Dili, 27 April 2026-The Provedor for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan”, accompanied by the Deputy Provedor for Human Rights, Maria Marilia da Costa, Director for Promotion, Joanita Silvira da Costa, and Head of UAJAB, Teresinha Ximenes, held a high-level meeting with the General Commander of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), Assistant Police Commissioner Afonso dos Santos, and the Second General Commander of PNTL, Assistant Police Commissioner Natercia Eufrasia Soares Martins, who was accompanied by Inspector General of PNTL, Assistant Police Commissioner Hermenegildo Gonçalves da Cruz. The meeting took place in the VIP meeting room at the PNTL General Headquarters in Caicoli.
This meeting was convened with the clear objective of strengthening institutional cooperation between PDHJ and PNTL, reaffirming our shared commitment to advancing human rights and the rule of law across Timor-Leste. Such cooperation is not merely administrative but fundamental to ensuring that polices operate with integrity, accountability, and deep respect for the fundamental rights of every citizen. The discussions focused primarily on the continuation of Human Rights and Good Governance training for PNTL officers, an initiative that has been ongoing and remains a cornerstone of the partnership between the two institutions. According to PDHJ’s plan, training for PNTL in 2026 will concentrate on the municipalities of Dili, Ainaro, Liquiça, and Lautém; however, the training has not yet commenced due to the ongoing transition of PNTL’s leadership. Nevertheless, both sides expressed optimism that the training would resume swiftly once the new leadership structure is fully in place, recognizing that timely capacity-building is essential to professionalizing the police force.
The meeting also reflected the PDHJ Statute, which clearly identifies PNTL as one of the three key institutions with which PDHJ has a mandate to cooperate, alongside FALINTIL-FDTL and the Prison Guard. This legal framework underscores the importance of sustained dialogue and joint action between PDHJ and PNTL in advancing human rights protections across all security sectors, and it serves as a strong foundation for long-term institutional partnership. During the meeting, the Provedor extended congratulations and a warm welcome to the new leadership of PNTL, wishing them every success in their challenging roles. He also acknowledged the difficulties faced by PNTL officers and reaffirmed that PDHJ will continue to advocate for the improvement of their working conditions and overall welfare, because a well-supported police force is better equipped to protect the rights of all Timorese citizens.
The General Commander of PNTL welcomed the PDHJ delegation and highlighted that human rights training for its members is highly relevant and necessary to help them become more professional, ethical, and community-oriented officers. Second General Commander Natercia reiterated that cooperation between PNTL and PDHJ is critically important, stressing the need to review the previous Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions and, if necessary, incorporate additional matters to further improve and institutionalize their cooperation. This proactive step reflects both institutions’ dedication to evolving their partnership to meet emerging challenges and uphold the highest standards of human rights practice. This meeting marks yet another milestone in the growing partnership between PDHJ and PNTL, demonstrating that when human rights institutions and security forces work side by side, the ultimate winners are the Timorese people who deserve justice, dignity, and protection under the law.
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