Timor-Leste's civic space is rated “narrowed” by CIVICUS Monitor, the second highest rating for a country. Timor-Leste's authorities generally respected fundamental freedoms, and the government provided an enabling environment for human rights defenders. Journalists were largely able to report freely, although a small number experienced police harassment. Freedom of peaceful assembly was respected in practice, but the law places unjustified restrictions on protests.
In its 2024 report, Freedom House rated Timor-Leste “free,” scoring 72 out of 100.
In April 2024, the Timorese government held discussions with the ASEAN Secretary-General on meeting all the criteria set out in the Roadmap for Timor-Leste's Full Membership in ASEAN, adopted at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Timor-Leste initially sought membership in the regional bloc in 2011, but membership has been long delayed.
In recent months, the country has fallen in Reporters Without Borders' (RSF) world press freedom index, after teachers were detained after demonstrating at the Ministry of Education and the government extended a ban on martial arts groups.
Expression
Press freedom ranking drops
Timor-Leste has dropped 10 places in Reporters Without Borders' (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, released in May 2024. It now ranks 20th out of 180 countries, with a score that dropped from 84.49 to 78.92. However, it remains one of Asia's leading countries in press freedom.
RSF said the country's media, which currently has many publications in Tetum, Portuguese and even English, is one of the freest in the region. Articles 40 and 41 of the constitution protect freedom of the press and expression. Journalists are usually free to report the news and are rarely the targets of harassment or physical attacks.
Although the 2009 Criminal Code decriminalized defamation, journalists caught up in legal disputes face the threat of abuse of Article 285 of the Criminal Code, which punishes “slanderous accusations.” Journalists face several forms of pressure to restrict their freedom, including legal proceedings, intimidation, police violence, and public denigration of the media by politicians.
Journalism continues to be permeated with a culture of respect and deference to the hierarchy, with some editors content to simply print official reports from press conferences. The influence of the Catholic Church, which is practiced by over 95% of the population, makes journalists hesitant to cover some sensitive topics, such as women's liberation, abortion rights, and clerical pedophilia.
Peaceful Assembly
Demonstrating teachers detained
On February 12, 2024, the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL) arrested 10 teachers for demonstrating at the Ministry of Education building without obtaining permission from the Dili District Police Headquarters.
Orlando Gomes, commander of the PNTL in Dili district, said the teachers, who had taken part in the peaceful demonstration, were immediately questioned in accordance with applicable law. He said the protesters had tried to enter the Ministry of Education building without the permission of the private security forces, which prompted police to intervene, stop them and detain them.
Of the 10 teachers, four were reportedly women and six were men. Veronica dos Santos, a teacher who took part in the protest, said she had come to speak with the education minister about her contract and the problems they were facing after he had ignored her for months. She said police yelled at them and quickly arrested them.
The Law on Freedom of Assembly and Demonstrations (Law No. 1 of 2006) provides for the control of assemblies. Although the law only requires organizers to notify the police of planned protests, the PNTL continues to interpret the law as requiring organizers to obtain permission. Police have used this as a justification to restrict or disrupt several protests by students and activists.
Association
Government extends ban on martial arts organisations
In May 2024, Timor-Leste's government announced it would extend the ban on martial arts organizations until November 2024. The initial ban, imposed in November 2023, arose out of concerns about violence and possible links between martial arts and violent acts. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão said the ban would allow police and regulators time to inspect clubs across the country and implement “specialized crime prevention.”
Martial arts, introduced during the Indonesian occupation, are very popular in Timor-Leste. Some Timorese who joined martial arts groups became secret members of groups supporting guerrilla fighters during the occupation. After independence in 2002, some groups turned to politics, sparking sectarian violence; others joined gang activities.
The Gusmão government's move has drawn outrage from martial arts leaders and supporters. Fernando da Costa, former head of Timor-Leste's martial arts regulatory committee, said the country's history with martial arts groups shows they need to be regulated. But he said the ban “ignores the essence of martial arts.” Samuel Antonio Guterres, leader of a local martial arts group, Ikatan Kela Sakti, said today “there is no direct correlation between martial arts and community violence.”
Father Marco Sprizi, charge d'affaires at the Apostolic Nuncio in the capital, Dili, called on the government and the Church to embrace martial arts organisations rather than exclude them, adding: “Martial arts organisations need to be integrated, involved and embraced; they need not be excluded, abandoned or marginalised.”
