Internet Exclusive: Timorese Police Raid Brothels, UNMIT Staff on the Premises

Timorese police (PNTL) again raided Indonesian and Chinese owned bars in Dili today at 1930hrs.

PNTL Officers from the Immigration Service raided suspicious bars run by Indonesian and Chinese nationals in Dili, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

In the Indonesian owned NADA Bar authorities found 8 workers to have abused their tourist visa and to be working without the correct permits. NADA Bar is notorious in Dili for being a place where prostitution is carried out. Despite this, the Government continues to issue business registration permits to the owners. The situation at NADA Bar is so well known that even the Church has raised its concerns with the Government.

In the Chinese owned MOON Bar the authorities found 11 women and 1 man to have entered as tourists but to be in fact working in the bar as prostitutes.

"They are here to serve some United Nations (UNMIT) staff and Timorese men", said a male Timorese client who wanted to remain anonymous. MOON Bar is complete with private rooms and toilets.

When the raid occurred several United Nations officials were found in a VIP room and refused to show their faces to the Tempo Semanal video crew when caught on camera.

Many women and girls working in the bar barricaded themselves in the bathrooms rather than give themselves up to authorities. They remained locked in the bathrooms for 30 minutes. PNTL officers patiently waited for them to walk out, out of 12 of them many had  expired visas.

The MOON Bar is famous as a few months ago an elderly Timorese man was found dead from suspicious circumstances on the premises, as a result of what is believed to be sexual stamina medicine. After the man died the police closed the bar, but not long later it was allowed to reopen. The MOON Bar has been the subject of many raids over the years, and on many occasions the UN, UNPOL and PNTL allow it to continue to operate. Shortly after returning to Timor in 2007 UNMIT SRSG Atul Khare announced a zero tolerance policy for UN staff using such faciilities. His words appear to be an empty gesture.

Atul Khare: United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, Empty Words.

Some members of the community and the Bishops have voiced their concerns about the activity in these bars.

Tempo Semanal has investigated those Timorese Government officials that visit the bars during work hours. A Timorese security guard told Tempo Semanal that during the day when the bar is closed Government officials visit, that is why the bar is closed. "After they finish their activities then they came out just put in my hand $60 and say, `buy cigarates'," explained the security guard. with a smile.

Internet Exclusive: Minister of Justice Apparently Abuses Her Power - Again.

TEMPO SEMANAL TV


This video was taken yesterday afternoon at 16:34 Dili time 7 October 2009

The video shows the Minister of Justice has ordered the Land and Property Department of her Ministry to evict the occupants of the fuel station in Vila Verde Dili in Tuana Laran.  This fuel station is currently own by Antonio Putra Baukau.



A notification letter was signed by the Minister of Justice, Lucia Lobato, ordering Antonio Putra Baukau to vacate the property. Several Land Property Department officials escorted by a group of Timorese police (PNTL) came and put the eviction notice signs around the fuel station while some cars were still being are still filled with fuel inside the station.

Pedro Aparico, a Dili lawyer, alleged the Minister of Justice has abused her power regarding this eviction notice because the Government should not intervene in the matter of land disputes between two individuals. Minister Lobato can issue an order letter to some body to vacant the land which belongs to the state. Pedro added that the case still in court, so questioned the motives behind the Minsiter's intervention around the court system.

This problem of Antonio Putra Baukau and the other alleged property owner, Maria Lemos, is similar to the City Cafe issue (reported by this newspaper here)  in which the Minister of Justice also issued an eviction notice to the occupant to vacate but was rejected and the Police and the Government security were used to forced out the occupant Maria Fatima and her husband from City Cafe.

During a discussion among the journalist about abuse of power by government officials  Joao Mintan said, "I agreed that Minister of Justice is using her power even it was wrong. When she got the power she has to use it. If she committed some wrong doing lets fixed it later." "I salute the Minister of Justice because she not like the other Minister that never practises their power but always Yes boss, yes boss."

The land which was used to set up the fuel station is in dispute between Antonio Putra Baukau and Maria Lemos. According to some Government officials they told Tempo Semanal that Maria Lemos is holding an Indonesian Passport. According to the Constitution and regulation that foreigners are not allowed to own land in Timor-Leste. If it true then that Maria Lemos is an Indonesian then it menas that the Minister of Justice is breaking the law and the Constitution.

Timor Telcom is not Afraid of Competition

TEMPO SEMANAL TV

Portugal Telcom Executives visited Dili in September 2009 in order to annoucne that they have a new development for Timor Telcom and the telecommunications sector in Timor-Leste.

The Government of Timor-Leste gave a concession contract monopoly to Timor Telcom, a subsidiary of Portugal Telcom, in 2002, shortly after the country gained independence.

According to the contract Timor Telcom (TT) is the only operator with the exclusive right to provide telcoms services in the country.

There has been a lot of criticism of TT's service over the past years from clients, people in the Districts as well as the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

But as the new Adminsitrator of TT told Tempo Semanal in an exclusive interview TT has established three targets to provide better services.  It has reduced price as now there are some banners flying around Dili streets which say that one minute call US$0.06 and per sms cost only US$0.03 as well they are building more towers in the country.

Video: Rai Los (Ex-Militia Leader-2006), and Former ABRI/TNI Demonstrate in Support of Horta: To Kill Justice.

TEMPO SEMANAL TV

This is video footage of the Pro President Horta Demonstration of less that 100 people at Nicolau Aiport two days ago.  The demonstration was to support Horta in his efforts to kill Justice and free Maternus Bere.  Full 6 October 2009 story here.

The gentlemen that is reading the declaration in support of Horta as seen in the below video footage is Manuel "Mau Hura" Goncalves. Goncalves was a major supporter of Major Alfreod Reinado, whose attack on Horta's house in February 2008 resulted in Alfredo Reinado's death and Horta shooting and suffering major wounds.  Those others present at the scene are now standing trial in Dili District Court.

Supporters greet President Horta, Mau Hura, Commander Dudu, and Rai Los, (others are Ex-Petitioners,

MUNJ, PDN and other characters.)

As shown in the news story done by David O'Shea and John Martinkus in regard to Theory of Conspiracy in August 2006, "Mau Hura" was shown as an active and armed participant in the attack on FALINTIL-FDTL Headquarters in Tasi Tolu on 24 May 2006. According to the Independent Comission of Inquiry a number of people were killed and wounded on both sides, and ex-FDTL Sargeant "Commander Rai Los"'s militia lead the attack.

Manuel "Mau Hura" Goncalves

Vicente "Rai Los" da Conceicao

Just as in the case of 1975-99, there is also no justice for 2006.  Those that are alleged to have committed crimes continue to walk free in Timor-Leste, and even meet the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste upon his arrival in a show of support for the President's policies on justice.

People Campaign With Maturity and How About TL Leaders

TEMPO SEMANAL TV

The East Timorese are going to participate in Local Elections on 9 October 2009. The Ministry of State Administration which is delaing with the ballot papers has distributed these materials to all 13 Districts in Timor-leste

Yesterday is the last day for candidates for the positions of local community leaders to complete their respective campaigns across the country.

It was very strange and shows a new example that these Local Community leaders have interpreted the model of democracy and teachs a valuable to lesson to the leaders of national political parties.

In som villages in Aileu district the competitors campaigned in the same day and the same place without any violence or misbahviour of any sort.

"We are doing this campaign together without insulting and maltreatment of each other," said one of the candidate from a village in Aileu on last weekend.

This is kind of attitude was not shown to the community by the political parties leaders during the last Parliamentary and President elections in 2007. 

There were a lot of word wars around the country since the end of May 2007 up to the end of the campaign period in that year. The Timorese leaders should learn from their communitty leaders in Aileu, Manatutu and some other Districts which adopt a new type of Democracy in Timor-Leste

Rai Los (Ex-Militia Leader-2006), and Former ABRI/TNI Demonstrate in Support of Horta: To Kill Justice.

Only about 100 ex-Petitioners, MUNJ (pro Alfredo political action group) and PDN, including former guerrilla commander Ernesto "Dudu" Fernandes,  ex-TNI KOREM Intelligence Officer Juliao da Silva, and Vicente "Rai Los" da Conceicao (Commander of the Rai Los Liquica Militia - circa 2006) came to show their support for President Horta his return from abroad on 6 October 2009.

Commandante Rai Los and then Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta, 2006. 

 

 The Rai Los Armed Militia, 2006

The President of Timor-Leste walked out of the gate from the plane to accept the petition of support from Manuel Goncalves.  PNTL officers were ordered to move the demonmstration to the gate.  This ONTL atttitude was much more welcoming that the pro-International Tribunal protest in front of Hotel Timor on 30 August 2009.

Under the hot mid day sun President Horta heard the 7 point declaration, including:

We give maximum support to the State's decision to extradite and deport and deport ex-Laksaur militia commander Maternus Bere".

Bere was arrested on 8 August 2009 in Suai and detained in Becora Prison until his release to the Indonesian Embassy on 30 September.

Horta's supporters criticised the United Nations, International and National NGOs and the Timorese Parliament, arguing that the people do not want an international Tribunal for human rights violations in Timor-Leste

They stated that " the majority of this nation do not want an International Tribunal, and especially the victims do not care for such an idea".

The security around the airport was very tight.  PNTL officers armed with paramilitary semi-automatic assault rifles set up checkpoints around the airport complex.  Checking all private and public vehicles as they enter the airport area.

One PNTL officer stated that: "we heard some people might try to come to throw stones at the President."

However the convoy which came to bring people in support of the President was not checked by the PNTL checkpoints.

This demo has created divisions between the Office of the President and other parties.

"I told Joel [President's media officer] not to use any FRETILIN symbols and I as Secretary-General of FRETILIN will not allow FRETILIN youth to join the protest as we want to remain uninvolved, and do not want to be blamed in case that there are problems." said former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri.

But the head of the President's security detail, former disgraced PNTL Deputy Commander (Operations) Ismail Babo lodged a report to PNTL alleging that the Alkatiri has threatened some members of President Horta's staff.