Lu – Olo: it is not easy to change semi-presidential system to Presidential system

Dili - JND - Presidential candidate Francisco Guterres Lu – Olo said that it is not easy for presidential candidates to change Timor Leste’s political system from semi-presidential to Presidential system because they do not have the competency to do that.

“The competence of the president of the Republic is not to change constitution on the issue because it is only the competence of the Parliament to change the constitution,” said Mr. Lu – Olo in Farol recently.

Lu – Olo responded to some presidential candidates who campaigned to change the semi-presidential system to presidential system saying it requires 2/3 votes of the Parliament Members to approve the law on constitutional revision.

The President of FRETILIN party urged presidential candidates to know their roles and not to make promises beyond their competencies.

CNRT and UDT officially announced its supports to Taur Matan Ruak

Dili - JND/TP) - The CNRT party, on Friday, has officially announced its support to presidential candidate Taur Matan Ruak. The General Secretary of CNRT party Dionisio Babo said that they have decided to give support to Mr. Ruak because the former General fulfills criteria set by the party and from now onwards throughout the campaign, CNRT militants are to support only Mr. Ruak.

“From now onwards, the official political support from CNRT party is to Mr. Taur Matan Ruak. This is what we all here have decided,” said Mr. Babo accompanied by the party’s political commissioner Francisco Kalbuady and other party leaders.

On a different occasion, the Timorese Union Democratic Party (UDT) declared on Saturday (25/2) its support to presidential candidate Taur Matan Ruak. According to the UDT party president Gilman dos Santos, Taur is the right person to respond to the national interest, the need of national stability and good moral example for the country and the people.

“After going through several profound analysis and debates, considering the country’s interests, the need of stability good and moral leader to represent the country, UDT declare to the public that it gives its supports to presidential candidate Taur Matan Ruak to lead the country for the period of 2012 – 2017,” said Mr. Gilman (25/2).

CNRT-ASDT-PSD militants in Dili supports La Sama to be the President

Dili - JND - Representatives of CNRT-PSD-ASDT party in the District of Dili declared their support to presidential candidate Fernando La Sama de Araujo because of the candidates’ unifying figure and his experience to lead the country.

“We are representatives of 3 parties, PSD, ASDT and CNRT and party militants from Bairro Manleuana, Becora and Cristo Rei declare to the public that we give our votes of support to presidential candidate La Sama because he can embrace all people, he has the experience and upholds national sovereignties,” said the representative of the parties at the presidential candidates’ office in Villa Verde on Thursday (23/2).

When interviewed about their support to Mr. La Sama, the party representatives said that Mr. La Sama has the experience to lead the country as he has shown as the president of the National Parliament.

MP Noé: Taur Matan Ruak can win the Presidential election

Dili - STL - Member of Parliament from CNRT Party Arão Noé said he is confident that Taur Matan Ruak would win the presidential election because of his party’s support.

“We believe that Mr Taur would win because he got a maximum support. With the existing criteria it is clear that we will give support to him,” said Mr. Noé at the Parliament on Thursday (23/2).

The CNRT MP added they support Taur because he is an independent candidate, he does not defend the interest of any party or family.

On the same occasion, MP Mario Carrascalão from PSD said that Mr. Taur would win the election because he has the advantage of being a former resistance fighter, he is very well known in this country and people will vote for him.

Angela Freitas was threatened by an anonymous person

Dili - STL - The president of Labor Party Angela Freitas said that she has had threats from anonymousperson who also broke into her party office and robbed some important documents that has relation to the some presidential candidate’s criminal behavior in the past.

“Those evidences stolen are those that the Court of Appeal wanted me to give them, because those evidences also involve some candidate in the past,” said Ms. Angela at the office of her Labor Party on Tuesday (21/2). According to Ms. Angela, the robbery was an effort to silence her voices out justice for the people and the country, an agenda she planned to pursue if she would been allowed to join the presidential race and elected as president.

When asked the question on robbery against Ms. Angela’s party, the PNTL General Commander Longuinhos Monteiro said that he has not heard about the robbery and promised to send immediate investigation if there is a request from the Labor Party or Ms. Angela herself.

The Court of Appeal drew lots for the presidential candidates’ number

Dili - JND - The Court of Appeal, on Tuesday (21/2) held a ruffle for the numbering of the presidential candidates in the voting papers. As the result of the ruffle, Dr. Manuel Tilman’s name came out first while Fernando La Sama de Araujo’s name came out last.

Hence, the sequence of the names of the presidential candidates to be printed on the voting papers is: Manuel Tilman (1), Taur Matan Ruak (2), Francisco Lu – Olo (3), Francisco Xavier do Amaral (4), Rogerio Lobato (5), Maria do Céo da Silva (6), Angelita Maria Francisca Pires (7), Jose Ramos Horta (8), Francisco Gomes (9), Jose Luis Guterres (10), Abilio da Conceição Abrantes de Araujo (11), Lucas da Costa (12) and Fernando La Sama Araujo (13).

On the occasion, CNE commissioner Martinho Gusmão said that there are 5 candidates who have submitted their campaigning calendar. Those are Presidential candidate Jose Luis Guterres, Taur Matan Ruak, Maria do Céo, Fernando La Sama de Araujo and Francisco Guterres Lu – Olo.

Horta supports Jose Luis’s Presidential bid

Dili - JND - President Horta said he gave his full support to presidential candidate Jose Luis Guterres “LUGU” because he has the capacity to rule this country if people elect him to be the president of the republic.

“Even though I re-candidate myself to be the presidency, I continue to mention in many places that Jose Luis Guterres has the great potency to rule this country with dignity,” said Mr. Horta during FRENTI – MUDANÇA first national congress in Becora, Dili (18/2).

Dr. Horta added that aside from LUGU, there are other 3 presidential candidates who have the capacity to lead this country like Taur Matan Ruak, Francisco Guterres Lu – Olo and Fernando La Sama.

Lu – Olo laments over leaders who continue to see FRETILIN to be an enemy

Dili - STL - Presidential candidate Francisco Lu – Olo said though Timor Leste has been independent for 10 years, many leaders continuously think FRETILIN is the enemy of the country.

“Many people say FRETILIN does not want to embrace them but the real issue is those people whom FRETILIN embrace, they do not want to be with FRETILIN,” said Mr. Lu Olo during his visit to STL a few days ago.

Hence, the FRETILIN party president urged all leaders to be prepared to accept the electoral outcome and embrace people’s decision.

CNE orders police to remove Taur’s pictures in public places

Dili - TP - The President of the National Commission for Election (CNE) Faustino Cardoso asked the PNTL to remove images of the presidential candidates that are started being posted in the public places because the campaign has not started yet.

“We ask the police to clear out those photos and the banners,” said Mr. Cardoso after meeting the President of the republic recently.

According to Mr. Cardoso, the reason of removing the photos is that the election campaign has not started yet and there should not be photos posted on the bridges and electrical posts.

The Newspaper observed that presidential candidate Taur Matan Ruak’s photos are posted on Comoro Bridge and many other places eventhough the campaign period is only to start in February 29 this year.

Jose Luis Guterres and Jorge Teme elected as President and General Secretary of FRENTI – MUDANÇA party

Dili - JND - Jose Luis Guterres and Jorge Teme were elected to be the president and general secretary of FRENTI – MUDANÇA on the last day of the party’s national congress on Sunday (19/2). The two leaders were elected with 490 or 67,21% votes from the 730 party delegates. Hence, the new structure of FRENTI – MUDANÇA party is Jose Luis Guterres as President, Victor da Costa (Vice 1), Vicente Maubocy (Vice 2) and Egidio de Jesus (3). To assist Jorge Teme as General Secretary are Cesar Vital Moreira (Vice 1), Francisco Maucura (Vice 2) and Ricardo Cardoso Nheu (Vice 3).

Mari Alkatiri: Public Servants receive salary for nothing

Dili - TP - Former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said that many public servants are continuously receiving their salaries despite of poor delivery. Mr. Alkatiri blamed the government for not defining the public servants jobs and that the department heads are more to be responsible for poor performance of the staff and slammed Familiarism has been a chronic he is to battle with.

“We see in one ministry, there is family related or party related, they sit only to get paid. The chiefs are not assigning them properly,” commented Dr. Alkatiri at the FRETILIN’s Headquarter in Comoro, Dili (16/2).

The former Prime Minister promises to reform the public servants in order to be more productive rather than allowing them to sit the whole hour to get their salary at the end of the month.

War veterans of 4 – 7 years dedication to receive pension in May

Dili - JND The State Secretary for Veterans Affairs Marito Nicolao Reis said that those who contributed to the war with the duration of 4 – 7 years dedication would receive its pension only once, a total of US$3800, and the payment is due May this year.

“There are different levels in those who are to receive the payments, level 1, level 2 and level 3. However, they all will receive the same amount of US$3800. The payment would be made only once” said Mr. Marito Reis.

Despite of facing protest from the veterans, the payment is still to go according to schedule, which is in May, 2012.

Jose Luis Guterres: changing governance does not impede Timor Leste’s bid to join ASEAN

Dili - JND - Vice Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres said that Timor Leste’s bid to join ASEAN would not be affected by the changing government because it is a National Interest.

“I think the process of joining ASEAN has started long time ago, starting from the first government up to the fourth government. We continue the process of national consensus within the country that Timor Leste must join ASEAN,” said Mr. Guterres at the Government Palace on Wednesday (15/2).

Mr. Guterres clarified the comments of some leaders who said changing leaderships will delay Timorese bid to join the Regional Blog. According to the vice Minister, soon or later Timor Leste will join ASEAN because it is our region and our national objectives is to join ASEAN.

Alkatiri considers AMP fails to negotiate on Greater Sunrise

Dili - JND - Former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said that the AMP government was unable to do negotiation on the greater sunrise and hence it would become a burden for the incoming government.

“Who leaves the burden to the new government? It is Xanana and his government. People should know this that whichever government would come, it is to solve the issue of greater sunrise that Xanana was not able to solve within 5 years,” declared Dr. Alkatiri at the FRETILIN headquarters on Wednesday (15/2).

The negotiation of Greater Sunrise under the Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea (CMATS) is to expire in 2013 and the incoming government has to renew it in order to continue the negotiation.

According to the former Prime Minister, Xanana’s government was not only unable to negotiate on the greater sunrise but they are to be responsible for the inflation, debts, and poor infrastructures.

Lu – Olo: I am a candidate to all people

Dili - JND - Presidential candidate Francisco Guterres Lu – Olo said that he is FRETILIN’s presidential candidate to be a president for all and not only to the party militants.

“I candidated myself to all people and not only to FRETILIN. If I am elected as president, I will treat everybody equal according to the law,” said presidential candidate Lu – Olo during the inauguration of new office for Lu – Olo campaign in Hudi Laran, Bairropite (14/2).

On the occasion, the General Secretary for FRETILIN party Mari Alkatiri added that many people considered Lu – Olo not to have the capacity to rule but only because Lu – Olo is a humble person.
“I know Lu – Olo is a person who is very humble, he does not like to boast himself that many people say he does not have the quality, it is not true. He has the quality and that is why he is a candidate for the presidency,” said Dr. Alkatiri.

Angela Freitas is omitted from the presidential candidate

Dili - TP - The president of the Court of Appeal Claudio Ximenes announced on Tuesday that the presidential candidate Angela Freitas was not admitted as a candidate in 2012 presidential election because she does not attain the minimum requirement set by the election law.

“I do not admit the candidature of the citizen Angela Freitas da Silva to the presidential election in March 17, 2012 because she does not have the number of proponents that is required, minimally 5000 of the National voters from which 100 voters should come from each of the 13 districts as imposed by article 15th Law 7/2006, altered by law 8/2011,” said the official letter Witten in Portuguese and signed by the president of the Court of appeal.

Ms. Angela was one of the first candidates who submitted her application as a presidential candidate for the March 17 election but she was turned down by the lack of signatures from the districts of Lautem, Liquiça, Manatuto, Oecusse, and Viqueque.

Horta: 2012 is a test to join ASEAN

Dili - TP - President Horta said there will be more than 100 International observers observing the elections and hence it is a big test for Timor Leste to show political maturity to the world and that TL can offer peaceful and democratic election and a model to ASEAN countries.

“This is to show to the world the election system that goes with transparency and neutrality. That is why this year is a test for Timor Leste to join ASEAN though some countries do not trust us yet to have political maturity or an extraordinary advantage to be brought to ASEAN,” said President Horta.

The president added that there are countries who continue believe in Timor Leste that it has political maturity like Indonesia but other countries are waiting for Timor Leste to settle its stability before being admitted to the ASEAN.

CNRT optimists that Taur would win the election

Dili - STL - Member of Parliament from CNRT party, Arão Noé is confident that Taur Matan Ruak would win the presidential election in March 17.

“We believe that Mr. Taur Matan Ruak would win because he got maximum support from us. This is not solely for our benefit in the future if we win (the parliamentary election) and not to benefit those who will lose the election,” said MP Noé at the Parliament on Monday.

Mr. Noé added that our party does not look into advantages or disadvantages of supporting a presidential candidate in order to get support because the constitution clearly defines that the president has to be neutral and that is why CNRT decided to support an independent candidate.

Happy Valentine's day

"They do not love that do not show their love. "

- William Shakespeare

Happy Valentine to All.

Horta is ready to assist the elected President if loses in the election

DIli - STL - President Ramos Horta said that he is prepared to lose the election and he is ready to assist the incoming president to serve the country. “If I lose the election, this will become a good possibility, other candidates are strong with authority and legitimacy. I think they are all qualified people, good people, they need an experience person to back him. I am ready to help the new president,” said President Horta.

According to the president, he decides to re-candidate himself for the presidency because there were strong support from people who invested politically in Timor Leste like the United States, Australia, Portugal and Indonesia. “If I were not to have candidated myself, many people would criticize me including people abroad who demanded me to run the presidency for the second term.

However, if Mr. Horta is not elected by the people, he decides to travel within the country, visiting the Districts and writing some books. The Nobel Laureate also added that he will not neglect his duty as Timorese, as former head of the State, to do the things the new president wants him to do.