DILI, 11 june 2021 (TATOLI) – The Executive Director of Timor-Leste’s Centro National Chega (CNC), Hugo Maria Fernandes called on the Government to accelerate the drafting of Timor-Leste’s cultural heritage and archives decree-law to protect the nation’s historical sites and archives.
Fernandes urged the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture (MESSK) and the Secretary of State for Art and Culture (SEAK) to accelerate the drafting of the national cultural heritage decree-law which was critical to protect Timor-Leste’s historical sites across the country.
He also called on the Ministry of State Administration (MAE) to present the draft of the national archives decree-law to the National Parliament as soon as possible to help protect the historical archives of the nation.
“We discussed the importance of the cultural heritage and archives decree-law on protecting our historical sites and archives in the country. We also asked the Parliament to make a formal request in asking MAE to present the draft of the national archives decree-law to the National Parliament as soon as possible because we don’t have both decree-laws,” Fernandes told reporters at National Parliament, on Friday.
Fernandes said he had informed both MESSK and SEAK regarding the introduction of the cultural heritage decree-law and also asking both parties to collaborate with the other relevant ministries to establish a legal framework to protect the historical and cultural sites in Timor-Leste.
Fernandes added CNC also urged the Parliamentary Committees to instruct MAE to present the draft of the national archives decree-law for its approval by the Council of Ministers and the National Parliament.
He said both cultural heritage and archives decree-laws were important to protect the national archives and also for the restriction of republication of the archives to the public.
Journalist: Evaristo Soares Martins
Editor: Cancio Ximenes
Translator: Filomeno Martins
