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Government and former soldiers meet, 10 May 2006
Members of the Government have met these last days with 400 ex-FDTL
members of the so-called group of "petitioners", to
discuss immediate humanitarian assistance and the payment of a
subsidy.
On Tuesday, May 9, in Maliana, 48 ex-soldiers met with the secretary
of State for the Coordination of Region IV (Liquica, Bobonaro
and Cova-Lima), César da Cruz. Today, Wednesday, 10, after
a request for a meeting from a spokesperson of a group of 350
"petitioners", the minister of Labour and Community
Reinsertion, Arsénio Bano, has established preliminary
contacts with those ex-soldiers.
The aim of the Government is first to ensure that these men and
women receive humanitarian assistance (food). As well, it wants
to ensure that they have a minimum of conditions to return to
civil life in their districts of origin. The Government will pay
them a subsidy, equal to their wage in the Army, to help them
and their families now, to reduce the impact of their decision
to leave F-FDTL. The subsidy will be paid by the Government, until
June, by the regional secretaries of State.
By returning to their districts, the Government also expects
that these former soldiers will participate in the investigation
process being conducted by the High Level Commission, which includes
representatives of the four pillars of the state plus the Catholic
Church and civil society. The goal of this commission is to investigate
the veracity of the allegations of the petitioners.
The Government is also negotiating with PNUD ways that this programme
of United Nations may be able to assist the reintegration in the
community of the 591 former soldiers.
This morning the Prime Minister met with other members of the
Government to discuss the budget for the rebuilding of the houses
affected by the April 28 violence. It was decided to allocate
the following expenses:
- 116,505 USD for the rebuilding of 45 destroyed homes;
- 69,600 USD for the repair of 116 homes;
- 160,000 USD for the rebuilding of Taibesse Market.
After being interviwed by the Police, 100 people that took part
in the attack of the office of the Secretary of State for the
Coordination of Region III (Dili, Aileu and Ermera), Egídio
de Jesus, seven of them are still in custody and will be soon
presented to the judicial authorities.
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