East Timor Justice Minister calls for lawyers’ commitment to help communities

Justice Minister Dionisio Babo Soares
(Photo: The Dili Weekly)

ETLJB 20 October 2013 - The East Timor Minister for Justice, Mr Dionisio Babo Soares, has appealed to all private lawyers to strengthen their commitment to help provide legal aid for communities for the sake of law enforcement in the country.

The minister made the comments after handing over certificates to the lawyers who had just completed their training course at Dili’s judicial training centre.

”We are pleased as it is the first time in our history that the lawyers were able to complete their training course. I am calling on them to work properly to better serve communities for strengthening justice in the country,” he said.

 Meanwhile, Radio Timor Leste reports that women imprisoned at the Gleno prison have yet received any legal assistance. RTL reported comments by a private lawyer from the Timorese Lawyers Association (AATL) that the imprisoned women in Gleno were not receiving legal assistance from their lawyers.

“Based on my observation the imprisoned women are not getting a legal assistance from the lawyers but AATL guarantees that the legal assistance for the women will be attended to beter in the future,” she said. Sources: Televizaun Timor-Leste 17 October 2013; Radio Timor-Leste 17 October 2013  Edited by Warren L. Wright