[Kabar-indonesia] 7 Reports: Horta Urges Aussie Troops to Stay [+Tempo Interview; JP; Lusa]

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

7 reports:  

- East Timor PM urges Australian troops to stay

- JP: Ramos-Horta the right man to improve 
  RI ties: Analysts 

- Tempo Interview/Jose Ramos Horta: "I did not 
  maneuver to get this job" 

- Tempo: Timor Leste: Crisis Over? 

- LUSA: Alkatiri plans return to parliament 
  after arms investigation hearing

- JP Op-Ed: Horta's agenda as new Timor Leste 
  PM [By Damian Kingsbury -- a slightly different 
  version of a The Age report sent earlier today]

- New Zealand police head to East Timor

Agence France-Presse
July 11, 2006

East Timor PM urges Australian troops to stay

East Timor's new Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta has said Australian troops 
should stay in his country until at least the end of the year.

Ramos-Horta was responding to comments by Australian Foreign Minister 
Alexander Downer that Canberra could soon begin considering downgrading its presence 
in the tiny nation.

"I can understand Foreign Minister Downer's desire to have his men and women 
returning home as soon as possible," Ramos-Horta told the Australian 
Broadcasting Corporation.

"But I believe that we need the Australian forces here for the rest of the 
year."

Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former foreign minister, took 
office as prime minister on Monday, pledging to restore hope in East Timor, 
shattered by weeks of uncertainty and bloody unrest.

He told ABC radio the security situation in East Timor had eased since more 
than 2,200 foreign peacekeepers, mainly from Australia, were sent in to restore 
order in May after at least 21 people were killed in political unrest.

"However, there is the psychological factor in that even though there has not 
been any significant violence for many weeks, there have been sporadic ones 
for the past weeks, isolated incidents," Ramos-Horta said.

Towards the end of the year, consideration should be given to the idea of 
Australian forces coming under the United Nations umbrella as a peacekeeping 
force while maintaining the position of force commander, he said.

-------------------------------------

The Jakarta Post
Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Ramos-Horta the right man to improve RI ties: Analysts 

Abdul Khalik and Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jose Ramos-Horta's inauguration Monday as the new prime minister of Timor 
Leste is a step in the right direction for improving relations with Indonesia, 
analysts believe. 

The 1996 Nobel Peace laureate had already endeavored to bring his country 
closer to Indonesia during his term as Timor Leste foreign minister, as well as 
displaying diplomatic sensitivity toward its neighbor and former ruler, they 
said. 

International relations expert from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences 
(LIPI) Dewi Fortuna Anwar said Monday that Ramos-Horta's active role in forging 
good relations as foreign minister since 2002 indicated Timor Leste would 
continue to pursue a similar policy in the future. 

"Ramos-Horta's election is a positive development for the conflict in Timor 
Leste. We congratulate the Timor Leste people that they can end the conflict 
peacefully," she told The Jakarta Post. 

The 56-year-old took office as Timor Leste's new prime minister Monday 
morning, pledging to restore hope in the tiny nation shattered by weeks of 
uncertainty and unrest. 

Ramos-Horta took a brief oath in Portuguese to serve Timor Leste's people, 
witnessed by President Xanana Gusmao, who appointed him to the position 
Saturday, as well as senior lawmakers, church leaders and foreign diplomats. 

Indonesian presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said President Susilo 
Bambang Yudhoyono telephoned Ramos-Horta at 11 a.m., hour after the inauguration 
ceremony. 

"The president congratulated Ramos-Horta, who is his close friend," Dino 
said. 

During the telephone conversation, Ramos-Horta asked Indonesia to reopen 
checkpoints along its border of East Nusa Tenggara, which were closed following 
violence in the country's capital. 

The University of Indonesia's Makmur Keliat also believed Indonesia-Timor 
Leste would improve because of Ramos-Horta's considerable diplomatic experience 
and his sensitivity toward Indonesia. 

"He is much more sensitive than Mari Alkatiri toward Indonesia because he has 
learned from his experience that Timor Leste needs Indonesia," he said, 
referring to Ramos-Horta's predecessor. 

Mari nearly jeapordized Timor Leste-Indonesia relations when in June he was 
reported to have accused Indonesian-backed paramilitary groups of being 
involved in the fresh Timor Leste conflict. Although he later denied having made the 
accusation, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono openly warned Mari that his 
statement could worsen the relations between the two countries. 

Timor Leste was thrown into crisis in March after the dismissal of 600 
soldiers, who battled loyalist troops in Dili. Unrest spilled over into gang warfare 
and widespread looting and arson. At least 30 people were killed and 150,000 
forced from their homes. 

The violence has been the worst to hit the country since it voted to break 
free from 24 years of Indonesian rule in 1999 in a UN-sponsored referendum. 

Ramos-Horta's close ties to President Xanana Gusmao, who has an amiable 
relationship with Yudhoyono, also made him the perfect option for Indonesia, Makmur 
said. 

-------------------------------------------

Tempo Magazine
No. 45/VI
July 11 - 17, 2006 

ASEAN & Beyond 

Jose Ramos Horta: "I did not maneuver to get this job" 

JOSE Ramos Horta, 57, is the 'star' of Timor Leste. He is the strongest 
candidate for the new prime minister's post, among them, cabinet minister Ana 
Pessoa and Timor Leste Ambassador to the UN, Jose Luis Guterres. It may still be 
premature, since no decisions have been made yet. But with just days to go 
before the new government is due to be formed, Horta has edged out other 
candidates, with his unique closeness to both Xanana and Alkatiri. 

What does Ramos Horta himself say? Tempo reporter Salvador X. Soares caught 
him at his office last Tuesday and he shared the following comments: 

You seem to be the strongest candidate of all… 

I know that Fretilin is considering me as the temporary prime minister until 
the 2007 general elections. If the decision comes from Fretilin and the 
President, I will accept the task. 

I'm aware of my managerial deficiencies. For that, I will appoint two 
deputies: one to head the administration, economic, social and development affairs, 
and another to handle national security and politics, including the 
implementation of general elections. 

Will they come from Fretilin? 

Fretilin must be accommodated because the government must respect the 
majority in parliament. Alkatiri fell, but that doesn't mean Fretilin fell. Fretilin 
has not lost its legitimacy.

So, the opposition party has no chance at being a deputy to the prime 
minister? 

This is not my decision. It will depend on Fretilin and Xanana. The President 
will consult with all political parties. But the decision won't come from the 
opposition parties, but the President. I have no problems working with anyone.

According to the President, Fretilin's executive body based on last May's 
congress is illegal, so the party must hold another, extraordinary congress. 

That's correct and the President is awaiting the results of that congress. 

What about Alkatiri's position? 

So far, the court has not withdrawn his position in parliament. According to 
the law, he still has the right to sit in parliament, and in fact, he may even 
run in the next general elections. 

So, Alkatiri is not yet indicted in the case of supplying civilians with 
weapons, which also involved Home Affairs Minister Rogerio Lobato? 

Alkatiri is only a witness and, as far as I know, there are no charges 
against him. He is still waiting for his lawyer from Portugal, and that's why the 
court is accepting the delay over his investigation.

If you become prime minister, will there be changes in the government? 

There might be changes, but I am not the only to make the decisions. I must 
speak with the Fretilin leadership and the President. The government will only 
be operational until May 20, 2007, just nine months. In such a short time, 
what can we do?

So, it would be better to improve the situation now. The prime minister has 
resigned, so have the home affairs and defense ministers, but Fretilin has 
shown good will in cooperating with the President, to continue ensuring stability. 
Fretilin accepted the prime minister's resignation, but the party is not 
carrying out the violence people think. Fretilin has shown responsibility by 
controlling the masses. 

When will the government-in-transition be formed? 

Perhaps end of this week (last week -- Ed.). The President is working hard, 
consulting with the political parties. I hope they come to an agreement soon.

If you became prime minister, what would be your priority? 

There are four priorities. First, to create a positive environment so that 
people will go back to their homes. The international forces and the national 
police will be responsible for bringing home the refugees. Secondly, to provide 
food for the people. In the past few months, the flow of trading, agricultural 
production and transportation were interrupted. Thirdly, public institutions 
and agencies as well as schools, will be reopened. Fourthly, to create 
employment opportunities and invest in labor-intensive projects so that people in 
Dili as well as in the districts and subdistricts, can earn incomes.

Isn't it ambitious implementing those four priorities in nine months? 

I don't think carrying out those four programs is ambitious. 

During the crisis and now, did you maintain contact with Alkatiri? 

I was in contact with him almost every day. 

The impression is, because you are often in contact with Alkatiri, that you 
are looking for his backing... 

I did not maneuver to get this job. I don't accept whispers about this. I 
contacted Alkatiri legally. I communicated with him every day to carry out the 
usual government work.

At that time, why did you decide to resign from Alkatiri's government? 

Because the momentum had arrived. There was political, psychological and 
emotional demand. I told Alkatiri that. But we remained good friends. I have known 
him for 40 years.

So, did you resign because Alkatiri's government was seen to have failed? 

Not all his policies are bad. He has done many good things. I am really sad. 
This nation has a chance to move forward, we have the money and the 
international community to help us. As a consequence of past violence, this nation will 
sink.

There are two issues that the Alkatiri government did not handle well. First, 
about the troops who were dismissed. Second, the matter about arming 
civilians. The two issues are linked. That's why the prime minister fell.

So far the negotiations on the Timor Gap were led by Alkatiri. If you become 
prime minister, who will take over that job? 

If I become prime minister, I will lead the negotiations myself. But 
negotiations with Australia ended and were signed on January 12, 2006. There is 
nothing more to be discussed with the Australian government. Further negotiations 
will only involve technical issues connected with companies that will carry out 
the exploration, particularly the pipelines, whether it will be Timor or 
Darwin, Australia. Even this is only for oil in Greater Sunrise. So, those 
negotiations with private oil companies are only technical and commercial details and 
no longer involve political or legal issues. 
(The January 12 agreement divided the Greater Sunrise revenues as 50:50 
percent. Previously, Australia got 82 percent and Timor Leste got 18 percent.-- Ed.)

What about the Bayu Undan oil fields? 

Bayu Undan has begun producing. That's why Timor now has a lot of money. If 
the Alkatiri government had listened to a small group of critics which was 
against the Bayu Undan agreement in 2002, we would not have gotten a cent.

But the people keep asking about that oil money. 

Actually in the Timor Sea Authority website, there's complete information 
about Bayu Undan's revenues. I don't exactly know the amount, but as of two 
months ago, more than US$600 million has been deposited with the Petroleum Fund 
(oil revenues saved in American and Singapore banks, the withdrawals of which 
require the President's and parliament's agreement). 

Does this indicate an achievement of the Alkatiri government? 

Correct. This is the government's achievement. And I was also involved in the 
Bayu Undan negotiations.

---------------------------------------

Tempo Magazine
No. 45/VI/
July 11 - 17, 2006 

ASEAN & Beyond 

Timor Leste: Crisis Over? 

Jose Ramos Horta is finally chosen to become Prime Minister of Timor Leste.
But the choice is marred by enmity with his former wife. 

THE puzzle over who would replace Mari Alkatiri as Timor Leste's Prime 
Minister has finally been answered. From the Presidential Palace in Kaikoli on the 
outskirts of Dili, on Saturday last week President Xanana Gusmao announced that 
former Foreign Affairs Minister and interim Defense Minister Jose Ramos Horta 
would be his replacement. Agriculture Minister Estanislau da Silva and Health 
Minister Rui Maria de Araujo will assist the Nobel Peace laureate in carrying 
out his duties. "They are expected to work hard to immediately overcome the 
crisis and bring Dili back to normal," said Xanana. 

This was the middle road taken by Xanana after holding meetings with 
Fretilin's leaders led by party chairperson Fransisco "Lu-Olo" Gutteres, since Friday 
last week. The three names are not new. Indeed Horta, da Silva and de Araujo 
had previously been mentioned as being included in the list put forward by 
Fretilin. Nevertheless, another name also emerged-Horta's former wife, Minister 
for State Administration Ana Pessoa. 

Earlier, the competition between the two camps within Fretilin over the 
candidate for prime minister was quite acrimonious, particularly between the reform 
camp and the Guterres-Alkatiri camp. Fretilin (Revolutionary Front for an 
Independent East Timor) championed Horta as the prime ministerial candidate even 
though the Guterres-Alkatiri group disagreed. 

It was already clear that the reform group within Fretilin was hoping that 
Xanana would not accept a candidate from the Alkatiri camp. As it turns out, the 
Alkatiri camp, which is known as the Mozambique Clique, had also selected a 
number of candidates. "The Mozambique Clique is a minority group, both within 
Fretilin as well as within the government, but it's very dominant," said 
Christopherus Henry Samson, the head of the anti-corruption non-government 
organization Lebeh. 

The Mozambique Clique put forward Ana to challenge Horta. Within the 
government, she occupies a very strategic position. She is the number two person who 
chairs the council of ministers' meetings, even though Senior Minister Ramos 
Horta still has authority. 

Ana was born in Timor Leste, her father was Portuguese and her mother a 
native Timorese. Her father took her to Portugal when she was still young. When 
Horta, Alkatiri and recently resigned Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato moved to 
Mozambique, Ana also moved there. It was there that she and Horta married and 
had one son. Ana then married her second husband who lived in Mozambique. The 
husband did not wish to join her in Timor even though his wife had become a 
minister. 

The woman of one grandchild returned to Timor Leste in July 2001 after being 
persuaded by Alkatiri to occupy the position of inspector-general. However 
when the First Transitional Cabinet led by Sergio Vieira de Melo was announced, 
she was moved to the position of Internal Affairs Minister. The replacement of 
this position was because of Alkatiri's success in influencing Xanana. It is 
not surprising therefore that Ana became the person most loyal to Alkatiri and 
the Mozambique Clique. 

Aside from Ana, another member of the Mozambique Clique is Minister of 
Planning & Finance, Madalena Boavida Brites. This minister is often dubbed 
Alkatiri's personal cashier because she frequently accompanies Alkatiri when he goes 
shopping, visiting the districts or on trips overseas. Even when the annual 
budget is submitted to and discussed in the parliament, Alkatiri is the one who 
elaborates on and answers parliamentary members' questions. 

Aleixo da Silva, who has now become Horta's deputy, is even included in the 
Mozambique Clique. A graduate of the Eduardo Manolaind University in 
Mozambique, after finishing his education he sought refuge in Australia. His father, 
Luis da Silva, a figure from the pro-Indonesia Apodeti Party, was the first 
Regent of Manatuto when East Timor was still under Indonesian control. His 
relationship with the Mozambique Clique has continued to be preserved as was 
demonstrated at the Fretilin Congress in Sydney, Australia, in early 1998, where he 
ensured the re-election of Lu-Olo and Alkatiri as the leaders of Fretilin. 

Secretary of State Gregorio Sousa is included in the Mozambique Clique 
because of his personal closeness to Alkatiri. Although only a junior minister, he 
is the one seen as being very close to Alkatiri. Upon arriving in Dili, 
Gregorio lived in the same house as Alkatiri. Even during this crisis he was the only 
one other than the family that stayed with Alkatiri. During his marriage 
ceremony three years ago, Alkatiri referred to him as one of the members of the 
Mozambique group. It was from this point that people first knew of the existence 
of this extremely dominant group. The emergence of Estanislau to assist Prime 
Minister Ramos Horta now also proves that this group certainly cannot be 
ignored. -- Ahmad Taufik, Salvador Ximenes Soares and Jose Sarito Amaral (Dili) 
 
---------------------------------------

Alkatiri plans return to parliament 
after arms investigation hearing

Dili, July 10 (Lusa) - Former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri plans to
re-occupy his seat in East Timor's parliament after facing questioning July
20 by magistrates investigating allegations he armed private militias during
the recent wave of violence, the legislature said Monday.

Parliament, in a press release, said Speaker Francisco Guterres had received
two letters from Alkatiri, one informing the legislature of his intention to
retake his seat after being heard by the magistrates and the other pledging
his cooperation with "the criminal process" opened against him.

The letters were read to the 88-seat chamber, where Alkatiri's FRETILIN
party has 55 lawmakers.

In comments to Lusa last week, Alkatiri, who resigned June 26, reaffirmed
his innocence in the affair, which includes allegations a "death squad" was
set up to eliminate political opponents, and said he would not use
parliamentary immunity to "sidestep justice".

A judicial source told Lusa Friday Alkatiri had been summoned to a hearing
on July 20 by the office of Attorney General Longuinhos Monteiro.

The hearing was initially set for June 30 but was postponed at Alkatiri's
request, a move he justified because he had not been able to retain a lawyer
from abroad in time.

He has retained Portuguese lawyer José António Barreiros as his counsel.

While Alkatiri has vehemently denied the allegations, which President Xanana
Gusmão referred to in demanding his resignation, they gained weight with the
indictment last month of former Interior Minister Rogério Lobato on four
charges, including "conspiracy and attempted revolution".

The key figure in the allegations, self-styled hit team leader Vicente da
Conceição Railos, was scheduled to turn over his 30-man team's weapons and
uniforms to the Attorney General Tuesday at a ceremony in Liquiça, a town 30
kilometers west of Dili.

Railos, an independence war veteran, has charged that Lobato armed and
instructed his men to kill opponents, both in and outside FRETILIN, on
orders from Alkatiri, instructions he said he did not carry out because he
considered them unjust.

------------------------------------------

The Jakarta Post
Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Op-Ed

Horta's agenda as new Timor Leste PM 

Damien Kingsbury, Melbourne

The appointment of Jose Ramos Horta as East Timor's interim prime minister is 
a move towards installing a unifying figure for a small nation that, for a 
moment, appeared to be in danger of fragmenting.

A fragmented nation, in this case, would have meant a failed state. 

East Timor became a nation in response to a common Indonesian enemy. But like 
most other post-colonial states, it has had to construct a national identity 
that no longer relies on uniting against an oppressor, but uniting towards 
common goals. 

Ramos Horta has the capacity to appeal across East Timor's political divide, 
and what was becoming a geographic divide. In particular, he will be able to 
support members of the ruling Fretilin party opposed to the leadership style of 
the former prime minister, Mari Alkatiri. Alkatiri is claiming parliamentary 
immunity from a charge of arming a hit squad, although this claim does not 
appear to be constitutionally supportable. 

As well as appealing to Fretilin's so-called "reformation group" and across 
party lines, Ramos Horta will bring the government closer to the highly popular 
president, Xanana Gusmao. Gusmao and Ramos Horta have a strong personal and 
political bond, and while the presidency remains largely ceremonial Gusmao has 
huge legitimacy among ordinary East Timorese. Ramos Horta, too, is widely 
popular, and the alliance of these two will strengthen and stabilize East Timor's 
political environment. 

Apart from the building trust and unity, Ramos Horta's first task will be to 
restore East Timor's security forces. The police will be retrained and 
probably restructured with international assistance. The future of the army, however, 
is in some doubt. 

Since its inception in 2002, East Timor's Defense Force has lacked purpose 
and been prone to political intrigues. It is too small for meaningful defense 
but still drains 8 per cent of East Timor's small budget. 

A retrained police could assume outstanding defense roles, such as sea 
boundary protection, as they already have border protection duties. However, still 
linked to the old resistance movement, the military is persuasive politically, 
and may survive. 

As prime minister, Ramos Horta is not likely to alter Fretilin's fiscally 
conservative policies. East Timor has so far operated with a balanced or surplus 
budget and without international loans, committing receipts from oil and gas 
revenue to a long-term fund and moving into modest economic growth. 

Rather than Alkatiri's highly centralized control of government spending, it 
will probably be more devolved to the districts, adding small stimulus to 
local economies. 

Beyond that, Ramos Horta will continue to push for a petrochemical processing 
plant for East Timor, as well as extending the leasing of oil and gas fields. 
Other policies, such as food self-sufficiency, will likely continue 
untouched. 

If there is a problem with Ramos-Horta's appointment, it is that there are 
some in Fretilin who remain unhappy with his role in Alkatiri's downfall. There 
is also the issue of the head of government not belonging to the majority 
party, which will affect Fretilin as it approaches next year's elections. 

Fretilin would no doubt prefer to enter elections under the leadership of one 
of its own members. To that end, Ramos Horta will have to clarify his own 
political ambitions. 

Ramos Horta will be weighing up three options. The first is to try to stay on 
as prime minister, the second to become president, and the third option is to 
bid to become secretary-general of the United Nations. 

To stay on as prime minister, Ramos Horta will have to rejoin Fretilin, the 
party he left a decade and a half ago, and will require renegotiating his 
relationship with some party members. Fretilin is still likely to draw a strong, 
probably majority, vote next year, given its institutional strength and depth of 
support, especially outside Dili. 

Ramos Horta would probably like to become president, but would not bid for 
that position unless his close political friend Gusmao fulfilled his 
long-standing wish to retire from public life. 

There had also been speculation that Ramos Horta could replace Kofi Annan as 
head of the UN, although to be available for this he would be better 
positioned by resuming being foreign minister. That will in turn depend on whether 
Ramos Horta's prime ministership is indeed interim, or whether the logic of his 
appointment is seen as too strong to end. 

Associate Professor Damien Kingsbury is director of international and 
community development at Deakin University. He is, with Michael Leach, editor of the 
forthcoming book East Timor: Beyond Independence (Monash Asia Institute). 

------------------------------------------

AFP, July 11, 2006

New Zealand police head to East Timor

A team of 25 New Zealand police have left for East Timor to bolster attempts 
to maintain order in the country, where more than 2,000 foreign peacekeepers 
are already on the ground.

The 18 men and seven women will work alongside the 167 New Zealand troops and 
other international police in the capital Dili. 

Police Assistant Commissioner Jon White said the officers would be in East 
Timor for three months. 

"Military resources were needed to stabilise the situation early on, but as 
we look to a potential UN mission being freshly mandated there's going to be a 
heavy emphasis on civilian policing," White said. 

Meanwhile a spokesman for Defence Minister Phil Goff said New Zealand had no 
plans to reduce the number of peacekeepers serving in East Timor.

He was commenting after Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said his 
country may soon consider reducing its presence in East Timor.

Downer said the installation of Jose Ramos-Horta as prime minister, who was 
sworn in on Monday, should have a calming influence on the country.

Goff and Prime Minister Helen Clark have previously said they expected New 
Zealand troops to be in East Timor until fresh elections due next year. 

A total of about 2,200 international peacekeepers, mostly from Australia, 
have been in East Timor since late May. They were called in to help quell unrest 
that left at least 21 people dead.

------------------------------------------
Joyo Indonesia News Service
------------------------------------------