Defende Direitus Umanus no Akontabilidade ba Povu Míanmar

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La’o Hamutuk, nudár organizasaun sosiedade sivíl independente ne’ebé servisu iha área análize polítika públika, governasaun demokrátika no direitu umanu, hato’o karta aberta ida kona-ba diskusaun públiku relasiona ho investigasaun legal ne’ebé atualmente iha apresiasaun iha Ministériu Públiku Timor-Leste kona-ba alegasaun krime grave internasionál kontra povu iha Míanmar.

Karta ida ne’e La’o Hamutuk hato’o pozisaun katak, justisa tenke la’o, livre husi presaun polítika no dignidade umana tenke sai referénsia prinsipál iha relasaun internasionál inklusivamente Timor-Leste, Míanmar, ASEAN no mundu tomak. La’o Hamutuk enkoraja Ministériu Públiku Timor-Leste atu kontinua halo investigasaun, análize no verifikasaun legal ho independénsia plena, tuir Artigu 8.1, 9.2, 119 no 132 iha Konstituisaun Repúblika Demokrátika Timor-Leste, lei nasionál no norma lei internasionál. Investigasaun kriminál nudár etapa inisiál atu avalia se iha baze legal sufisiente atu kontinua prosesu. Prosesu ida ne’e la’ós julgamentu judisiáriu penál no la’ós desizaun polítika.

Tanba ne’e, ami apela ba autoridade polítika hotu atu respeita separasaun podér no evita deklarasaun ne’ebé bele interpreta hanesan tentativa ba orientasaun ka limita prosesu judisiál. Hanesan organizasaun sosiedade sivíl ne’ebé durante tau matan ba asuntu direitu umanu no demokrasia, La’o Hamutuk apresia tebes ba Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP) no Da Silva Teixeira & Associados ne’ebé rejista kazu violasaun direitu umanu hasoru povu Chin iha Míanmar ba Ministériu Públiku Timor-Leste dudu prosesu legal ba akontabilidade justisa. Infelizmente violasaun direitu umanu iha Míanmar akontese iha tinan barak no sai ona preokupasaun mundiál, maibé too agora seidauk iha asaun internasionál konkretu ida hodi hapara forsa rejime ditadura militár ne’ebé kontinua buras.

Estadu de Direitu no independénsia instituisaun

Konstituisaun Repúblika Demokrátika Timor-Leste garante autonomia Ministériu Públiku no independénsia Tribunál sira nudár pillar fundamentál Estadu de Direitu demokrátiku. Prinsípiu legal ida ne’e la’ós de’it nudár estrutura legal ida maibé tenke sai espasu no baze atu asegura katak aplikasaun lei ho imparsialidade, igualdade no seguransa jurídika.

Bainhira podér polítiku antisipa opiniaun públiku ne’ebé bele interpreta hanesan orientasaun ba desizaun judisiál, maske la iha intensaun direta atu influensia maibé situasaun ida ne’e bele kria persepsaun interferénsia. Tanba ne’e, prudénsia iha komunikasaun públika nudár parte hosi responsabilidade Polítika atu proteje kredibilidade Tribunál no Ministériu Públiku.

Estadu Timor-Leste rasik iha kometimentu hodi valoriza prinsipiu estadu de direitu demokrátiku, inklui hametin solidariedade internasionál ne’ebé klaru haktuir iha Artigu 10 konstituisaun RDTL hatete katak Timor-Leste sei solidáriu ba Povu hotu ne’ebé luta ba libertasaun nasionál. Repúblika Demokrátika Timór-Leste fó azilu polítiku, tuir lei haruka, ba ema rai seluk sira ne’ebé persigidu tanba sira-nia luta ba libertasaun nasionál no sosiál, defeza ba direitus umanus, demokrasia no dame. Prinsípiu legal hirak ne’e adopta ona ho ninia baze vitória istóriku ida hasoru opresaun, ne’ebé povu Timor-Leste rasik liu ona.

Lei nasionál no lei internasionál

Kódigu Penál Timor-Leste define krime kontra umanidade no krime funu nudár violasaun grave ne’ebé afeta umanidade tomak. Norma sira ne’e aliña ho padraun Lei internasionál ne’ebé bandu violénsia direitus umanus kombina Lei Internasionál Direitus Umanus (IHRL), ne’ebé proteje indivíduu sira husi abuzu estadu nian, no Lei Umanitáriu Internasionál (IHL), ne’ebé regula konflitu armadu. Inklui Deklarasaun Universál Direitus Umanus nian (UDHR), Estatutu Roma no Konvensaun Jenebra ne'ebé manda tratamentu umanu, bandu tortura, no manda responsabilizasaun ba violasaun sira, ho obrigasaun ba estadu sira atu proteje indivíduu sira no prosesa abuzu sira. Iha tempu hanesan, direitu internasionál rekoñese prinsípiu jurisdisaun universál, ne’ebé permite Estadu atu avalia alegasaun krime grave bainhira apropriadu, atu prevene impunidade. Tanba ne’e, abertura investigasaun preliminár iha prokuradór Timor-Leste nian nudár etapa legal normal atu verifika evidénsia, la’ós julgamentu ka interferénsia diplomátika.

Solidariedade ho vítima no diplomasia responsavel

La’o Hamutuk reafirma ami nia solidariedade ho povu Míanmar, liu-liu komunidade sivíl ne’ebé enfrenta violasaun grave direitu umanu. Solidariedade ida ne’e la kontra soberania Estadu ruma; Solidariedade nudár aktu protesaun dignidade umana, hanesan valor universal ne’ebé rekoñese iha lei internasionál no iha relasaun entre nasaun sira.

Tinan 50 liu ba, ditadura militár iha Jakarta viola prinsipiu internasionál no direitu umanus povu Timor nian durante okupasaun ilegál. Estadu sira husi ASEAN nonook de’it, no militár Indonézia oho no tortura Timor-oan barak. Ita labele fó lisensa ba krime kontra umanidade dala ida tan. Estadu RDTL no estadu hotu iha mundu iha obrigasaun atu uza mekanizmu legál no diplomátiku atu defende direitu umanus ba povu Birmánia.

Relasaun internasionál sustentável depende ba iha respeitu mútua ba dignidade umana no lei. Bainhira Estadu sira hatudu kompromisu ba norma universal no akontabilidade, komunidade internasionál bele dezenvolve kooperasaun ne’ebé bazeia iha konfiansa, estabilidade no responsabilidade.

La’o Hamutuk enkoraja atu:

1. Ministériu Públiku kontinua halo avaliasaun independente tuir lei no evidénsia: 
   Prosesu investigasaun presiza la’o ho autonomia no professional, tuir prosedimentu legal no padraun prova ne’ebé aplikavel. Avaliasaun preliminár nudár etapa normal atu determina se iha baze legal sufisiente atu avansa ba etapa sira tuir mai no importante atu proteje direitu vítima no direitu suspeitu ho imparsialidade.
   
   
2. Autoridade polítika respeita separasaun podér no evita influénsia prosesu judisiál:
   Deklarasaun públika presiza halo ho prudénsia atu la kria persepsaun negativa ba kazu ida. Respeitu ba iha separasaun podér entre podér ezekutivu no judisiál hodi hametin konfiansa públika no proteje kredibilidade Estadu de Direitu.
   
   
3. Komunidade internasionál promove protesaun sivíl no solusaun pasífiku:
   Kooperasaun internasionál tenke orienta ba prevene violénsia, proteje populasaun sivíl no promove diálogu konstrutivu.
   
   
4. Estadu RDTL no mundu tomak, inklui membru ASEAN sira, tenke defende demokrasia no direitu umanus iha Mianmar ho diplomasia no prosesu legál.

Konkluzaun

Timor-Leste, nudár nasaun ne’ebé moris husi esperiénsia luta ba justisa no dignidade, iha responsabilidade moral no legal atu defende prinsípiu universal direitu umanu iha relasaun internasionál. Esperiénsia istóriku hatudu katak pás sustentável depende iha respeitu ba lei no akontabilidade.

Justisa independente la kontra diplomasia; justisa independente mak fundasaun diplomasia kredivel tanba hatudu katak Estadu respeita regra no responsabilidade. Akontabilidade la’ós vingansa-akontabilidade mak mekanizmu atu garante katak violasaun grave la repete no katak sofrimentu umanu hetan rekoñesimentu no resposta tuir lei.

Defend Human Rights and Accountability for the People of Myanmar

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La’o Hamutuk, as an independent civil society organization working on ​​public policy analysis, democratic governance and human rights, contributes this open letter to the public discussion of the current legal investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Timor-Leste on allegations of serious international crimes against the people of Myanmar.

Through this letter, La’o Hamutuk expresses our view that justice must prevail, free from political pressure, and that human dignity must be the main reference in international relations including in Timor-Leste, Myanmar, ASEAN and the rest of the world. La’o Hamutuk encourages the Public Prosecutor’s Office to continue to carry out fully independent investigations, analysis and legal verification, in accordance with Articles 8.1, 9.2, 119 and 132 of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, national law and international legal principles. A criminal investigation is the first step to assess if there is sufficient legal basis to proceed. This process is neither a criminal judicial trial nor a political decision.

Therefore, we call on all political authorities to respect the separation of powers and avoid statements that could be interpreted as attempts to direct or limit the judicial process. As a civil society organization that supports human rights and democracy, La’o Hamutuk highly appreciates the Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP) and Da Silva Teixeira & Associates for bringing cases of human rights violations against the Chin people in Myanmar to the Public Prosecutor's Office of Timor-Leste. Unfortunately, human rights violations have occurred for many years in Myanmar and have become a global concern, but so far there has been no concrete international action to stop the continuing military dictatorship.

Rule of law and institutional independence

The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste guarantees the autonomy of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the independence of the courts as fundamental pillars of the democratic rule of law. This principle is not only a legal structure but must be the environment to ensure that the law is applied impartially, equally and with legal certainty.

When political powers encourage public opinion to guide judicial decisions, even if there is no direct intent to influence, it can create the perception of interference. Therefore, prudence in public communication is essential to protect the credibility of the Court and the Public Prosecutor.

The State of Timor-Leste is itself committed to the principle of democratic rule of law, including strengthening international solidarity, which is clearly stated in Article 10 of the RDTL Constitution: Timor-Leste will be in solidarity with all people who fight for national liberation. The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste grants political asylum, in accordance with the law, to foreigners persecuted for their struggle for national and social liberation, defense of human rights, democracy and peace. These legal principles have been adopted on the basis of a historic victory over oppression, which the people of Timor-Leste themselves have experienced.

National law and international law

The Criminal Code of Timor-Leste defines crimes against humanity and war crimes as serious violations that affect all humanity. These norms align with international legal standards that prohibit human rights violations, combining International Human Rights Law (IHRL) which protects individuals from state abuses, and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which regulates armed conflict. They include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Rome Statute and the Geneva Convention which mandate humane treatment, prohibit torture, and mandate accountability for violations, with obligations on states to protect individuals and prosecute abuses. At the same time, international law recognizes the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows the State to assess allegations of serious crimes when appropriate, to prevent impunity. Therefore, the opening of a preliminary investigation by the Timor-Leste prosecutor is a normal legal step to verify evidence, not a trial or diplomatic interference.

Solidarity with victims and responsible diplomacy

La’o Hamutuk reaffirms our solidarity with the people of Myanmar, especially civilian victims of serious human rights violations. This solidarity is not against the sovereignty of any State; Solidarity is an act to protect human dignity, and is a universal value recognized in international law and in relations between nations.

Fifty years ago, the military dictatorship in Jakarta violated international principles and the human rights of the Timorese people during their illegal occupation. ASEAN states remained silent, and the Indonesian military killed and tortured many of our people. We cannot sit by while such crimes against humanity happen again. The State of RDTL and all states have an obligation to use legal and diplomatic mechanisms to defend the human rights of the people of Myanmar.

Sustainable international relations depend on mutual respect for human dignity and the law. When states show their commitment to universal norms and accountability, the international community can develop cooperation based on trust, stability and responsibility.

La’o Hamutuk encourages:

1. The Public Prosecutor's Office to continue to make independent assessments in accordance with the law and evidence: The investigation process should be autonomous and professional, in accordance with applicable legal procedures and standards of proof. Preliminary assessment is a normal step to determine whether there is sufficient legal basis to proceed to the next steps and is important to protect the rights of victims and suspects impartially.
   
   
2. Political authorities must respect the separation of powers and avoid influencing judicial processes: Public statements need to be made with caution so as not to create a negative perception of a case. Respect the separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches to strengthen public confidence and protect the credibility of the rule of law.
   
   
3. The international community promotes civil protection and peaceful solutions: International cooperation should be oriented towards preventing violence, protecting the civilian population and promoting constructive dialogue.
   
   
4. The State of RDTL and the rest of the world, including ASEAN members, must defend democracy and human rights in Myanmar through diplomatic and legal processes.

Conclusion

Timor-Leste, as a nation living with the memory of struggle for justice and dignity, has a moral and legal responsibility to defend the universal principle of human rights in international relations. Our historical experience shows that sustainable peace depends on respect for the law and accountability.

Independent justice is not against diplomacy; independent justice is the foundation of credible diplomacy because it shows that a state respects rules and responsibilities. Accountability is not revenge; accountability is a mechanism to ensure that serious violations are not repeated and that human suffering is recognized and responded to in accordance with the law.

Sustainable international relations depend on mutual respect for human dignity and the law. When States demonstrate a commitment to universal norms and accountability, the international community can develop cooperation based on trust, stability and accountability.