TS VIDEO DIRECTOR OF DILI HOSPITAL SAID THE 80 BEDS SUPPLY BY MAC'S METALCRAFT WAS NOT THE REQUEST FROM DILI HOSPITAL

TEMPO SEMANAL - DILI, 28/11/2012

Tempo Semanal found the use of contingency funds to buy some emergency equipment for hospitals including Dili national hospital. According to the justification letters to the East Timor PM it was very urgent to provide these beds to the hospitals but in Dili Hospital these beds are still in the warehouse. The question of who has made the emergency request for hospital beds and force the project execution without going through a tender still remain unanswered.





The alleged urgent requirement for hospital beds of beds caused the use of single source procurement of these equipment to a company in Australia which has caused allegations of collusion and nepotism because the owner of the supplier, Mac's Metalcraft, is the husband of Emilia Pires, East Timor Finance Minister.

The Case of Mac's Metalcraft and the Minister of Finance. Odete: "I did not know about this process."

Odete Viegas, Director General Dili Hospital.

Following on from Tempo Semanal's exclusive coverage of the possible KKN and conflict of interest case involving 1) the Minister of Finance, 2) the Ministry of Health and 3) Mac's Metalcraft owned by the Minister of Finance's husband.

On 23 November 2012, the Director General of the Dili Hospital, Odete da Silva Viegas, opened a bundle of documents sitting on her desk in front of theTempo Semanal journalist.  After having read the documents, the Director General of the Hospital gave an interview with Tempo Semanal regarding the process to supply medical equipment to the Guido Valadares National Hospital. She said  "the eighty beds that were supplied to us were never requested by us."

Equipment supplied by a company owned by Minister of Finance, under emergency funding mechanism approved by Minister Finance remains unused in Ministry Health warehouse.

Equipment supplied by a company owned by Minister of Finance, under emergency funding mechanism approved by Minister Finance remains unused in Ministry Health warehouse.

Equipment supplied by a company owned by Minister of Finance, under emergency funding mechanism approved by Minister Finance remains unused in Ministry Health warehouse.

Equipment supplied by a company owned by Minister of Finance, under emergency funding mechanism approved by Minister Finance remains unused in Ministry Health warehouse.

"We did not know anything about this process to buy beds and I had no knowledge regarding it.  Because this process had all been undertaken in procurement.  So only they know who the company that was the supplier was and what amounts of money were involved.  Normally we only make the requests, but the solutions and purchasing is not our responsibility," said Odete. 

Fortunately, the request letter with the reference number 130/Adm/HNGV/III/2012 from the Director General of the Hospital to the Vice Minister for Health Madalena Hanjan on 21 March 2012 was answered.  Because some state officials used this request letter by the Director General of the Hospital as a reason to allocate additional budget funds, which they had already prepared in February of 2012. 

What is more ironic is that the letter of request from Dr Odete did not request any of the equipment that were ultimately supplied by the company Mac's Metalcraft Pty Ltd.  Therefore, looking carefully at this process arouses suspicions of "collusion" at high level by members of the government.  This is because the letter from the Director of the Hospital requested needed haemodialisis equipment, and not was ultimately supplied by the company suspected of being owned by the husband of the Minister for Finance, Emilia Pires. 

The explanation in the request letter for the Director General of the Hospital detailed that in the month of January 2012 the Haemodialisis unit doctors and staff faced complications in providing treatment to patients suffering from conditions such as tuberculosis.  They also needed to avoid transmission of infections amongst the patients at the Guido Valadares National Hospital ("HNGV"), so the management of the Hospital proposed the urgent purchase of medical equipment.  But, in the process that followed the Vice Minister of Health also proposed a project that would benefit the Finance Minister's husband.

Responding to a question in relation to the purchase of 80 beds for the HNGV the Director General of HNGV Odete da Silva Viegas said, "We are using some at the moment but some beds we have stored in the warehouse. But we have no knowledge regarding the purchasing process for these beds, because the whole process was undertaken by procurement. Procurement would be the ones to know which company supplied the equipment and the amount involved," Odete told Tempo Semanal in her office last friday 23/11/2012.

According to Odete, normally they send off their requests but the solution and implementation of purchasing is not their responsibility.  So she herself was not aware which part of the budget was used to make the purchase of this equipment, because was not aware of the details of this process.  "The decision was made by Central Services, and the people at the top.  So, we just wait for what we asked to be delivered to us.  Sometimes we also have ideas to rectify certain things here at the hospital.  because of this we also need information.  But many times our requests are not carried out according to what we requested, and many times we have no knowledge of things done," Odete questioned the lack of consideration for the hospital staff.

Director General of the Hospital Odete tried to honestly clarify that she had no knowledge about this procurement case and that they only made a request.  because of this, she herself did not know which company supplied the equipment to HNGV.

The Head of the Medical equipment Management Unit, Abilio Afonso Brites said that until this day some of the equipment purchased was yet to be used and were stored at the HNGV.  "To this day these items have not yet been allocated to either the national hospital or the referal hospitals.  Because we are waiting for the Minister's written instructions, so these items are still stored in the hospital storage room, Abilio explained.

According to Abilio. the equipment supplied appears to be in accordance with the contract and of quality. But, that is not know because they are yet to be used.  The equipment included 100 electric operated beds, 20 ICU electric operated beds, 80 normal hospital beds, 100 patient tables and 4 patient lifters.

Tempo Semanal tried to interview the current Health Minister, Dr Sergios Lobo about this procurement process,  However, the health minister responded that he did not have knowledge of the details of this process.  "I do not know this process.  But i know that this equipment normally would already be in use," said Sergio Lobo soon after having finished a meeting with the Director General of the HNGV at Toko Baru, Dili.

"Ask the Anti Corruption Commission, because I do not know if John gave a contract to Mary," said Prime Minister Kay Rala xanana Gusmao when answering a question from the Tempo Semanal journalist after his meeting with the President of the Republic Taur Matan Ruak at the Presidential Palace at Ai-Tarak Laran late last week.

Perhaps the Prime Minister does not know of the proposal sent by the Vice Minister for Health to the office of the Prime Minister on 21 March 2012 proposing that budget funds be allocated from the contingency fund to the Finance Minister's husband's company to supply hospital beds to the hospital.

Prior to this Tempo Semanal tried to interview some public officials such as the Director General of the Ministry of Health.  However, they declined to comment because they said they had no knowledge of this case.  But, according to the documents that this newspaper has been able to access the signatures of these same public officials were on those documents.  As well, they were copied with the letter of request from the Director General of the Hospital to the Vice Minister for Health.

On 19 November 2012 at about 10.39 am a Tempo Semanal Journalist attended at the Ministry of Health Office in Caicoli, Dili to speak to the Director General of the Ministry of Health, Agapito da Silva Soares.  The journalist presented himself at the protocol desk at the ministry to make his appointment..

Shortly after, a public servant from protocol accompanied the journalist in the direction of the Director General's office.  But the Director General's secretary asked what the interview would be about?  The Tempo Semanal Journalist informed that it would be about the supply of medical equipment to the HNGV.

After having been informed that secretary entered the Director General's office to confirm whether he would be interviewed.  But, not long after the secretary returned telling the Tempo Semanal journalist that the Director could not attend to him and could not give an interview regarding this issue.

Upon hearing that the Director General of the Ministry of Health would not comment, the Tempo Semanal Journalist then went back to the Protocol officer's desk and asked to see the National Director of NALA, Leao Borges S. Sos.  But when the request was made for an interview the national director of NALA said he could not comment because they themselves were not in possession of knowledge of the details of this case.  He suggested the Tempo Semanal journalist speak with the Head of the Medical Equipment Management Department. 

"I cannot comment of this case.  because I am not familiar with it, so you can speak with the Head of the Medical Equipment Management Department.  Because he can give you information, as i cannot comment regarding the procurement process for medical equipment," Leao said.

As well as this, on 20 November 2012 Tempo Semanal tried to seek confirmation on this case with the Director of National Procurement, who is now a Secretary of State in the government, Francisco Burlaco.  But he responded, "I do not know about this case, you go and get a confirmation from the Finance Minister herself.  I heard that was her process.  But I do not know about it, nor did I know about the approval of the budget funds, because this was not my responsibility.  Therefore, go ask the Minister for Finance and procurement in the Ministry of Health," explained Burlaco to Tempo Semanal in his office.

This is not all. Tempo Semanal also tried to speak with the former Vice Minister Madalena Hanjan at her residence on Friday 19.11.2012 to try to confirm details regarding the purchase of medical equipment as requested by her with the Minister of Finance, Emilia Pires, but an older lady received the Tempo Semanal journalist informing him that Madalena Hanjan is now in Australia and has not yet returned.

Despite the fact that public officials at top level determined this situation to be an emergency, it must be questioned why they did so, because the items purchased have not yet been used and are currently stored at the HNGV warehouse to this day. 

"To this day some of these items are yet to be used and yet to be allocated to the hospital or the referal hospitals.  They are still warheoused at the HNGV awaiting the Minister despatch," said the Head of the Medical Equipment Management Department, Abilio Afonso Brites.

According to him, the medical equipment supplied were in keeping with the contract and are of quality.  But, do we really know this because some of these items have not yet been used.  The equipment included 100 electric operated beds, 20 ICU electric operated beds, 80 normal hospital beds, 100 patient tables and 4 patient lifters.

So too the Director General of the Hospital Odete da Silva Viegas added to Tempo Semanal that the equipment supplied by the company to the HNGV, being 80 beds that are already being used but there are some beds that are warehoused.  At this moment the HNGV needs medical equipment to support the work of its Haemodialisis Unit.  The equipment donated by the South Korean Government to the Haemodialisis Unit consist of only two machines.  Because of this the hospital made a proposal for two more Haemodialisis machines together with two beds, because the unit attends to between six to eight patients every day.  So they were forced to propose to make an urgent or emergency purchase of these two Haemodialisis machines and their beds. 

"This equipment have indeed arrived and are being used to service patients. But I do not know the details as to amount spent or from where the budget allocated to purchase this equipment.  Because these were decisions made by central services and top level people. Because of this, we simply received the things that were delivered to us," explained Odete. 

According to Odete, many times Sometimes we also have ideas to rectify certain things here at the hospital.  Because of this we also need information.  But many times our requests are not carried out according to what we requested, and many times we have no knowledge of the things that were done.  Rightly they must also know about the process so what is not correct can be rectified by them.

"I am always telling them that we should invest in our hospital system instead of sending people overseas all the time.  Sometimes there are issues that really creates difficulties for our work.  But we have to keep making efforts to find a solution. We cannot avoid our responsibilities, despite being unhappy and feel discriminated. But we have hopes that the new government can fix this," said Odete in her closing remarks. (**)

MINISTER OF FINANCE EMILIA PIRES APPROVES BUDGET FOR HER HUSBAND

"These things they acquired are also not justified as within the emergency category. But, they have just made up that criteria."

Minister of Finance Emilia Pires and husband
Warren Macleod, owner of Mac's
Metalcraft.

There is a fresh allegation of Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism (referred to by the acronym "CCN”) against a senior member of the Fifth Constitutional Government.  The allegation is against the Minister for Finance Emilia Pires who whilst the Minister for Finance during the Fourth Constitutional Government approved payment from the budget to a company founded, owned and directed by her husband Warren McLeod.

It is suspected that the Minister for Finance Emilia Pires  has breached section 32, Chapter 4 on Incompatibility of Decree Law on the Procurement System number 10/2005, that regulates Conflict of interest involving state officials.  All documents are held on this website and here on the Tempo Semanal Facebook page.

"If the Minister for Finance shuts her eyes to allow her husband's company to obtain a government contract and worse, when it is done through a direct award without a tender, that is a mistake and with the intention of breaching the law," said Miguel Amaral V.F. Da Costa, a Dili university student.

The phenomenon of CCN is widely questioned in the community. However, many do not  believe that disease of nepotism and collusion results could touch the Finance Minister who is always promoting and loudly espousing transparency and accountability.  "I did not expect Minister Emilia Pires could allow her husband's company to win a government contract,"Da Costa say.

Letter from Minister of Finance to Minister Health approving funding.

He further lamented that it was done under the category of it being justified as an emergency situation.

He added that, "in the month of February during a time of political uncertainty when some members of government might have not been feeling confident in their positions, so they could fall down and side step the existing laws."

"I think the Finance Minister's husband can get contracts.  But, it must be by way of a competitive bidding process, and not by single source that breaches the procurement law and that can bee seen as coming from "collusion" to give each other projects to their own families," da Costa added.

According to documents dated 3 February 2012, the former Vice Minister of Health in the AMP, Madalena F.N.H. Costa Soares, sent a letter of request to the Minister of Finance, Emilia Pires whereby she requested an additional budget to buy recurrent needs for the hospitals, because if what was not included in the 2012 budget of the state.  "I want to request to Your Excellency the Minister to approve an additional budget to acquire equipment according to the annexed list," was written in the letter signed by the Vice Minister for Health.

According to the annexed list signed by the National Director of NALA, the head of the medical equipment management unit together with the Vice Minister of Health, Madelena Hanjan, proposed an additional budget of US$2,004,100.00 to supply item 17 to the Hospitals and health centers. More ironic is that from the annexed list sent by the Vice Minister for Health Madalena Hanjan to the Finance Minister Emilia Pires, detailed as the first five points on the list of items to be acquired items that were to be supplied by the company Mac's Metalcraft, which is owned and the director of which is one Warren MacLeod who is the husband of the Finance Minister Emilia Pires.

" These items to be acquired should not have been classed as emergency items. They just invented this criteria," Deputy Anti-Corruption Commissioner Jose Neves said.

According to the quotation documents presented by Warren MacLeod, the director of the company Mac's Metalcraft, appears item number one to number five for a cost of US$895,140.00 which was defined within the category of an emergency acquisition, so the Ministry Of Health just awarded it directly to the Finance Minister's husband, without following a tender process, arousing suspicion that there had been some coordination between some members of government to invent the emergency criteria for the acquisition, thus facilitating the handing of the contract by a member of government to the family of another member of government.

Neves said that although single sourcing is allowed, before entering into that phase, the normal procedures that are set out in the procurement laws so as to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Despite section 92 of the procurement law stipulating that direct awarding of contracts is allowed, it is not wide enough to justify awarding the contract directly to the company Mac's Metalcraft as the supplier of equipment for hospitals and health centers, under section 94 of the decree law on procurement, as preferred by some decision makers, justifying it under the category of an emergency procurement. But the deputy Anti Corruption Commissioner Jose Neves again rejected it saying, "The procurement of beds does fall under an emergency."

As is set out in the documents that access by Tempo Semanal, the Finance Minister herself had knowledge of the proposal that her husband's company be contracted to be the supplier of beds that were determined to be within the category of an emergency. The proposal letter written by the Vice Minister for Health Madalena Hanjan to the Prime Minister Xanana, was also CC to the Finance Minister. However, Emilia did not put a tops to it but simply ignored the fact enabling her husband to be warded the project concerned.

"When one fails to distinguish a conflict of interest, then one breaches the law," Jose Neves said.  

Jose added that, "That is wrong. The budget involved was very large, and they are in a close family relationship."

The company referred to is owned by the Finance Minister's husband, so according to the deputy Anti Corruption Commissioner, "there is definitely a conflict of interest, because these cases of an emergency or single sourcing have to meet certain criteria according to the procurement law." 

Many times state officials put real emergency cases such as those needing medical treatment through the normal procurement process.  But, cases that do not involve emergencies, they invent an emergency according to the procurement law. “That's wrong.”

He joked saying, "someone dying needing a bed which is not available, that is real case of an emergency.  But just to buy a bed, that is not an emergency.  You must go through the normal process."

On the 8th of February 2012 the Finance Minister Emilia Pires responded to the request for additional budget (dated 03/02/2012) that had been sent from the Vice Minister for Health in the AMP Government, Madalena Hanjan, which had also been CCd to the then Minister for Health, Nelson Martins, writing, "with this approval, your Ministry can now proceed to start the implementation of this transaction. Please note that the approval was given on the premise that the request funding will not be used for any other purpose."

This newspaper has already tried to obtain a comment from the finance Minister but has been unable to speak to her.  Tempo Semanal tried to contact through her mobile telephone number but our calls were not answered, so this newspaper left some questions with the Minister on her official mobile phone number's mailbox with the number 772300XX.  But, unfortunately no response has been forthcoming until the date of publication.

Tempo Semanal was able to speak with the Director of the company Mac's Metalcraft, Warren MacLeod who is the husband of the Finance Minister, Emilia Pires, who had the good fortune of being able to provide a quotation for the supply of equipment to Timor-Leste hospitals.

"That is right, I supplied some materials to the hospital and i know what you are asking about," said Warren MacLeod via the telephone with Tempo Semanal.

Warren acknowledged to tempo Semanal that, "that is right," this project fell into the category of an emergency.

The documents that Tempo Semanal have been able to access show that Warren Mc Leod provided a quotation to the Ministry of Health on 24/02/2012 just as his wife, the Minister for Finance approved the budget funds that the Vice Minister for Health had requested.

"I had been contacted a while before (before the emergency contract was awarded)," warren said with a voice sounding a little nervous.

But, after having drawn his breath, Warren MacLeod said, "in truth I have already supplied some equipment last year.  I was informed (contacted) by an advisor in the Ministry.  This person's name is Bruce.  He is some sort of advisor to the Minister, who initially asked for a quotation last year, and so I already supplied some equipment last year.  Then later they wanted me to supply some more equipment this year." 

According to some sources the advisor to the Ministry of Health with the name mentioned by Warren finished his contract last year.

"This does not have anything to do with anyone else, except the persons who contacted me.  if anyone has any interest in my equipment, I am happy to compete with any other quotation," Warren explained.

According to company registration documents, Mac's Metalcraft was registered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australian in 2008, the year after Warren MacLeod's wife became the Minister for Finance in the Timor-Leste government.

Referring to the approved budget for the Ministry of Health in the General Budget of the State for 2012, the former Vice Minister for Health said that there was no budget appropriation for recurrent expenditure needs for hospitals or health centers, so they had to write to the Minister for Finance to make available some additional budget funds.

Immediately after the Minister for Finance had approved the request for additional budget funds to be paid from the contingency funds, on the 24/02/2012, Warren MacLeod, the Director of the Company Mac's Metalcraft provided a quotation to Agapito da Costa, a procurement official in the Ministry of Health..

Following this the Vice Minister for Health wrote to Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, with a CC to the Finance Minister on 21 March 2012. Madalena Hanjan proposed that the company Mac's Metalcraft should be the supplier of urgently needed hospital beds, and that this company had already supplied quality beds previously. 

But on Friday (23/11/2012), Tempo Semanal was able to obtain film footage of 80 beds supplied by Mac's Metalcraft that are still stored in the storage building of the Guido Valadares National Hospital in Dili.

More ironic is that in February the Vice Minister for health used a letter from the Dili Hospital Director requesting as a case of emergency two haemodialisis machines and two beds, which then enabled the company owned by a husband of the member of Government to profit from the budget of the state.

Contract between Government of Timor-Leste (Ministry of Health) and Minister of Finance Husband
Warren Macleod's Mac's Metalcraft

Contract between Government of Timor-Leste (Ministry of Health) and Minister of Finance Husband
Warren Macleod's Mac's Metalcraft

Contract between Government of Timor-Leste (Ministry of Health) and Minister of Finance Husband
Warren Macleod's Mac's Metalcraft

Annex to Ministry of Health emergency funding request

Letter from Vice Minister Health to Minister Finance requesting emergency funding.

Quotation for supply of goods to Ministry Health Timor-Leste from husband of Minister Finance.

Quotation for supply of goods to Ministry Health Timor-Leste from husband of Minister Finance.

Letter from Minister of Finance to Minister Health approving funding.

Hugo : “CPD-RDTL Komesa Tama Iha Sub-distritu Alas”

Tempo Semanal - Same, 27/11/2012                                            

Komunidade Bentanu halao hela atividade servisu

 DEZDE- prezensa CPD-RDTL iha sub-distritu Fatu Berlihu distritu Manufahi  okupa rai komunidade. Sigundu vice Parlamentu Nasional (PN) Hugo da Costa hateten, pasu konkreta ne’ebe  presidente no vice PM tun diretamente no halao kordenasaun oinsa rejolve prezensa membru CPD-RDTL sinku miil (5000) resin iha SP 2 halo komunidade  sai paniku.

“Realidade loos duni, kuandu movimentu ne’e, akontese hau mos hala’o  monitorin kuaze kareta 8-40 resin iha dia 12 Novembru 2012  tama mai” dehan Hugo ba jornal Tempo Semanal loron sabadu (24/11)iha aldeia  Loti suku Daisua area Luak sub-distritu same distritu Manufahi.

Sigundu vice PN mos husu infomasaun  ba komunidade kona ba prezensa CPD-RDTL  halo komunidade Fatu Berlihu informa katak, movimentu CPD-RDTL ho karakter semi militar uituan. Tanba, sira ho atributu militar uza tudik  no rama oan iha kotuk. “Ne’e  legalmente  la bele akontese no ejiste.” tenik reprezentate povu iha Uma fukun PN ba periode dala rua ne’e.

Dezde enisiu sigundu vice PN  akompania no hala’o monitor ho komandante PNTL atu nutifika motivu saida iha movimentu ne’e. Komandante informa katak, movimentu ne’e ho karakter atu halo koperativa.

Hugo esplika katak,  CPD-RDTL  molok atu okupa rai komunidade iha sub-distritu Fatu Berlihu  hala’o kordenaaun ho Ministeriu ne’ebe kompetensia atu halao koperativa ruma no hare fatin ne’ebe propriu atu sai fatin koperativa.“Sekarik koperativa organizasaun ne’e tenke klaru ho ninia estrutura” Hugo kestiona.

Hugo hatutan, nasaun soberania ida la iha movimentu ida ho karakter simi militalr konsertasaun ho masa iha fatin ida labele  akontese.  Ne’e duni, hanesan membru Parlamentu ezije ba orgaun ne’ebe kompetente atu bele rejolve problema ne’e.

Sigundu vice PN mos konkorda ho  Presidente Republika halo intervensaun ho seriu tebes. Atu bele hala’o dialogu  sekarik komunidade  konkorda sira hela bele utiliza fatin ne’e . Maibe, se komunidade la koi sira tenke sai.

Hugo mos informa katak,  agora daudauk ne’e, komunidade Fatu Berlihu  la bele ba hare animal ne’ebe husik no hare kintal. Tanba, movimentu ne’e seriu no fo amiasa ba komunidade iha fatin refere. Komunidade mos informa katak, agora daudauk sira komesa tama to iha sub-distritu Alas no fahi nehan. (**)

PARTE VII: A GUERRA DE MANUFHAI – 3ª fase (continuação)

PELO Dom Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo

Os meses de Agosto, Setembro e Outubro de 1912 foram dramáticos para Dom Boaventura da Costa, para a família e para os seus combatentes. Pode-se dizer, foi um desastre geral para o povo assuwain de Manufahi. Derrotado e acossado pelas forças portuguesas e seus aliados (moradores e auxiliares timorenses) o povo de Manufahi tinha perdido tudo; casas, plantações, culturas, gado, etc.

O liurai Dom Boaventura estava escondido na floresta e nos pântanos de Betano. Da sua família, perdeu a mãe e os irmãos. Relata Jaime de Inso: “ Toda a família daquele famoso régulo foi decapitada no próprio solar, incluindo a mãe, cuja sorte ouvimos lastimar, porque se tinha mostrado  amiga dos portugueses” (Timor 1912, p. 198).

Entre os combatentes de Manufahi muitos foram mortos. Outros passaram a combater ao lado dos portugueses. A estes quando lhes foi perguntado porque não se rendiam, respondiam: “ e vós por que não vos rendeis ao nosso governador de Timor, Dom Boaventura?”(Nusá imi la rende ba ami nia Embot Dom Boaventura?).

Os dias 11 e 12 de Agosto de 1912 foram dias de chacina. Os moradores passavam horas a cortar as cabeças aos rebeldes. Tal foi a quantidade de cabeças cortadas que os moradores exclamavam: “Já doem os braços, senhor, já não pode cortar mais cabeças”. Calcula-se que nesses dias terão morrido mais de 1.700 timorenses. Só a 10ª Companhia dos moçambicanos registou no seu palmarés 628 mortos e 410 prisioneiros.

Entretanto, a 13 de Agosto de 1912, o governador Filomeno da Câmara nomeava o tenente Francisco Pedro Curado novo comandante de Same. Coube a este oficial português a missão de procurar e prender Dom Boaventura da Costa. A missão de ataque ao reduto do régulo de Manufahi vai demorar dois meses.

No dia 17 do mesmo mês, o governador regressa vitorioso a Díli. Regressam também os destacamentos de moradores e de auxiliares. A entrada na Praça de Díli foi de festa e de vitória: os moradores tocavam tambores e cornetas; exibiam bandeiras e cabeças de inimigos, umas  espetadas nas pontas de bambu, outras penduradas em cordas. O governador autorizou uma festa macabra. Além das danças tradicionais de tebe, dahur, e bidu, foi organizada a festa de cabeças. Fazia-se um círculo e dava-se pontapés às cabeças cortadas. Depois dos festejos, as companhias de moradores regressavam aos seus comandos levando os troféus da guerra: os presos (homens, mulheres e crianças) ficarão como escravos (atan); as cabeças dos inimigos mortos serão depositadas nos montículos lulic ou nas cavernas das florestas lulic da aldeia. Alguns vencedores levarão para as suas terras búfalos, cavalos cabritos e porcos.

Nos dias 23 e 24 de Outubro o tenente Curado acompanhado dos seus homens lança um ataque ao reduto de Pau Preto. Travou-se um renhido combate, pois Curado perde quatro homens. O liurai põe-se em fuga, mas muitos dos seus homens rendem-se. Finalmente, no dia 26 de Outubro de 1912, Dom Boaventura Souto Maior entrega-se às forças do tenente Francisco Curado.

Depois de ter sido preso, o régulo de Manufahi será levado para Díli. Sobre a prisão, levantaram várias hipóteses: Ataúro? Balibó? Batugadé? Aipelo? Com Dom Boaventura foram presos o “major” Mali-Coli de Leolima; Dom Vicente, irmão de Dom Boaventura. João primo do régulo, o régulo de Aituto, Nai Clara. O régulo de Alas caiu varado na planície de Aiassa.

As perdas humanas no final da terceira fase da guerra de Manufahi: do lado das forças governamentais: 205 mortos e 377 feridos; do lado dos “rebeldes”: 2.684 mortos e 8.144 feridos.

(continua no próximo número)

Porto, 23 de Janeiro de 2012.

Dom Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo

PARTE VI: A GUERRA DE MANUFHAI – 3ª FASE

PELO Dom CARLOS FILIPE Ximenes BELO

Estávamos no mês de Julho de 1912. No dia 17, a 10 ª Companhia moçambicana chega a vila de Same, mas esta estava destruída. A companhia foi encarregada de ocupar a parte oriental da colina de Leo-Laco, num sítio chamado Bandeira. No dia 19 as forças governamentais lançam uma mina de 42 kg de pólvora que abre uma brecha na muralha de Riac. Em consequência dessa acção, dá-se o assalto às regiões ao sul de Riac. No dia 20 os rebeldes atacam Bandeira. Após renhidos combates, o destacamento do governo toma o lado norte de Rica. No dia 21 de Julho Riac rende-se sem reservas. Os rebeldes tiveram 59 mortos. Da população, 4.536 pessoas foram presas. Os prisioneiros tinham em seu poder 342 espingardas, 1.100 azagaias, 1.800 espadas e nenhuma pólvora. Na tomada de Riac, os portugueses tiveram 40 mortos e 90 feridos. Os portugueses efectuaram 628 disparos e gastaram 30.000 cartuchos. O cerco de Riac durou 41 dias.

E onde se encontrava o líder da revolta, Dom Boaventura da Costa? O valoroso régulo de Manufahi estava entrincheirado no alto de Lao-Laco rodeado dos seus asswain. Tendo conquistado Riac, o governador Filomeno da Câmara planeia o assalto ao monte Leo-Laco. Nos dias 28 e 29 de Julho, as forças governamentais ocupam cinco postos avançados de um lado e do outro da ribeira Aiassa. Travam-se os combates. No dia 1 de Agosto, a 10 ª Companhia moçambicana é rechaçada de uma aldeia, mas no dia 3 voltou a controlar essa povoação. No dia 5 de Agosto, Dom Boaventura e os seus guerreiros tentam uma sortida contra as linhas portuguesas. Mas no dia 6, os portugueses conseguem penetrar no reduto de defesa à volta de Leo-Laco. Num dos cumes da colina, são tomados os víveres e um canhão japonês. No dia 8, o acampamento de Dom Boaventura ainda não era tomado. As penetrações nesse reduto eram difíceis, pois rebeldes haviam fortificado trincheiras e ofereciam resistência. Os combates entre os sitiados e os atacantes prolongaram-se até o dia 10 de Agosto.

Vendo-se cercado pelo inimigo, Dom Boaventura envia ao governador novas propostas de rendição. Promete pagar uma indemnização de guerra e render-se com toda a sua gente se os portugueses abandonassem o cerco e se retirassem para Same. Mas Filomeno da Câmara recusa a proposta e matem firme o propósito de subir ao cume de Leo-Laco. Vendo recusada a proposta de rendição, Dom Boaventura manda os seus homens continuar a luta. Assim no dia 10 de Agosto, à noite, na zona leste de Leo-Laco, um grupo de rebeldes conseguiu forçar o bloqueio e obrigou a recuar a 10 Companhia, os moradores e os auxiliares. Deu-se então a fuga de muitos rebeldes para as florestas vizinhas. Alguns deles são caem mortos, mas a maioria conseguiu escapar-se. Na zona oeste, os rebeldes forçavam também o cerco e tentavam escapar-se. Infelizmente muitas mulheres e crianças foram feitas prisioneiras. Os combates prosseguem no dia 10 de Agosto à noite. O avanço dos portugueses para cume de Leo-Laco intensificava-se. Os rebeldes, não podendo resistir, procuravam brechas para se escaparem. Nessa noite um grupo de assuwain preferiu matar as mulheres e filhos e depois suicidando-se do que entregar-se aos invasores que certamente lhes cortariam a cabeça e levariam como troféu para suas aldeias mulheres, crianças e adolescentes. Na parte de sul de Leo-Laco, cadáveres de rebeldes jaziam pelos caminhos e no meio das ervas. Dom Boaventura e alguns dos seus guerreiros conseguiram atravessar as linhas portugueses e penetrar nas florestas do sul.

No dia 11 de Agosto de 1912, o régulo Dom Boaventura tinha-se refugiado na floresta de Pau Preto junto de Betano.

Porto, 19 de Janeiro de 2012.

Dom CARLOS FILIPE Ximenes BELO

PARTE II : 37 anos de Proklamacao da Indenpendencia, “Timor-Leste Exigem um Projeito de Lei de Reforma Agraria”

 By Tama Laka Aquita

Neste momento problema bo’ot ida nebe ema kiak iha cidade hasoru mak problema Rai fatin nebe sira hela ba ka sira okupa, mayoria hosi ema kiak sira ne’e okupa rai ka hela fatin sira nebe iha cidade Dili laiha direito ba Rai ka hela fatin sira ne’e tuir lei kolonialista Portugis nian “Boleting Oficial” nebe mak Premeiro Governu rekonhece fila-fali mak iha liu direito ba Rai. Politika ida ne’e halo povo ki’ik no kiak kbi’it laek hasoru “gusuran” ka “desokupasaun” iha fatin nebe sira hela ba ka sira okupa tamba sira laiha direito juridiku no mos ekonomikamente laiha forsa hodi hasoru ema nebe besik liu ho autoridade nebe kompetente ka lideranca politik nebe mak bele hamahon sira. Hanesan ita hotu hare iha vida moris ida lao dadaun, se mak domina Rai no edifisio sira nebe kolonialista Portugis ho Indonesia husik hela?

Realmente populasaun origen kapital Dili ne’e mak ema sira nebe iha tempo uluk antes kolonialista Portuguese to’o tempo kolonialista Portuguese iha Suco Karketo no Mota Ain. Tamba la iha forsa ekonomia hodi selu imposto Rai nian ba kolonialista Portugues, oportunidade ne’e ema Timor-Oan sira nebe besik liu ho kolonialista hetan direito ba usa rai nebe luan iha natar no to’os bo’ot tuir kbi’it nebe sira iha hodi selu imposto hanesan “Hak Pakai”. Oportunidade ida ne’e mos continua nafatin iha tempo okupasaun militer Indonesia, hosi “Hak Pakai” iha tempo kolonialista Portuguese  sai fali “Hak Milik” ho atitude nebe hanesan tamba ema sira ne’e besik liu ba Komandante Militer Indonesia sira hetan legalidade Certifikado tuir Lei Okupasaun Militer Indonesia durante 24 anos.

Ideas sira nebe mai hosi fundador revolusaun 1975 ne’e nakonu espirito Ukun rasik a’an, tan ne’e mak proklamasaun 28 de Novembro 1975 mosu ho hanoin ida katak iha konstituisaun nebe iha tenki favorece ba interese povo nia moris. Maske proklamasaun ida ne’e unilateral deit maibe liu hosi luta ida nebe naruk ho mudanca politika nebe mak akontece iha organisasaun resistencia nia laran obriga ita tenki tuir processo nebe lao hodi hetan solusaun ba problema Timor-Leste iha mundo Internasional.

Ukun rasik a’an, nasaun Republik Demokratiku Timor-Leste hamrik ona neduni saida deit mak kolonialista Portuguese ka Indonesia husik hela Rai ka Edifisio fila hotu ba estado RDTL, ida ne’e hakerek iha lei UNTAET nian. Maibe hafoin eleisaun geral assembeleia konstituente 2002 hotu Timor-Leste hahu halo Lei Inan no forma  governu premeiro nebe lidera hosi Partido mais votado, Partido FRETILIN. Hafoin Lei Inan prontu transformasaun automatikamente ba Parlemento Nasional. Iha 2003 komesa diskuti kona ba Lei Rai nian, iha nebe premeiro Governu reconhece fila-fali artigo ida hosi lei kolonilista nian kona ba “Boleting Oficial”

Saida mak acontece wainhira artigo ida hosi Lei kolonialista Portuguese nian premeiro Governu reconhece fila-fali iha tinan lima oin mai 2002 ba 2007? Mosu desocupasaun iha fatin hotu nebe povo ki’ik no kbi’it laek sira okupa no hela ba. Tan deit povo sira ne’e laiha fatin seluk atu ba hela tamba hakarak no senti Ukun Rasik A’an. Mai iha kapital Dili hodi okupa Rai no hela iha ema nia uma tamba questaun rua; ida lakon uma iha 1999 tamba milisi sunu no ida seluk tamba kondisaun ekonomia nebe lao maka’as iha kapital Dili iha tempo transisaun nebe lao iha UNTAET nia okos to’o ohin loron. Hanesan ita hotu assiste desokupasaun nebe akontece iha  Bairo Central, Farol, Bidau Licedere, Kolmera, Kaikoli no mos kazu sira nebe akontece entre familia iha kampu Alor no Bairopite tan deit hadau malu ba Rai pedasuk ida ba halo uma, hosi akontecimento sira ne’e loke ema nian hanoin katak Rai ohin loron folin ba ema riku sira atu aluga no sosa. Hosi noticia nebe publika iha televisaun mosu kazu ida iha Atabae familia oho malu informasaun ikus katak hadau malu tamba statutu Rai nian.

Iha possibilidade katak despejo sira ne’e sei continua akontece nafatin wainhira ita lider  politiku sira haluha ka ignora tiha exigencia reforma agraria hanesan agenda ida ba oin nebe fundamento teb-tebes ba desenvolvimento nasaun ida sai stabel. No povo ki’ik no kiak sira hein nafatin politiku sira nia promete hodi hatur lei nebe fo’o vantagen ba sira nian moris atu tur ka hela hakmatek iha uma ida ho digno. Atu nune sira labele hasai hosi fatin ida duni fali ba fatin seluk tan deit la iha documento “Boleting Oficial” tuir lei kolonialista Portuguese no Indonesia sira nian.

Conflitos oin-oin mosu kona ba problema Rai nian, ne’e hatudu katak precisa loke discursu foun hodi hatur politika ida nebe nasaun barak halo ona no iha asia inclui mos Indonesia katak reforma agraria mak uniku solusaun ida diak tamba exigencia ba politika reforma agraria nunka para iha fatin, lao nafatin iha nasaun hotu-hotu. Atu nune bele garante direito povo ki’ik no kiak nian, liu-liu agrikutor sira atu hetan Rai hanesan instrumento produsaun ida vital liu iha sistema produsaun nia laran iha kampu agrikola.

 

Governu premeiro no governu AMP mosu sai hanesan esperanca bo’ot tamba povo fo’o fiar ho mehi bo’ot nebe iha atu moris hakmatek hanesan mehi nebe uluk matebian luta nain sira hosik hela. Maibe mehi ida ne’e soe hotu ba tasi laran, poltika nebe iha laos buka atu halo ema moris ka hela hakmatek, politika nebe iha so buka atu salva guarda ba malu entre ema sira “Tuan Tanah no sira nebe usa Boleting Oficial”. Ida ne’e mak karakter lideranca nebe iha la’o do’ok hotu hosi matebian luta nain sira sira nia mehi nebe hosik hela ba povo ki’ik no kiak sira nebe durante tempo funu itoan ka barak fo’o hotu sira constribuisaun ba ukun rasik a’an ida ne’e.

Sai pergunta bo’ot ida ba ita hotu hanesan klamar ida nebe sempre mosu iha ita nia imaginasaun. Tamba sa mak ita tauk atu halo buat nebe halo ema tur ka hela hakmatek? Sera que mehi sira nebe matebian luta nain sira iha no hahalok nebe Heroi bo’ot matebian Nicolau dos Reis Lobato halo iha momentu neba hodi intrega hotu plantasaun kafe iha Bazartete-Liquica ba estado RDTL sai hanesan ameasa bo’ot ida ba ita?  Se hahalok ida ne’e mak halo ita gerasaun nebe sei moris tauk atu halo tuir, no nafatin defende artigo lei kolonialista Portuguese “Boleting Oficial” no Indonesia nian, ne’e hatudu katak ita trai mehi bo’ot nebe matebian luta nain sira husik hela ba ita.

Direito sai nain ba Rai no edifisio sira nebe iha hafoin kolonialista Portuguese no Indonesia, hanesan ita hotu hatene katak ema lubung oan ida mak iha no sai hanesan aset ida ba sira hodi hetan osan bo’ot hosi Rai nebe tuir lolos iha ukun rasik a’an ida ne’e estado mak nain buat sira ne’e hotu. Maibe ida ne’e mak sira bolu ita nia Lei, Lei nebe representante partido mais votado ka governu koligasaun sira rasik mak halo hodi salva guarda.  

Atitude politika nebe iha hatudu momos katak hamosu desokupasaun iha fatin hotu-hotu no privatisaun ba rai no edifisio sira nebe iha. Laiha hanoin diak ida atu hatur politika ida diak liu hosi hahalok nebe hatudu ona iha projeito lei nebe Ministra da Justica halo iha governasaun AMP ho nia resultado ikus Presidente da Republika tenki veto no haruka fila-fali tamba mosu reasaun barak hosi mayoria povo la concorda.

Iha ne’e mak hatudu ita nia erro bo’ot no tauk ba aktus pasado nebe ita nia matebian luta nain sira mehi hela ba rai doben ida ne’e, proklama tiha nasaun indenpendente ida maibe ita haluha tiha fase ba luta ida tuir mai, mak luta ekonomiku no luta kultural. Atu hetan ekonomia ida sustantabel mak definisaun kona ba lei rai ne’e importante tan ne’e precisa reforma sosial ida hodi hatur politka kona ba rai nian nebe favorece ba ema hotu-hotu laos ba ema lubung oan ida deit. Tamba ukun rasik a’an ne’e laos oferece deit hosi imperalista sira.

Periode rua mak ita liu ona hosi eleisaun nebe demokratiku tebes, maibe laiha mudanca signifikante ida kona ba lei Rai nian nebe halo ema la tur ka hela hakmatek iha desenvolvimento nebe lao iha nasaun ida ne’e. 

“ Ita triste teb-tebes wainhira hare 75% hosi Rai estado nian nebe iha, la sai hanesan aset moris ida ba ita nia povo, maibe sai fali dead capital. Liu hosi reforma agraria no sertifikasaun Rai estado nian ba povo hodi tur ka hela hakmatek no fahe rai hanesan ba agrikultor liu hosi sistema koletivo orientasaun ida organisado ka instituto nasional ida kona ba Rai Nian  nia okos, ho modelo koperativo nasional ho benifisio tomak ba povo encoraja sira halo produsaun aliementasaun ba sira nia moris diak”.

Iha prespektiva ida ne’e nia laran maka funsaun hosi Rai no recursus naturais tenki koloka hanesan meios ida para atinji libertasaun povo hosi dependencia ka possibilmente explorado hosi ema sira nebe ho ekonomia forte. Kondisaun ida nebe hakarak atu atinji mak justica agraria, iha kondisaun ida nebe garante katak sei laiha tan monopoli no dominio ba utilizasaun Rai no recursu naturais. Iha kazu ida ne’e ita bele  urgentemente precisa hakotu desigualdade ba strutura agraria, liu hosi implementasaun verdadeiro hosi programa agraria. Signifika, programa reforma agraria nebe bele muda strutura agraria nebe mak iha, iha nebe fo’o atensaun maka’as no involve hotu interese agrikultor kiak sira, no mos trabalhador/servisu nain agrikultor(buruh tani) hodi bele hetan solusaun ba konflitu agraria nian sira mosu ona no bele antisipa konflitu sira nebe sei mosu tuir mai iha futuru.

Tamba iha momento ida ne’e ita nia nasaun tama iha processo desenvolvimento nia laran hahu hosi nasional to’o iha Suco no Aldeia, processo ida ne’e tenki lao no tau iha processo demokratiku kona ba Rai ho lao ba transformasaun sociadade iha Suco engeralmente. Signifika katak politika kona ba Rai tenki tau atensaun maka’as liu ba “penataan” strutura properiadade no sistema controla ida diak kona ba Rai hosi estado.

Baseia ba presupostu sai nain ba Rai tradisionalmente sai hanesan causa ida ba instabilidade politika, nebe bele hamoris injustica social, ke iha ikus mai bele sai hanesan impedemento ba desenvolvimento ekonomiku. Tan ne’e mak desenvolvimento ekonomiku tenki hahu hosi reforma sosial, tamba sei la akontece acelerasaun desenvolvimento ekonomia se la lao ho transformasaun strutura sosial. Hafoun fila-fali estrurtura sosiadade nian liu hosi dalan nebe demokratiku ho ideas dominante ba distribuisaun Rai ba agrikultor sira nebe laiha Natar no Toos ho objectivo katak sira atu servisu koletivamente iha organisasun koperativa ho monitorisaun hosi funsionario governu nian hosi ministeiro nebe relasiona atu nune agrikultor sira bele acesso ba instrumento produsaun. Nune mos ho modelo organisasun koperativa nebe bele hetan mos kredito nebe maka fasilita hosi governu hodi desenvolvi sira nia ekonomia liu hosi koperativa.

Ho politika ida ne’e, hein katak iha esperanca bo’ot ba agrikultor sira bele halao sira nia aktividade produsaun nebe hasai sira nia rendemento no bem estar  ba sira nia a’an rasik.  Tamba reforma agraria parte ida importante ho objectivo hodi halakon kiak iha Suco no Aldeia. Reforma agraria laos deit atu hamenus kiak, hanesan discursu nebe dominante sira nebe kona ba reforma agraria. Desigualidade estrutura agraria nian laos deit halo ema kiak no moris sem Rai maibe fo’o impact mos iha relasaun politika no social. Iha aspect barak ke poder politiku iha Sucos fortemente hetan influencia domina Rai. Ema lubun oan sira nebe sai nain no domina Rai nebe luan ne’e influencia maka’as, laos deit iha vida ekonomia maibe iha vida politika hotu.  Maioria hosi agrikultor barak nebe mak laiha Rai ne’e iha posisaun ida nebe dependencia ekonomia no fraku e politikamente laiha influencia.

Oinsa atu acerta didiak hanoin ida ne’e hodi sosializa Lei Reforma Agraria ho nia implementasaun ba povu hosi governu, iha nebe governu em-prinsipio iha responsabilidade bo’ot teb-tebes atu halo buat hotu-hotu ba bem estar povo nian, laos atu penyor fali bem-estar povo nian ba interese a’at ema riku sira nian ka investor ho modal bo’ot sira.

Hanoin principal ida hosi artigo ida ne’e katak ita nian rai sei hasoru problema estrutural, problema kritiku nebe mak oras ne’e dadaun ita hasoru, hanesan kiak, desemprego, no deskontente. Para atu bele fo’o konstribuisaun hanoin ba buka solusaun estrutural sira ne’e, precisa politika ida nebe direitamente kona kedas ba fukun hosi problema sira ne’e hotu.  Fukun hosi problema sira nebe ita hasoru mak ki’ik oan ka laiha asset ka acessu komunidade ba fontes ekonomia especialmente kona ba Rai, ho limitasaun acessu ba fontes social no politika. Reforma Agraria hanesan politika ida fundamento tebes atu direitamente bele loke acessu fontes sira ne’e hotu.

Iha ikus liu hosi hakerek nain hakarak hato’o deit katak; ho esperansa bo’ot liu hosi  artigo ida  ne’e bele loke no aumenta tan ita hotu nia kompreensaun no fiar iha efectividade reforma agraria bele atinji justice social ida ba povo Timor-Leste tomak. (**)

EDTL Kasa Funsiona, Komunidade Kasa La Hetan Naroman

Tempo Semanal - Ainaro 26/11/2012

Vice Primeiru Ministeru (PM)  Fernando Lasama ofesialmente inagura sub-estasaun Elitrisidade de Timor Leste (EDTL) loron sigunda-feira (26/11) dader san,  iha aldeia Lancadoi suku Kasa  distritu Ainaro hanesan progresu boot ida tanba komunidade Ainaro bele hetan naroman.

Ne’e duni, komunidade Kasa hahu husi ferik-katuas no joven foin sae inklui mos labarik kiik la tur nonok sira mos hakbesik an ba iha sermonia inagurasaun ba sub-estasaun EDTL iha suku kasa. Kuaze sira nakonu iha kadeira ne’ebe prepara sira okupa no balun hamrik hodi rona  lian menon ruma husi ulun boot governu  atu sira mos bele hetan naroman.

Hare ba elitrisidade ne’ebe lakan kalan no loron iha Ainaro fila durante loron rua halo komunidade suku Kasa kestiona kona ba destansia entre Kasa ho Ainoro. Suku Kasa besik ho sub-estasaun EDTL   to agora sedauk hala’o estalasaun oinsa mak sira bele hetan naroman husi  elitrisidade. Maibe, iha Ainaro fila hetan uluk enerjia.

Tuir komunidade Suku kasa Norberto da Costa hateten, sira sente kontente tebes tanba iha tempu badak nia laran elitrisidade bele tama iha suku Kasa no distritu Ainaro tomak.

“Ami sente triste uituan. Tanba, sub- estasaun EDTL besik iha suku kasa to agora estalasaun elitrisidade ba kada uma kain mos sedauk iha oinsa bele hetan naroman elitrisidade” tenik Norberto ba jornal Tempo Semanal bainhira partispa mos iha sermonia inagurasaun ne’e.

Norberto hatutan, sira hanesan komunidade Kasa ladun kontente tanba hare ba destansia sira besik liu sub-estasau EDTL to agora  sedauk hetan enerjia husi EDT . Maibe  daudauk ne’e,  iha  Ainaro fila lakan kalan no loron.

Ezijensia husi komunidade suku kasa Jornal Tempo Semanal hala’o   konfirmasaun ho Sekretariu Estadu EDTL Januari Pereira hateten, elitrisidade se to iha sira nia hela fatin tanba daudauk ne’e tekniku  ssira halao estudus iha tempu badak nia laran sei fo naroman ba distritu Ainaro tama.

“Ahi sei to ba sira. Tanba teniku sira sei mota hela iha fatin-fatin, la’os sira de’it maibe ba mos hatudu no Suai agora daudauk kompania sira halao  servisu no estudus. Ne’e duni, ita hein simu lakan deit” garante Sekretariu Estadus EDTL ba periode dala rua ne’e.

Nune’e mos Vice PM, Fernado Lasama  iha ninia diskursu husu ba komunidade Ainaro sira atu popa enerjia no uza eletrisidade  ho dixiplina .

Tuir observasaun husi korespondente Jornal Tempo Semanal katak, maioria uma kain ne’ebe iha aldeia lancadoi  suku Kasa distrittu Ainaro to agora sedauk hetan enerjia Elitrisidade .(**)