20 May 2010

President Horta: Pardon for Salsinha and his men depends on trial process

Timor Post, May 17, 2010 language source: Tetun - President Jose Ramos Horta has said that he would not grant pardons to the ex-rebel leader Gastão Salsinha and his men recklessly when the court was yet to make final decision on this case.

President Horta said that he would grant pardons to Salsinha and his men after the appellate court had made a final legal verdict.

“I will do nothing when the trial process for this caseis yet to be completed. When the process finishes then I will make reflection with the Government about this case as the recommendation is from the Government and not from the president of the republic,” President Horta said.

President Horta made the comments on Friday 14 at the Convention center at the former market place, in Dili.

President Horta added that he would grant pardons to prisoners based on the list of prisoners’ names presented by the Government on who was eligible to be pardoned.

“The constitution guarantees me to make the final decision,” President Horta said.

Meanwhile, Appellate Court President, Claudio Ximenes, has said that trial process for Salsinha and his men was still in process and therefore there is no basis for granting them pardons.

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