Faustino Da Costa, the Commissioner of Timor-Leste National Police said three people were taken into custody after they allegedly distributed information on social media spreading the issue of division between people in West and East Timor.

“Their objective is to separate the population of Timor-Leste and also destroy a united country,” Costa told reporters.

Costa said the suspects had yet to galvanise a following but they believed it was imminent.

He said police would investigate why they launched this issue and who was involved, referring to the 2006 violence that emerged from divisions between West and East Timor populations.

The content posted and widely circulated on Facebook claimed people in West Timor did not fight  for the nation’s independence and that only people in East Timor did.

Police said they believed the arrest had nullified any threat from the group.

Costa called on the public to ignore propaganda, labelling people who spread fake information as “irresponsible.”

All three suspects are being held in Dili while a police investigation takes place, police said.

Their identity has not been released.

Former National Parliament President, CNRT’s Arao Noe Amaral, was replaced by Fretilin’s Aniceto Guterres in a secret vote early last week.

At the time, CNRT’s Parliamentary leader Duarte Nunes called the election of Guterres ”illegal”, and the party refused to take part in debates under his command.

However, on May 28, the Court of Appeal rejected CNRT’s petition, saying the election was a “political act”.

Nunes said the party would continue talks over the next few days over its parliament boycott.

But stressed CNRT had returned to parliament to “represent” the interests of its supporters and not because its High Court petition was dismissed.

Cornelio Gama Eli-7, a member of PLP party, said the return of CNRT was important for maintaining stability in the country.

“Let us forgive each other to develop this country to become a prosperous country,” he said.

Since taking over as head of the high-profile development project in November, Oliver said there has been “nothing” done, calling for the Council of Ministers to consider a replacement who would live in Oé-Cusse.

Speaking in National Parliament on Monday, Oliver argued Guterres had “abandoned” the people of Oé-Cusse by stationing himself in Dili.

Guterres, a former Deputy Prime Minister, was sworn in as President on November 13, 2019.

His appointment was adopted by the Council of Minister for; "recognising the merit and suitability publicly recognized by Timorese society and the experience in the performance of public positions of an executive nature,” according to a government statement.

In a speech after the signing of the term of office, Gutteres said it was " importantly to grow the income of rural families throughout the territory of  Oé-Cusse, solving the basic issues of the life of our population such as water, sanitation, housing, health, school network".

He also pledged to place "emphasis on agricultural production and fisheries, the development of industry and the creation of conditions for tourism so that the people can obtain immediate benefits".

The RAEOA was established in 2014 with the aim of promoting the region's inclusive development, giving priority to socio-economic activities promoting the quality of life and well-being of the community.

The progress comes as the World Health Organisation warned the virus would “not disappear”, urging people and governments to remain vigilant and maintain hygiene and social distancing practices.

China’s Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Dr. Xiao Jianguo, said Friday his country would continue to support its “friend” Timor-Leste fight against COVID-19.

He added that a donation of equipment from China that had just landed would help the county “win the fight against COVID-19 at an early date.”

These included 130,000 face masks, 20,000 medical gloves, 5000 personal protective equipment (PPE), 5010 face shields, as well as more than 5000 testing kits, 39 handy thermometers and 10 ventilators.

“This donation is a vivid illustration of the profound friendship between our two peoples and of China’s honesty to help Timor-Leste,” Dr Jianguo said in a statement.

The donation was facilitated by the Chinese Embassy in Timor-Leste and Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation.

Khunto member, Amanda Berta do Santos, was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister. Santos will complete the role in addition to her current job as Minister for Social Solidarity and Inclusion.

Fidelis Magalhães, of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), also a current member of government, was inaugurated as President of the Council of Ministers.

Democratic Party member, Júlio Metamalic,  was sworn in as Minister for National Liberation Combatants, or Veterans’ Affairs, and Pedro Reis as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Four Fretilin members filled the remaining positions

These included; Francisco Martins da Costa Perreira Jerónimo, as Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Social Communication; Fernando Hanjam as Minister for Finance; Miguel Pereira de Carvalho as Minister of State Administration and Odete Maria Freitas Belo as Minister for Health.

The new cabinet follows a major change in party alliance within parliament, with the the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction opting to move to opposition on Monday.

The move paved the way for a new governing bloc of PLP, KHUNTO and Fretilin.

The cabinet restructure is not complete, with key ministers vacated by CNRT member – such as Minister for Foreign Affairs, formerly held by Dionísio Babo Soares -  yet to be filled.

Talking to reporters, Timur suggests veterans could play an important role encouraging party leaders to “sit together and solve the political uncertainty.”

“I am asking all veterans in Timor-Leste to not separate national leaders,” he said, in reference to the governing coalition spill between Xanana Gusmao’s National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) and Mari Alkatiri’s Fretilin party.

 “Veterans must work to unite our leaders again,” he said.

On Saturday, Gusmao announced CNRT would not continue as a member of the coalition government, instead returning to opposition.

Following the announcement five senior Members of Parliament from CNRT, including Foreign Minister Dioniso Soares, resigned from cabinet on Monday.  No new appointments have been made.

The declaration provides a greenlight for a new governing bloc of Fretilin, Khunto and the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) to govern until 2023.

CNRT entered government in coalition with PLP and KHUNTO in 2018, and were appointed several key ministries.

However a split over the rejected 2020 General State Budget led to CNRT leaving the party, and forming its own alliance of opposition parties.

Lere said he understood that people were concerned about ongoing political uncertainty, but cautioned that political leaders can have different ideologies and a shared passion for the country.

The government has pledged US$100 to households for each month the country is under a state of emergency.

The income subsidy payment, which is expected to be given to 326,739 households, is the centrepiece of financial support pledged by the government as the pandemic closes businesses and leaves many unemployed.

Citing issues with “data”, the Director General for Ministry for Social Solidarity and Rui Exposto Gaga said he could not confirm when payments will be made.

"MSS has elaborate all household data and has submitted the proposal to Ministry of Finance to transfer money to MSS's account after that we will pay the subsidy,” Gaga told reporters.

Timorese citizens studying abroad will be eligible for the payment, Timor-Leste’s Secretary of State for Communication Mericio Juvinal Akara said in National Parliament  Tuesday.

Gusmoa declared on Saturday that CNRT would operate in opposition until 2023, leaving the governing bloc to a coalition made-up of Fretilin, Khunto and the People’s Liberation party.

Resigning Ministers included Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Arsénio Pereira da Silva,  Secretary of State for Cooperatives, Nélio Isaac Sarmento, Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, Abilio Caeteno, Secretary of State for Sport and  Dulce de Jesus Soares, the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports.

Pereira, speaking on behalf of his CNRT comrades soon after he met with Prime Minister Ruak and submitted the resignation letter, said their decision was made to support Gusmao’s actions.

The declaration provides a greenlight for a governing bloc of Fretilin, Khunto and the People’s Liberation party to govern until 2023.

After meeting of the CNRT faction, Xanana Gusmão told reporters his party would move to opposition, but stressed the party would continue to work in the interests Timorese people.

The announcement follows a chaotic week in National Parliament, where police were called to reinstate calm as CNRT members tried to avert a vote that eventually led to the ousting of one of their own, President – or Speaker – Arão Noé Amaral.

The relationship between CNRT - the party that received the most votes in the 2018 election – and President of the Republic Francisco Lú-Olo Guterres, of Fretilin, has been under strain.

Earlier this month CNRT submitted a second petition to the Court of Appeal, questioning the constitutionality of several actions by the President in recent months that was rejected.

Gusmão said CNRT accepted the decision of the court but stressed their concerns remained.

In particular, CNRT has argued the President should have dissolved parliament once the 2020 General State Budget had stalled for 60 days.

“This is] not to question Mr Lú-Olo, but [we] must defend the constitution of the Republic of Timor-Leste, and everyone respects the law,” Gusmão said in a press conference on April 30.

The Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion Armanda Berta do Santos said funding was necessary to ensure households who had lost all income could cover basic living expenses and were able to bounce back when the crisis had passed.

The country’s state of emergency, active since early April, forced non-essential businesses to close as part of measures to limit spread of the virus.

Some 301,000 households will receive the subsidy next week, Santos said.

She also acknowledged the payment was late, having been promised in April.

The subsidy oath comes as the International Labour Organisation signed an agreement with the Government of Timor-Leste to donate $748,000 to finance household support on Friday.

Timor-Leste has no active cases of COVID-19, all 24 patients have recovered.

The second period of state of emergency comes to an end on 27 May.