Gun Tax?

Read the attached very carefully - you will find that the Government has slid in an excise for importing weapons and munitions into Timor-Leste. Is it legal yet for civilians/non government or PNTL / FDTL to import weapons and munitions into the country.

As advertised in the national newspapers a couple of days ago

Malaysia and Dili – DEFENCE MOU

Malaysia and Timor dance in an ever closing circle.

First it was an Alkatiri brother being appointed to be Ambassador to Malyasia.

Then it was Malaysian assistance to train the now disgraced Police Reserve Unit / Unido Reserva Patrulhomento (URP). Once upon a time ago the Rapid Response Unit (RDS). The brain child of the Rasputin of UNMISET. An Indian chap who comes and goes from Dili.

Not much longer after that on 21 May 2004 Malaysia delivered 200 HK 33s for the UPR for free. See what happened to them at http://thediliinsider.blogspot.com/2008/05/hk33s-end-of-long-and-winding-road.html

Then in 2005 Malaysi gave FFDTL 32 Handalan military trucks. You know then ones… that nearly kill once in a while you if you drive Dili streets. These trucks provided via DRB-DEFTECH, one o South East Asia’s largest military equipment manufacturers.

DEFTECH have a yard in Dili. Delta Comoro…

Since at least 2005 Timorese defence types are feted at the big Malaysian defence Lankawai Arms Fair every year. In which DEFTECH is a major participant.

The don’t forget that PETROTIL, the soon to be unveiled Timorese State Oil Company is sort of modelled after Petronas – which is angling in on pipeline type stuff in Dili.

Oh yes who came in 2006 alongside Australian lead JTF 631 intervention force. A fair number of Malaysian soldiers.

Then lets not forget the Malaysian Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) being tested in Timor-Leste in July 2008.

Maybe something to do with the DEFTECH / Malaysia MOU with Timor-Leste signed in 21 April 2008 around the time of the Langkawi Arms bazaar....

There also a retired Malaysian LTC in UNMIT defence circles in Dili as well.

Rice and Patronage

http://wikileaks.org/wiki/East_Timor_Prime_Minister_Xanana_Gusmao_trebles_rice_contract_with_party_VP_to_%2414_million_2008

Ai Kamelli: The Ancient Riches of - Powerful People - Oops Timor!

This is an old tale dating from 2005. Before the oil money came along all there was was what quiuck cash was Sandalwood. Just ask Elle Sette and Rogerio Lobato. But this tale is not of them. It is an odd one. Where cashier seems to close the till on his own fingers.

It is about one Pedro Lay. A battery dealer (now Minister of Infrastructure - or are their two Pedro Lays?

It is also about the former Prime Minister, Minister of Agricultura and now FRETILIN Deputado.

Our friend and former top civil servant in the Veterans Office, Bonifacio Magno also seems to have made some money. If of course any of this is true....

Xanana and Mugabe: Shop in the same Places?

What do Xanana and Mugabe seem to have in common?

The both apparently buy military equipment from a Chinese company called Poly Technology. Unless of course there could be two Poly Technology in China. This is possible guess. It is big place. But Timor-Leste is such a small place.

Public officials spending public money.

I wonder where the 28 million is going to come from? Surely not the Petroleum Fund. What the budget... for anyway?

TL needs to control its waters - but at the expense of the FUND? And owing China big?

Any chance there are kick backs back handers osan foer on this? just email thediliinsider@gmail.com if you have some info

UNMIT Media Review 15 April 2008

Government to buy warships – The State Secretary for Defence, Julio Thomas Pinto, said the Government has decided to buy warships for the F-FDTL Navy to control illegal fishing activities in the coastal area of Timor-Leste. "The Government through the department of Defence has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a Chinese company, Poly Technology, to start ship construction for F-FDTL," said Mr. Pinto after signing the MOU on Saturday (12/4) in the Government Palace, Dili. Mr. Pinto also said that the construction will be started next month and will finish in the following year. "Once the MOU is implemented, 30 F-FDTL members will receive training from Chinese shipping companies in China," added Mr. Pinto. The Government recently allocated $28 million to buy the two ships. The warships will be used to control the marine resources. (STL)


http://tl-dailymedia.blogspot.com/2008/04/government-will-buy-two-warships-for-f.html

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23547135-31477,00.html

Proposta de Lei No. 9/II/2008 de Lei Das Armas

So they want the PNTL Chief of Police to give guns to civilians. Didn't we think this was a bad idea in 2006? Read the offending article - No. 4. Seems it did not make it in. But hmm, silly, or good. Odd.

Vice Ministra Saude

This is a letter written by Joao Caldas Chief of Staff for the Vice Minister for Health to the Sec State Security and the Chief of Police. It states that after allegations of corruption made against the Vice Minster in the National Parliament on 9 June that she started getting SMS threats. The letter asking for "detection" of the numbers and increased personal security. The alleged content of the SMS messages is of interest. Interesting company names in the allegations 1) Kimia Farma 2) Sambe Farma and Rois 2. Rois 2 is very interesting as it hints at some irregularities with solar cells in the Ministry. Have a close read. While it may say nothing it intimates alot.

Public Office Holders and Public Money.

100 000 Hectares over a 100 Years. Mariano and GTLESTE Biotech

So in January 2008 the Ministry of Agriculture signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a certain GTLESTE Biotech to develop agribusiness opportunities, and biofuel/sugar cane in particular in Timor Leste.

Sounds like a good idea.

But the concession is potentially for 12% of the entire country and no one has appeared to ask anyone anything?

Sounds like a bad idea.

The public knows the Minister of Agriculture. But who is Sakiris Chairman of GTLESTE? Google tells us as of 2000 he was a Kalimantan Coal Man.

Indexim Coalindo
PT. Sarana Panen Abadi (65%)
Gino Sakiris (17.5%)
Others (17.5%)
08/1994 East Kalimantan
100,000 Ha Exploration
Mr. Gino Sakiris , President Director
Gedung Galva 5th Fl
Jl. Hayam Wuruk 27 A, Jakarta
Tel.: 385-4993, Fax: 385-4995

Gino Sakiris, PT Kemenangan

This MOU also makes reference to a map of the land to be developed for biofuel sugar/ethanol plant purposes. Would be very interesting to see the map. Have it? Send it along to thediliinsider@gmail.com

Artur - Where Art Thou?

This is a picture of SubInspector Artur Avelar Borges, taken two years prior to the day this blog post was uploaded. 24 May 2006. It is taken on the grounds of the house of Chief of the Timorese Defence Force, Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak. Artur was involved in the attack on the house of General Matan Ruak.

Interesting uniform and firearm for a senior police officer.

In any event he was charged, tried and convicted in 2007 to a few years in Her Majesty's Becora Prison. Within days of being convicted the charges were thrown out for lack of evidence.

Artur comes from a well known family in Aileu and has friends. In fact he used to be Special Assistant to former Police Commander Paulo Martins.

What Artur doing now? He is working for the Acting Police Commander Afonso de Jesus. So much for good policing...

Strike a Pose Tito.

His name is Tito da Costa. His nom de guerre is Lere Anan Timor, and just in the past week he recevied some of the highest honours the land has to offer. He spent 24 years in the jungle. He is from the Makalero speaking subdistrict of Iliomer in Lautem. Tito is Chief of Staff for the FALINTIL-FDTL. He one of the "hard men" in the defence force and more than a few people are genuinely scared of him.

National Symbol? The AK-47.

In March there was a big meeting in Dili.

They called it the Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting (TLDPM). A bit farcical really. Everyone milling about telling eachother how fantastic they are and their respective organisations are etc. But what this blogger found in particularly amusing was the new (circa 2007) Government emblem emblazoned on the guest entrance cards. Note the AK-47 semi-automatic rifle.

A Rocky Road for Rodrigues, Khare and Finn