CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY GROUPS TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS

Two of the East Timor Constituent Assembly’s four thematic groups are scheduled to hold public hearings beginning tomorrow to consult with select invitees and constitutional experts.

The “Economic, Social and Financial Organization” and “Fundamental Principles, Control of Constitutionality and Amendment of the Constitution” thematic groups will meet with a wide and varied range of specialists over a two-day period.

Each of the assembly’s four thematic groups is in the process of proposing draft articles to be presented to the Systematization and Harmonization Commission next week. This Commission will in turn prepare a final draft Constitution to be submitted to the plenary session of the Constituent Assembly next month.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Estanislau da Silva and the East Timor representatives of the IMF, UNDP, World Bank, and ADB are scheduled to meet with the “Economic, Social and Financial Organization” assembly members tomorrow.

Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, East Timor University Rector Benjamin Corte Real, Human Rights specialist Aniceto Guterres and Representative of the Protestant Church Francisco Vasconcelos are scheduled to meet with the “Fundamental Principles, Control and Amendment of the Constitution” assembly members on Saturday.

The Systematization and Harmonization Commission has already approved an overall structure that divides the Constitution into six parts. Part one includes 'Fundamental Principles'; part two is devoted to 'Fundamental Rights and Duties'; part three is related to the 'Organization of Political Power'; part four covers provisions regarding 'Economic and Financial Organization'; part five refers to 'National Defense and Security', and part six considers 'Constitutional guarantees and Amendment to the Constitution'. This structure has been used to guide the work of the thematic committees.

The Constituent Assembly convened on 15 September and must approve a Constitution by mid-December.