Subject: Activity Update - Association HAK (Association for Law, Human Rights
and Justice)Activity Update
Association HAK (Association for Law, Human Rights and Justice)
HAK hopes to increase information exchange about the current situation
in Timor-Leste, especially regarding human rights and our work. We are
pleased to share news of our latest publications, and some our
activities related to the National Parliament and in the security sector
reform.
We welcome your comments and look forward to future collaboration to
increase respect for human rights in Timor-Leste.
Book Launch 'Laut Timor Kaya Ikan Tapi Nelayannya Miskin'
Indonesian language book 'The Timor Sea Is Rich with Fish but Its
Fishermen Are Poor'
On 6 June 2008, HAK Association held a launching ceremony for two
Indonesian language books, "The Timor Sea Is Rich with Fish but Its
Fishermen Are Poor" and 'Profile of Several Fisherman and NGOs'. The
Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Mariano Sabino, and the National Fisheries
Director, Mr. Acácio Guterres, attended the ceremony at HAK's auditorium
in Farol, Dili, Timor-Leste. Fisher folk, farmers, partner organizations
and university students also participated.
The 96 page book detailing the situation of Timor-Leste's fisher folk is
the result of research conducted by staff of the Law and Human Rights
Education Program at HAK from 2005 through 2006 in seven fishing
communities in Timor-Leste. Oxfam Hong Kong and Oxfam Australia
supported the work. In his presentation, the program manager and author
of one of the books, Rui Viana said, 'the research results don't
represent all of Timor-Leste's fisher folk, but very important for
everyone is the information included to assist all of us to better
understand our responsibility regarding fisheries development for the
future.' The other book profiles some fishing communities and some NGOs
whose work is dedicated to fisheries.
In his talk, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries praised the
books HAK published and said, 'Agriculture is the pillar of the nation,
because of this the work of farmers is not optional work or only the
work of the elderly.' He added that the agriculture ministry belongs to
the famers and rice cultivators, and that when farmers have problems
they should come to find solutions to their problems. The ministry is
reforming its administrative structure to concentrate on the communities
in order to attend more quickly to farmers' concerns.
To conclude the ceremony Jose Luis de Oliveira, the director of HAK
Association, symbolically delivered the two books and two t-shirts to
the Agriculture Minister and National Fisheries Director as part of a
campaign on local food and promotion to eat fish. To publicize the
campaign the organizing committee distributed t-shirts in government
buildings - the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Ministry of
Education, and Health Ministry - as well as in public places around the
city where small businesses and fishermen concentrate. They also
distributed t-shirts to communities in the districts (fisher folk,
farmers, civil society and students).
To order copies of either publication contact Antonio Maria Soares at
direito@yayasanhak.minihub.org
Demonstration against National Parliament plan to buy luxury cars
On 11 and 12 June 2008, university students (Timor-Leste University
Front, FUTL) assembled 1500 to 2000 people for a peaceful demonstration
in front of the National Parliament to protest the planned purchase of
65 luxury cars for members of parliament. According to the students the
actual situation the average person faces includes an inability to cope
with rising prices; as representatives of the people, the members of
parliament deny this reality and push to buy luxury cars for themselves.
From a moral perspective, they are insensitive to the people's
suffering. From a legal perspective, the budget existed to purchase 26
cars, one for each commission, at a total cost of $910,000; not to
purchase 65 cars - one for each member of parliament for a total of two
million dollars. This meant an additional $1,090,000 in the mid-year
budget ratification to secure sufficient funds. From an economic
perspective, why not allocate the funds to meet people's basic needs,
especially in the current situation. From a social perspective, the
deputies are creating a gap between themselves and the population, and
developing a bad social culture for the future. They are creating the
idea that becoming a Member of Parliament means getting a car. Because
of all this the students demonstrated to stop them from buying these
luxury cars.
Assocaition HAK was involved in the organization of the demonstration
with both moral and material support, along with other national NGOs
such as Fokupers, Haburas and the National Youth Commission of
Timor-Leste (CNJTL).
FUTL planned a second, five-day demonstration from 7 to 11 July 2008 at
the main National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) campus in Dili, as a
continuation of the 11-12 June protests. However when FUTL and another
student group, FOKUTIL, submitted a letter to the Dili District Police
requesting authorization for the demonstration, they were denied use of
the main UNTL campus citing Law No. 01/2006. The law prohibits
demonstrations less than one hundred metres from public buildings.
Consequently, the Timor-Leste National Police and UN Police (UNPOL)
authorized the demonstrators to use the Democracy Field.
The organizers did not accept the change in venue, and taking advantage
of the campus' autonomy, demonstrated from the main UNTL campus again
expressing their demands that parliament cancel its plans to buy an
additional 39 luxury cars to have one to distribute to each Member of
Parliament.
The demonstration, a peaceful, silent action with mouths taped closed
and fasting could not be realized due to police intervention during
which 51 students were detained when they taped their mouths closed and
stood silently with a banner on the balcony of the national university's
main campus, only about 25 metres from the national parliament building.
During the activity University property was damaged - glass from windows
and doors broken. According to HAK, some of the damage was done by the
university students themselves and some glass was broken when the police
shot tear gas at the students.
The 51 arrested university students were investigated, while in police
detension for seventy two hours, and then had a preliminary hearing at
the Dili District Court. All the students were represented by attorneys
during this process, Natércia de Deus Bárbosa from HAK Association and
Wilson Cabral acting in his professional capacity. The final result of
the hearing was that the Dili District Court released all 51 on their
own recognizance (identities and residence - TIR).
Reform of Timor-Leste National Police
Since January 2008 HAK Association has represented Timor-Leste's civil
society and national NGOs, as a nomine of the Prime Minister, on the
panel evaluating the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL). Aniceto Guro
Berteni Neves is HAK's representative; his role member-observer. From
January until June the panel, established by government resolution
22/2008, evaluated and made recommendations regarding 1430 police. They
recommended 1196 PNTL members for re-training and recertification. 234
PNTL members were given pending status due to allegations of involvement
in criminal activity against them. Some of the allegations stem from
early in their police careers and some relate to their involvement in
the 2006 crisis. The allegations are based on data from PNTL, UNPOL, the
Provedor for Human Rights (PDHJ), Prosecutor-General, United Nations
Human Rights Unit and the Transitional Justice Office of the United
Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). There are also
complaints and reports from civil society organizations, including HAK
itself, and from the general public.
The national evaluation panel is composed of representatives chosen by
the President of Timor-Leste, Prosecutor-General, UNMIT Human Rights
Unit, UNMIT Transitional Justice Office, the Catholic Church, and UNPOL
itself.
For more information please contact: Antonio Maria Soares at direito@yayasanhak.minihub.org
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