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)