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Deputy Chief of Mission Henry Rector and Vice Prime Minister José Luis Guterres inaugurate the press freedom monument in simple rites at the Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) newspaper office.

Deputy Chief of Mission Henry Rector and Vice Prime Minister José Luis Guterres inaugurate the press freedom monument in simple rites at the Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) newspaper office.

Photo: STL

Photo: STL’s first printing press was burned and destroyed during the 1999 violence.

STL’s first printing press was burned and destroyed during the 1999 violence.

Photo: D.Jose

World Press Freedom Day in Dili, 3 May 2008

Timor-Leste Marks World Press Freedom Day

What remains of the printing press originally donated by USAID and partner The Asia Foundation to a Timorese newspaper in 1994, later on destroyed in the 1999 violence, now serves as an important monument to press freedom in Dili. As the plaque states: “Today, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, may it stand as a monument to remind the people of this nation to declare that there shall be no more violence against the media.”

In celebration of the World Press Freedom Day, US Deputy Chief of Mission Henry Rector and Timor-Leste Vice Prime Minister José Luis Guterres inaugurated the “No More Violence Against the Media” monument in simple rites last May 3, 2008 at the Suara Timor Lorosae newspaper’s compound in Bairopite, Dili.

World Press Freedom Day in Timor-Leste also saw the launch of journalism prizes for outstanding Timorese journalists. The Journalists’ Association of Timor-Leste, Journalists Syndicate of Timor-Leste, Community Radio Association of Timor-Leste, Timor-Leste Photographers’ Association, and Center for Investigative Journalism Timor-Leste have banded together to form a commission for the journalism awards.

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) is facilitating the activity, beginning with the formal launch of the journalism prizes. During the ceremony at the Hotel Turismo in Dili, the media community launched two prizes--the Balibo Five Award and the Media 2008 Award. ICFJ is implementing the Strengthening Independent Media Program in Timor-Leste, which is co-funded by USAID and AusAID.