Constituent Assembly adopts Serious Crimes articles
JSMP Dili, 31/01/02
The Constituent
Assembly yesterday adopted three new articles to the East Timorese
constitution who all relates to the process of bringing perpetrators of
previous serious crimes in East Timor to justice. The articles, however,
surprisingly limits the process quite significantly compared to the system
already established by the United Nations Transitional Administration in
East Timor(UNTAET).
The assembly decided to continue the Special
Panels for Serious Crimes, who are composed of one East Timorese and two
international judges, until to all cases under investigation prior to 20
May 2002 are finalized. While the panels today are able to try violations
of international criminal law whenever they took place, the assembly decided
to limit the jurisdiction of the panels to only cover crimes committed
between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 1999.
Crimes either committed prior to 1999, or were investigations are initiated after 20 May 2002 are to be heard by the ordinary courts of East Timor. The Assembly, however, limited the ordinary courts to only hear crimes against humanity cases, while cases of war crimes, genocide and torture under international law was left out.
The Dili based NGO “The Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP)” fear that the limitations of the adopted articles derives mainly from confusion over legal terminology and lack of knowledge of the system currently in place for trying Serious Crimes in East Timor. The end result may be that some of the most severe crimes will not be tried, or tried in a court system already overburdened with cases and where the lack of resources may seriously endanger the defendant’s right to a fair trial.
In another surprising decision, the assembly adopted a regulation establishing the right of the East Timorese Parliament to revise the mandate of the Reception, Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The suggestion was raised by Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri, and will limit the independence of the commission drastically.
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Portuguese:
Programa
de Monitorização do Sistema Judicial (PMSJ)
Atualiza: 17 dezembro
O Programa de monitorização
do sistema judicial (PMSJ) foi logo estabelecido em 2001 em Díli,
Timor Leste. Através da monitorização do tribunal,
a provisão da analisa legal e dos relatórios temáticos
sobre o desenvolvimento do sistema judicial, o PMSJ visa contribuir a evaluação
em curso e edificação dum sistema de justiça em Timor
Leste.
Tel/fax. (670) 390 323 883 Mobile: (61)
419 804 600
1/la Rua do Moçambique, Farol,
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Para mais informações vide
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Bahasa Indonesia/Melayu:
Program
Pemantauan Sistim Peradilan
Diperbarui: Des 15
Program Pemantauan Sistim Peradilan (JSMP)
merupakan sebuah projek independen yang telah dikembangkan dibawah perlindugan
Asosiasi Juris Timor Loro Sa’e dan La’o
Hamutuk, sebuah organisasi yang terdiri dari orang-orang Timor
Loro Sa’e dan internasional. Melalui pemantauan kasus-kasus pengadilan
dan menghasilkan analisa hukun dan laporan-laporan tematis tentang perkebangan
sistim peradilan secara menyeluruh, JSMP bertujuan membantu Administrasi
Transisi, masyarakat umum Timor Loro Sa’e dan masyarakat internasional
dengan memberikan rekomendasi-rekomendasi bagi perbaikan yang terus-menerus
di mana masalah-masalah spesifik diidentifikasikan. Sasaran utama dari
program adalah memperbaiki mutu keadilan yang diberikan oleh sistim peradilan
yang baru didirikan, memajukan HAM dan pemerintahan yang berdasarkan hukum
dengan cara yang bermanfaat dan transparan bagi masyarakat Timor Loro Sa’e.
Sahe
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Phone: (Mobile) 0419 804 600
Alamat pos: P.O. Box 340 Dili, East Timor
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Christian Ranheim, christian@jsmp.minihub.org,
Télpon (Mobile): +61(0) 419 804 600;
Caitlin Reiger, caitlin@jsmp.minihub.org,
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English:
Judicial
System Monitoring Programme 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