On 6th December 2023, around the launch of its People Power Under Attack 2023 report, the CIVICUS Monitor upgraded Timor-Leste's civic space rating from ‘obstructed’ to ‘narrowed’. The report noted that fundamental freedoms have generally been respected by the Timorese authorities and the government has created an enabling environment for HRDs.
Journalists are mostly free to report the news although a few have faced police harassment. The country is ranked in 10th place in the World Press Freedom Index published in May 2023 by global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders. Freedom of peaceful assembly is respected in practice, although the law places some unjustified restrictions on protests.
On 10th November 2023, the Timor-Leste National Alliance for an International Tribunal (ANTI) raised concerns about the candidacy of former general Prabowo Subianto in the Indonesia presidential elections and urged voters not to support him. They highlighted how he has been accused of serious human rights violations during the Indonesian occupation of Timor-Leste such as the massacre that occurred in 1983 in Viqueque, which is known as the Kraras incident where 200 people were killed. He was also head of the Special Forces Command that played a pivotal role in setting up militias who worked for the Indonesian military up until 1999. There has been no justice and accountability for all of these crimes.
Previously, on 27th November 2023, a day before the country celebrated 48 years since its independence from Portugal, President José Ramos Horta honored Freddy Christo Gamage with the Order of Timor Leste, the country’s most prestigious award. Gamage was a prominent Sri Lankan Catholic journalist and activist who launched a global campaign for Timor Leste’s independence.
Expression
Southeast Asian MPs call for respect for press and online freedoms
The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) undertook a fact-finding mission to Timor-Leste from 30th September to 2nd October 2023. Following this it issued a statement calling on the government to maintain democratic and human rights principles, including online expression, as it expands internet access.
The members of parliament (MPs) called on the government and parliament to safeguard against issuing legislation regulating online behavior that could violate freedom of expression and press freedom. They also called for increased capacity building for digital literacy for the public and state agencies.
The MPs also noted that journalists and civil society members have raised concerns about looming threats towards freedom of expression online and that some journalists have faced prosecution, as well as intimidation and harassment from law enforcement authorities. They also raised concerns that the previous government had attempted to reintroduce articles criminalising defamation into Timor-Leste’s Penal Code, and a draft Cybercrime Bill tabled in 2021 included vaguely-worded provisions that could potentially be used to silence political dissent.
They called the Timorese government and parliament “to ensure that any legislation that regulates online behaviors does not violate the freedom of expression and freedom of the press that is enshrined in Timor-Leste’s constitution and international human rights law.” They also urged parliamentarians and government officials “to be open to criticism and to stand up for those who are harassed and prosecuted by state actors for peacefully expressing their political opinions.”