente, February 4, 2019 language source: Tetun Timor-Leste’s Kmanek Group has shut down its Supermarkets chain in Dili due to its inability to pay back bank loan leaving hundreds of its staffs jobless. There are at least 230 people who had become jobless due to the shut down. The Spokesperson of the former Kmanek Supermarket staff, Antonio Do Santos said they did not know where to find another jobs due to lack of job opportunities in the country. My colleagues and I including our families have lost our incomes and not only us, but Timorese farmers who usually sell their fresh vegetables to Kmanek Supermarket also have lost their incomes,” Do Santos told reporters at Hudi laran, Dili on Friday (01/02). He called on the Timorese Government and Timor-Leste’s Industry and Commerce Chamber (CCI-TL) to help the Kmanek Group to get another loan to keep its business activities running. Last week the Kmanek Group CEO, Claricha Lay said the company had been struggled to pay back the loan from the bank that it got few years ago and it had been trying to sell its shares to pay off the loan, but failed.

Horta calls on President Lu-Olo to enact 2019 State Budget GMN Diario Nacional, February 4, 2019 Language source: Tetun Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Jose Ramos Horta has called on the President of the Republic Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo to enact 2019 General State Budget that parliament amended last week. The former President of the Republic said he was concerned with the current political situation which had paralyzed the State development programs. Horta said President of the Republic needed to enact the 2019 State Budget to restore Timor-Leste’s economic conditions after having an almost two year political uncertainty. “I am calling on President of the Republic, I know President of the Republic has good heart and wants the best for the people, therefore, I hope he shows a little flexibility to promulgate the budget sooner to facilitate the government to run development in the country,” Horta said after participating in the Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL) Anniversary Commemoration in Fatuhada, Dili. Horta’s comments come after National Parliament amended and approved 2019 State Budget bill which President of the Republic vetoed two weeks ago. On Thursday (31/01), National Parliament had removed the budget for the buyout of Royal Dutch Shell and ConocoPhillips’ holdings in Greater Sunrise consortium in 2019 budget as asked by President of the Republic. The revised budget for 2019 is US$1.4 billion. Due to the changes in the bill, President of the Republic has 30 days to decide whether to enact or veto the bill again.

UNDP provides training to Timorese judges on Ethics, Deontology, Impediments and Suspicions Timor Post, February 4, 2019 Language source: Tetun The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Timor-Leste has organized a two-day training to Timorese judges on “ethics, deontology, impediments, and suspicions” to improve Timorese law enforcement capacity. The training was held at the Legal and Judicial Training Center with Dr. Alexandre Coelho, Senior Pedagogical Adviser at the Center discussed Ethics at both international and national levels, meanwhile, Legal Inspector, Paulo Correira gave practical training on judicial preventions and suspicions to the participants. Timor-Leste’s Legal and Judicial Training Center was established in 2003 and since then it has been underpinning the development of human capacity in the justice sectors by providing training to legal professionals. This initiative is generously supported by the Governments of Korea and Japan.

F-FDTL Anniversary: Timur calls on military forces to be friends with community Suara Timor Lorosae, February 4, 2019 Language source: Tetun The Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL) was commemorating its 18th anniversary on Saturday (02/02) and F-FDTL Commander, Major General Lere Anan Timur called on military forces to be friends with people. In his speech marking the anniversary, Commander Timur said there was no war Timor-Leste and it was time to show love and peace to community. “As General Commander, from now on, I want us to use less force and not to carry weapons in our daily outing amongst the civilians, because those people are our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. I suggest we work with them and help them building public facilities such as road and other public facilities that the community needs,” Timur said. He also called on military forces to follow live up to military rules and be disciplined in the community. The call comes just days after media reported a maltreatment conducted by military officers to community in Baucau Municipality.

February 01, 2019

President of the republic concerned about TB and HIV/AIDS Radio Timor-Leste, January 31, 2019 language source: Tetun President of the Republic, Francisco “Lu-Olo” Guterres said he was concerned about the increasing numbers of Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and mental health in the country. Head of the Office of the Presidency, Francisco Vaconselhos made the comment when reading the president of the republic’s message during the opening of the congress of Timor-Leste’s doctor associations on Thursday (31/1). Lu- olo affirmed that the State’s intervention in fighting against these diseases was necessary as it affected the people’s lives. The president of the republic is also concerned about the lack of facilities and human resource, which also impacted medical services for the patients.

It is Govt’s responsibility to bring ex-minister Pires back home Radio Timor-Leste, January 31, 2019 language source: Tetun President of the Court of Appeal, Deolindo dos Santos said it was the competence of the Government to make an extradition agreement with Portugal to send the ex-Minister for Finance, Emilia Pires, Tiago Gueira and Chang Fong-Fong back to Timor-Leste. Mr. Santos affirmed that it was the competence of the Government of Timor-Leste to make agreement with the Government of Portugal to send these three defendants back to the country. He added that the Court of Appeal would communicate with the Government in order to discuss about the extradition agreement with the Government of Portugal. Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dionisio Babo said it was hard to send those defendants back as Timor-Leste had no extradition agreement with Portugal.

NZ committed to supporting Timorese Police Force GMN TV, January 31, 2019 language source: Tetun Government of New Zealand (NZ) is committed to supporting Timorese National Police Force (PNTL) through community policing what so called OPS of villages in the country, NZ Ambassador to Timor-Leste, says. So far New Zealand Government has financially supported Timorese Government in many sectors, which includes field of security, Gabriela Izaac, says. She affirmed that New Zealand will continue supporting PNTL by developing its human resources in community policing. “The New Zealand Government has been in partnership with community policing in Timor-Leste,” she said.

Parliament approves revision of 2019 OJE, President has 30 more days to decide Independente, February 1, 2019 National Parliament has revised and re-approved the government’s 2019 General State Budget (OJE) on Thursday, with 40 votes in favor and 25 against. Under Timor-Leste law, demands to re-appreciate the budget do not require two-thirds majority backing but risk a second veto from the President of the Republic and extend approval time frame by another 30 days. The government’s proposed budget bill ceiling at US$2.132 billion which President of the Republic vetoed last week had been reduced as asked by the President by cutting out US$650 million for buying interest shares in Greater Sunrise oil and gas project. After the approval, President of the National Parliament, Arao Noe said the ruling coalition and the opposition parties had agreed to cut out the budget to buy out ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell’s interests in Greater Sunrise Consortium, therefore, the new 2019 OJE had been reduced to US$1.4 billion. “The budget has been reduced to US$1.4 billion,” Noe said At the same place, Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak said now his government was just waiting for President of the Republic’s decision since parliament had reduced the budget as much as they can by considering President of the Republic’s requests. The new version of the 2019 OJE will be passed back to the President for attempted promulgation. The President has 30 days to decide.

A second veto of the State budget looming: Ruak says it will make the economic conditions worst Independente, February 1, 2019 Language source: Tetun National Parliament has reduced the government’s proposed budget of US$2.132 billion to US$1.4 billion on Thursday and it is set to be returned to President of the Republic for attempted promulgation. Under Timor-Leste’s law, a new version of the state budget bill will sit 30 more days in the President’s hearing cycle and risk another veto. On January 23, President of the Republic Francisco Gutrres Lu-Olo had vetoed the government’s proposed bill once, criticizing government’s development priority, which focus on oil and gas projects instead of people’s basic needs such as education, health, agriculture, and other public services. Responding to the looming second veto, Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak said if President vetoed the bill again, it would make the current economic situations worst. Addressing parliament on Thursday before parliament approved the new budget, Ruak said he understood when President of the Republic decided to veto 2019 OJE last week because he was once President of the Republic, and the President’s veto was to draw government’s attention to the issues that were necessary for people’s lives, but if the budget was vetoed twice, then it would be a disaster for the for the country. “It will have big impact on the country’s economy if President decides to veto the bill again, there is no doubt, it will worsen the current economic conditions,” Ruak said. He said the government and parliament had been trying to accommodate the issues that President of the Republic raised in the new version of 2019 OJE, therefore, he hoped President of the Republic could promulgate the budget to facilitate the government restoring the country’s economic conditions.

2019 State Budget not to benefit people, Fretilin says Timor Post, February 1, 2019 Language source: Tetun The opposition party in parliament, Fretilin considers 2019 General State Budget will not benefit Timorese people. Fretilin made the comments after National Parliament re-approved 2019 general budget bill that President of the Republic vetoed last week. On Thursday, parliament had reduced the government’s proposed budget of US$2.132 billion to US$1.4 billion by cutting out US$650 million budget for buying out foreign assets in Greater Sunrise oil and gas fields. Addressing parliament during the reappraisal of the budget, Fretilin Chairman, Aniceto Guterres said the proposed large drawings from the nation’s petroleum fund could drag the nation further into deficit and eat into its oil riches fund forecast to be depleted soon. “This budget, the Alliance of Change for Progress (AMP) Government which led by Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak presents is the biggest in our history after we restored our independence, most of the budget will come from our one and only reserved fund, our sovereign fund, it will be completed with only US$198 million from domestic revenue,” Guterres said. He said during AMP coalition government’s 2018 election campaign, it promised to prioritize health, education, agriculture and access to clean water, but unfortunately, the 2019 budget only allocated 2% to agriculture, 7% to education, 4% health, and water and sanitation even less than one percent. Guterres questioned how the government intends to improve people’s lives with low funding for their basic needs. The government has allocated 21 percent of the 2019 State Budget to oil and gas development projects. The total enacted budget of US$1.4 billion for 2019 is comprised of $214 million for salaries and benefits, $413m for goods and services, $363m for public transfers, $31m for minor capital, $313 for development capital (excluding borrowing), and $87m is borrowed money for development capital.

Corruption networks in veteran’s subsidy payment: Police arrests bank staff and civil servant Timor Post, February 1, 2019 Language source: Tetun The Timorese National Police (PNTL) Command has shattered corruption networks in veteran’s subsidy payment by arresting a staff of Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) Timor and a public civil servant in the State Secretariat for Veterans. Besides the BNU staff with initial SLY and a civil servant with initial DS, police also arrested DD, a civilian who was plotting with SLY and DS to falsify veteran’s documents and embezzle US$24,000 from the veteran’s subsidy funds. DD was first putting under house arrest in Dili after first hearing last week, but now under police custody as well as his two colleagues to wait for further investigation because he was trying to run away and hide Ermera after putting under house arrest. “The three of them are detained in Police station in Kaikoli to wait for hearings in Dili District Court,” Dili County Police Deputy Commander, Euclides Belo told reporters at his office Thursday.

Timor-Leste’s leading women organizations submitted a report to 14 political parties Timor Post, February 1, 2019 Timor-Leste’s leading women organizations CAUCUS and MOFFE submitted a report on women and young women’s participation in politics during election last year to 14 political parties. The report warns that women’s participation in the democracy through right to be elected and opportunity to involve in decision making process in political parties are still far from reaching equality. Therefore, in their recommendations, CAUCUS and MOFFE said intensified capacity building programs to women in political parties and potential young women to have qualities for occupying vital positions at the decision making level in political parties are in needs. CAUCUS and MOFFE were supported by the Government of Japan and Korea through UNDP Electoral Projects to empower women and young women to have equal rights in political parties during parliamentary election last year.

PD calls on national leaders to have dialogue GMN Diario Nacional, February 1, 2019 Language source: Tetun Democratic Party (PD) has called on national leaders to have dialogue to end the political uncertainty in the country. PD Chairman, Antonio Da Conceição said in the past, these national leaders had been together to bring freedom to Timor-Leste, therefore, now they needed to come together and have dialog to terminate the on-going political impasse. “Democratic Party is calling on the country’s founding fathers to sit together and talk and tell us what to do, we are young, we have not experienced what you had been through to fight for our freedom, we need to learn from you,” Da Conceicao said when addressing parliament during the reappraisal of 2019 General State Budget on Thursday (31/01). Responding the call, the ruling coalition member from CNRT Party, Virginia Ana Belo said the coalition party did not need dialogue because the ruling coalition already had majority in parliament and formed the Eighth Government to run the development for the next five years. “Why do we need dialogue? People have put their trust on AMP to lead the government through election in May 2018, therefore, I am calling on President of the Republic to respect people’s choice,” Ms Belo said.

A growing band of high-profile figures have warned national leaders that the country’s economic security and development rests on them urgently coming together to dialogue and find consensus agreements on State issues to end Timor-Leste’s ongoing political uncertainty. The President of the Republic used a speech in Tasi Tolu on Friday to appeal for national leaders to address their differences, amid an almost 24-month government administrative paralysis, to enable state programs and services to run reliably. The danger, Franciso Guterres Lu-Olo claimed, was that the country would continue to exist in political paralysis if leaders did not “want” to dialogue and agree on a common path forward. Speaking at the same event, Major General Lere Anan Timur called for “consensus” and “face-to-face” dialogue from national leaders. Timur said the country had faced “two years” of “unresolved uncertainty” due to political differences, and said uniting leaders was now “the most important” issue confronting the country.

The Appellate Court receives plea from oppositions to review constitutionality of LAP GMN Diario Nacional, February 1, 2019 Language source: Tetun The Appellate Court has received a plea from Fretilin and Democratic Party (PD) oppositions to review the constitutionality of the Amendments of Petroleum Activities Law (LAP) on Wednesday. An insider from the Court of Appeals said the plea was signed by 23 Members of Parliament including and Francisco Miranda Branco. “The Appeal was received on January 30 around 15:55 which filed in the Court of Appeals under 01/Constitucionalidade/2019,” the insider told GMN. On January 30, a statement released by Fretilin opposition, confirmed that the party had submitted an appeal to the High Court to review the constitutionality of the Amendments of Petroleum Activities Law that President of the Republic Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo enacted on January 18, 2019. LAP was vetoed by President Lu-Olo on December 11, 2018, but he was forced to enact the law after parliament confirmed its vote of approval to the proposed changes to the law on January 10, 2019. On enacting the law, Lu-Olo had called for the needs of abstract review of the constitutionality of the proposed changes, questioning the constitutionality and legality of the law. Under Timor-Leste’s law, one fifth of Members of Parliament may request the review of constitutionality of a law or a statute. The Government of Timor- Leste proposed the amendments to the law to remove 20% cap of the state participation in oil and gas projects and bypass the approval of petroleum fund withdrawal by parliament and Audit Chambers. The changes to the law will also allow the government to directly withdraw fund from the nation’s Petroleum Fund to finance the purchase of ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell holdings in Greater Sunrise oil and gas fields.