Dili – Prime Minister Rui Maria Araujo accompanied by Minister of State for Administration and Internal Affairs, Dionisio Babo visited office of Comissão Anti-Corrupção (CAC) today (27/2) to see with their own eyes the real condition of the commission.

Commissioner Dr. Adérito Tilman accompanied by his two Deputies José “Sama Larua” Neves, Manuel Bucar, and Secretary Executive of CAC Alexandre Freitas and other Commissions’ workers were delighted in welcoming the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Rui Araujo and Minister Dionisio Babo hold a closed meeting with Senior Management CAC at Meeting Room.

Deputy Commisioner Neves on behalf of CAC appreciated the initiative of chief of government to visit the Commission to see the real situation and urge to the Prime Minister to keep close attention to the difficulties, obstacles and challenges faced by the commission in the future.

“Prime Minister’s initiative to visit the commission can articulate as the effort to prevent and combat corruption in all sovereign organs of state, because prevents and combat corruption is not CAC’s job only. Appreciate to Prime Minister’s visit and he can see with his own two eyes what kind of difficulties and challenges that the Commission faces,” said Deputy Commissioner Neves.

This is the first visit of the Prime Minister Rui Araujo to commission’s office in Farol after his inauguration on 16 of February at Palacio Nobre Lahane Dili.

“To prevent and to combat corruption is not the competence of CAC only but it is also the obligation and commitment of the government in this sacred mission. My presence here today at the Commission to better understand Commission’s services, procedures that CAC has, challenges, difficulties that they face. Also came here to manifest the government’s appreciation and support to CAC’s work,” Said Prime Minister.

Now CAC had 66 staff that comprises of 15 investigators, 19 administration staff, 7 prevention officers, 8 education and research officers 8, 7 drivers, 3 Senior Management, 4 Cleaners, 3 national and international advisers and 1 professional appointing. (*)

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE RUI MÁRIA DE ARAÚJO

ON THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION

Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission

Deputy Commissioners of the Anti-Corruption Commission

Excellences

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to be able to speak on this special occasion of the fifth anniversary of the Anti-Corruption Commission in my first week as Prime Minister.

This anniversary is significant not only to celebrate the achievements of the Anti-Corruption Commission but to affirm the importance to our country of its future as a robust institution with strong powers to fight corruption.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is one of the key institutions of the State that supports good governance. It is a body independent of government that reports to the National Parliament.

This is only my forth day as Prime Minster. One of the first tasks of the new Government will be to lodge declarations of assets with the Court and the Anti-Corruption Commission. I intend to personally deliver these on behalf of all members of government.

When I leave this office, I will lodge another declaration of assets that I promise will show I have not profited from my position.

And when I leave this office, I want Timor-Leste to be recognized as a world leader in open, transparent, accountable and ethical government.

We are already on the pathway thanks to the good work of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission was a significant achievement of the Fourth Constitutional Government.

Passage of the legislation followed an extensive period of public consultation throughout Timor-Leste, comprehensive discussions with civil society, the release of a discussion paper and a number of conferences and workshops.

From the public consultations it was clear that not only was corruption a big concern of the Timorese people but that there was overwhelming support for an Anti-Corruption Commission.

I can confirm that this strong support remains today.

But it was only five years ago that the Anti-Corruption Commission was nothing but words on paper. While legislation had passed the National Parliament there was no building, no staff, no resources and no investigators.

Like all Timorese institutions, the Anti-Corruption Commission had to be built from scratch.

I would like to take this opportunity to give credit to the first Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Adérito Soares, who brought this institution to life with his commitment, his intellect and his strengths of character. He deserves much credit for his service to the nation and for the landmark reached today.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Corruption has a terrible impact on society. It hurts the poor by increasing the cost of living and reducing the standard of living conditions. It involves the theft of public money that should be spent on improving public services including health and education.

Corruption also impedes economic development. Business will avoid investing where there is corruption and this means a loss of jobs and a loss of shared wealth.

And importantly, corruption destroys trust in the States which makes peace building and State building so much more difficult to achieve.

Our people did not suffer so much, and sacrifice so much, to gain independence only to watch our country slip away in the corruption of our State.

That is why we must make sure that corruption does not pay in Timor-Leste. We must let it be known that those that engage in corrupt behaviour are at risk.

We cannot take half measures or excuse or accept corruption. We cannot let corruption take root in our society.

And so, we need a strong Anti-Corruption Commission that can take firm measures and that has the power to keep Government honest and accountable.

This Government welcomes the Anti-Corruption Commission and its work and I commit that we will provide it with support and cooperation that it needs to effectively fight corruption in our country.

I urge the Commission to continue its good work not only in investigating corruption but also in taking action to prevent corruption through education campaigns and the targeting of vulnerable service areas.

And I say to all civil servants, and to all Timorese people, that corruption will not be tolerated by our legal system or by our country.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today’s event gives me the opportunity to mention the importance of good governance. That is the importance of government that is honest, accountable, open and transparent and has ethical leadership.

We must understand that the demands of good governance are not a hindrance to development but rather result in better performance and better results.

All of us want this government to be focused on better service delivery and a better quality of works from a responsive and accountable administration.

That is why I will demand integrity in the government and why we need independent bodies with the power to fight corruption.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank Commissioner Adérito António Pinto Tilman for inviting me to speak today on this important occasion for the Commission.

I commend his dedication and service to the nation in leading the Anti-Corruption Commission with great skills, knowledge and integrity.

I know that under his leadership the Commission is well placed to provide another five years of service to the Timorese people.

I would also like to thank the Deputy Commissioners and the staff of the Anti-Corruption Commission for their commitment and urge you to keep working hard for your country.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has made a significant contribution to better governance in our country. I expect this good work to continue so that we can build a nation recognized as a world leader in open, transparent, accountable and ethical government.

Thank you very much.

Dili – Commission of Anti-Corruption (CAC) established on February 22, 2010 celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. CAC organized a workshop by inviting key speakers from government and judicial institutions with theme “Combat Corruption from Legal Perspective” at Salao Nobre of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Key speakers of first session were Commissioner Adérito Tilman, Chief of Supreme Court Guilhermino da Silva and newly appointed Prime Minister dr. Rui Maria Araujo. The afternoon session speakers were General Prosecutor Dr. José Ximenes, Ombudsman of Human Rights Dr. Silverio Pinto and Vice-President of Committee A of National Parliament, Mr. Araão Noel.

The objective of workshop is to gather authorities’ opinion from executive, legislative and judiciary sides to enhance individuals’ integrity and institutions to become a guidance of a good governance for national development interest and become as a good guide to authorities in collective efforts to fight corruption and keep the value of good-governance in this young nation, Timor-Leste.

The theme of this anniversary was a reminder and as a reflection to all Timorese leaders to use possitive efforts fights against corruption. Senior public servants were invited to this event because they are the key of transformation and have moral responsibility to defend the value of transparency and accountability in the workplace.

This celebration of CAC anniversary, compare to other public celebration is celebrated in a very simple manner. In his short of speech, CAC Commissioner Dr. Adérito Tilman said; “There is no tolerance towards corruption practice, or “zero tolerance”.  We need to continue minimize challenges and obstacles that is existed, and show firm action and commitment to combat corruption. To fight corruption needs strong dedication from everyone: government agencies, civil societies, etc. Thats why, I express my sentiment of compatriots and also positive will to the effort, dedication and progress that this commission have been focus on for the last five years,” said Commissioner Adérito Tilman.

Participants and government leaders who took  part in this anniversary celebration showed their happiness and enthusiasm in this event. In this open discussion,  one important issue raised was the anti-corruption law, it is hoped that the Governmnet leaders will soon approve the anti corruption law in order for CAC to have full power to combat corruption in Timor-Leste. (*)