FRETILIN women MPs call for greater justice for women

Media Release

Dili, November 26, 2009

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, FRETILIN deputy leader in the National Parliament, Josefa Pereira, called on the President of the Republic, the de facto Government of Xanana Gusmao and the National Parliament to honestly accept that they have failed to practice what they preach on this issue, and to mend their ways.

Josefa Pereira MP is a woman of the national resistance against Indonesian occupation. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1999, just after the trauma of the independence Referendum conducted by the UN on August 30 that year.

President Dr José Ramos-Horta saluted the occasion: “Today we celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is an opportunity for especially the youth to remember, but also men, that women – our mothers, wives, sisters, daughters – deserve greater respect and dedication in Timor-Leste, the world’s youngest democracy, in a way that serves as a reference of the social peace and stability of its citizens.”

Ms Pereira commented: “These are fine words but where has the President put this into practice in performing his function as head of state?  It was after all he who pressured the de facto Prime Minister to illegally release the former militia leader Maternus Bere, who was indicted, arrested and awaiting trial for crimes against humanity including the murder, rape and sexual slavery of women and young girls. These are crimes of extreme violence against Timorese women and girl children. Are they not deserving of justice? Does respect and dedication not include striving for justice for women victims of violent crimes? Yes, they are deserving and yes, justice must be sought.

“As for the government, the de facto Prime Minister made himself clear before parliament, that he thought that the women victims of the rape and murderous conduct by Bere came a very far second place to diplomatic relationships with Indonesia, and his warped perception of ‘national interest’.  In this he was supported by the women MPs from all political parties in the National Parliament, except for FRETILIN and PUN.  The President of the Parliamentary Women’s Group and Vice President of the National Parliament, Maria Paixao, said nothing to advocate for justice for Bere’s victims. It seems after this week’s debate in parliament that the main focus of the Parliamentary Women’s Group is international travel,” Ms Pereira said.

“UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon also protested against ‘domestic violence’, referring to ‘unforgivable crimes’, that plague some parts of the world: such as the use of rape as a weapon of war, sex trafficking, 'honor' killings, and genital mutilation."

Ms Pereira said that this embodied the real meaning of how to celebrate this day - advocating the eradication of such violent crimes against women, by insisting on justice for the victims and prosecution of the perpetrators of such crimes, not their impunity, and hopes that the UN too lived up to their words.

END