'Radar Timor' daily goes belly up

'Radar Timor' daily goes belly up

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The daily newspaper Radar Timor,
owned by former governor of East Timor, Abilio Jose Osario
Soares, was officially closed down on Friday due to financial
problems.

The newspaper, which started printing in 2000, had experienced
severe financial management problems since last year. The editor-
in-chief, Silvester Sega, said that after the official shutdown,
all the editorial workers and employees would be given three
months' pay on a rotating basis.

"After evaluating the financial development and the marketing
prospects of the newspaper, the investors and the management have
decided to close down the newspaper. It is the right decision,
although it will affect dozens of the employees, who will lose
their jobs," Silvester said.

Radar Timor was printed in Kupang and widely read by East Nusa
Tenggara residents. It was also widely read by many displaced
East Timorese, who had been in camps in East Nusa Tenggara
province until most were repatriated. -- JP