Venidora Oliveira – The National Parliament has established a law making it illegal to carry weapons while inside a vehicle.
National MP Antoninho Bianco said the context of the law was to criminalize and condemn those who consciously brought weapons such as swords, machetes and barbed arrows inside a car.
He said this type of criminal activity continued to thrive in Timor-Leste and was making many people feel insecure.
"The law has been established [and] is just waiting to be discussed. When it has been approved this will protect the people," Bianco said. He said the law would also determine the length of the sentence imposed for those committing such a crime.
In the meantime, he called on police to strengthen the number of patrols in the sukus (villages) and sub-villages in order to prevent criminal activity and deter those responsible.
"[We need] more patrols so people who want to commit crimes are scared to do so due to the police presence everywhere," he said.
Although the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) were taking steps to maintain security by placing officers in sukus, he said those efforts were still inadequate.
However, Second Commander of Dili Municipality, Superintendent Assistant Euclidis Belo said police regularly conducted routine patrols at night in the sukus and sub-villages. "We always patrol at night to prevent conflict and crime," he said.
He said the establishment of the law was a positive step as police seized many weapons last year, but the perpetrators had not faced any consequences for their actions.