Unconstitutional Resolutions

La'o Hamutuk recently received an in-depth legal analysis of the three resolutions by Government and Parliament which resulted in the removal of foreign judges and advisers from the judicial sector in Timor-Leste at the end of October 2014.  The 11-page analysis, which was prepared for an institution which decided not to issue it officially,  concludes:

• The Resolutions are contrary to the Constitution as they contravene the principles of the separation of power and the independence of the judiciary. As a result, they are invalid and unenforceable.
• The Resolutions purport to enact law on a matter over which neither the National Parliament nor the Government has competence under the Constitution and are therefore invalid and unenforceable.
• The Resolutions are unenforceable because they are inconsistent with superior laws.
• The notification by the Ministry of Justice purporting to cancel the employment contracts of the international judges may in fact be of no legal effect, depending on the nature of the contractual arrangement governing their employment. The notification may also be invalid as a matter of contract law.
• Because of the invalidity of the Parliamentary Resolution and the First Government Resolution, and doubts around the validity of the purported cancellation of the international judges’ employment agreements, the Second Government Resolution is also invalid. Accordingly, any action taken by the Immigration Service or the Police to enforce the Second Government Resolution may also be subject to a legal challenge.

We have posted this analysis to http://www.laohamutuk.org/Justice/2014/ExpertLegalOpinion.pdf and hope that it will improve people's understanding of these issues. Other documents and analyses in English, Portuguese and/or Tetum, including a comprehensive one by JSMP, are also linked from http://www.laohamutuk.org/Justice/2014/14Judges.htm.  We look forward to reading the report from the Justice Sector Audit requested by Parliament, which is supposed to be presented to Parliament and the public early in 2015.

Sadly, TL government blocks IMF Report

Timor-Leste’s Government has prevented the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from publishing its 2014 “Article IV Consultation” report on Timor-Leste. Because of irresolvable disagreement over the report’s content, the Government decided not to allow the release of the report this year.  La’o Hamutuk is saddened by this decision, as we believe that information from a variety of viewpoints is essential to developing sustainable, equitable economic and fiscal policies.

These reports, around 55-70 pages, usually contain a Staff Report, an Informational Annex and a Debt Sustainability Analysis. Many governments request changes to draft reports, and the IMF often incorporates them, as well as “Authorities’ views” setting our the government’s perspective. However, the IMF will not publish a report or press release about an Article IV Consultation without the Government’s consent. In 2013, 99% of countries agreed to publish a press release, and around 90%, including Timor-Leste, agreed to publish the detailed report.

IMF Article IV reports on Timor-Leste were published for 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003, and 2014 was the first time the government did not consent.

La’o Hamutuk does not always agree with the IMF, particularly regarding economic justice, borrowing and the role of the private sector. However, these reports are an important contribution toward understanding Timor-Leste’s economy, and we are disappointed that the public, including ourselves, have not been able to read the latest one.

The information in the IMF's October press release which summarizes the suppressed report needs deeper elaboration and thought. It mentions dependency on declining oil reserves, excessive government spending, slow private sector growth, more thought needed for special economic zones, the shortage of good data and other issues.

Read more at http://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/IMF/14TLblocksIMF.htm.

Discussion tomorrow on Poverty & Economic Development

Please join Monash University researchers, La'o Hamutuk, government and ADB representatives for a discussion on Poverty and Timor-Leste's Economic Development Strategy

Wednesday, 5 November 9:30-12:30 at Hotel Excelsior.

 

Click here for information about a preliminary discussion of a related topic a few months ago.  

Update: Download the presentations from this workshop from

Bele hetan aprezentasaun sira husi seminariu ida nee husi:

 http://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/Monash/14PovertyAgric.htm#Nov14

TL e a CPLP não deviam acolher um ditador corrupto

Liga ba blog ida ne'e iha Tetum or English

Líderes dos países de língua portuguesa reúnem-se em Dili para a X Cimeira de Chefes de Estado e de Governo da Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (CPLP). Um dos items mais importantes e mais controversos da sua agenda será a adesão da Guiné-Equatorial como membro permanente da CPLP.

Em Dili tem-se discutido muito as preparações para as visitas destes VIP – construção urgente generalizada e alto volume de despesa – mas a La'o Hamutuk propõe que se preste mais atenção ao que se vai passar na própria Cimeira. Ontem a La'o Hamutuk e muitos outros timorenses preocupados com os Direitos Humanos enviaram uma Carta Aberta (original em tetum ou English) ao Presidente da República Taur Matan Ruak e a outros dirigentes timorenses, lembrando-os de que “muitas pessoas não concordam com esta adesão da Guiné-Equatorial, uma nação não-falante de português” e pedindo-lhes que a Cimeira “não ratifique esta adesão ou que, no mínimo, a torne condicionada à existência de melhorias significativas na área dos direitos humanos e da redução da corrupção.”

1995: protestos contra a visita de Suharto à cidade de Nova Iorque.

Durante a ocupação de Timor-Leste pela ditadura brutal e corrupta de Suharto, amigos em todo o mundo protestavam sempre que Suharto visitava os seus países. Em conjunto com os líderes de muitos países de língua portuguesa, fizeram-se campanhas para isolar o regime indonésio da legitimidade internacional. Acreditamos que o povo da Guiné-Equatorial tem direito ao mesmo tipo de apoio na sua luta contra o regime que os tem governado nos últimos 35 anos.

A La'o Hamutuk colocou uma página no seu site com a nossa Carta Aberta e outros materiais de referência. As principais razões pelas quais pensamos que Timor-Leste e a CPLP não deveriam acolher este ditador no nosso país e na nossa comunidade são as seguintes:

• Não existência de democracia, violação permanente de direitos humanos, incluindo mortes
• Limitação da liberdade de imprensa e da possibilidade de os cidadãos expressarem as suas opiniões
• Pobreza generalizada num país que é um dos países africanos com maior riqueza petrolífera
• Inexistência de transparência sobre finanças governamentais
• Um dos regimes mais corruptos do mundo.

A Guiné-Equatorial tem menos população, mais petróleo e maior pobreza do que Timor-Leste, e é um caso exemplar de “maldição dos recursos”. Ainda assim, o ditador Teodoro Obiang vai trazer com ele 80 pessoas para a Cimeira da CPLP. Foi-nos explicado que o seu avião é grande demais para poder aterrar em Dili, razão pela qual terá de alugar dois aviões mais pequenos em Singapura.

A Constituição de Timor-Leste determina que a RDTL estenderá a sua solidariedade a todos os povos do mundo na sua luta pela libertação nacional mas os Estatutos da CPLP dizem que um Estado membro não pode “interferir” nos assuntos internos de outros membros. Se Timor-Leste e a CPLP aceitarem a Guiné-Equatorial como membro, estarão a abandonar o seu compromisso com os direitos humanos do povo deste país.

Timor-Leste no CPLP labele simu ditadór korruptu

Link to this blog in English or Portuguese

Lider lusofon halibur malu iha Dili ba Simeira ba dala sanulu Xefe Estadu no Governu komunidade nasaun ne’ebé ko’alia lian Portuguese (CPLP). Asuntu ida ne’ebé importante tebes no kontrovérsial iha sira nia ajenda mak simu Gine Equatorial nudár membru permanente ba CPLP.

Ema sira ne’ebé hela iha Dili preokupa barak ba preparasaun atu simu bainaka espesiál sira -- halo konstrusaun emerjénsia barak no despeza ne’ebé as, La'o Hamutuk hanoin katak importante mós atu konsidera konferénsia ida ne'e rasik. Horisehik La’o Hamutuk ho Timor-oan lubuk ne’ebé preokupa ba direitus umanus haruka karta aberta (Ingles ka Portuges) ida ba Prezidente Taur Matan Ruak no leader RDTL sira seluk, hodi fó hanoin ba sira katak “iha ema barak la konkorda adesaun Gine Equatorial, nasaun ida ne’ebé la ko’alia lian Portuguese hodi sai membru CPLP” no husu ba konferénsia ne’e atu “labele ratifika adesaun ida ne’e, ka mínimu halo desizaun ne’e kondisionál atu hadi’a direitus umanus no hamenus korrupsaun.”

1995: protesta vizita Suharto ba Sidade Nova Iorke

Durante ditadór Suharto nia okupasaun ne’ebé brutal, korruptu iha Timor-Leste, maluk barak iha mundu tomak, protesta bainhira Suharto ba vizita sira nia nasaun. Hamutuk ho lider hosi nasaun sira ne’ebé ko’alia lian Portuguese, sira halo kampaña atu izola nia rejime hosi lejitimidade internasionál. Ami fiar katak povu iha Gine Equatorial merese hetan suporta ne’ebé hanesan, tanba sira nia luta iha rejime ne’e nia okos ne’ebé ukun ona sira ba tinan 35.

La’o Hamutuk publika ona pájina ida iha ami nia website ho ami nia karta no material referénsia sira. Asuntu sira tuir mai ne’e mak sai razaun forte ne’ebé ami hanoin katak Timor-Leste no CPLP labele simu ditadór ida ne’e ba iha ita nia nasaun no ita nia komunidade:

• Laiha demokrasia no iha violasaun barak ba direitus umanus, inklui oho ema
• Liberdade imprensa ne’ebé uitoan ka espasu uitoan de’it ba ema atu espresa sira nia hanoin
• Pobreza ne’ebé maka’as iha nasaun Áfrika ida ne’ebé riku liu ho mina-rai
• Laiha transparénsia ba finansa governu nian
• Rejime ida ne’ebé korruptu liu iha mundu

Gine Equatorial iha ema uitoan, mina-rai barak no pobreza ne’ebé maka’as liu kompara ho Timor-Leste, no hare ba nudár livru lisaun ida hosi kazu “malisan rekursu.” Maski nune’e, Ditadór Teodoro Obiang lori nia ema na’in 80 atu mai ho nia ba Simeira CPLP. Ami rona katak nia aviaun ne’e boot demais atu bele tun iha Dili, nune’e sira aluga aviaun rua hosi Singapore.

Konstituisaun RDTL hateten katak RDTL sei fó solidáriu ho povu hotu-hotu ne’ebé luta ba libertasaun nasionál, maibé Estatutu CPLP hateten katak membru sira sei labele “interfere” iha asuntu internal membru seluk nian. Karik Timor-Leste no CPLP simu Gine Equatorial nudár membru ida, ita abandona ona ita nia kometimentu ba direitus umanus povu sira ne’ebé moris iha ne’ebá.

TL and CPLP should not welcome a corrupt dictator

Liga ba blog ida ne'e iha Tetum or Portuguese

Portuguese-speaking leaders are gathering in Dili for the Tenth Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP). One of the most important and controversial items on their agenda is the acceptance of Equatorial Guinea as a full member of CPLP.

Dili residents are talking a lot about the preparations for the VIP visitors -- widespread emergency construction and high spending -- but La'o Hamutuk thinks we should also pay attention to what will happen at the Summit itself. Yesterday, La'o Hamutuk and many other Timorese concerned about human rights sent an open letter (Tetum original or Portuguese translation) to President Taur Matan Ruak and other RDTL leaders, reminding them that "many people do not agree that Equatorial Guinea, a non-Portuguese-speaking nation, should join CPLP" and asking the Summit "not to approve this accession or at least to make it conditional on significant improvement in human rights and reducing corruption."

1995: protesting Suharto's visit to New York City.

During the Suharto dictatorship's brutal, corrupt occupation of Timor-Leste, friends around the world protested when Suharto visited their countries. Together with the leaders of many Portuguese-speaking countries, they campaigned to isolate his regime from international legitimacy. We believe that the people of Equatorial Guinea deserve the same support, as they struggle under the regime which has ruled them for 35 years.

La'o Hamutuk has posted a page on our website with our letter and reference materials. The following are the main reasons we think Timor-Leste and CPLP should not welcome this dictator to our country and community:

• No democracy and many human rights violations, including killings
• Little freedom of the press or tolerance of people expressing their views
• Widespread poverty in one of Africa's most oil-rich countries
• No transparency about government finances
• One of the most corrupt regimes in the world.

Equatorial Guinea has fewer people, more oil, and deeper poverty than Timor-Leste, and is seen as the textbook case of the 'resource curse.' However, Dictator Teodoro Obiang is bringing 80 people here with him to the CPLP Summit. We have been told that his plane is too large to land in Dili, so they are chartering two planes from Singapore.

Timor-Leste's Constitution says that RDTL will extend solidarity to people around the world who struggle for national liberation, but the CPLP Statutes say that members cannot "interfere" in the internal affairs of other members. If Timor-Leste and CPLP accept Equatorial Guinea as a member, we abandon our commitment to the human rights of the people who live there.

New La'o Hamutuk page on Oecusse Special Economic Zone

La'o Hamutuk has just published the first edition of an extensive web page on the Special Zone for Social Market Economy planned for Oecusse. The page, in both English and Tetum, contains many graphics, documents, links and videos.  It will be updated and revised as we obtain more information.  The main topics are:

• Aiming high - the project's dreams and goals
• Many Timor-Leste laws don't apply - autonomy and unelected governance
• Consulting the public - or the lack thereof, especially for women
• Spending and/or investment - $1 million in 2013, $23m in 2014, $4 billion more in future
• Documents, laws, videos, plans and other resources