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Subject: Organized by LABEH Transparency
and Accountability Department
[Received via KESTA list]
Opening speech
by Dr. Christopher Henry Samson
Executive Director Lalenok Ba Ema Hotu (LABEH)
Organized by LABEH Transparency and Accountability Department
Dili, 31st May 2005
Excellency, Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice
Members of Parliament, Government and Diplomatic Corps
Ms. Elisabeth Huybens, World Bank Country Manager, Timor-Leste
Members of the Press,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of "Lalenok Ba Ema Hotu" (LABEH), we have the great privilege and
are honored to welcome you to this "Workshop on the role of the Provedor in
Fighting Corruption and promoting Human Rights and Justice"
Before I begin, I wish to extend my great appreciation to the Ombudsman for
Human Rights and Justice, Dr. Sebastiao Dias Ximenes, Congratulation to you
and in particular in participating in today's Workshop!
Lalenok Ba Ema Hotu (LABEH) warmly welcomes the Provedor e' Justisa; this
reflects the commitment of the Government in fighting corruption and
promoting the culture of transparency and accountability in the state
administration after more than two years of hopelessness of searching for a
Provedor e' Justisa.
We are also encouraged by the commitment of the national parliament despite
the opposition has elected and voted the Ombudsman for Human Rights and
Justice and are encouraged in this developments and lend our support to the
Provedor e' Justisa. This is indeed, what I called "the power of democracy"
yet, this is indeed another affirmation of the Government's commitment to
combat corruption and to promote a culture of transparency and
accountability in the public administration.
Though, we are also concerned that the fund allocated to the office of
Ombudsman may affect the efficiency of his work and we encourage our
government to consider allocating more funds to the office of Ombudsman in
the next budget. We also encourage the donors to proved financial and
technical support to the office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and
Justice of Timor-Leste. Further more, for the Office of the Provedor to be
effective there is a need to ensure adequate working conditions are in place
to enable the Provedor to function according to all expectations.
Just few weeks ago, we celebrated our third year of independence. In these
three years, much has been accomplished, and we can certainly be proud of
the achievements made by our government, but as we all know, there is also
much still left to do. Let us not forget that in this task of building a
nation and creating State institutions, it is only natural that we will
continue to be facing with challenges; a major one, that of combating
corruption and instilling a culture of transparency and accountability in
the government and in the civil society.
Let us not forget that we are walking through a cross roads of changing
mentalities, from the lack of diligence to assuming responsibility of
duties.
Let us not forget also that our country is faced with huge poverty, a major
cause for corruption. Corruption destroys the whole society and it is not
part of our Timorese culture and it needs to be dropped.
In Timor-Leste vision for 2020, our people realized that without
transparency, good governance and a strong policy on combating corruption,
our vision will not be achieved. This is the reason LABEH's determination
in promoting transparency and in fighting against corruption is inevitable
and we urge our government to be firm in it's determination to zero
tolerance against corruption.
In a workshop on transparency and accountability held in Dili, our Prime
Minister Dr. Mari Alkatiri stated: "The users of the public institutions
must have the courage to denounce public servants who practice acts which
are considered criminal or who behave dishonestly. They should have courage
to denounce those who work in the Administration and who make a point of
serving their own interests instead of those of the public".
We are profoundly convinced that the threats, which face us, are of equal
concerns to all. We have called this Workshop "the role of the Provedor in
fighting corruption and in promoting human rights and justice because we
believe that in a nation of inter-connected threats and opportunities, it is
in the interest of our country that all of these challenges are addressed
effectively. The fight against corruption can only be advanced if our
administrative organs and public servants work together with the Ombudsman
to achieve the common purpose of zero tolerance for corruption.
The main message of this "Workshop" is that the aims of the Ombudsman in
combating corruption can be achieved, but only if the President, the
Parliament, the Government and the Court, and all the administrative organs
and the public servants abide in their duties to collaborate with the
Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice. Therefore, we urged the Ombudsman to
pay his allegiance to the constitution, rule of law and good governance.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Not all would find our argument convincing. But please remember, in any
event, that if we need the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice to achieve
his objectives, we must also be willing to help him achieve the same. That
is why LABEH is urging the administrative organs and the civil society to
collaborate with the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice.
We are also glad that the Public Service Law has being passed, this also
reflect another concrete step of our government towards fostering the
culture of transparency and accountability in the public administration as
this Service Act set the framework for accountable public services. LABEH
believes that appropriate measures will now be taking, to concretely
demonstrate this commitment in all administrative organs of the state.
We also commend the government, the World Bank for bringing in Mr. Bertrand
de Speville, the Guest Speaker during the International Workshop on the
Integrity in the State and other international agencies in their support for
Timor-Leste. We specifically acknowledge the efforts of the Office of the
Inspector General for conducting investigations; inspections and special
examinations in the public administration though non-of his recommendations
has changed the mentalities of those caught up in corruption trap.
We can not speak of corruption, transparency and accountability without
touching the Office of the Prosecutor General and the judicial system. We
are concerned that cases related to corruption submitted to the Office of
the Prosecutor General by the Prime Minister has remained in that office
without any legal proceeding known to the public in regards to the same. We
ask the Prosecutor General to improve his services to the nation and to the
people, uphold the rule of law, combat corruption and adopt speed approach
to respond to cases of corruption and publicly announce what actions has
been taking in regards to cases related to corruption, collusion and
nepotism (KKN).
However, to ensure transparency and accountability in the public
administration, the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice and the
Government must adopt an inclusive approach to making space for civil
society, more especially NGOs working on anti-corruption and human rights to
play their full role. The challenge in fighting corruption and abuses of
human rights is too big for the government and the Ombudsman to face it
alone.
The civil society and the media needs to be strengthened, more capacity
development is also needed for our local media to be trained in
investigative journalism, it is accepted principle that effective and
independent media is a pillar for a good governance, ensuring access to
information and freedom of speech.
It is also important that the government recognize the need for the civil
society's involvement in monitoring corruption as an independent watchdog.
Civil society is also important for linking reform measures to the
aspirations and expectations of the people. The engagement of the civil
society, and the private sector at large, is critical in this struggle. The
NGOs are particularly important, barring any conflict of interest, to serve
as an independent oversight body, which would lend significant credibility
to the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice and the government's efforts
towards "Zero Tolerance for Corruption".
But for this to occur, civil society needs to be strengthened. More
capacity development is needed for our local media to be trained in
investigative journalism. Clarification on media law would help to ease the
confusion that currently exists in our nation, and strengthen media's
participation in combating corruption. Access to information is also
critical to ensuring public participation. Adopting a Freedom of Information
Law as enshrined in our National Constitution would be a step in the right
direction. It provides for accountability to the people on actions taken by
the Government, such as public expenditure.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In conclusion, we once again pledge "Lalenok Ba Ema Hotu (LABEH) support to
the Office of the Ombudsman as an independent body, with broad
representation, to the Provedor's efforts towards the enhancement of
transparency and accountability to detect, reduce and prevent the scourge of
corruption.
Finally, On behalf of LABEH and staff, we thank you all and looking forward
for your continuing support on the activities of LABEH.
Thank you! And may God bless us all.
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