DILI, 28 september 2021 (TATOLI) – National Parliament had authorized the President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres ‘LuOlo’ to renew the State of Emergency for another 30 days.
The new state of emergency will be in force between 00:00 hours on september 30, 2021, and 23:59 hours on october 29, 2021, and will be applied to the entire national territory.
The renewal of the declaration of a state of emergency was approved with 39 votes in favor, zero against, and eight abstentions.
“The draft law to authorize the renewal of the declaration of the state of emergency was approved and hoping that the government will implement it properly. I call on the government to accelerate the vaccination campaign to increase the Covid-19 vaccination rates in the country. I would like also to call on the communities to collaborate with the health authorities to get vaccinated because it is the only way to protect ourselves and the nation from Covid-19,” Aniceto Guterres, the President of the National Parliament (PPN) made the comments during the plenary session at the National Parliament, in Dili, today.
The President of the Republic requested the parliament’s authorization on the declaration of the extension of the state of emergency because as of monday (27/9), there were still 920 active cases and 113 deaths had been recorded so far.
While, according to the WHO’s data, 232.000.000 lab-confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 4.760.000 had been registered worldwide.
According to the message of the President of the Republic on the authorization request of the extension of the 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, as well as religious gatherings and celebrations.”
With the new state of emergency, the rights to education are limited, such as the teaching and learning process of schools would be temporarily halted, including face-to-face class if necessary to contain the coronavirus.
The Chairman of the FRETILIN party, Francisco Branco called on politicians to not politicize Covid-19 but, helping the government to fight coronavirus together.
On the other hand, MP of the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT), Fernanda Lay questioned government seriousness on the implementation of the main objectives of the sanitary fence and mandatory confinement.
“For instance, up to now, there are still 26.000 population haven’t received staple food of the Cesta Basica Program. I also don’t know the process of the subsidies for the front-line workers,” said Lay.
MP from the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Noe Da Silva Ximenes ‘Buka-Tuir’ expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the President of the Republic and Prime Minister on the fight against Covid-19: “The State of Emergency is necessary to fight the Covid-19.”
Buka Tuir called the government to pay attention to the situation and condition of the front-line workers, saying many experienced difficulties when performing tasks in the field.
Journalist: Evaristo Soares Martins
Editor: Cancio Xiemenes
Translation: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
