La’o Hamutuk Husu Parlamentu Nasionál atu Hasai Kriminalizasaun ba Defamasaun husi Kódigu Penal Timor-Leste

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Iha dia 3 Juñu La’o Hamutuk hato’o submisaun ba Komisaun A Parlamentu Nasionál kona-ba Projetu Lei Alterasaun ba Kódigu Penál, no husu Parlamentu atu separa ho klaridade matéria rua ne’ebé iha natureza diferente: protesaun ba vítima violénsia seksuál no kriminalizasaun defamasaun.

La’o Hamutuk apoiu medida sira atu kriminaliza asédiu seksuál, komportamentu seksuál la ho konsentimentu no insestu. Vítima violénsia seksuál presiza protesaun forte, asesu ba justisa, dignidade no sistema justisa ne’ebé seguru, sensivel no konfidensiál.

Maibé, La’o Hamutuk rejeita proposta atu kriminaliza defamasaun iha Kódigu Penál. La’o Hamutuk la defende falsidade, ofensa ka imputasaun falsu. Defamasaun bele hamosu prejuizu real ba indivíduu, família no komunidade. Maibé resposta ne’ebé justu, efetivu no proporsional la’ós prizaun. Mekanizmu apropriadu sira mak direitu resposta, retifikasaun, mediasaun, reparasaun sivíl, uza mekanizmu iha Konsellu Imprensa, étika komunikasaun sosiál, literasia dijitál no verifikasaun faktu independente.

La’o Hamutuk rekoñese katak liberdade espresaun la’ós direitu absolutu, no katak Estadu iha devér atu proteje onra, naran di’ak no reputasaun. Maibé, iha Estadu demokrátiku, kualkér restrisaun ba liberdade espresaun tenke sai nesesária, proporsional no medida menus restritiva. Bainhira iha ona direitu resposta, retifikasaun, mediasaun, reparasaun sivíl no mekanizmu Konsellu Imprensa, pena prizaun ba defamasaun sai resposta ne’ebé todan liu no risku liu.

Kriminalizasaun defamasaun ho pena prizaun bele hamosu ambiente ta’uk, auto-sensura- evita ko’alia kona-ba asuntu sensivel no intimidasaun. Jornalista sira bele sente presaun iha investigasaun kona-ba asuntu públiku. Denunsiante sira bele ta’uk atu ko’alia. Akadémiku, ativista, vítima no sidadaun sira bele evita atu hato’o sira nian hanoin. Komunidade afetada bele sente intimidasaun bainhira hato’o preokupasaun kona-ba korrupsaun, abuzu podér, kontratu públiku, rekursu naturál, mina no gás, mineiru, ambiente, infraestrutura, bee, eletrisidade, saúde no edukasaun.

Maski Projetu Lei bele prevee salvaguarda ba lia-loos, boa-fé ka interese públiku, salvaguarda sira ne’e normálmente la’o depois prosesu kriminál hahú. Efeitu intimidatóriu mosu kedas bainhira jornalista, denunsiante ka sidadaun hetan keixa, investigasaun, kustu advogadu, stigma sosiál no ameasa prizaun. Tanba ne’e, problema prinsipál la’ós de’it sentensa finál, maibé natureza kriminál husi prosesu rasik.

Iha setór ne’ebé envolve rekursu públiku, kontratu boot, ambiente no impaktu ba komunidade, liberdade atu husu pergunta no publika análize independente mak parte esensiál husi governasaun di’ak. Ida ne’e la’ós atu impede dezenvolvimentu, maibé atu garante transparénsia, responsabilidade no konfiansa públika. Lei penál labele sai instrumentu atu limita povu afetadu sira nian lian ka hamenus kontrolu demokrátiku ba desizaun sira ne’ebé envolve interese públiku.

Memória istórika Timor-Leste hanorin ita atu kuidadu ho kualkér lei ne’ebé bele limita liberdade espresaun no debate públiku. Demokrasia ne’ebé forte presiza imprensa independente, denunsiante ne’ebé protejidu, no sidadaun sira ne’ebé livre atu hato’o preokupasaun la ho intimidasaun.

Iha tinan 2020, proposta hanesan kona-ba kriminalizasaun defamasaun husi Ministériu Justisa hetan rezisténsia boot husi públiku, sosiedade sivíl, jornalista no defensór direitus umanus. Iha tempu ne’ebá, La’o Hamutuk hato’o submisaun no karta aberta ba autoridade relevante sira atu rejeita proposta refere. Governu suspende prosesu ne’e iha Agostu 2020, maibé proposta la kansela permanente.

Agora, Parlamentu Nasionál konsidera fila fali proposta kriminalizasaun defamasaun iha 2026, La’o Hamutuk husu Komisaun A no Parlamentu Nasionál atu aprende husi prosesu pasadu. Parlamentu tenke garante konsultasaun públika nasionál ne’ebé substantiva, inkluziva no transparente antes votasaun finál.
La’o Hamutuk respeita Parlamentu Nasionál nian kompeténsia konstituisionál atu halo lei. Husi ne’ebá, rekomendasaun sira ne’e hato’o hanesan kontribuisaun sosiedade sivíl atu ajuda prosesu lejizlativa sai transparente, inkluzivu, proporsional no kompativel ho direitus umanus liu.

La’o Hamutuk husu Komisaun A no Parlamentu Nasionál atu:

1. Hasai artigu 187.º-A to’o 187.º-H husi Projetu Lei Alterasaun ba Kódigu Penál, liuliu dispozisaun sira ne’ebé kriminaliza defamasaun, injuria, ofensa ba memória matebian - ofensa ba dignidade no naran-di’ak ema ne’ebé mate ona no ofensa ba entidade koletiva.
    
2. Kontinua diskute no aprova medida sira ne’ebé atu hametin protesaun ba vítima violénsia seksuál, inklui asédiu seksuál, importunasaun seksuál, komportamentu seksuál la ho konsentimentu no insestu.
   
   
3. Realiza konsultasaun públika nasionál iha Dili no munisípiu sira, ho dokumentu jurídiku iha Tetun ne’ebé klaru no asesivel, no envolve jornalista, Konsellu Imprensa, organizasaun feto no labarik, juventude, ema ho defisiénsia, PDHJ, Ministériu Públiku, PNTL, Defensória Públika, Igreja, autoridade lokál, akadémiku, sobrevivénte violénsia seksuál, komunidade rurál no organizasaun sosiedade sivíl.
   
   
4. Reforsa mekanizmu sivíl no institusionál atu proteje reputasaun, liu husi direitu resposta, retifikasaun, mediasaun, reparasaun sivíl, Konsellu Imprensa, étika komunikasaun sosiál, literasia dijitál no verifikasaun faktu independente.
   
   
5. Fó prioridade ba aprovasaun lei protesaun denunsiante no fonte informasaun iha interese públiku, atu ema sira ne’ebé revela informasaun kona-ba korrupsaun, abuzu podér, violénsia ka risku ambientál la hetan intimidasaun ka retaliasaun.

La’o Hamutuk reafirma katak protesaun ba reputasaun importante tebes, maibé, proposta atu kriminaliza defamasaun ho pena prizaun kontinua aprezenta risku signifikativu ba liberdade espresaun. Pena prizaun bele uza hanesan instrumentu atu intimida jornalista, denunsiante no sidadaun sira ne’ebé halo kritika ne’ebé iha fundamentadu no iha interese públiku. Tanba ne’e, Parlamentu tenke separa matéria violénsia seksuál husi matéria defamasaun.

Pena prizaun la’ós resposta ne’ebé apropriadu. Lei penál labele uza hanesan instrumentu atu limita kritika lejítima, denunsia iha boa-fé, jornalizmu independente, peskiza akadémika, partisipasaun públika ka lian komunidade afetada.

Proteje vítima. Proteje reputasaun. Maibé labele lori ema kritiku ba prizaun.

Kritika la’ós krime. Denunsia iha boa-fé la’ós krime. Partisipasaun públika la’ós krime.

Bele hetan informasaun no artigu tan husi 
https://www.laohamutuk.org/Justice/defamation/2020/20DefamLaw.htm 

LH asks National Parliament to Remove Criminalization of Defamation from TL Penal Code

 Liga ba blog ida-ne'e iha lian Tetum 

On 3 June, La'o Hamutuk made a submission to Committee A of the National Parliament on the proposed law to amend the Penal Code, asking Parliament to clearly separate two matters of different natures: protecting victims of sexual violence and criminalizing defamation.

La'o Hamutuk supports measures to criminalize sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual acts and incest. Victims of sexual violence need strong protection, access to justice, dignity and a safe, sensitive and confidential justice system.

However, La'o Hamutuk rejects the proposal to criminalize defamation in the Penal Code. La'o Hamutuk does not advocate falsehood, offense or false imputation. Defamation can cause real harm to individuals, families and communities. But prison is not a fair, effective and proportionate response. Appropriate mechanisms are the right of reply, rectification, mediation, civil reparation, use of mechanisms in the Press Council, media ethics, digital literacy and independent fact checking.

La'o Hamutuk recognizes that freedom of expression is not an absolute right, and that the State has a duty to protect honor, good name and reputation. However, in a democratic state, any restriction on freedom of expression must be necessary, proportionate and the least restrictive measure. When there is a right of reply, rectification, mediation, civil reparation and Press Council mechanisms, a prison sentence for defamation becomes the most severe and dangerous response.

Criminalizing defamation with prison can create an environment of fear, self-censorship- avoidance of speaking about sensitive subjects and intimidation. Journalists may feel pressure not to investigate public matters. Whistleblowers may be afraid to speak up. Academics, activists, victims and citizens may avoid expressing their views. The affected community may feel intimidated when raising concerns about corruption, abuse of power, public contracts, natural resources, oil and gas, mining, environment, infrastructure, water, electricity, health and education.

Although the bill might provide for truth, good faith or public interest safeguards, these safeguards normally lapse once criminal proceedings have commenced. The intimidating effect comes immediately when the journalist, whistleblower or citizen is subjected to complaints, investigations, attorney fees, social stigma and the threat of imprisonment. Therefore, the main problem is not just the final judgment, but the criminal proceedings themselves.

In a sector involving public resources, large contracts, the environment and community impact, the freedom to ask questions and publish independent analysis is essential to good governance. This is not to impede development, but to ensure transparency, accountability and public trust. Criminal law must not be used as an instrument to limit the voice of affected peoples or reduce democratic control over decisions involving the public interest.

Timor-Leste's historical memory teaches us to be wary of any law that limits freedom of expression and public debate. A strong democracy requires an independent press, protected whistleblowers, and citizens who are free to voice concerns without intimidation.

In 2020, a similar proposal to criminalize defamation by the Ministry of Justice was met with strong resistance from the public, civil society, journalists and human rights defenders. At that time, La'o Hamutuk submitted a submission and an open letter to the relevant authorities to reject the proposal. The government suspended the process in August 2020, but the proposal was not permanently cancelled.

Now, the National Parliament is again considering the proposal to criminalize defamation, and La'o Hamutuk again asks Committee A and Parliament to learn from the past. Parliament must ensure substantive, inclusive and transparent national public consultation before the final vote.

La'o Hamutuk respects the Parliament's constitutional power to enact laws. Therefore, these recommendations are presented as a civil society contribution to help the legislative process be more transparent, inclusive, proportionate and consistent with human rights compatible.

La’o Hamutuk calls on Committee A and the National Parliament to:

1. Remove articles 187-A to 187-H from the Penal Code Amendment Bill, especially the provisions that criminalize defamation, insult, offense to the memory of the deceased - offense to the dignity and reputation of the deceased and offense to the collective entity.
   
   
2. Continue to discuss and approve measures to strengthen protections for victims of sexual violence, including sexual harassment, sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual acts and incest.
   
   
3. Conduct national public consultations in Dili and the municipalities, with clear and accessible legal documents in Tetum, and involve journalists, the Press Council, women and children's organizations, youth, people with disabilities, PDHJ, Public Prosecutor, PNTL, Public Defender, Church, academics, local authorities, survivors of sexual violence, rural communities and civil society organizations.
   
   
4. Strengthen civil and institutional mechanisms to protect reputation, through the right of reply, rectification, mediation, civil reparation, Press Council, media ethics, digital literacy and independent fact checking.
   
   
5. Prioritize adoption of laws protecting whistleblowers and sources of information in the public interest, so that people who disclose information about corruption, abuse of power, violence or environmental risk are not intimidated or retaliated against.

La'o Hamutuk reaffirms that the protection of reputation is very important. However, the proposal to criminalize defamation with a prison sentence continues to present a significant risk to freedom of expression. Imprisonment could be used as a tool to intimidate journalists, whistleblowers and citizens who make well-founded and public interest criticism. Therefore, Parliament should separate the matter of sexual violence from the matter of defamation.

A prison sentence is not an appropriate response. Criminal law must not be used to limit legitimate criticism, whistleblowing, independent journalism, academic research, public participation or the voices of the affected community.

Protect the victim. Protect reputation. But don't send critics to jail.

Criticism is not a crime. Whistleblowing in good faith is not a crime. Public participation is not a crime.

More information, articles and submissions are on La'o Hamutuk's webpage.