UNMIT Launches 4th Human Rights Report On Timor

UNMIT PRESS RELEASE

UNMIT Launches Fourth Human Rights Report On Timor-Leste: “Facing The Future”

5 October 2010, Dili - In a public report released in Dili today, the United Nations noted that Timor-Leste has made progress in key human rights areas, including strengthening of the security and justice sectors and enactment of important legislation.

The UNMIT Annual Human Rights Report,* covering the period July 2009 to June 2010, also documents continuing human rights problems, including violations by members of the security forces, limited access to justice for victims and challenges to addressing past violations.

Improvements were made towards accountability for Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) officers by the PNTL’s Department of Justice (Departamento de Justiça). Justice mechanisms were bolstered through training programmes, increased numbers of personnel, improvements to rural facilities, and the passage of domestic violence legislation.

Steps were also taken towards accountability for crimes committed during the 2006 internal conflict when approximately 37 people were killed and 150,000 were displaced in the first several months. All cases recommended by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report have been taken up for investigation. As of June 2010, five trials were completed and two trials were underway.

However, trial proceedings were consistently delayed and presidential commutations released a number of persons convicted from prison, including several former members of the security forces who returned to active duty.

Louis Gentile, UNMIT’s Chief of Human Rights and Transitional Justice Section said that, despite still facing serious human rights challenges in a number of areas, Timor-Leste has the potential to be a regional and global human rights leader.

"When we launched our annual human rights report last year, I stated that Timor-Leste was doing far better than average in a number of human rights areas and that continues to be the case. For example, we recorded no cases of torture or enforced or involuntary disappearances during this reporting period. This is something that all citizens, including members of the security forces and the national human rights institution, represented here today by the Deputy Provedor for Human Rights, can be proud of. The Provedoria for Human Rights in Timor-Leste is playing a crucial role in promoting and protecting human rights in this country. The challenge remains of ensuring effective accountability for the small percentage of police officers and military personnel who continue to use excessive force against their fellow citizens. "

The annual report also highlights a number of significant indicators of human rights problems including regular reports of ill-treatment and excessive use of force by PNTL and F-FDTL members and limited progress in criminal cases against members of the security forces. Reforms and the completion of the legal framework are necessary to increase access to the formal justice system. The use of traditional justice mechanisms to resolve criminal cases, such as acts of domestic violence, also hinders human rights. No new indictments have been filed in response to gross human rights violations committed during and prior to 1999.

The recent involvement of F-FDTL members in the death of one civilian and the injury of several others in Lautem District, as well as two different reports of improper use of firearms by both F-FDTL and PNTL members in Liquica district, underscore the urgent need to implement this report’s recommendations in the context of Timor-Leste’s continuing drive to enhance respect, observance and commitment to human rights principles throughout the young nation.

ENDS

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