Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP)

Amnesty Law Will Cause Chaos and Create Injustice

The proposed Amnesty law, to be debated by Parliamentary Committee next week, if passed, will lead to chaos within the judicial system in East Timor. The proposed law only minimally and indirectly supports reconciliation and justice. It undermines the judicial process and if applied the law, will grant impunity to high level economic crimes such as bribery and fraud committed before 31 March 2004. After analyzing the draft law, JSMP cannot understand its overall advantage for Timorese society.

The draft law aims to give Amnesty to those who, due to social and economic hardship, have committed minor criminal offences. Under the proposed law, Amnesty can be only given to crimes which are non-violent,non-organized or not based on threats and which are punishable by not more than five years imprisonment. The draft law also explicitly includes taxation and customs violations. The draft law further requires compensation to be paid within 90 days in order for the amnesty to be granted.

JSMP says that, “Imposing this economic condition to grant amnesty may result in the perverse situation that individuals without financial means will not receive amnesty while those with sufficient funds will totally avoid criminal prosecution.”

Pursuant to its terms, pardons may be granted to all crimes committed before 31 March 2004. This could result in the reduction of sentences for nearly all convicted prisoners, including those serving sentences for Serious Crimes. For example, prisoners whose sentences are 10 years or less will be eligible for immediate release, provided that half of their sentence had already been served. This could result in the release of some militia and TNI members who were imprisoned for Crimes against Humanity, potentially within 72 hours of the passing of the Amnesty law.

In practice the implementation of the draft Amnesty law will be extremely problematic as it provides no clear procedures for its application and it abolishes established criminal and civil judicial procedures. For example, if a proposed beneficiary is in custody, the draft legislation imposes a time limit of 72 hours for both the filing of an application for amnesty or pardon by the prosecution and the making of the decision by a judge. “This is a clear example of how impracticable and poorly drafted this law is and of whychaos may result.” – declared JSMP.

By providing the possibility of stopping current criminal procedures and removing the right to appeal in certain matters, the law undermines the previous work of the judges, prosecutors and defence in all the relevant cases. JSMP believes that this law creates arbitrariness by differentiating a person’s criminal liability based on an arbitrary date. This will only increase communities’ confusion and lack of confidence in the judicial system. JSMP also believes that this proposed law could substantially erode the rule of law in East Timor.

JSMP believes that this draft law, in its current form, should not be enacted. JSMP supports the Parliamentary Commission’s discussion process and intends to provide an analytical report on this draft law.

Background Information

On the 14 April 2004, the Council of Ministers approved the Draft Amnesty Law for consideration for the Parliament. Currently, the law is before parliament and is expected to be discussed within Parliamentary Commission “A” on the 28th April onwards.

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lei de Amnistia causará caos e injustiça

A proposta Lei de Aministia, a ser discutida na Comissão Parlamentar na próxima semana, se for aprovada, causará caos no sistema judicial no Timor-Leste. Esta lei somente de uma forma limitada e indirecta apoia a reconciliação ou justiça neste país. A Lei também prejudica o processo judicial e, se aplicada, virá a dar impunidade a grandes crimes econômicos cometidos antes de 31 de Março de 2004, como por exemplo fraude e vários tipos de corrupção. Depois de analizar o esboço desta lei, o JSMP não consegue entender a grande vantagem que esta pode trazer para a sociedade Timorense.

A Lei intenciona dar amnistia a aqueles que, porcausa de dificuldades sociais e econômicas, cometeram pequenos crimes. Amnistia pode ser dada somente para crimes que não foram cometidos com violência, de forma organizada ou mediante ameaça às pessoas e que são puníveis com menos de 5 anos de prisão. A Lei de Amnistia também especificamente inclui infracções de natureza fiscal e aduaneira. Entretanto, a lei condiciona a amnistia ao pagamento da reparação ao lesado em 90 dias.

O JSMP declara que: ‘A imposição desta condição econômica para dar amnistia poderá resultar numa situação perversa em que uma pessoa que não tenha meios financeiros suficientes não receberá amnistia, enquanto outras com dinheiro suficiente não serão acusados criminalmente.’

Perdão pode ser dado em relação à todos os crimes desde que cometidos antes de 31 de Março de 2004. Isto resultará na redução das sentenças de quase todos os convictos, incluindo aqueles que foram condenados pelo processo do Painel Especial para os Crimes Graves. Por exemplo, prisoneiros com 10 ou menos anos de prisão e que já serviram metade de suas sentenças poderão ser posto em liberdade imediatamente. O resultado real é que vários membros da milicia e do TNI, que foram condenados por crimes contra a humanidade, poderão ser soltos 72 horas depois que a Lei da Amnistia entrar em força.

Na prática, a implementação da Lei de Amnistia será extremamente problemática já que não estabelece nenhum procedimento claro e requere o cancelamento de procedimentos actuais. Este esboço impõe quando a pessoa estiver detida um limite de 72 horas para a aplicação da amnistia ou perdão e sua decisão. ‘Este é um exemplo claro de como esta lei falta praticidade e de como esta lei está mal escrita. Também é um exemplo do caos que irá resultar.’ – declarou JSMP.

Por regular a possibilidade de cancelamento de procedimentos criminais actuais perante os tribunais e a remoção do direito de recurso em certos casos, esta lei disconsidera o actual trabalho dos juízes, procuradores e defensores em estes casos. JSMP também acredita que esta lei cria arbitrariedade ao diferenciar a responsabilidade criminal baseada em uma data completamente arbitrária. Isto somente irá aumentar a confusão nas comunidades e a falta de confiança no sistema judicial. JSMP também acredita que esta lei demole substancialmente o princípio legal da lei no Timor-Leste.

O JSMP acredita que esta lei, como está, não deve ser aprovada. JSMP apoia o processo de discussão na Comissão Parlamentar e tem a intenção de fazer um relatório analítico sobre esta lei.

Informação sobre o Esboço da Lei de Amnistia

No dia 14 de Abril de 2004, o Conselho de Ministros aprovou o Esboço da Lei de Amnistia para esta ser considerada pelo Parlamento Nacional. Actualmente, a lei se encontra com o Parlamento e espera-se que venha a ser discutida na Comissão A do parlamento a partir do dia 28 de Abril.

Este esboço é composto de 8 artigos e tem o objectivo de dar amnistia para certas categorias de crimes e perdão para certas sentenças.

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SIARAN PERS 22 April 2004

DRAF Undang-Undang Amnesti akan Menimbulakan Kekacauan di Dalam Sistim Peradilan

Usulan Undang-undang Amnsety, yang akan diperdebatkan di komisi parlemen minggu depan, jika disetujui atau digolkan, maka hal ini akan meporak-porandakan sistim keadilan di Timor Leste. Undang-uandang tersebut secara minim dan secara tidak lansung mendukung rekonsiliasi atau keadilan. Selain itu juga hal ini meruntuhkan proses keadilan dan jika diterapkan undang-undang tersebut akan memberikan impunity (bebas dari hokum) pada kejahatan ekonomi tingkat tinggi yang dilakukan sebelum 31 Maret 2004, misalnya penyogokan dan penipuan. Setelah menganalisa draf dari undang-undang tersebut JSMP tidak mengerti keuntungan dari undang-undang tersebut bagi masyarakat Timor Leste

Draf undang-undang tersebut dimaksudakan untuk memberikan amnesty kepada merekan yang karena kesulitan ekonomi, telah melakukan tindakan pelanggaran ringan. Dalam hubunganya dengan tindakan-tindakan kriminal, amnesty hanya dapat diberikan berdasarkan kejahatan seperti, tidak ada tindak kekerasan, atau kasus kejahatan yang tidak terorganisir, atau tidak berdasarkan ancaman, yang aman akan dikenakan hukuman tidak lebih dari lima tahun penjara. Undang-undang ini juga memasukkan pelanggaran perpajakan dan bea cukai. Namun draf adri undang-undang ini menuntut dilakukan pembayaran kompensasi dalam kurung waktu 90 hari agar amnesty dapat diberikan

Grasi atau pengampunan dapat diberikan kepada semua kejahatan yang dilakukan sebelum tanggal 31 Maret 2004. Hal ini akan mengakibatkan pengurangan hukuman bagi hampir semua nara pidanana termasuk mereka yang melakukan tindakan kejahatan kemanusiaan berat. Sebagai contoh, nara pidana yang mendapatkan hukuman 10 tahun penjara atau kurang akan segera dibebaskan karena dikenakan oleh undang-undang ini dan mereka telah melakukan tugasnya. Hal ini juga berarti secara effektif akan dilepaskan beberapa narapidana kejahatan berat seperti anggota milisi dan amggota TNI dalam 72 jam setelah undang-undang tersebut disahkan.

Dalam praktek pelaksanaan dari undang-undang amnesty tersebut akan sangat problematik sebab tidak ada prosedur yang jelas untuk aplikasinya dan menghilangkan prosedur yang saat ini sedang berjalan dalam sistim keadilan. Undang-undang ini memberikan batas waktu 72 jam untuk sebuah permohonan untuk amnesty atau pengampunan dan pengambilan keputusan oleh jaksa jika orang tersebut masih berada dalam tahanan. “ini adalah salah satu contoh yang nyata betapa tidak paraktisnya dan betapa tidak bermutunya drfat undang-undang ini dan kekacauan yang akan terjadi nantinya di sistim keadin”, kata JSMP.

JSMP mengatakan bahwa “mengunakan kondisi ekonomi yang ada untuk memberikan amnesty akan mengakibatakn suatu situasi yang kontradiktif dimana seseorang dari golongan ekonomi lemah tidak akan dapat menerima amnesty tetapi mereka yang memiliki cukup uang tidak akan dikenakan tuntutan kriminiamal.

Dengan menyidiakan kemungkinan untuk menghentikan prosedur-prosedur kriminal dan menghilangkan hak untuk naik banding dengan keadaan tertentu, undang-undang tersebut telah meruntuhkan kerja yang dilakukan oleh para hakim, jaksa dan pembela sebelumnya yang telah berjuang keras untuk mempertahankan kasus-kasus tersebut.

JSMP percaya bahwa tidak seharusnya draft undang-undang ini disahakan. JSMP mendukung Komis Parlemen yang mendiskusikan hal ini dan JSMP akan menyediakan suatu laporan analisis mengenai hal ini.

Latar Belakang

Pada tanggal 14 April 2004, Dewan Menteri telah menyetujui draf undang-undang untuk amnesty dan telah dikirim ke parlemen unutuk membahasnya lebih jauh. Samapai saat ini, undang-undang tersebut masih berada di parlemen dan sedianya akan dibahas di dalam KOMISI A pada tanggal 28 April dan seterusnya.

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