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Southeast Asia

East Timor prepares for new government

2006-07-13

Which looks very much like the old government ...

DILI - East Timor prepared on Wednesday for the swearing-in of a new government as the tiny nation looked for a return to political order after deadly violence in May left it in disarray.

The new cabinet is to meet later the same day to discuss the 2006-7 budget. The last financial year ended on June 30 and lawmakers had already drafted a 315 million dollar budget -- the nations largest ever -- before Mari Alkatiri stepped down as premier last month.

Ahead of Wednesdays ceremony, President Xanana Gusmao met with political parties to discuss the agenda for the new government. Opposition lawmaker Antonius Ximenes said they also discussed the rebel troops, known as petitioners, whose desertion and subsequent sacking originally sparked the unrest, as well as a range of issues. We have opinions about important issues such as the 2006-2007 budget, the election laws, the case of the petitioners, and how to look after the refugees, Ximenes told reporters after the meeting.

He said all of East Timors political leaders should accept responsibility for the failure to deal with the rebels. The problem with the petitioners occured because of our arrogance, Ximenes conceded.

That twitched the surprise meter ...

Ahead of the meeting, Fernando de Araujo, leader of the Democratic Party, the largest of the opposition parties, had said he would warn Gusmao that his lawmakers did not want a cabinet dominated by Alkatiris ruling Fretilin party. Ramos-Horta has said the new government would not be substantially different from the outgoing administration. Fretilin holds 55 of the 88 seats in the parliament.

Posted by:Steve White

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