Sara Everingham – The President of East Timor says it is embarrassing for Australia that Northern Territory police took five years to test remains believed to be those of the country's first prime minister, Nicolau Lobato.

The remains were sent in 2004 but were not tested until recently and the results were inconclusive. Northern Territory police say they will transfer the remains to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine for further testing.

East Timor's President, Jose Ramos-Horta, has told Fairfax newspapers it is puzzling to him and embarrassing for Australia that it took five years to test the bones.

An East Timor activist says Northern Territory police have not given enough importance to the testing of remains. Gregorio Saldana, who helps families identify the remains of people who went missing during the Indonesian occupation, says the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine will do a better job.

"The police in 2003 or [2004] took remains to laboratory but they didn't give enough importance," he said.

He says it is important for East Timorese to know if the remains belong to the country's national hero.

"I want to say that to the police and whoever including in the process they can support and can facilitate to identify the remains because it is important for our country for our leader our first Prime Minister and second President Nicolau Lobato."

Northern Territory police say a number of factors have delayed the process of testing the bone samples. Police say they only have male DNA samples and female samples are also likely to be required.