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For more detailed information about any story in this bulletin; or for tailored sector-specific monitoring contact: [email protected]; [email protected]) 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 Fretilin 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 Francisco Guterres 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).