Submission to Committee B: Foreign Affairs, National Security, and National Parliament over the proposed 2016 State General Budget for the Security Sector.
Fundasaun Mahein (FM), November 16th 2015
Press Release
The Government has submitted a proposal for the 2016 State General Budget (OJE) to the National Parliament on October 29th 2015, and recently relevant ministries had an audience with the Specialized Commission. The Government has requested for the security sector: the Ministry of Defense US$7.14 million; the F-FDTL $18.672 million; the National Defense Institute (IDN) $959,000; The Interior Ministry $9.902 million; the PNTL $28.16 million; the National Intelligence Service $2.477 million; and the Scientific Police of Criminal Investigation (PSIK) $1.184 million.
Within this funding envelope, Fundasaun Mahein’s (FM) has raised concerns over possible duplication of programs and expenditures between the security institutions. Particularly, FM has identified a need for clarification in the area of criminal investigation between the PNTL and PSIK, as although PSIK is responsible for the complex criminal cases, the proposed expenditure does not distinguish between these two institutions.
Furthermore some of the proposed programs potentially interfere in existing services of security institutions. The Ministry of Interior through the National Directorate for Community Preventive Conflict (DNPKK) has outlined a proposed program to socialise community policing, even though the community policing service already operates within PNTL’s operational structure in villages and hamlets in the 12 municipalities and three special regions of Oecusse. There are therefore concerns that the involvement DNPKK will simply further complicate the PNTL’s socialization of this existing program.
FM voices further concerns around the lack of clarity surrounding the role of the proposed 2030 Office of Police. Will it be implementing the 2030 Internal Security Strategic Plan, or will its function be determined by a separate study for the police? If it copies the model of the Office for the Implementation of Forsa 2020 under the Defense Ministry that was created as a result of the Forsa 2020 study, then shouldn’t a similar Police Study be commissioned before the creation of the Office of Police? FM therefore asks that the National Parliament seeks justification from the Interior Ministry before this Office is created.
Finally, FM has asks the national parliament to consider the need to recruit 8 highly paid consultants (4 National and 4 Foreign) as advisors to finalize the National Defense Policy, Concept of National Security and Defense, Concept of Military Strategy and other legislation and policies at a cost of $600,000 as outlined in the proposed budget as FM has doubts whether such an expense is justified or delivers value for money to the Timorese people.
Recommendations
For the good functioning of the National Parliament and Government’s role in discussing, analyzing, clarifying and finally executing the budget, FM presents two general recommendations:
1. Recommends the Committee B of the National Parliament supervises the execution of OJE from the start of the planning and procurement process to the implementation or realization of the projects.
2. Recommends the Government and relevant institutions obey law and good practice of Procurement in executing budgets for the security sector.
For more details on this issue please see the following:
Nélson Belo
Executive Director
E-mail: direktor.mahein@gmail.com
Phone: (+670) 78316075 no 77561184
Web: www.fundasaunmahein.org
