(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
Saturday, 10th May 2003
President of the Court of Appeal to be Sworn in on Monday
On Monday
12th May at 16.30, H.E. President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão will
swear in the President of the Court of Appeal, Dr. Cláudio de Jesus
Ximenes, at the same building where the Court of Appeal will function,
in
Caicoli, Dili.
Dr. Cláudio
de Jesus Ximenes, an East Timorese judge with 21 years of
experience as a judge in Portugal, will officially be appointed as the
Judge and President of the Court of Appeal. The President of the Court
of
Appeal is currently not only the highest judicial authority in the country,
but is also the President of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Magistrature.
Following
the "swearing-in" of the President of the Court of Appeal, the
structure of the courts is complete; whereby the four sovereign organs
of
the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste are all in place the President
of
the Republic, Parliament, Government and Judiciary.
The Court
of Appeal is currently the highest judicial instance in the
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and has complete jurisdiction over
the
country. It is an independent body, charged with making the final
decisions on all judicial matters, including decisions on
constitutional-juridical and electoral matters. The Court's decisions
overrule the decisions of any other authority in the country.
"This
ceremony marks a new phase in our independence process. The
establishment of the Court of Appeal is essential for the consolidation
of
democracy in Timor-Leste, for without an effective and competent judiciary
system, democracy will disappear", stated President Xanana Gusmão.
Immediately
following the ceremony, the President of the Republic, the
President of Parliament, the Representative of the Prime Minister and
the
new President of the Court of Appeal will hold a joint press
conference. Only media personnel accredited with the Office of the
President will be allowed access to the event.