Earthquake Situation Report

At 4.32pm on Wednesday the 30th of January 2008 a 6.2 Magnitude earthquake occurred approximately 130 kilometres North East of Lautem District at sea. Indonesia Geological and Meteorological Agency issued a Tsunami Alert after their instruments near the earthquake epicentre (location) recorded 6.6 Magnitude earthquak. Under Indonesian protocol if an earthquake at sea is near 7 Magnitude, a Tsunami Alert is issued. The Disaster Operations Centre confirmed with Tsunami early warning agencies in the region that this earthquake was not likely to produce a tsunami and no Tsunami Alert was issued. The Secretary of State for Social Assistance and Natural Disasters issued a live statement at TVTL and Radio Studio’s at 6pm this evening to confirm there was no tsunami and assist in correcting any misinformation that may create any community fears.

Earthquake Details

Report all emergencies to the Police National Operations Centre by phoning 112 or your local police station. The Disaster Operations Centre can also be contacted by e-mail at; doc.ndmd@gmail.com


The Disaster Operations Centre’s is in development to assist the people of Timor-Leste to coordinate information and responses to reduce disaster and crisis risk. The Disaster Operation Centre is supported by technical and donor development assistance from the following organisations:

· Crisis Prevention and Recovery Unit, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Timor-Leste
· UNMIT Integrated Humanitarian Coordination Team, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
· Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
· Australian Bureau of Meteorology through the International Security Force (ISF)
· Communications and Public Information Office, United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT)

The 15th anniversary of Suara Timor Lorosa’e (STL)

CJITL – Suara Timor Lorosa’e (STL) will commemorate its 15th anniversary on Friday, Feb. 1 with a grand luncheon in STL’s compound in the Fatumeta district of Dili.

Justino (Ino) told CJITL that STL began publication on Feb. 1, 1993. He said that through this celebration STL wants to tell the public that it will continue to provide a comprehensive, impartial news report while upholding freedom of the press.

He said STL has begun distributing nearly 900 free newspapers to all districts, delivering two copies to each village. The distribution is being done by STL, Tempo Semanal and Diário Naçional thanks to funds provided by the government to the Timor-Leste Press Club organization.

Rosa Garcia, a Timor Post senior journalist, told CJITL that the press club’s program to distribute free newspapers to the districts may hurt sales of the Timor Post in those areas. The Timor Post chose not to participate in the distribution program for fear of compromising its independence.

In CJITL’s online survey of newspapers’ readers, the Timor Post was the top choice of 44 percent of respondents, followed by STL, the choice of 33 percent; Diário Naçional, chosen by11 percent; and Semanário, 5 percent. Among 18 respondents.

XANANA meet the Press at Fundasaun Oriente

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PM to speak at Saturday seminar for journalists

CJITL – Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão will be the featured guest at an open seminar and discussion for journalists on Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Fundasaun Oriente.

The hour-long event, sponsored by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), begins at 10.30 a.m. at the center, which is next to City Café on the Avenue Presidente N. Lobato.

The prime minister last week expressed dissatisfaction with Timor-Leste journalists, and has been invited to clarify and expand remarks he made about the country’s media.

At a press conference at the Ministry of Social and Solidarity reported by the Timor Post on Jan.16, Gusmão said careless or irresponsible reporting could exacerbate social tensions in the country. “If instability emerges in Timor -Leste, we will arrest the press,” he said then.

Francez Suni is the coordinator of ICFJ’s Special Projects Team, which organized the event. Suni said all journalists and organizations interested in press issues are invited to participate in the discussion.

For more information please contact Suni at: +670 736 7527 or
e-mail: fsuni@icfj.org

Journalists on motorbike hurt in collision with taxi

CJITL – Two journalists from Tempo Semanal, Dilma Sujete and Elsa Fernandes, were injured Tuesday in a collision with a taxi that fled the scene.

The journalists told CJITL they were riding together on a motorbike at 9:30 a.m., en route to cover a news story in Comoro, when the accident occurred in front of the Comoro market.

The journalists said the accident was the result of a “miscommunication” between them and the driver of the taxi.
The journalists wrote down the taxi’s plate number, but police were unable to immediately verify that as the driver drove away from the accident scene. The two women, who suffered injuries to their knees, hands and heads, have not yet returned to work

ICFJ, IREX back KOLKOS workshop on media law

CJITL – The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) together with IREX in Timor- Leste are supporting a workshop on media law organized by KOLKOS, the Legislative Commission for Social Communication. The workshop will be held Feb. 12 and 13 in Dili.

Francisco Agustinho Pinto, Media Law Coordinator for ICFJ and IREX, told CJITL Online that the two international organizations back KOLKOS’s ongoing efforts to encourage media and government to work together to draft a media law for Timor-Leste.

The February workshop will discuss plans and ideas for a national workshop to be held in May or June of this year. Pinto said he expects approximately 50 people from the media to attend, including journalists from across Timor –Leste; university students; and representatives of civil society.

Two job vacancies for Timorese journalists

CJITL – The Secretary of Timor-Leste’s National Parliament has announced 16 job vacancies, including two suitable for journalists.A legal advertisement published in Diario Nasional, Timor Post and Suara Timor Lorosa’e (STL) editions of Jan. 17 said that the Secretary of Timor-Leste’s National Parliament is asking Timorese journalists with at least three years’ experience or those who have completed a journalism course to apply for a job as Media and Communication Officer.

for the National Parliament.
Journalists who meet the criteria can submit their curriculum vitae (CV) to the National Parliament up to Jan. 25. The grade of this position is Level 4. In addition, the Secretary of Promotion and Equality is seeking a Media and Communication officer. Applicants must have a journalism background