11 October 2012

East Timor Legal News 09 October 2012

Parliament will amend Veterans Law - Radio Timor-Leste (RTT) reported today that the Second Deputy-President of the National Parliament, Aderito Hugo da Costa, said the National Parliament would amend some articles of the Veterans Law in response to some concerns expressed by the President of the Republic Taur Matan Ruak's over that law.

Da Costa said some articles of the law did not benefit all clandestine front members and veterans who were entitled to their rights.

He added that the amendments were necessary to unsure that all parties who participated in the independence struggle were appropriately recognised.

RTT also reported that the President of the Republic had called on the National Parliament (PN) to amend the ex-state officials' pensions law because of the impacts it was having on the social economy in the country.

"The ex-officials' pension fund law should be amended and the amount of the pension fund should be reduced as it affects national development," TMR said.

He called on the Parliament to immediately amend the law and said that the National Parliament should reach a consensus on the amendments.
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Ana Pessoa, Prosecutor-General
Prosecutor General meets with President - Radio Televizaun de Timor-Leste also reported today tha theProsecutor General Ana Pesoa had held a meeting with the President of the Republic Taur Matan Ruak to inform him about the Public Prosecution's work.

Pessoa said the aim of the meeting was also to inform the president about what the future plans of the Prosecutor General's office, adding that the Public Prosecution wanted to work transparently to serve the country and its people.

She also said that the Public Prosecution would create proper conditions for all prosecutors to concentrate on holding investigations into cases based on the state's interest.

Suara Timor Lorosae also reported that the Prosecutor-General declared that the Public Prosecution defended Timor-Leste but did not defend the Government. If the Public Prosecution did not defend the State, the courts would condemn the state, she is reported to have said. "The Public Prosecution knows its responsibility and we love Timor-Leste," she said.

In relation to the American lawyer that the Government has hired to defend the Government  in proceedings with an international oil company over unpaid taxes, Pessoa said that the American lawyer did not know Timor-Leste's law and if the lawyer wanted to defend the Government, he must follow the applicable laws.
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Conoco-Woodside threaten to seize petroleum fund - Timor Post reported today that the Conoco Phillips company had threatened to seize the country's petroleum fund which is being saved in the American Federal Bank if the Timorese Government does not reimburse the tax that the company has paid to Timor-Leste.

"If the Government does not reimburse the tax, we will serve process on the American Bank to seize Timor-Leste's petroleum money," Conoco Phillips lawyer Pedro Aparicio said.

He is reported to have said that the company called on the Government to reimburse tax because the Government did not discharge its responsibilities under the contract since 2009.
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Missing police weapon case filed in court - Diario Nacional reported today that an unnamed source who is working in the Dili District Court said that the Court has begun the legal proceeding relating to the police gun that was lost recently.

The source confirmed that the case was filed under case registration number 3361/rejisto entrada TDD/2012.

"This case is still confidential because it has not yet been set down for hearing," the source said.

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