Manatuto, September 26, 2025 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan,” took part in a community dialogue in Barique-Natarbora, Manatuto Municipality, organized by the NGO forum FONGTIL. The dialogue brought together civil society organizations, government representatives, and local communities to discuss the government’s planned LNG project in Natarbora as well as broader national development issues. The main theme was “Strengthening the Management of the Petroleum Fund with Efficiency, Effectiveness, Resilience, and Sustainability for the Well-being of the People of Timor-Leste,” highlighting the importance of placing communities at the center of policy-making and ensuring that their rights and livelihoods are safeguarded.
In his intervention, the Ombudsman underlined that dialogue is a cornerstone of democracy and good governance, bridging communication between the state and its citizens. He stressed that major development projects such as LNG must guarantee respect for citizens’ rights, especially regarding land ownership, housing, and access to services. “Development must not come at the expense of people’s rights. Dialogue is the key to building trust, reaching fair solutions, and ensuring that communities feel ownership of the decisions that affect their lives,” said Virgílio Guterres.
The Ombudsman reaffirmed PDHJ’s constitutional mandate to monitor government action, address citizens’ complaints, and ensure that communities are meaningfully consulted in the development process. By accompanying dialogues like this, PDHJ seeks to ensure that national projects deliver real benefits while preventing new injustices. The event was attended by Vice Prime Minister Mariano Assanami Sabino, the Secretary of State for Water and Sanitation, the President of the Manatuto Municipal Authority, religious leaders, local authorities, students, and other community representatives.
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