Timor-Lesteese now have another source for news with the launch of Vox Populi, a weekly newspaper focused on the country's political and social issues. It joins the media ranks of two daily newspapers and a biweekly news magazine that are available in Dili and most district capitals. The founders based their idea for a new publication on the original Vox Populi, a pro-independence newspaper published in the run up to the 1999 referendum on independence from Indonesia.

Director Marcelino Magno says that the newspaper intends to provide in-depth and investigative reporting and act as a watchdog for the public, something he says the existing periodicals do not focus on. "We will have our own research team separate from our reporters," he explained. Magno gained much of his journalistic experience in Indonesia at Forum and Tempo, two respected news weeklies.

Vox Populi's first issue looked at possible ethnic problems within Timor-Leste's armed forces, the Falantil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL), and included interviews with Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, head of F-FDTL, other senior members of the army, and members of Parliament. Residents also gave their opinions on the issue. Several pages provide national news and interviews. The first issue is written in Indonesian, one of the most widely spoken languages in Timor-Leste. Future issues will include summaries and articles in Tetum, one of the official languages, and English.

USAID/Timor-Leste is supporting Vox Populi with a grant of $29,900 during its start-up phase, providing some basic office equipment, computers, and Internet access, and covering the costs of its investigative reporting program for three months. The addition of an independent news source will give the Timorese more comprehensive access to information about their government and its activities, improve the level of public awareness on important issues, and encourage involvement in civic affairs.

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