Saturday, 18 July 2009
President Ramos Horta Speaks Out Against Telcom Timor Part II
President Ramos Horta Speaks Out Against Telcom Monopoly - Presidente Horta dehan Portugal Telcom Obriga Governu simu obsaun Monopoli
During last week visits to Suai and Atsabe the leading East Timor Diplomat came out with strong statement over the telecommunication operator after listened to his people's complaints.
In october 2007 this newspaper conducted a national opinion poll 36,918 respondents of which 98% want the Timor Leste Government to end the monopoly and free up the Telecomunications sector. The result of the poll were submitted to the President of the Republic, Prime Minister Office and Speaker of Parliament. Most of the people opinions are Timor Telecom is very expensive and very poor quality so they demand to the government to put pressure on Timor Telecom to reduce the price and provide better service to its clints. A Timorese senior high School student in Dili, Augosto da Costa Santos said Timor Telecom had very bad service to it's client and the connections is always busy and always delay our sms so I think it's time for government to act. Agusto From Liquica said some areas in Liquica itself do not have access to phone connection.
To see video of President Ramos-Horta on the subject see this link on Tempo Semanal TV
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
EXCLUSIF: Shooting of Ramos-Horta: Marcelo Caetano Fingered in Court as Shooter.
Caetano with now deceased Alfredo Reinado in Ermera, Timor-Leste 2007.
According to testimony in the case of 11/o2/08 shooting of President Ramos-Horta today in Dili District Court; F-FDTL Second Sargent, Isaac Da Silva, was accompanying President Ramos Hortas acompany on his morning walk on 11/02/08.
He was promoted on September 25th 2008 to First Sargeant, because of his aid to the President.
In front of the judges, prosecutors and lawyers around 17.00 hours Timor-Leste time on 15 July 2009 he was asked to identify the person who shot the President of Timor-Leste. Da Silva said Marcelo Caetano is the one who shot the President. He continued that Caetano had covered his face but his eyes were exposed. "I recognise him by his eyes and the way he stands."
The Da Silva was asked by the Judge to point out Caetano and with no voice but with confidence he did so. The court authority asked how does he know Caetano and Da Silva said they both are friend since they were in the army together. The court finished before 19.00 hours and at 18.35 Isaac left the court room in a realxed manner. Caetano was handcuffed with fellow acused Amaro "Susar" da Costa and were lead out the court, with big smiles waving to their familes. families.
Angie Pires Lawyer, Jon Tippet, Alleges Weapon Used to Shoot Reinado is Not Found, and Angie Innocent.

Internet Exclusif
After a year five month and two days the case of February 11th 2008 occurred on Monday 13 July 2009 the 28 suspects will present to the Dili districts court. Among those 28 is a Timorese born Australian Angelita Pires the then lover of Alfredo Reinado alves who was killed on the day attacked to the President residence on February 11. John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Metiaut Dili left injured to the Timorese the 1996 co Peace Price winner DR. Jose Ramos Horta. Angelita Pires was dressed up the Timorese traditional weaving accompany by two of her lawyer one from Brasil and the other one is Jon Tippet from the queens council based in Darwin. Yesterday in an interview with Tempo Semanal Jon said, "We prepared as we can be but we only get the process or document as it is called about last Tuesday week and we been under a lot of pressure to prepared this trial and it is very very large case. And unfortunately we only allowed to see the prosecution about two weeks ago and we had have to photo copies 25 volumes over 5000 pages of material. It's been very very difficult process to do in very short period of time. Unfortunately we were not given access to the document earlier as we should have been as a result we have been put under enormous pressure. So when you say prepared? We prepared as you can be in two weeks for a trial really requires three to four months preparations."
After seen those accusation document the Darwin based lawyer is now ready to fight for Ms pires release. "My client is very innocent. I have seen the material and she is innocent."
When question how much confidence he does has in terms to free his claim Mr. Jon said, "Well I am very optimistic because there is no evidence that connect her to any conspiracy to attempt to kill the President of the Timor Leste. Nor there is any evidence that connects her with any events that occurred on February 11th 2008."
Angelita Pires was the lover of Alfredo Reinado and jon said, "that's her only connection unfortunately she has been charge on the bases of evidence that really is admissible and for the most part is just made up."
Jon continues arguing that, "If this case decided on the evidence and on the evidence alone Angelita pires would be acquitted. I looked through the evidence and there is no material that supports the charges that there have been preferred against her and I expect that an objective rational assessment of the evidence by objective judges will result her acquitted."
The government of Timor leste in several occasions made statement to public accused miss Pires is one of the main suspect in the February 11th 2008 events in President residence which injured the East Timor President in that morning. "Unfortunately the government has not awaited the outcome of a prover inquiry and court case before providing an opinion to the public. It would appeared that the views express by the government are not supported by the forensic material and there are many questions raised in this case about how this particular incident unfolded?, why unfolded? Who was involved? And what shorts of conspiracy was behind the shooting and the death of Alfredo Reinado and others. So my concern is that this case expose that evidence that the people of Timor Leste and of course other interested people in other countries around the world particularly Australia are provided with the evidence and when they are the evidence disclose very different story to the one that has been rely upon in many places and by people in position in power to day," said Jon.
Ms. Pires shouted out in local language saying, "I will never ever forget Major Reinado and I always remember of him." Angelita Pires been has a number of charges first is attempt to kill the president of Timor Leste, she also have 19 charge of attempt of homicide related to the shot out in the area of President Residence and she face two counts of causing damages to the government poverty namely two vehicles were heat by gun fired during the shot out.
"I am innocent as I said a thousand times before I am innocent and I got good legal team and yeah I am ready to face the court," Angelita told Tempo Semanal in Dili a day before the court hearing.
She has accuse the Timorese leaders and International people in East Timor has put her in a very difficult situation and she has suffer morally and physically. "I was defamed and I was pronouncing guilty before I even had a hearing. The whole cases have been poison. How can you as a leader prosecute some body? You not the judges. Leave it to the court. I want to leave it to the court and I want to follow through to the court, if this court I want the world to see. If this court really care out justice? Really is based on the truth? Or is this court the shame sample that the same unworkable or ill judicial system that existing in Timor leste right now. Let's see this is a trial for every body and this is not about me any more but this is about one million people who want truth and justice whom really believe that the country should have a decent justice system. I am not going to let it down I want to see it through."
When Tempo Semanal asked her whether she can indicate who are the leaders she is referring to but Ms. Pires rejected. "I don't want to name names because I don't think its correct to do so but I think the world knows and I think what was done wasn't done entirely on behalf of Timorese part, but I think it was to some extend accomplished by the international community, by international entities so I want justice. I want to be indamines for what I went through and I want to make sure that no other Timorese women, no other child no other Timorese man goes through what three of us through. It's wrong. It's wrong to endorse and to fund the systems that don't work. Those are corrupts and served only to prejudice the people.
Angelita alleged the Timorese justice is not working so she appeal to the Australian taxpayers to remind the Australian Government to review it's funding to Timor Leste justice sector or even to cut the support because it's a waste of taxpayer money. Angelita has co citizenship. She was born in east Timor and grows up in Australia. "I am an Australian citizen as well as Timorese citizen and I had a lot of help from the Australian council here and I had funding from the Attorney General in Australia that a decent grant that's helps me to get the right legal council, so I am happy," she informed.
Jon confesses that he has access to some of the evidence which make him confidence that Ms Pires may free from all the accusation. "Well the evidence seems to point to different stories to the one which people have been receiving through the media certainly from the sources in the government of Timor Leste to date. The story seem to be one of coming to meet the president and in course of that event he's shot extremely closed range. He and a college of his Leopoldino shot at extremely closed range in what appears to be an assassination," Jon Alleged.
In February this year Tempo Semanal witnesses a team of Australian Federal Police came to Tasi Tolu Dili to do the ballistic test related to those weapons were used in the President residence on February 11th 2008. "It would appear that the ballistics evidence support the conclusion that Alfredo Reinado and his college leopoldino were shots with two different weapons and the bullets used were not the same bullet that were used by Alfredo's man during the fire fights nor at the same bullets were used by the same man who were protecting the president. And so it appeared that there is a discrepancy in the analyses that the two men, Alfredo Reinado and Leopoldino were actually shot by man defending the President," Jon rule out.
He explain that the court hasn't got those weapons were used to shot reinado and his friend. "We simply do not have the weapons that killed Alfredo Reinado or his college Leopoldino. We don't have those weapons. They have not been found or they have not been handed in. Why they have not been found or why they have not been handed in is a mystery.
In the other convey of two prison cars were taken the other 26 suspects from Becore Prison and one hand cup to the other while Gastao Salsinha hand cup alone but with a heavy guarded.
Out side the court yard in the other side of the main road some young people cried out Viva Major Alfredo and Viva Salsinha when the prison cars approach. The Alfredo followers were brought with them several banner written with black and red Ink demanding for Justice. Alfredo's Uncle Victor Alves also came to follow the court hearing. "I hope starting from this trial we will find the truth of who shot Reinado and why Reinado came to President Residence.'
The securities around the court were tied by the GNR Unpol and the Timorese PNTL officer. The UNPOL were a little bit over acting and worse then that those GNR officer told the Journalist that the journalist are not allowed to the room by the judges but when the International and national rule out in the court room some journalist have already in. The officer change the word by said, "There is no more space so we can't allow you in." The GNR and Timorese guards kicked out a Timorese journalist from the room while allowing the International journalist remain in their seat.
The tiny country President spent some times in Darwin hospital to recover from the gun wounds in his back. After the shot out there were many speculations related to the events up to now people are still confuse. There are many rumours still flying around Dili including who is the main actor on the day. Some says that Alfredo was invited to have a meeting with the President and some others said Afredo came to attacked the Timorese President. Even for several occasion President for poor people has clarified that he never invited Alfredo to have a meeting in his residence.
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Angie in the Dock
Ms. Pires lawyer claimed his client is being set up as a scape goat, and that Angelita is innocent and not involved in any conspiracy to kill the President and the Prime Minister in February 2008. n her lawyer gave interview to ts this afternoon.
The full transcript of the interview wil be transcibed and available on the Tempo Semanal website very soon.
Tomorrow, 13 July 2009, at 10 am Dili time the first suspects of those 28 accused of being involved in the 11/02/08 attempts on the lives of President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, will present themselves in Dili district court. Angelita's lawyer is an Australian and she got support from the Australian Attorney General Office. Angie said "there is no justice
for ordinary people in this country." she promised to fight for the truth. "the truth must come out," she said.
Angelita's lawyer Jon Tippet is an Australian. Jon said his client is 100% innocent and he is more then ready to freed his client from the case. "there are many evidence shows that my client is innocent." he continued " the ballistic tested shows that those amunitions is not use by the rebels nor from rebel group." jon claimed that Alfredo Reinado and his colleague Leopodino Exposto were executed. "Alfredo n his collegue leopoldino were shot within 30 centimetres," he said.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
TT versus DIGICEL?? UNMIT Halo Mapa Kona Ba Kovertura Rede Timor Telcom. Diak ka lae?
On 6 July 2009, the President of the Republic Jose Ramos-Horta met with the Head of Digicel, Mr. Dennis O'Brien, in Dili Timor-Leste.
Digicel is seeking obtain a license to provide Telecommunications Services to the people of Timor-Leste. In 2002 the Government of Timor-Leste gave a 15 year monopoly to Timor Telcom. In October 2007 Tempo Semanal ran a nationawide poll in which over 95% of respondents were in favour of allowing competition into the Timorese Telecommunications market.
On the 4th June 2009 the ICT Timor-Leste Association facebook site published a report in which it came out very strongly against the telecommunication monopoly held by Timor Telcom. It states in the official language of Timor-Leste the following: in short it states that "The monopoly has to be stopped because it is against the interests of Development". This is also according to The Government the year of "Goodbye Conflict, Welcome Development"
"Hakotu prátika monopoliu tanba kontra interese dezenvolvimentu nasional no liu-liu kontra Konstituisaun RDTL. Timor-Telekom LAOS Relijiaun, ne’ebé LABELE troka tun-sa’e!! Kontratu entre Governu ho Timor Telekom LAOS Bíblia ne’ebé hatun husi “profeta” ida!! Komponenti nasaun tomak tenke tau Interese Povu no dezenvolvimentu Nasionál, aas liu buat hotu."
Previously the President of Timor-Leste, the President of the National Parliament, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Tourism Commerce and Industry, the Deputy Prime Minister - indeed virtually the whole Government of Timor-Leste, most Members of Parliament, and the publice service, and the international community in Dili, are upset with the ongoing monopoly and quality of service.
The Government established a Telecommunications Task Force in January 2008, and international staff on this task force are paid over 450,000.00USD/year, but to date there is no result.
Monday, 6 July 2009
Timor Telecom: Habokur An iha Timor-Leste. Gets Fat in Timor-Leste. FY 2007 23 million USD

According to GSMA Asia Pacific (GSMA AP) http://www.gsmap.org/about/ who performed a market analysis on Timor-Leste and its only Telecommunication provider, Timor Telecom made the following revenue
Se Mak Kaer Prima Food Lda? Who Owns Prima Foods?
This is the business registration for Prima Food Lda in which Zenilda Gusmao, the daughter of Prime Minister Jose Alexandre Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, is a 11.10% shareholder dated July 2008. Is it against the law for this company to receive Government contracts?
Tempo Semanal Edisaun 146
Alegasuan PM foo kontratu Foos ba Ninia Familia
Televizaun ABC kili Xanana Emprezáriu TL Buka Oin ba PM
Dili, Tempo Semanal

Hataan ba kestaun ne'e emprezáriu Timor oan sira fahe malu. Balun tenta hatudu katak sira defende kredibilidade lider boot rezisténsia nian ne'ebé dala barak sai hanesan darling ba média iha Austrália Iha tersa feira semana kotuk lider organizasaun emprezariál Timor Leste hanesan Sr. Óscar Lima, Sr. Júlio Álvaro, Sr. Ricardo Nheu ho Sr. Herciu Campos halo konferénsia de imprensa ida iha Dili hodi kondena reportajen ABC ninian ne'ebé tuir sira nia haree diskreta lider istóriku Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão ninia naran di'ak no alega katak televizaun ABC tenta hamonu Governu AMP ne'ebé lideradu husi PM Xanana.
Nia hatutan katak, "ko'alia kona ba lider maka ita hotu-hotu nia preokupasaun maka halo nusa maka ita bele defende ita nia lider sira. purke berita sira hanesan ne'ene kuandu mosu mai ne'e normál ba polítiku sira maibé hanesan Timor oan oan ha'u sente katak ha'u tenke hateten lia fuan ruma katak ita hotu-hotu tenke iha solidariedade ho ita nia lider sira. I Se de'it maka atu hatún ita nia lider sira, halo nusa maka ita atu hodi ko'alia netik lia fuan ruma."
"Ami kondena ema sira ne'ebé maka desa mina ona no sei kontinua halo desa mina natafin informasaun sala ba média" "Ami rejeita média internasionál sira nia reportajen sala no foo informasaun ne'e laloos."
Tuir mai Herciu Campos nu'udar uluk boot ida ba CCI (Camara Comersiu
Herciu hatutan, "Ami la presiza ema seluk husi li'ur para mai hatudu liman tun sa'e i ami maka sei rezolve rasik ami nia uma laran i povu timor loro sa'e tomak sei fiar metin nafatin katak ami nia lider boot kay rala Xanana Gusmão, Ramos Horta, Carrascalão i seluk tan sei bele hapara korrupsaun ou nepotizmu iha tempu badak iha rai doben ida ne'e.
Tuir dokumentu s ne'ebé jornál ne'e konsege hetan prova duni katak iha tinan 2008 nia klaran MTCI hasai licenca ba kompañia PRIMA FOOD LDA ho no: 00855/MTCI/VI/2008 hodi halo esportasaun no importasaun ba produtu alimentasoens. Kompañia Prima Food LDA ninia Rua Av. Bispu de Medeiros Acait, Dili ne'e na'in husi ema na'in sira inklui PM ninia oan feto Zenilda E. B. Gusmão ho asaun 11.10%.
2. The same regime applies to:
a) Companies whose capital, in the same percentage, belongs to the spouse of the holder, when there is no separation of persons and assets, to their ascendants and descendants in any degree and to collaterals up to the 2nd degree, as well as the person who lives with the holder in a situation akin to marriage; b) Companies in which capital the holder of the office detains, directly or indirectly, alone or together with the relatives mentioned in the previous sub-paragraph, a participation not below 10%."
Iha parte seluk Alexo cobra ho Rui Castro condena lala'ok ninia kolega sira seluk ne'ebé ko'alia hodi defende dignidade PM Xanana Gusmão sira bolu atensaun ba Governu atu kuidadu ho emprezáriu sira ne'e. "Ha'u hanoin naran hira ne'ebé maka sempre lori figura lideransa ninia naran tun sa'e mak Sr Óscar ho Júliu, sira sempre lori ema ne'ebé mak sa'e ona ba primeiru ministru ou presidente atu halo 'pendekatan' ema sira ne'e bele hamonu ema seluk nia figura, entaun agora daudaun 'isu-isu' ne'ebé too iha internasionál katak, Zenilda mós tama iha prosesu maman foos ne'e, tanba de'it Sr Óscar , Júlio Álvaro, Ricardo ho Herciu nia hahalok," Aleixo Kobra dale.
Rui Castro ne'ebé mós hanesan emprezáriu ida hateten katak, "kuandu sira hasoru ho primeiru ministru,hatete katak projetu foos ne'e ba feto sira mane nia konstrusaun ba matéria ba konstrusaun sivíl nian osan ne'e mai husi ne'ebá mai husi fundu destruisaun ekonomia nian tanba mane mak iha responsavel atu hetan projetu ida be materiál konstrusaun sivíl ne'e hari kontruksi ida."
Posibilidade s barak iha grupu ki'ik oan ida ne'ebé uluk iha mari nia tempu sira mak estraga mari nia naran agora sira halo mengupayakan atu estraga mós Xanana nia naran mós ba emprezáriu hotu hotu la bele rede analiza emprezáriu timor oan tan ba iha emprezáriu grupu oan ida mak iha mari nia tempu sira mak halo projetu oan ida la hun la dikin hotu ona manan tia osan kaer hotu 'bangkrut' halai dai husi fretilín mai bomba fali mari tia oan agora sira mai fali Xanana ne'e para osan lakon hotu nita sira haboon fali Xanana para Xanana nia naran mak aat fali ona.
Emprezáriu Lokál Alega Governu Joga Ho Kompañia Indonézia nian
Dili, Tempo Semanal

"Emprezáriu Nasionál mós iha direitu atu ko'alia no hato'o sira nia ezijénsia kona ba kritériu no la halo diskriminasaun, maibé tanba saida Ministru Agrikultór 'tersingun' hodi husu fali deskulpa ba emprezáriu indonézia nian, ne'e duni kestaun ne'e ita presiza investiga tanba Timor nia harga diri la hanesan ho ema indonézia nian tanba prosesu ukun an ne'e liu husi ema barak nia ruin ho raan tan ne'e husu ba Ministru Agrikultór katak hahalok ne'e hanesan hahalok primeira vés no ultima vés no labele husu tan deskulpa ba pedagan kaki lima sira ne'ebé mai buka serbisu iha ne'e, maibé ministru tenke 'komitmen' no labele iha mentalidade hodi hanoin katak timor ne'e hanesan provinsiál. Maiski sira loke prosesu ne'e hanesan tender internasionál, maibé iha kritériu nia laran hatudu momoos katak projetu ne'e sei halai liu ba iha kompañia Indonézia nian, ne'e duni kuandu ita ko'alia kona ba tender internasionál entaun lalika fó espek khusus ba merek ne'ebé atu hatama, tanba oinsá ita bele dehan atu loke tender internasionál maibé see bainhira ninia prodak rasik hakarak husi indonézia entaun di'ak liu lalika loke tender internasionál maibé bele hateten de'it katak tender ne'e ba prodak indonézia.
Responde kona ba ezijénsia husi emprezáriu timor oan ne'ebé dehan katak projetu ne'e atu fó ba ema estranjeiru, Francisco hateten ita tenke haluha tiha liafuan ne'ebé dehan katak fó de'it tanba buat hotu tuir prosesu depois mak sei deside iha ne'ebá. "Bainhira desizaun dehan katak la presiza halo manu faktu autorizasaun no dehan katak kontraktor timor oan mak tenke hetan ida ne'e kestaun polítiku ne'e duni konsellu ministru no Parlamentu mak bele muda polítiku ida ne'e, maibé kuandu sira iha ne'ebá ne'e ezije kualidade konserteza buat hotu tenke la'o tuir regra no kritériu ne'ebé iha."esklarese Francisco
Rezultadu avaliasaun rasik seidauk fó sai maibé oinsá mak sira bele hatene katak ema Indonézia mak atu manan tan ne'e hein de'it desizaun sai foin ita bele hatene katak see mak manan. Responde kona ba pergunta ne'ebé dehan katak sekarik rezultadu ne'e fó duni ba emprezáriu indonézia mak manan entaun emprezáriu timor oan sira sei halo boikota, maibé Francisco esplika katak kestaun ne'e buat seluk fali tanba ida ne'e sira nia direitu mais se karik timor oan mak manan no sira reklama entaun ita atu halo oinsá ne'e duni ita tenke respeita ema ne'ebé mak manan no ba sira ne'ebé la manan buka atu hadi'a aan.
Tuir informasaun ne'ebé jornál ne'e hetan katak kompañia ne'ebé hola parte iha projetu refere kuaze iha kompañia 10 resin mak kompete,(ico/tov)
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Timor-Leste/Australia Defence Cooperation Talks
Secretary of State for Defence - Julio Tomas PintoDCP Talks Address Illegal Maritime Activities, English-Language Education
From Tempo Semanal Edition 145 29 June 2009
The Defence Cooperation Program, and Timor-Leste Government and Defence Force last week
Secretary of the State for Defence Dr Julio Tomas Pinto, F-FDTL Commander Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, and Director General of the Pacific and East Timor Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) Air Commodore Anthony Jones met on Friday 26 June 2009 with other members of the DCP to discuss the program’s progress and future plans.
A statement by the Defence Cooperation Program praised the F-FDTL’s progress since early 2008, and said, “The next twelve months will see an expansion in Australian Defence Cooperation Program activities to support the F-FDTL”.
The three representatives signed a document stating the DCP will expand “To support the continuing development of the F-FDTL,” by nearly doubling the capacity of F-FDTL’s English-Language Program at Metinaro; gradually increasing maritime security assistance; providing advanced infantry training for F-FDTL; and increasing cooperation in the fields of engineering and nation-building.
The document also stated that “Timor-Leste and Australia will continue to frankly exchange ideas on the implementation of defence cooperation activities and future areas of engagement between our two nations,” indicating hopes for honest and open communication when developing Timor-Leste’s future military capacity.
The talks’ dialogue embodied this agreed-upon frankness, with Air Commodore Jones stating that the DCP was particularly focused on expanding Timor-Leste’s naval capabilities through providing advisors to “develop their capability to patrol and protect the Timor-Leste maritime borders”, and in training F-FDTL patrol boat crews in Australia and Timor-Leste, “to protect the maritime environment”.
“We know the TL govt and the TL people are very concerned about what is going on in their exclusive economic zones and in their maritime areas, particularly in regard to illegal fishing. Australia’s very eager to support the TL govt in making sure their maritime boundary is secure, and that the activities that are going on in that exclusive economic zone are well-known and well-managed by the Timor-Leste govt,” said Air Commodore Jones.
Dr Tomas Pinto agreed that maritime security is a priority for Timor-Leste’s Defence authorities, stating, “The DCP talks are talking about how Australia will assist us to work together closely with the navy to control our sea. One of the important issues we talked about here is maritime surveillance. This is important also for TL,” said Dr Tomas Pinto.
Dr Tomas Pinto also said the Government of Timor-Leste is experiencing problems with illegal immigration from Bangladesh, and that it has requested assistance from the Australian Government to address this issue.
Air Commodore Jones and the Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Phil Heywood, said the DCP would share with F-FDTL its information and experiences in speaking with the Indonesian navy about dealing with these issues, and in developing future “trilateral cooperation”.
All parties at the talks particularly appreciated the DCP’s decision to provide new instructors and facilities to the F-FDTL English-language program.
Air Commodore Jones said, “We understand that there was an increasing demand from F-FDTL for more English-language capacity, and we’re very happy to support that”.
“It really is the key to significant trainng opportunities.”
Air Commodore Jones also mentioned the new Australian Defence Minister would visit Timor-Leste within the next two to three months. The previous Defence Minister recently resigned following repeated allegations of improper conduct involving his brother and a Chinese businesswoman.
Air Commodore Jones thanked Dr Tomas Pinto and Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak for their support, saying, “I know it’s not often easy to accept and coordinate the activities that we provide, but we appreciate that”.
Dr Tomas Pinto ended the talks in saying to the Commodore, “Thanks for you, because Australia is still committed to helping us. We also thank Australia and New Zealand as well, because you assisted us in difficult times, and now you are assisting us again”.




