Dili, 27 july 2021 (TATOLI) – The Permanent Specialized Committees of the National Parliament (PN) had authorized the President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres ‘LuOlo’ to declare the 16th state of emergency, to respond to the Covid-19 in the country.
The new state of emergency covers the entire national territory and will be in force between 00:00 August 1st, 2021, and 23:59 August 30th, 2021.
The new extension of the state of emergency was approved at the National Parliament with 18 votes in favor, zero against, and 13 abstentions.
The fundamental reason for extending the state of emergency is to respond to the current situation of the Covid-19 in the country.
“Thus, the resolution for the extension of the state of emergency was approved,” the President of the National Parliament, Aniceto Guterres Lopes made the comments at the House of Parliament, in Dili, today.
Lopes said President LuOlo requested for the authorization of the extension of the state of emergency in the country due to the cases of Covid-19 mounting in the neighboring country, West-Timor, Indonesia: “There had been 29.185 confirmed cases and 618 deaths in West Timor, an Indonesian province that shares borders with Timor-Leste.”
Lopes said another reason for extending the state of emergency is also due to the rise of the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in West-Timor.
With the new state of emergency, some fundamental rights and freedoms are limited: “The right for the international circulation would be partially suspended, including freedom of movement, gatherings, and demonstrations, funeral, and traditional ceremony, and religious gatherings and celebrations.”
Lopes said the right to education is limited, such as the teaching and learning process of schools would be temporarily halted, including face-to-face class.
Journalist : Evaristo Soares Martins
Editor : Cancio Ximenes
Translator : Filomeno Martins
