Minister of finance, Emilia Pires has been accused by a leading weekly paper of engaging in corruption when a government contract to supply medical equipment to Dili's national hospital was awarded to a company, Mac's Metalcraft, owned by her Australian husband (see documents below).
Tempo Semanal has published official documents and an analysis accusing minister Pires of favouring her husband's company. In light of the successful conviction of Timor-Leste's former minister of justice, Lucia Lobato, the case against Pires has particularly attracted a lot attention, including journalists who are feeling more emboldened than ever to pursue high profile government officials. Tempo Semanal, which was responsible for uncovering similar irregularities within the ministry of justice, landing ex-minister Lobato in jail, is now unrelenting in its pursuit against minister Pires. Timor-Leste's anti-corruption commission, CAC, has also paid attention to this case and referred the investigation to the prosecution.
However, on the occasion of the 2013 budget presentation and debate, as MPs raised questions in relation to Tempo Semanal's report, minister Pires went on the attack, taking aim against local journalists in particular. Pires called the journalists incompetent and accused them of spreading malicious rumours. She also claimed that they lacked professionalism and balance specially as she was never approached and given an opportunity to provide her side of the story.
Then the local journalists' associations, The Timor-Leste Press Club (TLPC) and Timor-Leste Journalist Association (AJTL), responded (Tetum) by issuing a statement urging the minister to reconsider and to take the matter to court if she feels that the reports on this issue have been faked. They also accused the minister of using the live telecast on the budget presentation to attack journalists. Jose Belo, the director of Tempo Semanal, also pointed out that they did attempt to approach the minister to give her version of this story but to no avail. And to further escalate tensions, Tempo Semanal is re-publishing all reports related to the allegations beginning from this week's edition.
Similar clash also accompanied the case against ex-minister Lobato, which at one point managed to land Jose Belo and Tempo Semanal in court to answer accusations of defamation. As it turned out, Belo used that opportunity to further damage Lobato's defence and exposed her as vile and dishonest. This is despite Lobato's background as a leading activist in the underground student movement fighting Indonesian occupation. But Belo proved that he loved a good fight and doesn't tire at it. With years spent as a guerrilla fighter and courier under his belt, even after multiple encounters at the hands of Indonesian Intel torturers, one can be certain that he will not back down even an inch on this case, and will hound his 'victims' until they get what he thinks they deserve. And this one is going to be bloody.
Tempo Semanal has published official documents and an analysis accusing minister Pires of favouring her husband's company. In light of the successful conviction of Timor-Leste's former minister of justice, Lucia Lobato, the case against Pires has particularly attracted a lot attention, including journalists who are feeling more emboldened than ever to pursue high profile government officials. Tempo Semanal, which was responsible for uncovering similar irregularities within the ministry of justice, landing ex-minister Lobato in jail, is now unrelenting in its pursuit against minister Pires. Timor-Leste's anti-corruption commission, CAC, has also paid attention to this case and referred the investigation to the prosecution.
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| Submission by Mac's Metalcraft for the tendered project (Source: The Independente) |
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| Minister Pires' letter authorising payment for the project (Source: The Independente) |
However, on the occasion of the 2013 budget presentation and debate, as MPs raised questions in relation to Tempo Semanal's report, minister Pires went on the attack, taking aim against local journalists in particular. Pires called the journalists incompetent and accused them of spreading malicious rumours. She also claimed that they lacked professionalism and balance specially as she was never approached and given an opportunity to provide her side of the story.
Then the local journalists' associations, The Timor-Leste Press Club (TLPC) and Timor-Leste Journalist Association (AJTL), responded (Tetum) by issuing a statement urging the minister to reconsider and to take the matter to court if she feels that the reports on this issue have been faked. They also accused the minister of using the live telecast on the budget presentation to attack journalists. Jose Belo, the director of Tempo Semanal, also pointed out that they did attempt to approach the minister to give her version of this story but to no avail. And to further escalate tensions, Tempo Semanal is re-publishing all reports related to the allegations beginning from this week's edition.
Similar clash also accompanied the case against ex-minister Lobato, which at one point managed to land Jose Belo and Tempo Semanal in court to answer accusations of defamation. As it turned out, Belo used that opportunity to further damage Lobato's defence and exposed her as vile and dishonest. This is despite Lobato's background as a leading activist in the underground student movement fighting Indonesian occupation. But Belo proved that he loved a good fight and doesn't tire at it. With years spent as a guerrilla fighter and courier under his belt, even after multiple encounters at the hands of Indonesian Intel torturers, one can be certain that he will not back down even an inch on this case, and will hound his 'victims' until they get what he thinks they deserve. And this one is going to be bloody.
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