"Lost PNTL Weapon" That Has Now Turned Up in PM Xanana Gusmao's Possession‏

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Translation from Tetum: Jornal Nacional Diario - Thursday 25 October 2012 

NGOs demand Investigation to Uncover Truth: “Lost Weapon That Later Emerged in the Prime Minister’s Possession” Must be Explained to Dispel Public Concern. 

 Fundasaun HAK (Human Rights Foundation), ANTI : The Alliance for an International Tribunal and Fundasaun Mahein have demanded the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL) explain to the public how it is that the weapon reported lost by a PNTL officer some months ago has turned up in the possession of the Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao? 

Joao Almeida Fernandes, a researcher with Fundasaun Mahein told journalists that there must be an investigation into the circumstances regarding the weapon reported lost a few months ago, and which caused widespread public concern, so as to dispel public concern regarding the matter.

 “The weapon lost a few months ago has now turned up in the possession of the PM. The PNTL and other entities responsible for this matter must explain to the public the full circumstances surrounding this incident, so that the can know the truth as to how the investigation has proceeded and how the weapon has now turned up in the possession of the PM, so as to dispel the general public’s concern regarding this issue,” Joao Fernandes told Jornal Nacional Diario when interviewed at his office in Balide last Wednesday 24 October. 

In the meantime a Member of the Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Security matters Committee B, Member of Parliament Duarte Nunes also claimed that the lost weapon is now in the possession of the PM. 

 “We cannot comment on the case of the lost weapon, because the weapon has been found and handed over to the Prime Minister,” Duarte Nunes MP said. 

 According to MP Nunes the full report on the lost weapon has been completed. 

TVTL News - Thursday 25 October 2012 

 Lost Weapon Emerges in Hands of Prime Minister; Longuinhos Monteiro: “Weapons do not Have Feet to Walk. Whoever Lost it or Whoever Stolen it Must be held Accountable.” 

PNTL Commandant General Longuinhos Monteiro added that, he still did not know of the whereabouts of the lost weapon, although he has been informed that the weapon is currently in the possession of the Prime Minister.

 “That is even better (that the weapon is in the PM’s possession), and what is important is that it does not turn up later in the hands of some bad person. The problem is not only that it was lost. As I have said repeatedly, a rifle does not have feet to be able to walk away. I cannot comment because I have not been informed yet nor has the weapon been handed over to the PNTL command. It is like this. There are two issues. One; there is the responsibility of the officer who lost the weapon. Two; that of the person who stole the weapon,” Longuinhos Monteiro said. 

He added that there should be two investigative processes for the lost weapon. One will be with respect to the person who lost the weapon, and the other for the person who stole the weapon. According to him the investigative processes have not been exhausted. 

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