Ermera, 11 June 2025 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan”, accompanied by the Director of the PDHJ Territorial Delegation in Maliana, Domingos Tavares, conducted an inspection visit to Gleno Prison to directly assess the conditions faced by inmates.
The visit was part of the Ombudsman’s mandate as an independent oversight body responsible for monitoring prisons in Timor-Leste to prevent human rights violations, including torture and ill-treatment of prisoners by prison staff.
During the inspection, the Ombudsman listened to various complaints and recommendations from both male and female inmates. Among the issues raised were the lack of access to television, which prisoners said limits their ability to stay informed about national developments, and concerns about irregularities in food provision, with reports that meals were not served according to the planned menu due to delays by the contracted service provider.
Prisoners also expressed concerns about the process and fairness of presidential pardons, calling for greater transparency and equity in their application, particularly for inmates serving longer sentences or those who are elderly.
In response, the Ombudsman assured the prisoners that all their concerns had been duly noted and would be communicated to the Minister of Justice for further consideration. He also urged prison officers to maintain constructive communication with inmates to help address grievances and promote a positive environment within the facility.
Gleno Prison currently houses 102 inmates.
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