DILI, 27 january 2023 (TATOLI) – The Secretary of State for Youth and Sports (SoSYS), Abrão Saldanha, said that SoSYS will present next month to the Council of Ministers, for approval, the draft proposal on the new regulation for martial arts.
Saldanha said that the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports together with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) had already presented last week the draft proposal for the creation of the new martial arts law to regulate the activities of martial arts groups in the country.
He said the Council of Ministers accepted and appreciated the effort to create the law: “Therefore, the new draft law will be presented, next month, at the meeting of the Council of Ministers for its approval. After the approval, then the decree-law would be presented to the National Parliament for its discussion and approval.”
“If this new draft law is approved by both the Government and the National Parliament, then it will help to better regulate the activities of the martial arts group in the country,” Saldanha told TATOLI at his office in Dili, today.
He said the rules would regulate the activities of the martial arts subsystem, violent acts, disciplinary offenses, etc.
“For example, if a member of a martial arts group violates the rules of wearing the martial arts group’s uniform in public, they would be fined or do community service. Or the martial groups’ license certificate can be seized, which can result in the closure of their martial training branch,” he explained.
“The fine varies between individual and organization. The fine for individuals is between US$50 and US$500, while for organizations between US$200 and US$5000.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
