Dili, February 22, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Centro Nacional Chega (CNC) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Association of Victims of the 1974-1999 Political Conflict and the Association of Former Political Prisoners (ASSEPPOL).
CNC Executive Director, Hugo Maria Fernandes said, this MoU was implemented to continue collaboration in implementing programs carried out by the three entities to implement the strategic plans of each institution and annual programs.
“This MoU focuses on two things, such as institutional strengthening, which began with the establishment of the Centro Nacional Chega in 2017 and until now CNC continues to establish partnerships with ASSEPPOL and victim associations on how to help each other to strengthen institutional capacity and convey messages to these three institutions, Centro Chega itself through this partner can learn how to work guidelines in the field but at the same time implement programs between three interrelated institutions.” Said the CNC Executive Director
He informed that CNC provided financial support to ASSEPPOL and the Victims Association from 1974 to 1999. This support has been ongoing for three years and will provide every year.
“Centro Chega will help, First, support funds so that ASSEPPOL and the Victims Association can carry out their activities or programs, Second, as we know in Balide Prison, ASSEPPOL and the Victims Association also made an office here, we also facilitate office, technical support, work space, electricity, facilities that can be used to carry out activities.” He said.
Third, how the programs run by ASSEPPOL and the Victims Association are also aligned with the CNC program.
In this scope, more focus is placed on supporting ASSEPPOL and the Victims Association 1974-1999 in all their activities, documents and memories.
“ASSEPPOL focuses on how to document the memories of former political prisoners during the conflict, how these documents and archives can be secured properly, so that these documents can be accessed, also on the victims’ association to see general victims, especially victims of the 1974-1999 political conflict.” He stressed.
So, the support given to ASSEPPOL and the Victims Association is the same, how they can create documentation services, work to provide support to victims who are still in financial need, how to provide health care for victims, and then really be able to provide a response to what is mandated by CNC from Law 48/2016.
As the Executive Director of ASSEPPOL, Martinho R. Perreira expressed his gratitude to CNC for its cooperation, helping to smooth the communication left by CAVR, in addition to providing operational support to comply with the agreements that have been established.
On that occasion, the National Coordinator of the Victims Association 1974-1999, Domingos Pinto de Araújo Moniz continued, the Memorandum of Understanding process is a form of legality to bind oneself to obey what is written in the deed in order to work.
“Regarding the responsibility that has been accepted by all parties, I think this year’s MoU has received support from CNC to continue to be responsible for vulnerable victims, so that they can coordinate with Centro Chega as a partner to jointly coordinate according to any recommendations, this is in accordance with the mandate of CAVR and CVA.” He said.
He added that this memorandum of understanding is a form of concern for the region and to raise the association to be better in carrying out its duties, so that when it acts it does not go outside the region.
Reported by : Estefania
Picture by : Estefania