[NYTr] E Timor UN Reports "Fragile" Human Rights Progress

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

UN News 
East Timor
Timor-Leste: UN Human Rights Report

The report referred to below is available at http://tinyurl.com/35jpcp
in PDF format

UN News
New York, Nov  8 2007  9:00AM

East Timor 

Timor-Leste: UN Human Rights report lauds progress but warns gains still
fragile

The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) today
released a report showing progress in promoting human rights in the
nascent country while calling for further measures to help displaced
persons and prevent impunity.

The citizens of Timor-Leste enjoy a range of human rights including
freedom of speech, freedom to criticize the government, freedom of
assembly and freedom of religion, according to the report, which
reviews developments from August 2006-August 2007. 

The security situation has largely been brought under control, and this
year's presidential and parliamentary elections were largely held in an
environment free from violence and intimidation where all sides were
able to voice their opinions, the report notes.

It also hails progress in expanding the activities of the Office of the
Provedor for Human Rights and Justice and in swearing in national
judges, prosecutors and public defenders.

But the 32-page report voices concern about the high number of
internally displaced persons who still live in makeshift camps and the
lack of progress towards durable solutions to their plight. It points
out that gender-based violence is common and a draft domestic violence
law has been pending for several years.
 
Effective access to justice is constrained as the judicial system
remains weak, particularly in the districts, according to the report. A
considerable backlog of pending cases hampers the work of the courts,
impeding the right of victims to legal remedy. Legal mechanisms to
address property disputes, which are a serious obstacle to resolving
internal displacement, do not yet exist.

The report also points to "serious cases of political bias compromising
the impartiality of the police force" and warns that initiatives for the
adoption of amnesty legislation risked fostering impunity.

"The ultimate aim of the country's leaders and the Timorese people of a
peaceful and prosperous dedemocracy demands further progress, in
particular in combating poverty, in reforming the security sector and
in strengthening respect for the rule of law," the report states.
 
"Timor-Leste still faces considerable challenges. However, the Timorese
leadership's stated commitment to human rights will help create an
environment from which all Timorese can benefit," said
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for Timor-Leste,
Atul Khare.

Among its recommendations, the report calls for the President to
promulgate a new penal code; for the parliament to pass laws on land
and property rights; and on the government to adopt a comprehensive
strategy to achieve a lasting solution to the problem of IDPs.

The Judiciary is called on to ensure criminal responsibility for crimes
committed in April-May 2006. During that period, at least 37 people were
killed and 155,000 others, or 15 per cent of the population, were driven
from their homes in a spate of violence in Timor-Leste, which the UN
helped shepherd to independence from Indonesia in 2002.

"UNMIT stands ready to support the Government and the people of
Timor-Leste in this process," Mr. Khare stressed.

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