Macau Opinion | First the judges, then…

There is a proposal on the table which will remove foreign judges from certain court decisions. It is an absurdity which puts in cause the second system, as many other proposals under way. One judge, irrespective of having born in Macau, Lisbon, Guarda, Maputo, Fujian, Guangdong or Tarrafal, must be independent, impartial and responsible, and shall only abide by the law and the system where the law is practised.

This proposal comes from a certain trend to put Portuguese-speaking legal actors out of the system or of a certain system as interpreted by those that may have studied out of the system according to the laws of a different jurisdiction.

One of these days there will also be lawyers for certain cases and public prosecutor delegates for other cases and court clerks for other cases. If this is what is wanted, please inform the population, the international investors, and everyone who should know this in advance.

Worse than this is that we have putative candidates in the highest position of the Macau Government agreeing with the proposal and, even worse, applauding.

It is quite interesting that this is happening now, when the basis of the second system seems to be faltering, with those that should safeguard it take illogical steps towards resolutions that, suddenly, Almighty God, make them retreat at the last minute.

Responsible Macau people should understand that we cannot pledge autonomy. People need to fight for Macau people’s interests. When following higher guidelines, without understanding that they are a certificate of incompetence for the last 19 years instead of a way forward.