02 October 2011

Justice Minister calls on all parties to resepct Court's decision on land title

East Timor Legal News 02/10/2011 Source: Televizaun Timor-Leste, September 30, 2011 language source: Tetun - Justice Minister Lucia Lobato has called on all the people to respect the decision made by the court about the ownership of the land occupied by the Sertorio family for 30 years as it is legal decision in the country.

"We have to be subject to the court's decision as it is outlined in the law and the constitution. I myself met with Sertorio's family three times to talk to them about how they can resolve this case [leave the house]. I told them that they have to leave the house because the court has decided that they have to leave that house as the house is not theirs. I think it is wrong if people refuse to be subject to the court's decision.

In a democratic country, people should abide by the law and the court's decision, but if people are against the decision made by the court then it is wrong," Minister Lobato said.

Lobato made the statements because the Government through the national police evicted Sorterio and his families from a house they occupied in Bairo Central, Dili, but unfortunately they made a camp in front of the house and are staying there. Deputy Prime Minister for Social Issues Jose Luis Guterres has recently said the Government will never intervene in a decision made by the court.

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