Pages 19 September 2012 Murder in East Timor the result of land dispute Map of Bobonaro District ETLJB 19 September 2012 A recent murder in the far western District of Bobonaro in East Timor was the result of a dispute over land. Member of the East Timor National Parliament for Prime Minister's CNRT party, Jacinto Viegas, told Parliament on 3 September that this was the second time the alleged perpetrator had resorted to killing as a way of settling land disputes, having already being sentenced to four years in prison in 2006 for a homicide similar to this one. "The deceased's body is in the morgue" said the MP. The killing emphasises the urgent need to enact land laws in East Timor which, according to the Government, are pending debate in the Parliament. The MP urged the pending land law be debated and approved as quickly as possible to prevent violence occurring over land disputes. "Otherwise it will only escalate because everyone wants land," said the MP. Rede ba Rai (Land Network) Coordinator, Ines Martins, said these disputes began since the Portuguese occupation and continue to the current day. According to her, local authorities must be involved when Government sends out survey teams to measure land parcels before issuing titles. "The Village Chief, families and neighbours must all be present, so rightful ownership can be established. There needs to be a law though so people are clear on the issue, so the land law should be approved," said Coordinator Martins.