NGO Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP) calls for greater protection to be given to judicial officers especially when they are undertaking their duties in the community.
JSMP’s Executive Director, Luis de Oliveira Sampaio, said the work of these individuals is considered to be of high risk.
“They execute the court’s mandate, so the risk to their life is serious,” said Director Sampaio said in Colmera, Dili.
He said so far judicial officers are not given proper coordination and protection when they perform their duties in the community.
Director Sampaio feels judicial officers need protection for example when they go serve court orders to perpetrators of crimes.
Meanwhile the Dili District Court Administrator, Judge Duarte Tilman, thinks this is a good recommendation but warned it will take time to implement it.
“It is part of a long process that we need to analyze carefully and take it step by step so we can fix everything,” Judge Tilman said.
Member of Parliament (MP) Cesar Valente de Jesus agreed every judicial officer needs to be given protection to safeguard his or her security.
“Especially when he does his work in the community bringing court orders,” said MP de Jesus.
