Tempo Semanal and Jose Belo Awarded a Medal By President Ramos-Horta

TEMPO SEMANAL TV



Jose Belo and and Tempo Semanal been awarded medal by East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta in regard to their courageous work in the area of Journalism. President recognized the risk to award Jose Belo and Tempo Semanal because normally Politician don't like journalists whom always gave them a headache. But Horta in his remark says that if later Jose Belo and Tempo Semanal would target him in the future no problem.

Jose belo said the medal is for fellow Tempo Semanal journalists and appeal to them to be more serious in their work. "For me this is a challenge award and we have to prove to our readers that president awarded us correctly."

Tempo Semanal is poor weekly paper in Dili which is nationally distributed to all villages and schools in the rural areas. Tempo Semanal was sued by the Justice Minister in 2008 after it published allegations of Corruption, Nepotism and Collusion which involved the justice Minister Lucia Brandao Lobato. The Minister of justice alleged Jose Belo has defamed her by publishing the story and lodged a case of Criminal defamation against Jose Belo and Tempo Semanal. Jose Belo said he is ready to prove TS story before the court but seems like the Government and Minister are afraid to move on this case. "I have appeal to the two deputy PM to asked the minister of Justice to keep push the case a head so we have responsibility to prove our story or we have to be imprisoned." said Belo.