12 November Commission president Gregorio Saldanha said finding the bodies was a difficult task. "We have identified some but many have not been found yet," he said.

"We will not stay quiet. We will continue searching until we find where they are buried and have them exhumed for DNA testing so their families can give them funerals."

He said the commission had been able to return the remains of 14 massacre victims to their families. The remains of 10 others, killed prior to the massacre, have also been returned.

Massacre survivor Eugebio Araujo said survivors would co-operate with the state in the search for victims' bodies.

Survivor Terezinha Jose de Araujo, who also lost relatives in the massacre, said she had faith that the missing victims would be found. "Many victims have not been found and there is no information, victims' families are still waiting," she said.

"We and the government will continue to look for them so we can give them back to their families for a proper funeral because they sacrificed themselves for this nation." She urged those who knew where bodies were buried to come forward.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/capital/13064-santa-cruz-massacre-victims-remain-missing

Political parties & elections

Government set for restructure as Gusmao likely to announce retirement

ABC Radio Australia - January 29, 2015

Sara Everingham – East Timor's government is undergoing a restructure with the country's prime minister Xanana Gusmao likely to announce his retirement from the role within weeks.

Mr Gusmao flagged major government changes in his Christmas message late last year as part of a plan to pave the way for new leaders to emerge in East Timor. This week all 55 members of the government were informed of whether they could stay in the team or whether Mr Gusmao wanted them to resign.

Professor Damien Kingsbury from Deakin University said the reshuffle was significant. He said it allowed the prime minister to remove a number of government members being investigated for alleged corruption and also signaled Mr Gusmao was preparing to retire.

"Xanana Gusmao hopes to set up a cabinet that will see out his own retirement from the position of prime minister," Mr Kingsbury said. Mr Gusmao had been expected to retire last year but delayed the move.

There were suggestions some members of the opposition Fretilin party could be brought in to replace some of the departing government members. Fretilin's leaders told the ABC it was too early to know the final make up of the government and whether members of its party would be part of it.

A spokesman for East Timor's government said the details about who was in and who was out of the restructured government would be made public next week.

Since independence, East Timor's leadership has been dominated by figures from what's known as the Generation of 1975. They include figures such as Xanana Gusmao and the former president Jose Ramos-Horta who helped in the struggle for independence from Indonesia either as military resistance leaders or from abroad.

The reshaped government would have to deal with major challenges including widespread poverty, poor education and East Timor's heavy reliance on its oil revenues.

A new era for East Timor politics

Mr Kingsbury said while not everybody liked Mr Gusmao, the majority of Timorese people respected him.

"It's always going to be difficult for Xanana Gusmao to retire because he's seen as such a stabilising figure," Mr Kingsbury said. "But it is important for him and others of his generation to make way for younger political actors to come through and to take the helm of the state for the future."

But even if Mr Gusmao announced his retirement soon, Mr Kingsbury said Mr Gusmao was unlikely to step away entirely. "It's quite possible that Xanana would take a senior ministerial role, a sort of watching brief, just to make sure that the transition goes smoothly and that there aren't any moves towards instability," he said.

Mr Kingsbury said all of those people named as possible successors were likely to have similar approaches to the country's relationship with Australia. In recent years that relationship has been tested, particularly by allegations Australia spied on East Timor during negotiations over a 2006 gas treaty.

"I think that there would be a tendency to want to stabilise the relationship and to try to ensure that the positives of the relationship, in particular things like the aid program, the friendship groups and military training remain as the bedrock of the relationship," Mr Kingsbury said.

He said the possible successors were unlikely to upset relations. "I don't think any are quite as confident as Xanana in throwing a cat amongst the pigeons from time to time in the way that he has done," he said.

Source: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2015-01-29/east-timor-government-set-for-restructure-as-prime-minister-xanana-gusmao-likely-to-announce-retirem/1410793

East Timor's Xanana Gusmao tells colleagues he will resign as PM

Melbourne Age - January 29, 2015

Daniel Flitton – East Timor's independence hero and former guerrilla fighter Xanana Gusmao has told colleagues he will resign as Prime Minister in the next fortnight.

Mr Gusmao gathered most of his 53-member government a meeting on Wednesday night in the capital Dili where he outlined plans to step back in favour of a unity administration under a new leader.

It is understood former health minister and opposition Fretilin party member Rui Araujo is most likely to win the top job, with February 6 the date for a change-over.

Mr Gusmao – who became East Timor's first president in 2002 after decades of brutal Indonesian occupation – has been a towering figure in the tiny nation's struggle for independence. He spent more than a decade in the resistance to the 1975 invasion before being captured by Indonesian troops in 1992 and imprisoned.

Indonesian-sponsored militias then sought to violently intimidate the Timorese from voting for independence in 1999, with Australia eventually leading a United Nations military intervention after the ballot.

But Mr Gusmao, who has said he would prefer to live in the hills and write poetry, has also played a major role in the country's at times fragile years of independence.

He was elected prime minister in 2007 after riots in the capital the year before and a bitter political stand-off with then Fretilin prime minister Mari Alkatiri.

He was also the target of gunfire in 2008 by supporters of a rebel military officer, barely an hour after then-president and Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta was shot in the stomach.

Mr Gusmao, 68, had flagged last year he intended to step down but has worked over recent months on a government restructure. He told his colleagues as many as 20 ministers, vice ministers and secretaries of state would see their jobs pared back under the restructure, with new blood also introduced.

Minister of State Agio Pereira confirmed in a media statement government members had been given letters outlining the restructure. He said an official announcement on the make-up of the government will be made early next week.

Portuguese-language media in East Timor has reported two ministers confirmed Mr Gusmao made clear his intention to step down. Fairfax Media has also independently confirmed the comments. It is understood Mr Gusmao intends to continue to have a role in government.

But Mr Gusmao's only public statement has been to say he will first talk to East Timor's President, Taur Matan Ruak.

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/world/east-timors-xanana-gusmao-tells-colleagues-he-will-resign-as-pm-20150129-130v49.html

Health & education

Timor-Leste lacks cancer treatment facilities

Dili Weekly - January 24, 2015

Paulina Quintao – Breast and cervical cancer sufferers are forced to travel overseas for treatment due to a lack of facilities in Timor-Leste.

The head of the Department of Non-infectious Diseases chief Dr Herculano Seixas dos Santos said the National Hospital of Guido Valadares (HNGV) could handle minor operations only but can no handle more advanced and serious stages of cancer treatment. Patients requiring chemotherapy needed to go overseas for treatment.

He said while exact causes of breast cancer were unknown, women could reduce their risk by eating healthy food, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes and exercising regularly. Child birth and breastfeeding are also thought to reduce the risk.

The risk of cervical cancer could be minimized by practicing safe sex and avoiding cigarettes, he said.

Dr Dos Santos said the Health Ministry did not have concrete figures on cancer rates in Timor-Leste but more than 100 cases had been registered at the National Hospital.

Comoro Health Center director Abel B. dos Santos said information on cancer and heart health would be distributed to the community during center activities and home visits.

He said several years ago, infectious diseases posed the greatest health risk to Timorese. However after preventative campaigns to lower the rate of such diseases, non-infectious diseases such as cancer and heart problems were posing an increasing threat.

HALIKU co-ordinator Isabel de Lima said her organization worked in co- operation with the Health Ministry to share information with women about breast and cervical cancers, which were often diagnosed at late stages. HALIKU also provides support to patients transferred for treatment.

De Lima, a breast cancer survivor, called on women to have the courage to go to health centers for treatment.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/13068-timor-leste-lacks-cancer-treatment-facilities

Draft tobacco laws complete

Dili Weekly - January 24, 2015

Paulina Quintao – Health Ministry Department of Non-infectious Diseases chief Dr Herculano Seixas dos Santos says consultation on draft tobacco control legislation is complete and the laws will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for consideration before progressing to Parliament for debate.

The laws regulate the circulation of tobacco products in Timor-Leste and will place price controls on their sale. They also put regulations on tobacco advertising. Dr dos Santos said smoking in prohibited places could earn offenders a $50 fine.

He said the laws were to counteract a trend of rising rates of tobacco related diseases including hypertension and cancer. World Health Organization (WHO) representative Dr Jorge Mario Luna said the regulations were important to ensure Timor-Leste abided by its responsibilities under WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

"This law is important to control the circulation of tobacco in the country and to ban people from smoking in public spaces; including also tobacco advertising." He said he hoped Parliament would prioritize the laws.

Member of Parliament Eladio Faculto said the laws were welcomed, particularly those which would net the government greater taxation revenue from the sale of cigarettes.

"I think it's very important the regulations raise the price of cigarettes because they are cheap and easy for children to get," he said. He called for the price to be increased to between $10 and $50 per packet.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/13074-draft-tobacco-laws-complete

Teachers double dipping and abandoning students

Dili Weekly - January 24, 2015

Paulina Quintao – Students have come forward concerned about the quality of teaching in schools across Timor because of teachers who abandon classes because they teach in more than one school concurrently.

Student Antonio da Costa believes the Ministry of Education is failing in its duty of care to prevent teachers on the public purse from double dipping.

"They they have classes at the same time, teachers gives one lot of students a book to read and to copy from while that teacher goes to another school to teach," said da Costa in Dili.

He added some teachers are abandoning public schools so they can go and teach at private schools so he urge the Ministry of Education to come up with a plan to monitor the activity of teachers.

Da Costa said also students feel it the most when they are inadequately prepared to sit national exams in particular for subjects such as mathematics, physics and chemistry.

Member of Parliament MP Eladio Faculto from Commission F (health, education, culture, veteran affairs and gender equality) called on the Ministry of Education to improve its control mechanisms.

"They should be giving warnings to the Directors of the schools for failing to curtail situations where teachers have multiple jobs. They have to be given the choice; they can either be a public servant or work in the private sector. But not both," said MP Faculto.

In response to this issue Minister of Education Bendito Freitas acknowledged the issue and said also his ministry is currently conducting an assessment of all current teachers nationwide. "The teachers who teach in multiple schools will get a sanction," said Minister Freitas.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/education/13092-teachers-double-dipping-and-abandoning-students

KNDL: 67% of children abused at home and school

Dili Weekly - January 24, 2015

Paulina Quintao – The results of an assessment conducted by the National Commission for the Rights of the Child (KNDL) in Timor-Leste show that some 67% of children get some form of physical punishment by school teachers in schools.

KNDL Commissioner Maria Barreto said physical violence should not be used by teachers to educate children.

She added the physical violence including such as hitting with a piece of wood, shouting, slapping, pinching, kneeing and other physical punishment occurs most commonly in schools and at home.

"During our assessment in the schools we saw that some teachers use a stick to hit the children," said Commissioner Barreto at the Ministry of Social Solidarity, in Vila Verde, Dili.

She expressed concerns over the practice given the Ministry of Education has a zero tolerance policy for corporal punishment by teachers at schools.

Meanwhile National Member of Parliament MP Josefa Alvares Pereira Soares urged the ministry of education to provide psychological and pedagogy training to teachers so they employ other methods to discipline child misbehaviour.

"Teachers don't get enough training so they lack knowledge which leads to using violence such as hitting or shouting at children to educate them," said MP Soares. The MP added that apart from physical violence; sexual abuse also takes place in schools.

In response to the concerns raised, Education Minister Bendito Freitas said his ministry is attempting to resolve this situation by providing information to teachers about what other methods can be used that do not require the use of violence to educate children.

He added it will take time to promote a type of education that does not use violence because it is closely connected to people's mentality.

Minister Freitas said his ministry will establish an Ethics Commission to undertake teacher's performance evaluations in particular looking at teaching methods. "We will establish the Ethics commission to look at these issues as we have a Zero Tolerance Policy in place."

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/children-youth/13088-kndl-67-of-children-abused-at-home-and-school

Barlake prevent access to family planning

Dili Weekly - January 15, 2015

Paulina Quintao – Research conducted by Marie Stopes International in the District of Dili and Viqueque has revealed that the dowry system limits the ability of women to access family planning programmes.

Marie Stopes International communications co-ordinator Eurico da Costa said some women were aware of the importance of family planning but were unable to access services because of cultural expectations.

"The dowry has impacted on women's access to family planning. Husbands do not allow their wives to have a gap between having children," he said.

Marie Stopes International would continue its efforts to raise awareness and provide education to authorities, traditional leaders and community members about the importance of allowing access to family planning, he said.

Rural women were at greater risk than their urban counterparts, he said, as rural women did not have access to information or support from their husbands.

Dr Domingas Bernardo said allowing adequate time before birth and falling pregnant again was important for women to recover and be able to look after their families properly. She said women who conceived too soon after giving birth were at greater risk of high levels of blood loss.

"Family planning is very important," she said. "Its purpose is not to limit the number of children you have but to give space to women so they can rest and recuperate."

Marie Stopes International training master Fernanda Maria Serra said women should wait three to five years between births. "That way, they can look after the younger one and rest their bodies as they can injure themselves giving birth," she said.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/13040-barlake-prevent-access-to-family-planning

Women's rights

Young women encouraged to take on politics

Dili Weekly - January 17, 2015

Paulina Quintao – Former resistance member Olandina Caeiro has encouraged young women to involve themselves in politics in order to bring about positive changes to their lives.

"Many Timorese women are intelligent therefore young women should have the courage to compete to create a sense of equality between men and women in politics," she said.

Caeiro suggested women educate themselves by reading widely. She said women should prioritize higher education over early marriage.

"Mothers are asked to educate their daughters; having a better life is often not achieved through marriage but by having a job," she said.

Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality Idelta Maria Rodrigues said women's participation in politics had greatly increased. "I am confident that women are able to take part in the process because many district women are intelligent," she said.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/capital/13066-young-women-encouraged-to-take-on-politics

Rural women disenfranchised

Dili Weekly - January 15, 2015

Paulina Quintao – Women in rural areas feel disenfranchised and disconnected from Timor-Leste's development process, according to the Parliamentary Women's Group of Timor-Leste (GMPTL).

GMPTL President Josefa Alvares Pereira Soares said there was little in the annual state budget to benefit rural women. She said it was important to hold dialogues with these women to explain how the budget was executed and to see how those in rural areas lived.

"People in rural areas often complain about (a lack of) medicines, doctors and maternal health care as well as schools and roads in poor condition," she said.

GMPTL has held several discussion sessions in remote areas such as Ermera's Fatubolu village, Manatuto's Soibada village and Dato Tolu in Covalima. GMPTL appealed to the government to take into consideration remote citizens, in particular, women.

Bauguia resident Zelia da Silva expressed concern that those in rural areas did not have access to basic necessities. "We still don't have clean water, electricity or health services," she said.

Rural residents were often forced to rely on traditional medicines to treat illnesses and many women give birth at home. "The health facility is five kilometres away – far away – so we can't got there, we have to just stay at home," she said.

The Demographic Health Survey shows that during the period in 2009/10, 68 per cent of expectant mothers accessed health care during their pregnancies though 78 per cent gave birth at home. About 61 per cent were assisted by family members, 19 per cent by a traditional midwife and 15 per cent gave birth without any assistance.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/gender/13050-rural-women-disenfranchised

Sexual & domestic violence

Child abandonment cases rise

Dili Weekly - January 15, 2015

Paulina Quintao – Child abandonment cases are on the rise in Timor-Leste, according to Legal Assistance for Women and Children (ALFeLa) director Merita Correia.

She said the children abandoned were often born out of adulterous relationships. In the past, adultery was outlawed in Timor-Leste under the Indonesian penal code.

She said it was important abandoned children were registered as such with the Public Ministry to allow them to claim financial support.

Casa Vida co-ordinator Domingas Soares said there were currently 75 minors at the shelter home, most of whom had been abandoned or were victims of violence or sexual abuse.

She called on the government to turn its attention to these young victims as they would be unable to remain at the shelter indefinitely. "We are currently trying to provide more homes for vulnerable children," she said.

Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality Idelta Maria Rodrigues said she was concerned about the effect abandonment had on children.

"Domestic violence is increasing as well as incest," she said. "There have been about 30 cases of people who are married to close relatives in 2014."

She said SEPI planned to establish a national directorate for the protection of families to tackle such problems.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/children-youth/13042-child-abandonment-cases-rise

Governance & administration

Parliamentary party benches agree GoTL reshuffle is needed

Dili Weekly - January 17, 2015

Paulina Quintao – CNRT, PD and FRETILIN party benches at the national parliament agree with the Prime Minister's decision to reshuffle the fifth Constitution Government as it has become ineffective.

Member of Parliament MP Arao Noel de Jesus Amaral from the National Reconstruction Council of Timor (CNRT) party said the reshuffle should have been done last year but that there were other significant issues that needed to be addressed first.

He added the reshuffle is scheduled to be implemented on February 18, 2015 and that this will ensure services are delivered to the people more effectively.

"There is too much poor communication among members of the government which has rendered their work ineffective. It is best to have a smaller structure that is more effective so that all members of government know their work and can provide better services to the people," said MP Amaral, at the National Parliament, Dili.

He said also the reshuffle may resolve bureaucratic problem that are causing bottle necks across state institutions and that it won't affect the 2015 state budget's execution because directors and technical staff will execute the budget not the ministers.

Democratic Party Bench MP Adriano do Nascimento added is party trusts PM Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao to reshuffle the government and that the new structure may improve people's lives.

"Political parties will not intervene; this will be the full competence of the head of government to choose which members of government will stay and go out because he knows who is capable and who isn't," said MP Nascimento.

He added government needs to attend of the needs of the people, "not just distribute briefs to one another."

Meanwhile the Secretary General of FRETILIN MP Josefa Alvares Pereira Soares agrees the reshuffle of the government needs to the done because it is too large at the moment to be effective.

"We have a population of just over 1 million people with more than 50 members of government. I think this is excessive. It is too big," said MP MP Soares.

She added that in more developed nations when a member of government does not perform adequately he or she will be dismissed so there is not issue in Timor-Leste taking this course of action so that development can reach the people.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/13056-parliamentary-party-benches-agree-gotl-reshuffle-is-needed

Development & infrastructure

2015 State Budget to continue prioritizing infrastructure development

Dili Weekly - January 26, 2015

Venidora Oliveira – The 2015 General State will continue to prioritize infrastructure development with the government believing there hasn't been a significant progress in the quality of roads and bridges across the country.

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao said quality infrastructure will contribute towards sustainable economic growth and improve services delivery to the people.

PM Gusmao added there is interest out there from major investors to invest in Timor-Leste but lack of adequate infrastructure is a major impediment to them doing so.

"I think all of us want to fix infrastructure across the country and we have began observing results in our exclusive economic zone," said PM Gusmao at the National Parliament.

Member of Parliament MP Aurelio Ribeiro, from Commission E (infrastructure, transport and communication) agreed with the government's decision to allocated large portions of the state budget for 2015 for infrastructure development.

"It makes sense because even our farmers yield good crops; if the roads are damaged they won't be able to access markets," said MP Ribeiro.

He added the tourism sector also suffers because of poor infrastructure development and that tourists won't come if roads are bad. "So we must fix roads in rural areas."

Meanwhile MP Inacio Moreira said in 2014 the parliament approved $156.413 million to fix roads and the bridges across the country.

"We keep prioritizing our efforts into infrastructure. This demonstrates the government hasn't been able to solve infrastructure woes in one year despite the large amounts of funds allocated," said MP Moreira.

He added in 2015 the government has allocated some $156.891 million to fix the nation's infrastructure in particular focusing on roads and bridges.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/capital/13106-2015-state-budget-to-continue-prioritizing-infrastructure-development

Lospalos MDG houses sit abandoned

Dili Weekly - January 24, 2015

Paulina Quintao – More than 100 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) houses are sitting abandoned in Lospalos sub-district in Lautem as the residents they were intended for refuse to live in them due to their poor condition.

Ministry of Social Solidarity social assistance national director Amandio Freitas said 150 houses were built in Lautem but 124 were unoccupied. "10 families are living in the houses but 124 houses are vacant because they don't have clean water or electricity," he said.

He said this was a problem not only in Lospalos but also in other places around the country.

Freitas said the issue had been raised with the National Development Agency (ADN).

The houses were intended to house vulnerable people such as widows, the elderly, the disabled and the poor, he said. Across the country, there are 374 MDG houses, most of which are vacant.

Member of Parliament Aurelio Freitas Ribeiro lamented with the policy as the government has spent much money but it was abandoned. "Our observation is those houses are poor of quality and it's currently damaged, no water and no electricity," questioned MP Ribeiro.

He added, the MDG house construction has spent much money and every house only has two rooms, each costs almost $11,000 to build.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/13076-lospalos-mdg-houses-sit-abandoned

Police & law enforcement

Baucau incident will not affect national stability

Dili Weekly - January 17, 2015

Venidora Oliveira – The recent incident that took place in Sailari in Baucau District resulting in injuries to six police officers won't affect national security according to the Timorese National Police (PNTL) Operations Commander, Superintendent Armando Monteiro.

Commander Monteiro said police has increased patrols and strengthened security operations and will continue to ensure law and order prevails. "We are maintaining security in the country and we have operations running on the ground," said Commander Monteiro at his office in Kaikoli, Dili.

Of the six injured police officers, one male and one female police officer sustained serious injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at the Baucau Referral Hospital.

Commander Monteiro added also to the chronology of events of the Sailari incident explaining that on 15 January 2015 at approximately 4:30 p.m. police officers from the Laga police station patrolling around the area were ambushed by an unknown group. The commander declined to name the group that attacked the patrol vehicle because a formal enquiry to determine the details of the incident has not been launched yet and an operation related to the incident is still ongoing.

Secretary of State for Security Francisco Guterres believes this is a small incident that will not influence or threaten security around the nation.

SE Guterres appealed to the community to continue going about their daily activities. He urged in particular the youth not to be drawn into manipulations. "Don't be drawn into these temptations and continue doing your activities," SE Guterres added.

Meanwhile Member of the National Parliament MP Francisco Branco urged everyone not to be thinking of the incident in Baucau as being able to disturb national stability.

MP Branco urged the police to continue ensuring security is upheld so that situations such as the one that took place in Baucau will not take place in other districts. "We must all trust in the police because they are our force. We must trust and support them," added MP Branco.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/13054-baucau-incident-will-not-affect-national-stability

Border & security issues

BNN office on Timor Leste border waits on government approval

Jakarta Globe - January 24, 2015

Jakarta – The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) will form a local branch in Belu district, East Nusa Tenggara on the border of Indonesia and Timor Leste to intervene in the flow of drugs between the two countries.

"[The BNN] have arrested smugglers and drug lords crossing the border," the chief of the East Nusa Tenggara Narcotics Agency, Alo Dando, told the state-run Antara news agency on Saturday. "That is why we need to prioritize the forming of this agency."

Alo said the BNN had agreed to setting up the local office agency, and that it was waiting on approval from the Ministry of Finance.

Belu district secretary Petrus Bere said officers were being readied to begin work at the new agency once it was approved by the government.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/bnn-office-east-timor-border-waits-govt-approval/

Foreign affairs & trade

Timor-Leste unlikely to join ASEAN in 2015

Dili Weekly - January 24, 2015

Venidora Oliveira – Timor-Leste is unlikely to be admitted to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2015.

Foreign Affairs and Co-operation deputy minister Constbncio da Conceicao Pinto said the government had approached ASEAN member nations and worked towards ticking off the admittance criteria.

"I think it will not be next year," Pinto said. "It will depend on the ASEAN members; if they decide to allow us in next year, we are ready to accept," he said. Timor-Leste has recently been allowed to sit in on ASEAN technical meetings as a part member.

Singapore has raised concerns that Timor-Leste lacks sufficient depth in its human resources pool to become a full member of ASEAN. Concerns over currency are another stumbling block.

Member of Parliament Josefa Alvares Soares said the difficulties showed the government most devote more effort to improving institutions and strengthening the nation's economy.

"We must fix the economy and look at our laws; are they strong?" she asked. Strong laws would encourage investment, she said.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/capital/13080-timor-leste-unlikely-to-join-asean-in-2015

Indonesia, Timor Leste and Australia to forge links

Jakarta Post - January 15, 2015

Yohanna Ririhena, Jakarta – Indonesia, Timor Leste and Australia are ready to move forward with a trilateral initiative for sub-regional integrated economic development linking eastern Indonesia, Timor Leste and northern Australia.

Head of the Mission Unit for the Timor Leste-Indonesia-Australia Growth Triangle, Joao Mendes Goncalves, said that a series of meetings had been conducted to materialize the plan since it was first mooted in 2012.

The three countries have agreed to establish an international working group, comprising representa-tives from each country, to formulate policy and implementation. The working group, which is expected to start work later this year, will also produce a road map of the plan.

"This is a preliminary stage and no real project has been undertaken so far. However, once the working group is ready, they will meet on a regular basis and prepare the road map of cooperation," Goncalves, Timor Leste's former economic minister, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

The study on potential areas of cooperation is being conducted by Charles Darwin University in Australia, which will present its report later this year.

Goncalves said in general the plan would be based on three key elements of connectivity. First, physical connectivity that would include land, air and maritime connectivity. Second, institutional connectivity that would include the regulatory framework, immigration with the aim of encouraging foreign direct investment as well as to facilitate movement of products, raw materials, semi-processed product and the movement of people. Third, people-to-people connectivity to boost human interac-tion, especially in tourism.

The economic scope of the cooperation would include agribusiness, industry, infrastructure, tourism and energy. While the social aspect would highlight education, health cooperation, exchange of cultures and sporting activities.

The first main target is to develop air connectivity. Australia and Indonesia have agreed to reestablish Darwin-Kupang flights, following the earlier establishment of the Darwin-Dili route.

Goncalves said a list of preliminary contacts had been set up with airlines such as Australia's Air North and Trans Nusa in Kupang to talk on forming a consortium for air connectivity. However, so far, this was only on paper.

"We, as a government, create conditions to attract investment and then business people will follow up by seizing the opportunities," he noted.

For Timor Leste, Goncalves said, the trilateral connectivity would boost the country's economic growth, create employment and help alleviate poverty.

The country hoped to offer strong potential in agriculture and mining of marble, manganese, lime-stone, iron and silver, in addition to the already known oil and gas.

Teak, sandalwood, rosewood, fishing, coffee and cacao were also potential commodities to explore, he said.

Aside from the economic benefits, the link is expected to create a neighbourly environment.

Easier transportation should strengthen people-to-people contact, an important aspect in bilateral and trilateral relations. If problems should arise, strong human relations are a good factor to ease tensions.

The deputy director of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Directorate at the Foreign Ministry, Andalusia Tribuana Tungga Dewi, said the plan was initiated by Timor Leste in 2010 to create more connectivity between the country and Indonesia. Later, the Australian government became interested to join.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/15/ri-timor-leste-and-australia-forge-links.html

Mining & energy

Angola's Sonangol invited to prospect for oil in Timor Leste

Bernama - January 6, 2015

Brasilia – The Angolan state-owned oil company, Sonangol, has been invited to carry out prospecting and exploration for oil in Timor Leste.

The invitation was extended by the Timorese Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Constancio Pinto, during a meeting with Angolan Foreign Affairs Minister Georges Rebelo Chikoti here over the weekend.

They were in Brasilia to attend the inauguration of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

"We know that Sonangol is already in Asia, precisely in Singapore, and we want it to expands its activity in East Timor. We have natural resources offshore and onshore and we believe that the Angolan oil company may invest in prospecting and exploration of oil," said Pinto.

He also hoped that Sonangol could provide technical assistance to its Timorese counterpart, which was recently established as the latter lacked human resources and expertise in the oil sector.

He said Timor Leste also hoped to expand its co-operation with fellow Portuguese-speaking Angola in the sectors of infrastructure and agricultural development.

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/wn/newsworld.php?id=1098308

Economy & investment

Heineken to build beverage plant in East Timor

Agence France Presse - January 8, 2015

Singapore – Dutch brewer Heineken said on Thursday it will begin building a beverage plant in East Timor this year that will manufacture a range of drinks including beer.

The company said in a statement that it had signed an agreement with the East Timor government to build the facility, which will require an investment of between US$30 million and US$45 million.

It will manufacture "a range of drinks including beer, soft drinks and water," according to the statement, released by Heineken's Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore.

Construction of the plant, to be located near the East Timor capital Dili, will commence this year, with the facility expected to provide around 200 jobs directly and create indirect employment for another 800 people.

East Timor is a poor half-island nation that was occupied by Indonesia for over two decades before it formally gained independence in 2002.

Source: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/consumer/heineken-to-build-beverage-plant-in-east-timor