Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, presided, on August 10th, 2020, at the Government Palace, over a meeting with the relevant ministerial lines, related to the implementation of the 4th period of State of Emergency, with the objective of analysing the implementation mechanisms, namely at the points of entry of people and goods, such as borders.
After the meeting, the Vice Minister of Interior, António Armindo, said that several locations are currently identified, on land and sea borders, on the south coast and on the north coast, which citizens normally use for illegal activity.
“Regarding illegal crossing points, our land and sea borders are very long and the Border Patrol Unit (UPF) members, even with the support of FALINTIL-FDTL, are just a few. Through the surveillance service, 14 places that the population normally uses for illegal activity have already been identified” said the Vice Minister of Interior.
António Armindo stressed that, regarding illegal crossing points, he will talk to the Australian Government, through its embassy in Timor-Leste, asking for help in placing some containers in the places already identified for the people illegally entry and exit, so that UPF members can be placed there, and guarantee security in those areas.
In addition, António Armindo stressed that today he participated at the meeting with the Prime Minister to decide the measures related to the COVID-19 outbreak prevention in the border areas.
In today’s meeting with the Prime Minister, we addressed the measures to prevent the COVID-19 outbreak in border areas issue. During the meeting, was decided to continue opening the border every 17 days. The reason for this period is related to the preparation time of the quarantine sites and the quarantine itself: the quarantine lasts 14 days, on the 15th day, it is people’s departure and the 16th day is for the Ministry of Health to manage the cleaning and prepare the space, namely to disinfect the rooms and other facilities used. Thus, on the 17th day, the space is available for other people to use”, he stressed.
Vice Minister also clarified that, at the meeting, the movement of goods issue was addressed, namely of products of basic necessity transport. Regarding these, the entrance is kept open every Wednesday and exits in every Friday, with control performed by the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine services, at the Border Posts.
The Government member stressed that this is not an UPF exclusive responsibility, but it is also the responsibility of all citizens, to ensure a peaceful life.
“For all people stability in the country, we cannot rely only on the UPF. We need collaboration between local authorities and PNTL members, including the media”, he added.
Before finishing, the Vice Minister of Interior also stressed that the security services are currently carrying out very tight security operations on border lines. Citizens who enter illegally across borders, any citizen, Timorese or foreigner who enter illegally will answer under the law in force in Timor-Leste.
“If any person is identified who has entered the country illegally, the person will be subject to sanction, based on the circumstances, because we are now in a state of emergency. When an Indonesian citizen illegally enters the country, he/she will be deported by our UPF members. In the case of Timorese citizens, such as students, if they enter illegally, or if their passport expires, they will have to be taken to quarantine, and after this period they will be processed according to the rules in force under the Immigration and Asylum Law”, added the Vice Minister of Interior.