UNOTIL: Daily Media Review
Thursday, 09 March 2006

National Media Reports

"International Women's Day Comments"

SRSG Sukehiro Hasegawa has recommended that Timorese women nominate themselves for President of the Republic, as many women possess the necessary intellectual capacity. Speaking on International Women's Day yesterday in a ceremony held for the occasion at the Memorial Hall in Farol, Hasegawa relayed the UN Secretary General's message that the theme for this year's Women's Day is "Increasing Women's Decision-Making Capacity". He said that this is essential for the advancement of all women, as well as humanity's progress in general. "Full participation of women, including participation in decision making and access to power are fundamental to the development of equality and peace", stated Hasegawa.

Also speaking on the occasion of Women's Day 2006, Head of the Women's Network Maria Olandina Cairo said that many women are victims of prostitution through no fault of their own, as they are being sold for the benefit of others. She said that it is therefore necessary for the state to create mechanisms to deal with such people, and that it is also the responsibility of the state to create the conditions whereby all citizens, including women, can participate in all sectors.

Meanwhile, PSD MP Fernando Gusmao confirmed his party's support for the establishment of quotas to increase women's still minimum participation in politics. He said that current female MP's in Timor-Leste have demonstrated their political capacity with many of them becoming Heads of Factions, and Presidents and Secretaries of the Commissions. However, according to Gusmao, it is still necessary to bring many other women into the system.

Two women MP's have also conveyed their opinion on International Women's Day. Josefa Soares Pereira and Quiteria da Costa have asked Timorese women's organizations to focus their efforts on women at the grassroots
level of society. Pereira told journalists that she feels a little sad that only women in Dili are involved in the commemorations, while women at the district and village level are completely unaware of the significance of the day. UDT MP da Costa expressed her opinion that it would be useful to hold a workshop or seminar at that level and not just in Dili, to enable village women to also be involved. (Diario Nasional, Suara Timor Lorosae,
Timor Post)

"Xanana Has Forgotten Victim's Family"

Edio Saldanha, of Human Rights and Justice Association (Yayasan Hak) reportedly said the CAVR report should be made available now in Timor-Leste, since this is the locale of the eyewitness and the victims. Saldanha said that the fact that the report has not yet been published in Timor-Leste, shows that President Gusmão has forgotten and does not value the victims' families by prioritising the publications in other countries. "It is not fair that the report has been distributed to the rest of the world except for Timor-Leste and it's not fair especially to the families of the victims who have given their testimonies,' Edio Saldanha added.

Referring to concerns that many NGOs only criticizes Prime Minister Alkatiri, Timor Post reported that the Director of the Yayasan Hak, José Luis Oliveira as saying that NGO's are not frightened to criticize leaders of Timor-Leste including President Gusmão. Oliveira pointed out that many times NGOs have held demonstrations against President Gusmão one of them being his return from Jakarta following his meeting with Wiranto. He added that they have also written the President letters regarding the International Tribunal. The Director of Yayasan Hak said that it is important to know the politics that Xanana is using and any political decision that does not follow the rules and principles of human rights, the NGO must take a stand on and be critical according to facts and ethics. He noted that some politicians makes political critiques without substance and that it is more of a personal critique but he hopes that things will slowly change. (Timor Post, Diario Nasional)

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