A series
of public meetings held across East Timor about the country's justice
system culminated recently in a three-day National Dialogue on Justice
held in Dili. Opened by President Xanana Gusmao, the Dili sessions
attracted capacity crowds to hear speakers and moderators from the
top levels of all the county's major justice institutions. All the
discussions were broadcast live by national radio and television.
The meetings at the
district and national levels were organized by the Office of the President
with support from The Asia Foundation.
Among the participants were the president of the Court of Appeals,
the prosecutor general, the public defender, the minister and vice
minister of justice, the vice president of Parliament, and the chairman
of the Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation. The
sessions focused on three basic issues:
. the current state of the nation's justice system
. the role of justice systems in society, including traditional
and local dispute resolution processes
. the structure and purpose of the prison system.
However, debate and discussion were not limited to these three
topics, and lively exchanges on a variety of issues took place.
At the end of the sessions, participants offered a range of recommendations
in four areas: legislation, investigation, implementation processes,
and human resources. For example, many participants agreed that
there is a need to create statutes for judicial institutions to
establish competencies and to regulate interaction between judicial
institutions and other branches of government. The government should
ensure that the prison system adheres to
human rights principles. Alternatives to prison terms are also needed,
such as community service or fines.
Many participants applauded the ongoing efforts to translate laws
used in East Timor into Tetum, one of the official languages. Many
reaffirmed the need for more private lawyers and for a government
effort to inform local communities across the country about new
and amended laws. They also strongly recommended that the government
study and regulate the use of traditional and local justice systems.
A booklet detailing all the recommendations will be published and
distributed by the Office of the President.
