Dili, May 12, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Student Academic Association of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMCS) at the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) held a press conference regarding a demand they had submitted but has yet to receive a positive response from the Faculty and University. The press conference was held at the FMCS Campus, Caicoli, Dili.
FMCS spokesperson Jermano do Santos Morreira stated that the FMCS Student Academic Association is once again holding a press conference to reiterate their position publicly, as a follow-up to the demands previously submitted, which have not received any feedback from the Faculty or relevant Departments despite the Association’s efforts.
“Through this press conference, the FMCS Student Academic Association wants to once again assert to the public that this public denouncement is a continuation of the one already made on April 29, 2025, at the National University of Timor-Leste, because we feel that the University and Departmental structures are attempting to abandon the case submitted by the FMCS Student Academic Association. Even though we have made maximum efforts, such as submitting a formal letter and holding direct meetings, we have not received any response regarding these cases,” the spokesperson told journalists.
The spokesperson further outlined the Association’s concerns about the irresponsible actions of the University and Faculty, stating:
- The Rector has full authority to initiate disciplinary processes, but in this case, the Rector is seen as trying to ignore the issue. This indicates that the University structure is not ensuring fair and equal treatment for the academic community, and instead collaborates with the perpetrators within UNTL.
- They call on the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences to explain her incapacity and her role in protecting certain lecturers involved in cases of sexual harassment, illegal charges, and violations of UNTL regulations. This suggests that the Dean is tolerating such actions despite the University’s core values and regulations that prohibit them.
- They accuse the Head of the Midwifery Department and some lecturers of treating the department as if it were their personal company by limiting students’ ability to conduct internships, even though those students met all the requirements. This reflects the abuse of academic space as a place of threats against students.
- They accuse the Director of STS of reacting defensively to student criticism, using the department for business and personal gain over the years. This, they claim, constitutes a serious violation that the Director knowingly continues as if it were a tradition.
Based on the above key points, the FMCS Student Academic Association made the following recommendations:
- Recommend that the Rector of UNTL take urgent action on the issues at the FMCS Faculty, and immediately summon the Dean of FMCS, the Head of the Midwifery Department, and the Director of STS for ignoring students’ cases at the Faculty.
- Request that the Rector urgently open disciplinary procedures against the Director of STS, who is accused of exploiting students for personal gain and making threats, as well as against the Head of the Midwifery Department for canceling the internships of three students who met all the requirements.
- Request the Head of the STS Department to return the key to the Student Academic Association office, which the Director took or locked on April 29, 2025.
- Demand that the Directors of STS and Midwifery resign from their positions, as their actions do not reflect the integrity expected of good educators at FMCS.
- Call on the academic community of FMCS to stand with the Student Academic Association in rejecting exploitation within the University and ensuring that lecturers do not violate students’ rights.
- Urge all Faculty Associations to support the FMCS Student Association in blocking the operations of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences if no action is taken by the authorities within three days.
Report: Press Release from the FMCS Student Academic Association – UNTL
Photo: Domingas