Government members have declared assets to Court of Appeal

ETLJB 1 September 2013 - Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said his Government members had declared their assets in the Court of Appeals last year.

According to an English translation of a report in Diario Nacional on 28/09/2013, PM Gusmao stated that “The Government, since the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) Government was established, had required government membres to present assets [to the Court of Appeals register]." 

Xanana was referring to the recent civil society organisation’s call asking the Government members to declare their assets. He also confirmed that his government was pressuring all public officials to declare their assets and said that the Parliament members could also declare their assets but that the Parliament was an independent body [that could not be directed by the government to force members of Parliament to declare their assets].

Radio Timor-Leste also reported on 28/08 that the declaration of assets by government members to the Court of Appeals was good way to strengthen transparency and accountability in the country. “I think all the Government officials to declare their assets in the court is to guarantee accountability and transparency in the country as our people want to know our assets before our mandate ends,” PM Xanana said. Source: TLMDC Diario Nacional 28/08/2013 Radio Timor-Leste 28/08/2013 Edited by Warren L. Wright