Councilors clash over governorship<\/p>\n
DILI (JP): Leaders of the East Timor legislative council
\nalmost brawled yesterday over who should head a team in charge of
\nselecting gubernatorial candidates.<\/p>\n
The provincial legislative council's chief, Antonio Freitas
\nParada, disagreed with one of his deputies, Maria LVC Quintao, on
\nwho should chair the special team of councilors to select
\ngubernatorial candidates and propose them to the President for
\napproval.<\/p>\n
Parada said that Quintao had opposed his intention to appoint
\ncouncilor Col. Soenartono as the team's chairman.<\/p>\n
Amid a heated argument, Parada raised his gavel apparently to
\nhit Quintao in the face before Soenartono and a provincial
\ngovernment official rushed forward and calmed him down.<\/p>\n
Quintao screamed for help and accused him of taking a bribe
\nfrom the incumbent governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, who is the
\nstrongest candidate.<\/p>\n
Councilors walked out of the meeting room while Parada and
\nQuintao continued arguing.<\/p>\n
There is a hot race for the governorship, involving Abilio,
\nlocal Golkar chief Armindo Soares Mariano, Dili regent Domingos
\nMaria Das Dores, Indonesian staffer at the United Nations Tito
\nDos Santos Baptista and Baucau regent Virgilio Maria Diaz Marcal.<\/p>\n
Governor Abilio's term of office will end Sept. 18. The
\ncouncilors are racing against time to come up with candidates to
\nbe submitted to the minister of home affairs.<\/p>\n
Observers said that yesterday's incident could slow down the
\nappointment.<\/p>\n
They said that local or central government intervention would
\nbe needed to reconcile Parada and Quintao. (33\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/councilors-clash-over-governorship-1447893297",
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