Venidora Oliveira – The Coordinator of Rede ba Rai (Network for Land) organization Roberto Aleixo da Cruz said land disputes continue to be a source of social conflict because a land law has not yet been passed.
Coordinator da Cruz alleges the government, in the name of development, has been taking land and property without a legal basis for it.
"Where you agree or not, believe it or not, sooner or later land disputes will become a serious social issue in Timor-Leste," said the Coordinator of Rede Rai in Farol, Dili.
He added Timor-Leste's Constitution states the government has to pay fair compensation to the community if it takes land to use.
"In Oecusse some land belonging to the community was taken by the government without compensation. What was this based on?" asked Coordinator da Cruz.
He added the national parliament approved a Land and Property Law in 2002 but that then President of the Republic Jose Ramos-Horta refused to promulgate it and it was resubmitted to the Ministry of Justice for further discussion.
Meanwhile Member of Parliament MP Duarte Nunes said it takes time to approve legislation on land and property and that it needs careful discussion. "We have to discuss the law carefully again," said MP Nunes.