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Press Office Democratic Republic of East Timor
Office of the Prime Minister

Press Release

COORDINATING GROUP ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC POLICY ON THE RECOGNITION AND VALUATION OF THE TIMORESE RESISTANCE

LAUNCHING OF PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT OF PENSIONS TO THE COMBATANTS AND MARTRYS OF NATIONAL LIBERATION 

Dili, May 12, 2008

Tomorrow, on May 13 at 10 o'clock in the STAE Hall in Caicoli, Dili, the Public Proclamation of the names of potential beneficiaries of the state pension for Combatants and the Martyrs of theNational Liberation will be delivered to the District Administrators.

Apart from Members of the Government, members of the resistance and representatives of banking institutions will be present.
This symbolic act is of great importance due to mark the start of special protection by the state for a number of men and women, living and fallen, deserving of a special affection on the part of our young nation.

The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, has made the valuation of the Resistance one of its fundamental principles as a way of recognising the vital contribution of their struggle for national independence.

For the first time, the Timorese State  will ensure special protection for the war-maimed, the dependants of those who dedicated their lives to the struggle for national independence and sovereignty and to all who participated in the exclusive dedication to the resistance against foreign occupation.

Under the law, those entitled to a pension, in addition to a families of the martyrs of national liberation, are also the Veteran Combatants of National Liberation with more than 15 years of full-time participation in the struggle, the War-Disabled who have been unable to the work and the elderly over 55 years, who were Combatants for over 8 years full time.

After the complex activitiy of meetings and the registration of data in the database, which took place between late 2005 and the end of 2008, the final selection of beneficiaries was the responsibility of the Former Resistance Agency which for 12 days, at 2 national meetings in the former CNRT building in Dili in February and April 2008, endorsed the names of candidates for Pensions - Survival, Special Reform and Special Survival.

The number of pensions to be granted is 12,538, with 631 to living former combatants and 11,907 to fallen Combatants .

From May 14 and until June 20, people with names on the Public Proclamation may apply to the Board, using the form itself which is available at the headquarters of the sub-districts or in Dili, the Secretary of State for the Combatants of National Liberation and the Commission of Honor; the required documents must be attached to the application form.

The 234 Veteran Combatants of National Liberation, reported in the Public Proclamation who are still in employment, may apply immediately for the Special Pension Reform, without having to wait for the transition to retirement.

The 120 people listed in the Public Proclamation as the Disabled of War, will have to apply to the Special Board of Subsistence on the ground of incapacity, including a medical certificate proving that they are unfit for any professional service and attestation of unemployment, from the Job Centres.

In the case of Martyrs of National Liberation, the pension is payable only to the family, and primarily the right of widows or widowers who have not married again but also orphans up to 24 years and parents as well as brothers if they have been combatants of national liberation.

The right to pensions refers to January 1, 2008 and the payment of previous months will be done in a single bank transfer, no later than 30 days after full investigation of the applicant's case and in the absence of public objections.

The value of monthly pensions ranges between 85 USD and 550 USD, depending on the time of militancy and position occupied in the Fight for National Liberation.

The total funds from the state general budget for fiscal year 2008, for the payment of pensions, is USD 18.838.260,00, of which 93% is to cover the costs with the Board of Survival. Baucau, with about USD$2,362,000 is the district that will see more money allocated, followed by Lautem and Ermera.

The Combatants who do not have their name on Public Proclamation may submit a complaint by filling out the Form itself, which will be examined by the Ex-Tables of Resistance.

If there errors in the Public Proclamation, the right of defence is assured through the completion of the form.

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