Dili, December 4, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The local authorities and community of Uma-Berloic Village, together with the Land Network (Rede ba Rai), held a press conference regarding the falsification of documents allegedly used to claim ownership over the entire territory of Uma-Berloic Village by an individual identified as Ms. Alexandrina. The conference took place at Rede ba Rai’s Hall in Farol, Dili.
The spokesperson for the Uma-Berloic Village Local Authority, Sabino Fernandes, stated on Thursday, 4 December 2025, that the community, all council members, and elders from the villages of Mahaquidan, Tahu-Bein, and Dotic gathered to make a public declaration and clarification through the press conference.
“We (the elders and local authorities) who signed the document as witnesses to the Testament declared by Mr. José Boromeu Duarte on Saturday, 31 January 2009, in Baria-Laran Hamlet, Uma-Berloic Village, Alas Administrative Post, Manufahi Municipality, hereby clarify that our signatures were provided only as witnesses regarding the village’s territorial area as declared by Mr. José Boromeu Duarte, the former Village Chief of Uma-Berloic during the Portuguese occupation. The purpose of this Testament was to provide data to help local authorities resolve land disputes between Uma-Berloic and neighboring villages, and not to grant inheritance rights to Ms. Alexandrina F. de C. V. Duarte and her group,” said the spokesperson.
He further stated that the heir authorization documents based on the testament from the former village chief, José Borromeu Duarte, are invalid. The testament, which bears the signatures of the elders and local authorities, served merely as a reference in addressing ongoing land conflicts between Uma-Berloic and Mahaquidan. However, the testament used by Ms. Alexandrina F. de C. V. Duarte as legal justification to claim ownership over the entire Uma-Berloic territory is false and unconstitutional under the RDTL Constitution.
“During this time, Ms. Alexandrina has made significant efforts, using various strategies to manipulate and falsify several documents, which she then submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the Secretary of State for Land and Property, in an attempt to obtain land titles and declare herself the owner of the entire Uma-Berloic territory measuring 39.57 km², with the intention of transferring it to her descendants,” he added.
The spokesperson also referred to a letter sent by Ms. Alexandrina Filomena de Carvalho Varudo Duarte to the Director of STPSC Manufahi regarding the “Confirmation of Ownership of Cultural Land and Private Property Affected by the Construction of the Highway in Uma-Berloic Village,” in which she claimed ownership of all land from Kaimolik (bordering Tahu-Bein) to the Laclo River (bordering Dotic).
“We hereby clarify to the Secretary of State for Lands and Property that Ms. Alexandrina has no legal right to claim ownership over the entire Uma-Berloic territory, as Article 549 of the RDTL Constitution guarantees the private property rights of all citizens,” said Sabino Fernandes.
He also explained that the documents published in the Jornal da República on 14 October 2022, specifically the public deed on their authorization dated 10 October 2022, recorded on pages 49–50 of Protocol Book No. 16, Volume 2 are false and illegitimate, as they were not processed according to legal procedures. The notary failed to verify the exact land location in Uma-Berloic or consult with local authorities and the community to confirm the authenticity of the land’s historical status.
“In light of this declaration, we appeal to the Prime Minister of the IX Constitutional Government to consider the grievances of our humble community and instruct the Minister of Justice to immediately annul the publication on page 1097 of the Jornal da República (Friday, 14 October 2022, Series II, No. 41, Ministry of Justice). The land granted to Ms. Alexandrina and her husband is invalid because the land in question belongs to the administrative area used and inhabited by the community for generations,” he emphasized.
He also urged the Ministry of Justice to instruct relevant departments to ignore or invalidate all documents submitted by Ms. Alexandrina.
The spokesperson requested that the Ministry issue an urgent directive to the National Notary Directorate to cancel and revoke the legalization and publication of all related documents issued in the Jornal da República by the Ministry of Justice, as mentioned in point 5. If within one month from today no action is taken, the community demands the immediate invalidation of the documents referenced above.
Report: Nelfiano
Photo: Nelfiano