Councilors clash over governorship

Councilors clash over governorship

DILI (JP): Leaders of the East Timor legislative council
almost brawled yesterday over who should head a team in charge of
selecting gubernatorial candidates.

The provincial legislative council's chief, Antonio Freitas
Parada, disagreed with one of his deputies, Maria LVC Quintao, on
who should chair the special team of councilors to select
gubernatorial candidates and propose them to the President for
approval.

Parada said that Quintao had opposed his intention to appoint
councilor Col. Soenartono as the team's chairman.

Amid a heated argument, Parada raised his gavel apparently to
hit Quintao in the face before Soenartono and a provincial
government official rushed forward and calmed him down.

Quintao screamed for help and accused him of taking a bribe
from the incumbent governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, who is the
strongest candidate.

Councilors walked out of the meeting room while Parada and
Quintao continued arguing.

There is a hot race for the governorship, involving Abilio,
local Golkar chief Armindo Soares Mariano, Dili regent Domingos
Maria Das Dores, Indonesian staffer at the United Nations Tito
Dos Santos Baptista and Baucau regent Virgilio Maria Diaz Marcal.

Governor Abilio's term of office will end Sept. 18. The
councilors are racing against time to come up with candidates to
be submitted to the minister of home affairs.

Observers said that yesterday's incident could slow down the
appointment.

They said that local or central government intervention would
be needed to reconcile Parada and Quintao. (33/pan)