National Director for Conflict Prevention Lidia Lopes says co-operation between Community Police (POLKOM) and local leaders is necessary to eliminate conflict in neighbourhoods.
Lopes said as POLKOM was a newly established, unit, officers needed more training in conflict prevention.
She suggested providing civic education to youth about how to eliminate conflict in their neighbourhoods.
“We have done civic education about eliminating conflict in six districts; Viqueque, Baucau, Aileu, Dili, Ermera and Bobonaro,” she said.
Commission B (security, defence and foreign affairs) member Ana da Conceicao Ribeiro said conflict prevention was the responsibility not only of security workers and local authorities, but also of all Timorese citizens.
Ribeiro said co-operation with the church may also be necessary to eliminate conflict.
She asked for parents to control their children but not to get involved in conflicts themselves. Youth were the biggest contributors to conflict, she said.
National Youth Council of Timor-Leste (CNJTL) president Leovigildo Hornai said conflict was a result of human nature.
He said CNJTL did not have the power to control youth in each neighbourhood but the organization would work together with village heads to minimize conflict.
“We heard from village heads about conflicts in their villages and we tell to leaders to try to calm the situation,” he said.
