Timor-Leste President TMR Urged to Veto Bad Media Law

Read more here.


On 6 May, after only three hours of specific debate, Timor-Leste's Parliament passed a law which would severely restrict Constitutional rights of freedom of speech and of the press. More than three weeks later, they have not yet sent the law to President Taur Matan Ruak. The President will have 30 days in which to sign or veto the law after he receives it.

Yesterday, La'o Hamutuk and other organizations wrote a letter urging the President to veto the law, "because it will harm democracy and human rights, restrict many people's rights to freedom of expression, and give power to a single group to issue a few licenses while limiting other people's rights to share information. We believe this violates Timor-Leste’s Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

The letter is online at www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/LHLeiImprensa29MaiuTe.pdf , 
with an English translation at www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/LHLeiImprensa29MaiuEn.pdf . 
More information and analysis, including texts and translations of versions of the law, are at http://www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/14MediaLaw.htm .

ETAN supports the letter, and Lao Hamutuk welcomes additional endorsements for this letter, especially from organizations, and will provide a supplemental list to the President next week. Write us and we will forward the endorsements.

Timorese Journalist José Belo protests media law at a seminar in Dili.
Photo: Jornal Independente

La'o Hamutuk presentations online

Trainings and presentations by La'o Hamutuk/Treinamentu no aprezentasaun sira are now available online. You can download them from their website. Topics include Rights and Sustainability in Timor-Leste's Development; Sources of information in Timor-Leste; the Impact of Veterans Pensions; and the Implications of Terminating the CMATS Treaty with Australia.



La'o Hamutuk has also just published a new edition of its Reference DVD-ROM (also Tetum) containing four gigabytes of information from its website and blog, as well as downloads of key government websites and  reports about Timor-Leste, the region and the world.

What does Timor-Leste need after UNMIT?

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Adapted from http://laohamutuk.blogspot.com/2012/10/public-mtg-what-does-tl-need-after-unmit.html

Tetum iha kraik.  You can download this invitation in English and Tetum from http://www.laohamutuk.org/reports/UN/KonviteEnkPub23Oct2012.pdf .
 
La’o Hamutuk Public Meeting
What does Timor-Leste need from the International Community after UNMIT’s mandate ends?

Tuesday 23 October 2012.    9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Dili University (UNDIL), Mascarenhas, Dili
Uphill from the Alola Foundation, across from the former CNE office

La’o Hamutuk invites the public to participate in a discussion about the mandate of UNMIT in Timor-Leste which will finish this December.

During the mandates of the UN in Timor-Leste since 1999, UN assistance has helped achieve some good results, such as the creation of a democratic state under rule of law, with peace and security. Unfortunately UNMIT has not yet implemented some important commitments, including ending impunity for crimes against humanity committed during the Indonesian occupation. In addition, the UN and the State of Timor-Leste have not yet chosen a sustainable and inclusive development path.

The people of Timor-Leste, together with our leaders, must take responsibility for these gaps after UNMIT leaves.

Speakers: 

• Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Shigeru Mochida: Reflections on the successes of UN missions in Timor-Leste and what remains to be achieved 
• RDTL Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Luis Guterres: Reflections on hopes for what the UN Missions were not able to do during their time in Timór-Leste 
• Representative, ETAN, Jill Sternberg: International solidarity from ETAN now and in the future after UNMIT ends 
• Director, Fundasaun Mahein, Nelson Belo: The Security Sector after UNMIT’s mandate finishes 
• Researcher, La’o Hamutuk, Inês Martins: Sustainable development after UNMIT finishes 

This public meeting will be in Tetum and English. We are grateful for your attention and participation.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Enkontru públiku La’o Hamutuk nian
Saida mak Timór-Leste presiza husi Komunidade Internasionál hafoin mandatu UNMIT remata?
Tersa feira 23 Outubru 2012,  tuku 09:00 dadeer to’o 01:00 lokraik
Fatin: Universidade Dili (UNDIL) Maskariñas, Dili
Fundasaun Alola nia leten ba, Ex. Edifísiu CNE nia oin

La’o Hamutuk konvida públiku atu mai partisipa diskusaun relasiona ho mandatu UNMIT iha Timór-Leste nia ne’ebé sei remata iha fulan Dezembru tinan ida ne’e.

Durante mandatu Nasoins Unidas iha Timór-Leste dezde 1999, ONU nia asisténsia ajuda atinje rezultadu balu di’ak, hanesan kriasaun estadu direitu demokrátiku, ho dame no seguransa. Infelizmente, UNMIT seidauk implementa kompromisu importante balun, inklui hakotu impunidade husi krime kontra umanidade ne’ebé akontese durante okupasaun Indonézia. Ida seluk, UN no estadu Timór-Leste seidauk hili polítika ba dezenvolvimentu ho diresaun ida ne’ebé sustentável no inklusivu.

Lakuna hirak ne’e povu Timór-Leste hamutuk ho nia ukun na’in sira mak tenke simu responsabilidade hafoin UNMIT sai.

Oradór sira:

• Vice-Reprezentante Espesiál Sekretáriu Jerál ONU, Shigeru Mochida: Reflesaun kona ba susesu ne’ebé Misaun ONU halo iha Timór-Leste no saida mak seidauk atinje 
• Ministru Negósiu Estranjeiru, RDTL nian José Luis Guterres: Reflesaun kona ba esperansa ba buat ne’ebé misaun ONU la konsege halo durante nia misaun iha Timór-Leste 
• Reprezentante ETAN, Jill Sternberg: Solidariedade Internasionál husi ETAN agora no ba futuru hafoin UNMIT remata 
• Diretór Fundasaun Mahein, Nelson Belo: Analiza setór seguransa hafoin mandatu UNMIT remata 
• Peskizadór La’o Hamutuk, Inês Martins: Dezenvolvimentu sustentável hafoin misaun UNMIT remata 

Enkontru públiku ne’e la’o iha lian Tetum no Inglés. Mak ne’e de’it ami nia konvite ba ita boot sira nia atensaun no partisipasaun la haluha hato’o obrigadu barak.

ETAN, Lao Hamutuk and Rede ba Rai as Hillary Clinton travels to Timor-Leste

ETAN to Secretary of State Clinton: Commit the U.S. to work for justice for U.S.-backed crimes in Timor-Leste

Excerpt:

On the eve of her visit to Timor-Leste, the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) urged Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to commit the United States to support justice and accountability for U.S.-backed crimes committed during Indonesia's 24-year occupation of Timor-Leste.

"'We appreciate ongoing U.S. engagement with Timor-Leste, but there is unfinished business between our two nations. Secretary Clinton' should acknowledge and begin to make amends for U.S. leading role in aiding and abetting Indonesia's brutal takeover of Timor,' Miller added. 'At a minimum she should officially receive the report of Timor-Leste's Truth, Reception and Reconciliation Commission's (CAVR) and set a timetable for a detailed U.S. response.'"

Lao Hamutuk writes to Hillary Clinton on justice

Excerpt:

"Today, your visit to our country; coincides with the day, when thirteen years ago we were living in situations of anguish, tears and bloodshed. We hope your visit will give us hope for our wounds, wipe our tears and also relieve our thirst for justice."

Rede ba Rai writes Hillary Clinton on the people’s land rights

Excerpt: 

"Land is fundamental to the lives of all Timorese people. Land is fundamental as a living space, it is fundamental to our society, our culture, our identity, our ecology, our economy and how we ensure equal distribution of resources and benefits in our communities.

"Therefore civil society asks Madam Secretary Hillary Clinton during her visit to Timor-Leste to guarantee that the US Government will not abandon the Timorese people who have already been involved in land registration in Timor-Leste through the SPRTL program (Strengthening Property Rights in Timor-Leste) and the INR (Ita Nia Rai) project."

ETAN Volunteers Support Timor-Leste Groups Electoral Work

from http://etan.org/news/2012/07elections.htm

ETAN Volunteers Support Timor-Leste Groups Electoral Work

Dili, July 3, 2012 – Tomorrow is the last day of campaigning for Timor-Leste’s Parliamentary Election. The vote will be held on Saturday, July 7, and, by law, campaigning ceases for two full days before voters go to the polls.

It’s been a noisy day in the office of La’o Hamutuk (“Walking Together,” Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Research), where an ETAN volunteer is preparing to accompany one of the group's staff as she returns to her home district to vote over the weekend, as well as to observe the election in that district. La’o Hamutuk is on a main Dili thoroughfare, and banner-covered trucks filled with chanting party members and sympathizers, roaring motorcycle caravans, cars with amplified music and loudspeaker campaign slogans, and police vehicles with sirens blaring have passed by regularly throughout the day.

La’o Hamutuk offered a briefing this morning for international media and election observers, to provide background on key development and other issues that the new government will face in the next five years, Presenters had to stop speaking periodically, until a noisy campaign parade had passed.

Photo by John M. Miller/ETAN

In addition to La’o Hamutuk, ETAN volunteers are assisting the electoral work of two other local NGOs: Fundasaun Mahein (monitoring, research and advocacy on the security sector) and Asosiasaun HAK (Association for Law, Human Rights, Justice). Hailing from Australia, France, Uganda and the U.S., the volunteers are attending and reporting on campaign events, receiving briefings on electoral monitoring from STAE (the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration), and will join NGO staff as they observe voting and counting throughout the country, bringing the particular questions and objectives of each organization to the observation process. 

From this observer’s perspective, it’s been a “quiet” campaign thus far (notwithstanding the street noise!). While the public media report how well-prepared the country’s police and security forces are to confront and contain any conflict, the people of Timor-Leste do not appear poised for violence. We are regularly reminded here that the United Nations security force will be withdrawing from Timor-Leste at the end of the year - if this election goes well, that is, without significant conflict. Yet conflict seems less on people’s minds than the real issues of survival: employment, sustainable development, education, health care, land rights. Whether and how the next government will move forward on these fronts seem a far more immediate and substantial matters than whether the elections will be marred by mayhem.

La’o Hamutuk reminded us this morning that an election is more than the mechanics of voting, and democracy does not lie only in a free, fare and transparent ballot. Rather, the election is the people’s opportunity to choose the leaders who will determine the direction the country takes over the next five years: whose leadership will – or will not – respond to the Timorese people’s aspirations to vastly improve their lives.

-- Elice Higginbotham

Sign the Petition, Support a Deb-Free East Timor

Don't Let the Bankers Occupy Dili! Support a Debt-Free Timor-Leste some background: Groups worldwide urge debt-free Timor-Leste not to borrow This is a joint project of ETAN and Timor's Movimento Kontra Deve, a coalition of civil society organizations in Timor-Leste opposed to the country taking out loans. UPDATE: As additional background see La'o Hamutuk's Submission to Timor-Leste's National Parliament  Regarding the Proposed General State Budget for 2012 (PDF)

Groups urge Timor-Leste not to take on debt

UPDATE (September 9, 2011): 20 additional groups have signed the statement. Complete list here.
If your organization wants to join this statement, contact us.

 Groups worldwide urge debt-free Timor-Leste not to borrow

Pending loans could endanger Timor's future

8 September 2011 - Timor-Leste and international organizations today urged "the government of Timor-Leste to keep the nation debt-free and refrain from borrowing money from international lenders.... to protect its future generations."

The groups argue that "Rather than repeat the mistakes of other developing countries that have struggled with debt during recent decades, Timor-Leste should learn from their experiences, which often inflicted great hardships on their people."

When Timor-Leste's oil and gas run out in less than 15 years, and debts still must be repaid, Timor-Leste's children and grandchildren will suffer the consequences.

The letter warns that, despite Timor-Leste's current petroleum wealth: "When Timor-Leste's oil and gas run out in less than 15 years, and debts still must be repaid, Timor-Leste's children and grandchildren will suffer the consequences."

The letter was initiated by Timor-Leste's Movimento Kontra Deve (Movement Against Debt, facilitated by La’o Hamutuk) and the U.S.-based East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN). 

The full text of the statement in Tetum and English with a complete list of signers can be found on ETAN's website and http://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/debt/2011/11ETANMKDStmt5Sep2011.htm .

The statement was endorsed by 117 137 organizations based in 28 32 countries. International networks with long experience in opposing onerous debt on developing countries are among the signers, including: Focus on the Global South, Jubilee South - Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development, Third World Network and CADTM International (Committee for the Cancellation of Third World Debt).

Twenty groups in Timor-Leste signed the statement, including the Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis (La’o Hamutuk), NGO Forum, Student Front, Community Leaders Forum, Haburas Foundation and ETADEP. Signing organizations from Timor-Leste’s southeast Asian neighbors include WALHI - Friends of the Earth Indonesia, Freedom from Debt Coalition ­ Philippines, International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) and EARTH (Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand).

Other signers include sustainable development advocates and groups that have long supported the people of Timor-Leste, such as Jubilee USA, the International Platform of Jurists for East Timor, Oil Change International (USA), Aidwatch (Australia), Friends of the Earth U.S., Bank Information Center (USA), Tapol (U.K.), CAFOD (U.K.), Japan East Timor Coalition, and the Free East Timor Foundation (VOT, Utrecht, the Netherlands).

Income from oil and gas provides 95% of Timor-Leste's state revenue, making the country the most petroleum-export dependent in the world. Although Timor-Leste has not yet borrowed funds from other countries or international financial institutions, the government has passed several laws to enable borrowing, including the 2009 Budget and Financial Management Law, as well as revisions to the Petroleum Fund Law and the new Public Debt Law both passed just two weeks ago. In early August, the Asia Development Bank posted information on its website about a proposed $8.15 million loan to Timor-Leste to upgrade the national road network.

The Movimento Kontra Deve is a coalition of civil society organizations in Timor-Leste opposed to the country taking out loans. ETAN (www.etan.org) is a 20-year old U.S.-based group working in solidarity with the people of Timor-Leste.

Additional background on Timor-Leste and borrowing can be found in 

English: http://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/debt/09Borrowing.htm
Tetum: http://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/debt/09BorrowingTe.htm

La'o Hamutuk staff talk about current issues in Timor - Tues, Aug 2, NYC

The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network invites you to
join La'o Hamutuk researchers for a discussion in a wide-ranging discussion of current issues in Timor-Leste.

Tuesday, August  2, 2011, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Graduate Center, CUNY
365 Fifth Ave (btn 34 and 35 St), Room 5307, Manhattan

with Juvinal Diaz and Charlie Scheiner

Next year Timor-Leste, the most petroleum-export-dependent country in the world, will elect its President and Parliament. What will the elections mean for Timor-Leste's future? What are the key issues?

Juvinal and Charlie research and advocate on issues of economic development, petroleum and sustainability, justice and accountability, Timor-Leste's budget, imminent borrowing from foreign agencies, and more. 

La'o Hamutuk (Walking Together): Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis is a research and advocacy organization in Dili, Timor-Leste. Juvinal studied agriculture at the University of Timor-Leste, worked as a community organizer, and has been part of La'o Hamutuk's Natural Resources and Economics Team since 2009. He is passing through New York  Charlie is a member of ETAN's Executive Committee and has lived in Timor-Leste and been with La'o Hamutuk for the last decade.  www.laohamutuk.org 

more info 917-690-4391

Help wanted in analyzing proposed environmental law

UPDATE: La'o Hamutuk's analysis of the law can be found here 


La'o Hamutuk is seeking help in analyzing and proposing improvements to Timor-Leste's draft environmental law. On their blog they write:

In late January, Timor-Leste's Secretary of State for Environment circulated a Portuguese-language draft of a basic Environmental Law (also PDF) for limited public consultation.... The Secretary accepted La'o Hamutuk's request to extend the comment period until the end of February. 

La'o Hamutuk has done a preliminary computer-assisted translation of the draft law into English (also PDF), and we are asking people and organizations to make your own submissions or to email us with ideas, suggested changes or other analysis which will help us write ours.

The law has many good aspects, including recognition of the precautionary principle, "polluter pays," the importance of greenhouse gas emissions, public consultation,tara bandu, and community involvement. But it also contains significant loopholes and gaps -- and leaves most specifics for subsequent decree-laws.

La'o Hamutuk plans update its webpage on the law as its receive comments, analysis or new information. 

latest issue of the Lao Hamutuk bulletin is online

The latest issue (February 2010) of the La'o Hamutuk Bulletin is now out. It focuses on land Rights, justice & accountability.

Table of contents:

• Land Justice in Timor-Leste
• Land glossary 
• Transitional Land Law 
• Public consultation on the Land Law 
• Timor-Leste in global action against climate change 
• Donor, oil and other money in Timor-Leste since 1999 
• Justice for Timor-Leste: Unmet international obligation 
• Petition from Liquiçá massacre survivors 
• A decade of Security Council talk about justice 
• La'o Hamutuk letter to the UN Security Council  
• Editorial: Rejecting impunity, moving towards justice

Heavy Oil Construction Begins at Hera, Timor-Leste

From La'o Hamutuk:

On 15 January 2010, the Prime Minister, President of the Republic, Minister of Infrastructure and President of Parliament, together with a few ambassadors, laid the cornerstone for the Hera generating project, attended by more than 100 Government officials and a few others, although virtually nobody from civil society, international agencies or the political opposition was present. This is the first element of a $360 million system of two power plants which will be powered by heavy fuel and 800 km of high-voltage power lines. It is intended to power 12 districts within two years.

A contract was signed in October 2008 with Chinese Nuclear Industry Construction Company #22, with promises to electrify the nation by the end of 2009. However, work at the Hera site was suspended in mid-2009, and major technical changes were made in the project design. It will no longer use second-hand generators, can be adapted in the future to other fuels, and will have a more reliable closed-loop grid design.

Speakers at the Hera ceremony were defensive, attacking those who suggested improvements to the project. Photographs, complete Tetum audio recordings and unofficial English and Tetum transcripts by La'o Hamutuk are available at http://www.laohamutuk.org/Oil/Power/cornerstone/10PowerHeraCornerstone.htm .

Betano is in Manufahi district, not in Covalima as shown on the banner behind the Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. Photos from La'o Hamutuk,

For information on heavy oil project developments during 2010, see http://www.laohamutuk.org/Oil/Power/10PowerPlant.htm
For information on heavy oil project developments during 2008-2009, see http://www.laohamutuk.org/Oil/Power/08PowerPlant.htm

Abridged excerpts from the speeches which preceded the laying of the cornerstone follow below.

-- La'o Hamutuk, 22 January 2010

Timor Parliament Debates the Budget

A committee of Timor-Leste's parliament has rejected the Government's proposed budget, offering detailed criticisms and recommendations.


La'o Hamutuk has posted the complete Portuguese version of the Report of Parliamentary Committee C (Economics, Finance and Anti-Corruption) on the proposed RDTL General State Budget for 2010.

An unofficial English translation of the Recommendations section of the report, including recommendations from all the Parliamentary Standing Committees is here.

The opposition Fretilin party applauds the report, passed with no opposition, but says it doesn't go far enough.

All members of the committee voted in favour of the report, except for the three FRETILIN committee members and the National Unity Party MP and leader, Fernanda Borges, who abstained because the report did not go far enough in condemning the illegality of the so called "referendum package."

La'o Hamutuk collects documents and other information, including its own submission to Parliament, related to the proposed 2010 budget here.

The 20 recommendations of the Commission C in english are here.

UPDATE  - The Government responds here. The Fretilin Bancada blog is here

Juvinal Dias and Charles Scheiner present La'o Hamutuk's testimony to
President Manuel Tilman and other members of Parliament's Committee C.