Dili, May 24 2007 - In the lead up to the legislative elections set for the end of June 2007, with the Fretilin party facing certain defeat, the Fretilin dominated National Parliament of East Timor launched its final assault on the people of East Timor and their constitutional rights to free speech and judicial due process.
The National Parliament was bitterly divided as debate began on the controversial amendment, resulting in all opposition parties walking out in a unilateral protest against the act. Fretilin, a fractured party led by disgraced former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, forced through legislation that imposes penal provisions, including heavy fines and jail terms, for offences that will prove impossible to defend.
With this amendment Fretilin has executed its final attack on the constitutional guarantee of free speech, acting yet again as a hostile government whose aversion to the democratic process is widely noted in their authoritarian rule of power over the last five years. This final attempt of parliamentary intimidation is yet another reminder to the East Timorese, and the wider international community, that an end to the Fretilin one party rule is a necessary step in re-establishing good government and law and order, in a country abused by the disgraced Mari-Alkatiri and his inner core of Fretilin members. In case we forget, it is the same small group of members who are responsible for the crisis in 2006 which has left the people of East Timor even more impoverished, and the country immobilised by a dysfunctional and incapable Fretilin parliamentary majority Government.
The legislation is an obvious and aggressive act in prohibiting and intimidating the citizens of East Timor from lodging complaints against Fretilin for its many alleged violations against the election code, the constitution, the justice system and the citizens. This is a last ditch effort in silencing the community and the opposition from unveiling the inevitable truths of their political corruption and disgraces.
The United Nations auspiced Special Inquiry Commission into the events of April-May 2006 recommended that Alkatiri be investigated further for his role in the transfer of weapons to civilians, an act that led to widespread violence and the subsequent breakdown of stability in the country and conflict between the Parliament and the church, the army, the police, and the citizens of East Timor.
In 2006 the church led their first demonstration in 500 years against the Government, stating that the country had lost faith in the ability of Alkatiri to lead the country. Alkatiri resigned shortly after, but continues to spearhead Fretilin, despite his unfavourable standing, even in the wider Fretilin community.
In this final legislative amendment, Fretilin did not even exempt the church, a sovereign entity in democratic nations, thus prohibiting their ability to speak freely.
Fretilin, a party of historic importance, has been hijacked by this small group and is self-destructing under its own inept governance. This is further demonstrated by its attempt to silence critics and coerce citizens from coming forward with evidential materials of election fraud and other offences. This act only serves as further verification of their continual indiscretion, disregard for democracy and abuse of power.
Alkatiri and his associates should be well advised that his harshest critics are protected under international law and will not and cannot be silenced against their self-serving amendments of legislation in East Timor, created to evade accountability.
ENDS.
