PARLAMENTO NACIONAL

Secretariado da Bancada Parlamentar de FRETILIN

Dili, 14 November 2018

PRESS RELEASE

FRETILIN Votes Against the Proposed Alteration to Law No. 13/2015 Put Forward by
Parliamentarians from CNRT, PLP, KHUNTO, PD and UDT/Frente Mudansa Benches

Members of Parliament who make up the Parliamentary Bench of FRETILIN at the National
Parliament voted against the proposed alteration of Law No. 13/2005 on Petroleum
Activities, which was proposed by some Parliamentarians from CNRT, PLP, KHUNTO, PD and
UDT/Frente Mudansa benches.

On the proposed alteration to Article 2 that refers to the Treaty on Maritime Boundary
signed on 6 March 2018, FRETILIN is of the view that this amendment violates Timor-Leste’s
Constitution and the International Law on Treaties for as long as the Maritime Boundary
Treaty not ratified by the Parliament of Timor-Leste and Australia, it has no binding effect.

In the proposed alteration to Art. 22., FRETILIN sees the alteration wishes to attribute
competence to the Council of Ministers or the Prime Minister to deciding on the
participation of any public entities and others in the petroleum activities in Timor-Leste.
FRETILIN thinks this alteration will open the way for only a small Timorese elite group to get
rich and control the resources of Timor-Leste.

FRETILIN’s Parliamentarian, Antoninho Bianco argued that, “this alteration can bring about
collusion and nepotism and opens the way for a small group to control Timor-Leste’s
resources.”

The alteration to the same article authorized all contracts on transactions, acquisition and
transfers in the petroleum activities not to be subject to the prior inspection authority of the
court of accounts.

Parliamentarian Joaquim Boraluli of FRETILIN stated “This is bad for the State of Timor-Leste
as as it removes the oversight power of the court of accounts and possibly bypass the
General State Budget.”

“The effect of this altered law can possibly bring about empowering an informal power
outside of the formal power structure to control the State,” Boraluli added.

“FRETILIN rejects the alteration of the Petroleum Activity Law because the alteration will
remove the oversight power of the court of accounts. This is unconstitutional, but also
eliminate the principles of transparency, good governance and check and balances in our
State,” Parliamentarian Joaquim Boraluli concludes.

END

For further information, please contact Francisco Miranda Branco MP on 7723 7124