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End culture of impunity in East Timor

13 February 2008, 09:22AM

As more peacekeepers arrive in East Timor, we urge the Timorese government and the international community to act now to end the country's endemic culture of impunity or face a continuation of the cycle of violence.

We believe the shooting of President Jose Ramos-Horta is symptomatic of the country’s most pressing challenge; building strong institutions to improve security and strengthening the rule of law.

The attempted killings of President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao on Monday are a direct consequence of this continuing failure of the government and the international community to rebuild the national criminal and civil justice system effectively.

Alfredo Reinado, who was facing criminal charges for having taken part in the 2006 violence, should not have been still at large, threatening the stability of the country.

The East Timor government and the international community must use this abhorrent incident as a wake-up call to strengthen the country’s key institutions as a matter of urgency. Those who commit violations know that they can do so without being punished. The local population’s lack of confidence in state institutions to provide justice and accountability - in particular in the military, the police and the judiciary - is central to the country's most pressing current challenges.

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