The trees (ai-sampolo) marked with an ‘X’ along the road in front of the Central Bank of Timor-Leste (BCTL) in Dili by the government to be cut down have sparked outrage in the Dili community both national and international.
The Coordinator of Rede HASATIL’s (the environmental network) Secretariat, Gil Horacio Boavida demanded an explanation from the government as to why the trees were marked for the chop.
“A city that looks beautiful is not made entirely of cement, but must have nature as part of it. We do not agree with the government’s decision to cut down the trees. If they go ahead we will mobilize the community against it,” said HASATIL’s Coordinator Boavida in Comoro, Dili.
According to him Dili will be soon under water if the government keeps cutting down all trees in the capital.
The President of Commission D (for economy and development affairs) MP Jacinta Abu Cau Pereira says research is needed before cutting down the trees.
“We also don’t agree with the decision because the trees are historical so they need to be preserved. Just trim them,” said MP Pereira.
Meanwhile the Director General for the Secretariat of State for the Environment (SEMA) Joao Carlos says he received notice from the Ministry of State and Territorial Administration (MAE) that the plan was to cut the trees to widen the road.
Director Carlos says SEMA sent a letter to MAE requesting it to re-thing its approach and instead develop a management plan that does not include cutting down the trees that already exist.
“We need to contain the trees but we also need to manage this properly so that we do not destroy what took so long to grow,” added DG Carlos.
TDW approached Dili’s Administrator, Gaspar Soares, for a comment on the issue but he was not available to speak to the media.
