IPS
Slow Progress for Corruption Watchdog
Friday, April 2nd, 2010DILI, Oct 10, 2009 (IPS) – A lack of political will to tackle corruption in East Timor is holding the country back, said Sebastiao Ximenes, East Timor’s Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice.
“What all people expect is that our leaders must have a good political will to fight corruption, but even if we have good [...]
‘The Quality of Women Is Very Important’
Friday, April 2nd, 2010DILI, Sep 22 , 2009 (IPS) – For more than seven years, the men and women of East Timor have been working to rebuild their nation after a destructive 24-year occupation by the Indonesian army.
The country of more than one million people – which became an independent nation in May 2002 – put back the [...]
‘No Resolution in Sight on Issue of Justice’
Friday, April 2nd, 2010DILI, September 1, 2009 (IPS) — Ten years since its people voted 78.5 percent in favour of independence, how has East Timor fared?
Although currently at peace, there is still much work to be done in the nation, said Mari Alkatiri, the first prime minister of independent East Timor, as he reflected on his country’s current state [...]
Solidarity Activists Press for Justice
Friday, April 2nd, 2010DILI (IPS August 28, 2009) – After three years behind bars as a political prisoner in Indonesia, British human rights campaigner Carmel Budiardjo saw firsthand the viciousness of former President Suharto’s military dictatorship. Expelled from the country in 1971, Budiardjo knew there would be suffering when the Indonesian military invaded East Timor in 1975.
In this [...]
Tackling Corruption Head On
Friday, April 2nd, 2010DILI, Aug 13, 2009 (IPS) – After a string of corruption allegations were levelled against Xanana Gusmao’s coalition government, a civil society organization in East Timor Thursday launched an anti-corruption campaign it says will help tackle East Timor’s endemic corruption head on.
The National Campaign Against Corruption, spearheaded by non-governmental organization Lalenok Ba Ema Hotu (LABEH), [...]
Women Learn the Political Ropes
Friday, April 2nd, 2010DILI, Jul 27, 2009 (IPS) – Like many women in East Timor, 34-year-old Mariquita Soares joined the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN) party during the nation’s 24-year resistance struggle against Indonesian occupation from 1975 to 1999.
Today, she is proud not only of her involvement in the fight for independence, but of her [...]
Politics — Women Take the Plunge
Friday, April 2nd, 2010DILI, Jul 8, 2009 (IPS) – Women in East Timor are being wooed to participate in the local council elections, likely to be held in September.
“I hope there will be more women participating. This is one of the rights of women now,” says Paulina Lemos, 29, who intends to run in the suco (village) level [...]
Disabled Athletes Shine With Pride
Friday, April 2nd, 2010DILI, Jul 6, 2009 (IPS) – Getting around isn’t easy for Jose Noronha. With minimal use of his legs, he has opted for a red wheelchair-bicycle hybrid that he pedals with his hands, a common sight in Dili, East Timor’s capital.
In a small field with patches of grass and mounds of sand, he is out [...]
Prime Minister Embroiled in Contract Scandal
Friday, April 2nd, 2010DILI, EAST TIMOR, Jul 2, 2009 (IPS) – Pressure to resign is mounting on East Timor’s Prime Minster, Xanana Gusamo, amid claims that he misused authority when he signed-off on a multi-million dollar government contract last year to a company his daughter has ties with.
Fernanda Borges, leader of the opposition National Unity Party, has demanded [...]
UN Helps to Mitigate Disaster Risk
Friday, April 2nd, 2010DILI, Jun 24, 2009 (IPS) – Disasters happen regularly in East Timor, but until now, the institutions called on to deal with them have struggled to effectively react to seasonal events that impact thousands of Timorese lives every year.
“We are yet to be truly prepared to act together as one to plan for the consequences [...]