| The conference was
sponsored by Internews and The Asia Foundation. It offered participants
an opportunity to discuss solutions to legal problems that arise
because the country uses a variety of legal codes to regulate
the media, including Indonesian and Portuguese laws.
Lively debates featured topics such as the need to ensure that
repressive laws brought in from other countries, even temporarily,
are not applied in East Timor. Participants also considered the
establishment of a press council to adjudicate disputes and avoid
litigation.
The conference follows a controversial decision
by the Dili District Court to impose a potentially bankrupting
fine of $50,000 on one of the country's two daily newspapers after
finding it guilty of defaming an Indonesian businessman. President
Gusmao made reference to the case, and to a similar one pending
before the courts. "I hope that these debates lead to a better
understanding of the laws on defamation and that we can find the
most appropriate means to enable those affected to recover their
reputation. Nevertheless, it is for us all a duty to look into
ways to protect the still-vulnerable voices of our media and journalists,
who give their best to participate in the new democracy."
President Gusmao encouraged members of the media
to aim for the highest levels of professionalism, bearing in mind
that role of journalists is to "expose the problems and provide
information, and often, influence decision making."
Funding from USAID-ET supports the efforts of
Internews and The Asia Foundation to improve the skills of the
media, strengthen open government, and encourage public debate
on key issues related to legislation and justice.
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