JSMP - Thematic report Number 1:
Justice in Practice - Human Rights in Court Administration
PDF 140 KB: http://www.jsmp.minihub.org/Reports/JSMP1.pdf

Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP)

Bahasa Indonesia/Melayu:
Laporan Tematik JSMP 1:
Keadilan Dalam Praktek: HAK asasi manusia dalam administrasi pengadilan
Word 340 KB: http://www.jsmp.minihub.org/Reports/Keadilan%20dalam%20Praktek%20-%20Bahasa%20Indonesia.doc

Portuguese:
Relatório temático I do JSMP:
Justiça na práctica: direitos humonos na administração do tribunal
PDF 170 KB: http://www.jsmp.minihub.org/Reports/JSMP1Port.pdf

Launch of JSMP Thematic Report #1

Justice in Practice: Human Rights in Court Administration

JSMP, Dili, 13/12/01

Since February 2001 the Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP) has been providing independent monitoring and analysis of the Special Panels of the Dili District Court.  Through court observation of the Serious Crimes trials, JSMP monitors have observed a series of problems that are impeding the proper development of this important part of East Timor’s new justice system.  JSMP’s first thematic report Justice in Practice: Human Rights in Court Administration examines these problems and their implications for the system’s capacity to comply with international human rights standards and fulfil its role in the broader reconciliation process in East Timor.  The report also contains a series of recomendations that have been forwarded to the UN Transitional Administration and the Minister for Justice.

The report will be formally launched at a press conference at 10am on Friday 14 December 2001 in Dili at the Yayasan Hak canteen in Farol.  All are welcome to attend.

The report is also available in English, Portuguese and Bahasa Indonesia on JSMP’s website at http://www.jsmp.minihub.org

The Executive Summary in English and Bahasa Indonesia is below.  For further information about the report or JSMP’s work, contact Caitlin Reiger at caitlin@jsmp.minihub.org

In other news, the full text of the Los Palos case judgment delivered on 11 December 2001 is also now available on the JSMP website.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report examines the effectiveness of the administration of the Special Panels for Serious Crimes of the Dili District Court that have been created by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).  These Special Panels are mandated to deal with Serious Crimes committed during the Indonesian occupation, including the campaign of violence in 1999. Their ability to dispense justice in a fair and independent manner is vital for the ongoing reconciliation process.  In the past two years, enormous progress has been made in building a system in which international and East Timorese judges sit together to hear these cases.  JSMP has consistently observed almost every court hearing before the Special Panels between February and November 2001.  Through these observations and discussions with court personnel, it is clear that despite the progress several aspects of the current administrative structures within the courts are impacting adversely on the quality of justice.  If left unchecked, these threaten the extent to which the Special Panels for Serious Crimes are able to provide a fair trial.
 

A functioning court administration is part of the institutional basis of the fundamental right to a fair trial before a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal. Particular elements of this right are currently affected by the lack of an effective administrative structure in the Special Panels.  The judges do not have adequate resources, such as research facilities and administrative support, which are the essential tools of their trade.  The right to trial without undue delay is jeopardised by poor administrative liaison with external parties as well a lack of organisational planning in the allocation of cases.  The right to a public hearing is undermined by access problems, including access to information about the court proceedings. The rights to examine witnesses and to appeal decisions of the Special Panels are hampered by resource constraints that prevent witness expenses being reimbursed and transcripts of hearing being produced.  The numbers of interpreters and translators are inadequate for the volume of court hearings and judgments.
 

The Serious Crimes cases are not the only ones affected by the current situation.  These concerns also have broader implications for the building of a sustainable justice system that enjoys the public trust and confidence that is necessary for a society based on the rule of law and respect for human rights.   This is the first thematic report to be produced by JSMP and aims to contribute to public debate concerning the present state and future directions of East Timor’s justice system by making a series of recommendations for reform.  To summarise the recommendations presented here: comprehensive strategic planning, based on a full needs assessment, should be a priority.  This should lead to substantial reforms of the court administration, including significantly improved resource mobilisation and coordinated training and mentoring of East Timorese staff.  It concludes that without a clear administrative structure, well defined responsibilities and adequate training and technical assistance, East Timor’s new justice system and the Special Panels for Serious Crimes will continue to struggle.

Bahasa Indonesia/Melayu:
Des 14 JSMP: Keadilan Dalam Praktek: HAK asasi manusia dalam administrasi pengadilan
Laporan ditambahkan tanggal Desember 17
"Laporan ini mengkaji efektivitas administrasi Panel Khusus untuk Kejahatan Serius dari Pengadilan Distrik Dili yang dibentuk oleh Pemerintah Transisi PBB di Timor Lorosa’e (UNTAET). Panel Khusus ini diberi mandat untuk menangani Kejahatan-kejahatan Serius yang dilakukan selama pendudukan Indonesia, termasuk kampanye tindak kekerasan di tahun 1999. Kemampuan Panel ini untuk menegakkan keadilan secara adil dan independen sangat penting bagi proses rekonsiliasi yang tengah digalakkan. ... Untuk merangkum rekomendasi-rekomendasi yang diketengahkan: perencanaan strategis yang komprehensif berdasarkan pada analisa kebutuhan yang lengkap harus merupakan suatu prioritas. Hal ini harus mengarah kepada perubahan substansial pada administrasi pengadilan, termasuk mobilisasi sumber-daya yang semakin meningkat secara signifikan dan pelatihan terkoordinir serta pemantauan terhadap staff Timor Lorosa’e. Ini menyimpulkan bahwa tanpa suatu struktur administrasi jelas, tanggung-jawab yang didefinisikan dengan benar dan pelatihan memadai serta dukungan teknis, sistem peradilan Timor Lorosa’e yang baru dan Panel Khusus untuk Kejahatan Serius akan tetap bergelut." Program Pemantauan Sistim Peradilan / Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP)

This message came from the Judicial System Monitoring Programme news service:

JSMP news service  Added June 28
About 1 email a day; 1 full item/email:
JSMP is a moderated e-mail list featuring the current developments of the judicial system in East Timor and any progress made in Indonesia aiming to bring those planning, aiding or conducting crimes in East Timor to justice. All mails are sent directly from Dili, East Timor in order to bring you the most up-to date and representative news and reports available.
To subscribe to JSMP’s news service send an empty e-mail to list-subscribe@jsmp.minihub.org or go to http://www.jsmp.minihub.org/list.htm
To unsubscribe, send an empty mail to: list-unsubscribe@jsmp.minihub.org
If you have anything you want to distribute (news, reports etc) or questions, please send an e-mail to info@jsmp.minihub.org

Judicial System Monitoring Programme / Program Pemantauan Sistim Peradilan (JSMP)  Updated Nov 15
JSMP is a new human rights project set up by the East Timorese Jurists’ Association and the Timorese/international organisation La'o Hamutuk. JSMP aims to assist the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, the East Timorese public and the international community by making recommendations for ongoing reform of the fledgling judicial system of East Timor.
The main objective of the programme is to improve the quality of justice provided by the newly established judicial system, and to promote human rights and the rule of law in a meaningful and transparent manner for the people of East Timor through:

See also:
BD: East Timor's Judicial System - A collection of recent reports, articles and news