“GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH HERA HOMICIDE TRIAL"

.

Timor Post – Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Then President of the Timor-Leste Parliamentary Women’s Group (Tetum acronym GMPTL),  Josefa Pereira Soares MP has urged the government not to interfere politically with the trial process in the Hera homicide case, because it can further undermine the Timor-Leste judiciary.

“This is not just a threat to democracy but also a threat to the justice system, because state institutions each have their own function, and people should not stick their hands where they are not meant to,” said the President of GMPTL to Timor Post at the National Parliament, Tuesday 14 April last, after a plenary session of the parliament.

The GMPTL president said that she laments greatly the government taking the position of interfering with the Hera homicide trial because it will impede the work of others in reaching a fair decision.

“I think all us Timorese must be ready to submit ourselves to justice according to law, if a wrong has been committed, as individuals who commit crimes must answer before the courts and submit to the decision of the court.  There should not be any interference from any politician, because that is simply wrong, and contrary to our constitution and laws,” lamented  Deputy Josefa.

In the meantime, the Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP) has great hopes that the President of the Republic, Taur Matan Ruak will not intervene in the Hera trial process which is currently proceeding in the court. 

JSMP Director Luis de Oliveira Sampaio said that if the Head of State in fact intervenes then the rule of law in Timor-Leste will be placed in grave risk. 

Even if the Hera incident occurred for political reasons, because human life was prejudiced then those responsible must respond before the courts.

“We await that the President of the Republic will not in fact act in any way to cut across the judicial process underway, because we can only imagine that if he does, then the rule of law in Timor-Leste will be manifestly under grave threat,” he told the Timor Post recently in his office. 

Tétum: “Governu Labele Interven Kazu Hera