Dili, August 13, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Ex-Aspol community, which has become a victim of eviction, has given the government three days to restore their rights; otherwise, they will resume their business activities as usual. The press conference was held in Caicoli, Dili.
Spokesperson Teresa Jacinta Fátima Soares stated in her announcement that the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (RDTL) is a democratic, sovereign, independent state, established by the will of its people and with respect for the dignity of every human life, as stipulated in Article 1, Number 1 of the RDTL Constitution.
She emphasized that the Ex-Aspol community came to live in the location and has been cooperating with the government to develop the land.
“Our Ex-Aspol community has all this time cooperated 100% and complied with the decisions or orders of the RDTL Government through the Secretary of State for Toponymy and Urban Organization (SEATOU), successfully clearing the site voluntarily over a period of three to four days, working together with Her Excellency the Secretary of State for Toponymy and Urban Organization,” said spokesperson Teresa Jacinta Fátima Soares.
She further explained that after this, the Ex-Aspol community cleared the location, but no competent authority, particularly the Ministry of Justice, Secretary of State for Land and Property, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of State Administration, Secretary of State for Land and Property, or local authorities came to the area to clarify to the community their rights as citizens living in the referred location.
“Before this, the competent authorities came to collect data and mark two houses, promising that in a short time, their team would come together with the Ex-Aspol community to conduct a dialogue before clearing the site, as the land belongs to the State. During this time, the Ex-Aspol community was waiting for the SEATOU team to conduct the dialogue, but in reality, this was never done, until finally the Secretary of State for Toponymy and Urban Organization (SEATOU) and their team gave an ultimatum of only three days,” Teresa Jacinta Fátima Soares added.
She asserted that in this eviction today, no competent authority came to provide direct explanation to the community regarding their rights and obligations.
“We, the Ex-Aspol eviction community who have become victims, would like to request the process of the data and markings that were previously collected by the Ministry of Justice, through the Land and Property Office and the Ministry of Public Works, to know where and how the process has reached,” said the spokesperson.
She also noted that the community members affected by this eviction are mostly traders, and many are students ranging from early childhood education to university level, who need a stable environment in order to exercise their rights as Timorese citizens.
Meanwhile, the Ex-Aspol community is giving the government three days to directly come and provide clarification and explanation regarding the traders’ rights and obligations. If the government has no plan for this land, the Ex-Aspol community will reactivate their business activities at the site, arguing that for one month now they have kept their stalls closed, which has severely affected their children’s future.
She further explained that part of the money received by some members of the Ex-Aspol community came from compensation for the 2006 crisis and other assistance related to that crisis, but it was not only the Ex-Aspol community who received this, almost all citizens who were victims of the crisis at that time received such assistance.
Report: Nelfiano
Photo: Nelfiano