Venidora Oliveira – There are calls for the Indonesian government to take serious action to locate thousands of Timorese people that went missing between 1975 and 1999.
National MP Arao Noe de Jesus Amaral said to date the Indonesian government had made no commitment to work with Timor-Leste to find out what happened to the missing Timorese people at that time.
Venidora Oliveira – The government plans to reform its fiscal policy by introducing a value-added tax (VAT) in order to increase the country's revenue streams and reduce dependence on oil funds.
"We will use the VAT by asking the companies or industries to pay taxes and to increase the country's revenues," said Deputy Minister of Finance Helder Lopes.
Tim McDonald, East Timor – On the road that goes from East Timor's capital of Dili to Suai, on the Island's south, there's a cross by the roadside. It commemorates Jakarta Dua, or Second Jakarta.
Tim McDonald, Suai, East Timor – Near Suai on East Timor's south coast, a rusty old oil pump sits near a beach, some mangroves and the ruins of an old prison from the Portuguese era. It's not good for much, but it hints at the country's oil and gas wealth potential.
Timor-Leste (East Timor) within the next three years will have a modern port in Tibar bay, 12 kilometres from the capital, Dili, according to a contract signed this week with Bollore Ports, according to a statement obtained by Macauhub.
By Max Lane
Executive summary
Emma Fulu Freelance – A recent study conducted by The Asia Foundation found that 3 in 5 ever-partnered women aged 15 to 49 in Timor-Leste had experienced physical or sexual violence by a husband or boyfriend in their lifetime.
A large Burger King conspicuously located in front of a plaza in the East Timor capital drew the attention, at least momentarily, of local and foreign investors arriving in the plaza's lobby to attend an international investment conference.
Cars were parked in front of the restaurant. Inside, young people stood in line, waiting for their turn to place orders.
Paulina Quintao – The Women's Association of Manatuto Municipality (WAMM) has bought female entrepreneurs and employees together to help provide ongoing practical assistance to vulnerable families and women in rural areas in Manatuto municipality.
Venidora Oliveira – It is claimed the government spent more than $44 million on the construction of the Ministry of Finance building, which so far remains empty and unused.
Paulina Quintao – The National of Parliament has approved consumer protection law that allow for complaints against shop owners if the goods bought were of poor quality.
National MP Jorge da Conceicao Teme said the law was necessary as 99% of goods and materials in Timor-Leste were imported.
Grace Phan – The words spoken by President Barack Obama in Hanoi, Vietnam in May resonated loudly with the people of Timor-Leste. The president reminded all that "Nations are sovereign, and no matter how large or small a nation may be, its sovereignty should be respected, and its territory should not be violated. Big nations should not bully smaller ones."
Paulina Quintao – The Secretariat of State for Vocational Training Policy and Employment (SEPFOPE) is currently working together with the Timor-Leste Industry Commerce Chamber to conduct reseach on the price of basic necessities in the market as part of a review of the country's minimum wage.
Venidora Oliveira – Many MPs routinely break the parliamentary regulations by coming late, failing to sign in and not attending plenary sessions, the Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP) said.
JSMP found there was often a high number of MPs absent without justification and some also failed to sign their timesheet as required.
Paulina Quintao – The Indonesian Government has agreed to pay about 3,000 former Timorese civil servants who worked during the occupation and are still owed money for benefits. The names were left off the list for payment despite having the correct documentation.
Galuh Wandita, Jakarta – "See this scar? I did that!" Peals of laughter and bright smiles erupt as Rosa's brother touches her forehead gently, brushing an almost invisible scar. He reaches for her earlobe, "Our mother made that earring hole in her ear; she cried."
Tama Salim, Dili – Just 14 years into independence, Timor Leste has secured membership of a number of international forums, declaring its intent to catch up with the rest of the developing world.
Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara – The Democratic Republic of Timor Leste will become a member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2017, the Indonesian Ambassador to ASEAN, Rahmat Pramono, said here on Tuesday.
Tama Salim, Dili – "I want to hug and kiss my mother," said Muhammad Yaqub, born Manuel da Costa, shortly before traveling home to Timor Leste after 25 years of living in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.
Geoffrey Swenson – In Timor-Leste, a peaceful transition of power is ironically threatening to undermine democracy. The small half-island has been a rare post-conflict state-building success story since achieving independence in 2002 and become a model for UN-led state-building.
Jakarta – Indonesia and Timor Leste forged a closer relationship on Monday with the latter awarding medals of honor to hundreds of Indonesian Military members serving in Dili where they provided medical assistance to local people and military personnel between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2 this year.
Tama Salim and Anggi M. Lubis, Dili/Jakarta – Timor Leste remains upbeat about negotiations on outstanding border issues with Indonesia, as the two governments continue to build on previous commitments to expedite the process.
Nelson Da Cruz, Dili, Timor Leste – Timor Leste President Taur Matan Ruak says the return of 14 Timorese people who were removed to Indonesia during the former country's war of independence marks the improving relations between the two countries since their separation in 2002.
Paulina Quintao – Research of non-communicable disease conducted by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the national university UNTL in 2014 shows that 1.5% of people in Timor-Leste suffer from diabetes.
Health Minister Maria do Ceu Sarmento Pina da Costa said the research was carried out due to rising mortality rates from non-communicable diseases.
Thomas Ora, Dili – The church in Timor-Leste honored long-married couples on Pentecost Sunday with a reminder that strong Christian families are built upon prayer, good communication, fidelity and love, not through verbal or physical abuse.
Kathleen Noonan – In a waterfront restaurant on a still-warm autumn night near the Brisbane River, it seems almost ridiculous to be hearing about something as appalling as this.
The woman standing in the middle of the room has been asked about the education of girls in her beloved country and she says, matter-of-factly, most finish school when they start menstruating.
Paulina Quintao – A Ministry of Agriculture program offering free field plowing to farmers has been labeled as useless due to the lack of food production.
Paulina Quintao – The government has been criticized for failing to properly control communities building permanent homes on state-owned land and for issuing warning notifications too late.
Paulina Quintao – The increase in domestic violence cases has been linked to rising levels of polygamy and infidelity in the country.
The Coordinator of Psychosocial Recovery and Development East Timor (PRADET), Luisa Marcal, said data showed that domestic violence was linked to polygamy rather than financial stresses.
Venidora Oliveira – Members of the national police force (PNTL) are receiving training to help them better protect and recognize the presence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities across the country.
Venidora Oliveira – Timor-Leste's National Parliament has approved a law limiting the power of the President to grant clemency to those convicted of corruption.
Paulina Quintao – There are concerns that the country's farmers are losing their passion for agricultural work and that production is now in serious decline.
The General Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), Cesar Jose da Cruz, said that although the government provided equipment, farmers were often reluctant to expand their operations.
Paulina Quintao– Ongoing drought conditions are to blame for food shortages and crop failures this year, particularly maize, according to the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), Marcos da Cruz.
He said many people were experiencing food shortages as there had been no maize production this year.
Cristian Talesco – Five years since submitting its formal membership application to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the small Pacific country of East Timor is more determined than ever to join.
It's one of the more disgraceful, and criminally underreported, examples of the current government's war on whistleblowers (and one entirely supported by Labor): the harassment of Witness K, the former ASIS agent who revealed ASIS' illegal bugging of the East Timorese government in 2004 for the benefit of Australian resources companies.
On April 22, 2016, several global media groups wrote a letter to Timor Leste Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo, urging him to withdraw the defamation case he filed against two local journalists. A week later, Araujo responded, defending his decision to pursue a case against the reporters.
The foreign affairs department says potentially reopening border negotiations with East Timor could draw Indonesia into the fray.
Federal Labor has pledged to reopen good-faith negotiations with East Timor over a disputed maritime boundary if it wins government. The move could have implications for the carve up of oil or gas reserves.
Anton Hermansyah – Indonesia and Timor Leste have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in developing human resources for the industrial sector in the two countries.
Paulina Quintao – In the 16 years since the Seeds of Life (SoL) program has been runing, 1200 seed production groups have been established across Timor-Leste.
Paulina Quintao – The numbers of domestic violence victims accessing formal justice has increased since last year, according to Psychosocial Recovery and Development in Timor-Leste (PRADET).
Paulina Quintao – The committee for the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has called on the Timorese government to modify its draft law on human trafficking.
Paulina Quintao – Despite high participation rates, there continues to be lack of promotion around women in sport, according to the Coordinator of the Commission for Women in Sport, Filomena Reis.
She said women in Timor-Leste were involved in 24 different sports, including badminton, volleyball, basketball, marathon, karate and taekwondo.
Lyndal Rowlands, United Nations – High-level defamation, libel and sedition cases in Asian countries are sending signals to journalists that writing critical journalism can cost millions of dollars or years in prison.
Paulina Quintao – Increasing numbers of young people are turning their back on farming in favor of a job in the city, said the General-Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Cesar Jose da Cruz.
Thomas Ora, Dili – The current daily minimum wage in Timor-Leste is outdated and needs to be raised, a top church official says.
Tom Allard – Australia's bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council is under threat due to its refusal to negotiate directly with East Timor over the disputed maritime boundary, the former president of the fledgling state, Xanana Gusmao, says.
Mark Skulley – Former East Timor leader Xanana Gusmao is a softly-spoken man, but is firm when it comes to talking about Australian prime ministers, past and present.
After starting out as a resistance commander against Indonesia, Gusmao became the first president of the independent Timor-Leste and then served as prime minister for about eight years until 2015.
If the Australian Government fails to appoint delegates on Monday for the 'compulsory conciliation' initiated by East Timor, then the UN's Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, will step in to appoint delegates on its behalf.
Yohanes Seo, Kupang – Indonesia and Timor Leste signed a memorandum of understanding covering cooperation on preventing HIV infection in both countries. The MoU signing was conducted at the National AIDS Mitigation Commission (KPAN) in Jakarta on Thursday, April 28, 2016.
Sydney (The Australian/Pacific Media Watch) – Timor-Leste Prime Minister Rui de Araujo has lashed out at Western critics, saying their nations had "acquiesced" to the 24 years of Indonesian occupation.
Dr de Araujo responded to a letter from four press freedom groups condemning his defamation action against two journalists, and the related criminal sanctions in Timor's penal code.