UNDP
MEDIA RELEASE 22 January, 2002
For Immediate Release
Rehabilitation of Suai courthouse underway
Work will begin this week to rebuild the Suai courthouse, which has been
in
disuse since it was badly vandalized during the violence of 1999. At the
cost of US$ 99,000 the main courthouse, including the chambers, the
courtroom and accommodation for legal professionals, will be refurbished
through a UNDP initiative.
Under previous regimes, no East Timorese could serve as judge in East
Timor, and there were few local legal professionals. Most legal
institutions, such as courthouses, were destroyed in 1999. Legal
professionals fled, causing the judicial system to grind to a halt.
"Rebuilding the courthouses will enable legal professionals, particularly
those in the districts, to get the judicial system back to work in East
Timor," UNDP Representative in Dili, Finn Reske-Nielsen said.
The rehabilitation of the courthouse is part of a one million US dollar
project aimed at supporting the Ministry of Justice to re-establish a
national legal system in East Timor. The UNDP assistance package consists
of a major contribution from the Government of Belgium and an important
contribution from the Government of Denmark. It was launched in December
2000, and includes capacity building for 25 judges, 13 prosecutors, 10
public defenders and 12 court registrars. It also includes support for
translation services, legal training, acquiring legal materials, internet
access, and the provision of office equipment.
The rehabilitation of Suai courthouse will dramatically enhance access
to
justice in the district. The work is estimated to take 90 days and almost
100% of the labour will be employed locally.
ENDS..