Dili, March 12, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Regarding the 2025 PNTL Recruitment which announced 500 vacancies, the Hali ba Dame (HABADA) NGO held a press conference to promote Transparency and Equality in PNTL recruitment in 2025.
Founder and Executive Director of the HABADA NGO, Abel Amaral, in his intervention said that based on the recruitment announcement of 500 vacancies, there were 400 vacancies in the agent training course (agent position) and 100 vacancies in the official training course (assistant inspector position) at PNTL.
“In 2025, the government has approved through government decree number 9/2025 on February 12, so HABADA appeals to all component authorities to ensure a transparent, fair and inclusive process in order to encourage the creation of equal opportunities for all candidates,” said the Executive Director of the HABADA NGO, Abel Amaral.
He added that as a competent organization in promoting the realization of democratic governance and human rights, HABADA reiterated the importance of ensuring recruitment based on the principle of meritocracy, integrity and social representation.
“In this context, we highlight fundamental issues such as transparency in the selection process, publication of clear admission and assessment criteria, provision of information on selection stages and deadlines. Independent monitoring by civil society organizations.” He said.
He further added that there are equal opportunities, promotion of equal participation of men and women. Involvement of candidates from regions and all social groups. Adopting measures to prevent discrimination and favouritism which unfair.
“Recruitment criteria based on competence and integrity, strict assessment of academic training and physical abilities. Verification of antecedents to ensure integrity and compromise on democratic values. Adequate training on human rights and communitarian policing.” He continued.
Therefore, the Executive Director of the NGO HABADA asked the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Commander of the PNTL to strengthen the responsibility of the mechanism and ensure that the 2025 recruitment contributes to police officers who are professional, efficient and represent the diversity of Timor-Leste. HABADA will also continue to accompany the process and encourage citizen participation to accompany this important moment for the sake of the country’s public security.
He added that as long as they accompany the Ministry of Home Affairs’ plan, the government is indeed committed to three programs that are very important for the PNTL institution.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs has a commitment to three programs that will be carried out, such as, one Promotion program, two Reform Programs for PNTL members who have entered the reform period and three Recruitment programs, and we are sure that the Ministry of Home Affairs is committed to implementing this because we have seen that so far the Minister of Home Affairs and the General Commander have gone directly to the field. This is a picture that the Ministry of Home Affairs has indeed committed to conducting recruitment based on the needs required by the PNTL institution.” He said.
On this occasion, he also expressed his appreciation for the government’s policy, especially the Ministry of Home Affairs, which will conduct recruitment, be it recruitment for promotions, transfers, and transitions, post-reform and has a policy of conducting recruitment for replacement reforms that add to the sections that really need new PNTL members.
He also asked PNTL, especially the 2025 PNTL recruitment commission, to be transparent in this recruitment, free from politicization and must be independent and must be firm towards the young men and women who will compete for this vacancy.
“Then to the cadet admission committee, we ask them to be firm with the young men and women who will enter this admission, they must not be involved in any group, if they are involved then there must be a statement that they have left the group they joined before entering the PNTL institution, because when they have become members of PNTL, that means we only obey the laws, there are no groups A, B, C that we accompany.” He explained.
Hali ba Dame NGO will also accompany this recruitment, it must be fair or clear, transparent, without politicization and without involvement in groups that have been problematic.
Reported by : Estefania
Picture by : Estefania