Thursday, May 18, 2006
Petitioner's spokesperson and his own admission to his involvement in the illegal sandalwood trade...
The following article was printed on Suara Timor Lorosa'e but was never picked up by anyone else or any other media more seriously. It was originally published in tetum. Gastão Salsinha, the spokesperson for the F-FDTL petitioners admitted to being involved in an illegal sandalwood trade accross the Timor-Leste/Indonesia border. I don't doubt that he has used the issue of discrimination to cover up his own crimes. Instead, his action even led to even bigger crimes: many deaths, a hundred thousand people displaced, a nation on its knees...
Suara Timor Lorosa'e 17 May 2006
Hasegawa Met Salsinha
DILI – The special representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Timor-Leste, who is also the head of UNOTIL (United Nations Office in Timor-Leste), Sukehiro Hasegawa, came face to face with the spokesperson for Falintil-FDTL Petitioners, Lieutenant Gastão Salsinha in the District of Ermera. The closed meeting was attended by former Region IV Commander, Ernesto Fernandes "Dudu".
During the meeting Hasegawa and Salsinha covered a number of topics relating to the issues of discrimination within F-FDTL, the 28th of April incidence and the government initiated investigation commission led by Ana Pessoa Pinto.
With respect to the investigation team, Salsinha appealed to Hasegawa to involve international investigations team as well as international forces to disarm the civilians and the military. According to Salsinha, the investigation team headed by Ana Pessoa would only bear fruit if it involved an international investigation team and the international forces.
"The mission of this investigation team will be successful if an international investigation team and the international forces are involved. The international force is needed to disarm civilians bearing them and the Timor-Leste military" Salsinha said. He added that prior to this commission beginning its investigation, disarmament should be carried out first.
In answering this demand, Hasegawa explained that an investigation team from Geneva (Switzerland) will be involved in the investigation, however this team won't be in Timor-Leste for another month. Hasegawa also promised that he would forward Salsinha's demands to President Xanana Gusmão.
Salsinha said "In order for the commission to go ahead, disarmament of the F-FDTL and civilians in possession of firearms needed to be carried out first, and this is not for us because we don't have any firearms. We also appeal to the President, (he) must use his powers as the Supreme Commander to carry out disarmament. If not, when the investigation takes place, some people would open fire."
According to Salsinha "(If) disarmament is difficult to be accomplished, then the firearms can all be stored at the F-FDTL General Headquarter in Metinaro, but it should be overseen by an international official until the problem is solved. We also appeal to the United National, specially the security (forces), because this is very important for this new nation and to the people. Since F-FDTL, which the people looked up to as the wall for this nation no longer has the trust of the people, then what else?"
On the issue of disarming firearms from civilians and the military, Hasegawa said that he will consider it. Salsinha noted that the investigation commission is already too late because it was formed at the end of the demonstration. "We are apprehensive about this investigation team" he said.
"If the investigation commission functioned within the four days which the petitioners did their demonstration to do their investigations, it would have been good. But setting up the commission after the demonstration, this we don't accept" he added. The action on the 28th of April, according to Salsinha, the government in fact gave orders to the military to kill people. Because of this the government is a suspect in the incident of the 28th of April.
On another issue, Hasegawa asked Salsinha about the chronology of the events of the 28th of April because at that moment he was in New York, US. Salsinha explained the events as stemming from the name calling of lorosae-loromonu. The lorosae people thought of themselves as having contributed more to the struggle for independence than the loromonu, who only enjoyed the results. "The issue of regionalism began to come up in Aileu since 2001," he said.
Hasegawa said that the Commander in Chief of F-FDTL, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak wanted to resolve the issue and asked about Salsinha's involvement in the illegal smuggling of sandalwood to the border.
Salsinha admitted to his involvement in the illegal business of sandalwood (smuggling). However, everything had been the work of some sections which wanted to trap him. He mentioned three names which set him a trap to make him involved in the illegal sandalwood trade. These people did the negotiations with the civilians. He only received a payment from the three people.
"(His involvement in the) illegal sandalwood trade went on for one month," he said. He added that the issue of the illegal sandalwood trade was not reported to Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak because he was confident that the issue would not be brought forward.
During the meeting, Hasegawa also touched on the issue of the involvement of martial arts groups in the demonstration. However Salsinha rejected it because the people who were involved in the demonstration were sympathisers and supporters of the petitioners. "If anyone said that Kolimau 2000 was involved in the demonstration, they must show the proofs," Salsinha said.
At the end of the meeting, Salsinha told the reporter for this newspaper that the accusations that his group received firearms from a particular group to attack Dili are not true.
"It is not true. Since the beginning, our aim was not to destroy, but to resolve the issue of discrimination within F-FDTL. We, the petitioner soldiers do not have firearms. Therefore we do not have any plans to attack Dili. How can we, empty handed, face those people who have weapons," Salsinha said.
On the question that there is a political party behind the petitioner soldiers, Salsinha rejected the accusation vehemently. "If there is a will to resolve these problems, do not create more problems. These types of accusations actually would also add to the problems," he said. *Ananias Horta/Santino M.
Suara Timor Lorosa'e 17 May 2006
Hasegawa Met Salsinha
DILI – The special representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Timor-Leste, who is also the head of UNOTIL (United Nations Office in Timor-Leste), Sukehiro Hasegawa, came face to face with the spokesperson for Falintil-FDTL Petitioners, Lieutenant Gastão Salsinha in the District of Ermera. The closed meeting was attended by former Region IV Commander, Ernesto Fernandes "Dudu".
During the meeting Hasegawa and Salsinha covered a number of topics relating to the issues of discrimination within F-FDTL, the 28th of April incidence and the government initiated investigation commission led by Ana Pessoa Pinto.
With respect to the investigation team, Salsinha appealed to Hasegawa to involve international investigations team as well as international forces to disarm the civilians and the military. According to Salsinha, the investigation team headed by Ana Pessoa would only bear fruit if it involved an international investigation team and the international forces.
"The mission of this investigation team will be successful if an international investigation team and the international forces are involved. The international force is needed to disarm civilians bearing them and the Timor-Leste military" Salsinha said. He added that prior to this commission beginning its investigation, disarmament should be carried out first.
In answering this demand, Hasegawa explained that an investigation team from Geneva (Switzerland) will be involved in the investigation, however this team won't be in Timor-Leste for another month. Hasegawa also promised that he would forward Salsinha's demands to President Xanana Gusmão.
Salsinha said "In order for the commission to go ahead, disarmament of the F-FDTL and civilians in possession of firearms needed to be carried out first, and this is not for us because we don't have any firearms. We also appeal to the President, (he) must use his powers as the Supreme Commander to carry out disarmament. If not, when the investigation takes place, some people would open fire."
According to Salsinha "(If) disarmament is difficult to be accomplished, then the firearms can all be stored at the F-FDTL General Headquarter in Metinaro, but it should be overseen by an international official until the problem is solved. We also appeal to the United National, specially the security (forces), because this is very important for this new nation and to the people. Since F-FDTL, which the people looked up to as the wall for this nation no longer has the trust of the people, then what else?"
On the issue of disarming firearms from civilians and the military, Hasegawa said that he will consider it. Salsinha noted that the investigation commission is already too late because it was formed at the end of the demonstration. "We are apprehensive about this investigation team" he said.
"If the investigation commission functioned within the four days which the petitioners did their demonstration to do their investigations, it would have been good. But setting up the commission after the demonstration, this we don't accept" he added. The action on the 28th of April, according to Salsinha, the government in fact gave orders to the military to kill people. Because of this the government is a suspect in the incident of the 28th of April.
On another issue, Hasegawa asked Salsinha about the chronology of the events of the 28th of April because at that moment he was in New York, US. Salsinha explained the events as stemming from the name calling of lorosae-loromonu. The lorosae people thought of themselves as having contributed more to the struggle for independence than the loromonu, who only enjoyed the results. "The issue of regionalism began to come up in Aileu since 2001," he said.
Hasegawa said that the Commander in Chief of F-FDTL, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak wanted to resolve the issue and asked about Salsinha's involvement in the illegal smuggling of sandalwood to the border.
Salsinha admitted to his involvement in the illegal business of sandalwood (smuggling). However, everything had been the work of some sections which wanted to trap him. He mentioned three names which set him a trap to make him involved in the illegal sandalwood trade. These people did the negotiations with the civilians. He only received a payment from the three people.
"(His involvement in the) illegal sandalwood trade went on for one month," he said. He added that the issue of the illegal sandalwood trade was not reported to Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak because he was confident that the issue would not be brought forward.
During the meeting, Hasegawa also touched on the issue of the involvement of martial arts groups in the demonstration. However Salsinha rejected it because the people who were involved in the demonstration were sympathisers and supporters of the petitioners. "If anyone said that Kolimau 2000 was involved in the demonstration, they must show the proofs," Salsinha said.
At the end of the meeting, Salsinha told the reporter for this newspaper that the accusations that his group received firearms from a particular group to attack Dili are not true.
"It is not true. Since the beginning, our aim was not to destroy, but to resolve the issue of discrimination within F-FDTL. We, the petitioner soldiers do not have firearms. Therefore we do not have any plans to attack Dili. How can we, empty handed, face those people who have weapons," Salsinha said.
On the question that there is a political party behind the petitioner soldiers, Salsinha rejected the accusation vehemently. "If there is a will to resolve these problems, do not create more problems. These types of accusations actually would also add to the problems," he said. *Ananias Horta/Santino M.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Accusations against Gastão Salsinha and his involvement in the illegal sandalwood trade...
According to F-FDTL sources cited by Lusa, leutanent Gastão Salsinha was selected to participate in the officer's course for the F-FDTL by the Portuguese military and was about to travel to Portugal. However the promotion and the visit to Portugal were suspended because Salsinha was "caught by the police on 2nd of April 2005 and accused of smuggling sandalwood," one of TL's protected plant especies. But Matan Ruak reversed slightly from this decision (re the promotion) requesting further clarification and more evidence, extendding the term of the investigation. But the investigation was never concluded because the soldiers went AWOL. The original Lusa article was titled "Timor-Leste:Governo oferece iniciativas de reinserção a militares contestatários"
Timor-Leste: Government offers reintegration initiatives for contesting soldiers
Lisbon, 09 May 2006 (Lusa) – The East Timorese executive is developing a reintegration program for the hundreds of contesting soldiers, some of whom have concentrated in Aileu, a senior official of Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) said.
The source explained that the program of reintegration covers financial assistance, including subsidies and eventual payment of salaries for the last months – of which the soldiers do not have the right to for having deserted their barracks in the beginning of February.
"There are many soldiers who have accepted this assistance and have returned to their regions. The government is exploring ways to create the conditions so that they can be reintegrated, find jobs in the districts or even working overseas", the East Timorese official said.
The political and security tension in Timor-Leste deteriorated in the last few days following a demonstration by around 600 contesting soldiers which ended with confrontations with the police of which resulted in the deaths of five people and tens of people injured, according to official figures.
In an attempt to contribute to resolving the crises, the commander of the F-FDTL has developed a "tripartite" effort which, according to the military source contacted by Lusa by phone, intends to restore calm within the population and avoid violence.
"We are trying to explain the situation and appeal for calm to the people, appeal to groups not to use violence and to cooperate fully with the investigation commission", the source said.
"This is the only viable form to resolve the problem, to avoid resorting to other means which will not serve any East Timorese", he considered.
In an interview this week on TVTL, the commander of F-FDTL, Taur Matan Ruak, reiterated the necessity to protect Timor-Leste's young independence, consolidating the democratic institutions and to find ways to commit only on the "popular legitimisation" as the way for political change.
In the interview, Matan Ruak considered that the tension which faces Timor-Leste currently emerged out of "a problem of indiscipline which assumed political dimensions", visible in the fact of the soldiers having passed from their grievances on the alleged discrimination within F-FDTL to the demand for the fall of the government.
An F-FDTL official confirmed today that between the contesting soldiers, only one of them joined the Falintil during the 24 years of struggle against the Indonesian occupation.
The same source also revealed that the spokesperson for the petitioners, Lieutenant Salsinha, was awarded second place in the official's course organised for members of the F-FDTL by Portuguese military. He had been selected for a trip to Portugal.
Meanwhile, he added, the promotion and the visit to Portugal were suspended after Salsinha was "caught by the police on the 2nd of April 2005 and accused of taking part in the sandalwood traffic", one the protected Timorese species of timber.
Later, Taur Matan Ruak retracted lightly in his decision sending another dispatch which sought clarification of the evidence, extending the term of the investigations which were never concluded due the desertion of the soldiers.
Responding to the grievance of discrimination put forward by the contesting soldiers as the main motive of their protests, the F-FDTL official guaranteed that the commander of the armed forces have already gathered the data for the official Investigation Commision which "confirm that there is no discrimination in promotions".
"We have officials who come from almost every district and we explained, with a detailed database, what are the motives and why they were selected and how", he referred, excusing himself from providing more information.
Albeit, he also confirmed that all of the contesting soldiers come from the districts to the west of Manatuto.
The current tension in Timor-Leste originated from a movement which emerged in February and involved around 600 contesting soldiers, who were sacked by the army with the support of the government, whom allege themselves to be victims of "discriminatory acts" by their commanders.
The situation deteriorated in the end of April, after the contesting soldiers became involved in confrontations with the Police in Dili during a demonstration in the capital, an incident which resulted in five people dead and tens of people wounded, according to official figures.
In the last few weeks, the tensions provoked an exodus by the capital city's population to the surrounding mountains, a number estimated by the UN to be over 70 percent of Dili's population, or around 90 thousand people.
ASP.
Lusa/end
Timor-Leste: Government offers reintegration initiatives for contesting soldiers
Lisbon, 09 May 2006 (Lusa) – The East Timorese executive is developing a reintegration program for the hundreds of contesting soldiers, some of whom have concentrated in Aileu, a senior official of Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) said.
The source explained that the program of reintegration covers financial assistance, including subsidies and eventual payment of salaries for the last months – of which the soldiers do not have the right to for having deserted their barracks in the beginning of February.
"There are many soldiers who have accepted this assistance and have returned to their regions. The government is exploring ways to create the conditions so that they can be reintegrated, find jobs in the districts or even working overseas", the East Timorese official said.
The political and security tension in Timor-Leste deteriorated in the last few days following a demonstration by around 600 contesting soldiers which ended with confrontations with the police of which resulted in the deaths of five people and tens of people injured, according to official figures.
In an attempt to contribute to resolving the crises, the commander of the F-FDTL has developed a "tripartite" effort which, according to the military source contacted by Lusa by phone, intends to restore calm within the population and avoid violence.
"We are trying to explain the situation and appeal for calm to the people, appeal to groups not to use violence and to cooperate fully with the investigation commission", the source said.
"This is the only viable form to resolve the problem, to avoid resorting to other means which will not serve any East Timorese", he considered.
In an interview this week on TVTL, the commander of F-FDTL, Taur Matan Ruak, reiterated the necessity to protect Timor-Leste's young independence, consolidating the democratic institutions and to find ways to commit only on the "popular legitimisation" as the way for political change.
In the interview, Matan Ruak considered that the tension which faces Timor-Leste currently emerged out of "a problem of indiscipline which assumed political dimensions", visible in the fact of the soldiers having passed from their grievances on the alleged discrimination within F-FDTL to the demand for the fall of the government.
An F-FDTL official confirmed today that between the contesting soldiers, only one of them joined the Falintil during the 24 years of struggle against the Indonesian occupation.
The same source also revealed that the spokesperson for the petitioners, Lieutenant Salsinha, was awarded second place in the official's course organised for members of the F-FDTL by Portuguese military. He had been selected for a trip to Portugal.
Meanwhile, he added, the promotion and the visit to Portugal were suspended after Salsinha was "caught by the police on the 2nd of April 2005 and accused of taking part in the sandalwood traffic", one the protected Timorese species of timber.
Later, Taur Matan Ruak retracted lightly in his decision sending another dispatch which sought clarification of the evidence, extending the term of the investigations which were never concluded due the desertion of the soldiers.
Responding to the grievance of discrimination put forward by the contesting soldiers as the main motive of their protests, the F-FDTL official guaranteed that the commander of the armed forces have already gathered the data for the official Investigation Commision which "confirm that there is no discrimination in promotions".
"We have officials who come from almost every district and we explained, with a detailed database, what are the motives and why they were selected and how", he referred, excusing himself from providing more information.
Albeit, he also confirmed that all of the contesting soldiers come from the districts to the west of Manatuto.
The current tension in Timor-Leste originated from a movement which emerged in February and involved around 600 contesting soldiers, who were sacked by the army with the support of the government, whom allege themselves to be victims of "discriminatory acts" by their commanders.
The situation deteriorated in the end of April, after the contesting soldiers became involved in confrontations with the Police in Dili during a demonstration in the capital, an incident which resulted in five people dead and tens of people wounded, according to official figures.
In the last few weeks, the tensions provoked an exodus by the capital city's population to the surrounding mountains, a number estimated by the UN to be over 70 percent of Dili's population, or around 90 thousand people.
ASP.
Lusa/end
