DÍLI, August 04, 2020 (TATOLI) – The Timorese Government has decided to propose a new declaration for the State of Emergency for 30 days, to the President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres Lú Olo.
The Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidélis Magalhães, said that Taur Matan Ruak would write a letter to Lú Olo asking for the declaration of the state of emergency.
“The Council of minister meeting is to propose a 30 day State of Emergency to the president of Republic Francisco Guterres Lu Olo,” Fidélis Magalhães told reporters at Government Palace in Dili.
According to Mr Magalhães, the measure aims to protect public health and ensure the health system in Timor-Leste doesn’t get overwhelmed.
The Government’s proposal is justified by “the worrying evolution of the epidemiological situation and the proliferation of recorded cases of COVID-19 contagion, both regionally and globally, and to avoid and neutralise the risks of the spread of SARS-Cov-2, thus protecting the public health and responsiveness of the National Health System”.
He also revealed that the Government proposes the declaration of the state of emergency, the suspension or restriction of rights, in particular for international circulation.
“The state of the emergency period has no implications for activities in the country. The focus is rather on restricting the international movement both in and out of the country,” he said.
On 27 of Jul 2020, the President Republic can veto the Epidemiologic and Virgilian Sanitation responds to COVID-19 after the end of State of Emergency.
Journalist :Antónia Gusmão
Editor :Julia Chatarina/ NIck Kettle
Translation: Nelia Borges
