DILI, 3 March 2020 (TATOLI)- President Republic of Timor-Leste Francisco Guterres Lú Olo reserved special praise for the principal leaders of the country’s liberation fight yesterday, as the nation celebrated Veterans Day.
In a speech at the Government Palace, the former general praised the Falintil commanders who came together in Viqueque District on March 3, 1981, to unite in the struggle against the Indonesian occupation.
“I would like to express our gratitude to the founders of the movement for independence and national unity who are still with us: Dr. Mari Alkatiri and Dr. Ramos-Horta, as well as to the main leader of the reorganisation of the struggle for national liberation in 1981: the Commander of FALINTIL, Mr. Xanana Gusmão,” he told the crowd.
President Lú Olo asked everyone to bow to the memories of the men and women who served in the resistance, offering a “warm hug” to the families that lost a loved one during the 24-year fight.
Following a parade featuring serving members of F-FDTL, the national police and former INTERFET officers, President Lú-Olo said the first meeting of the FRETILIN Central Committee marked a turning point in the struggle.
“The Armed Resistance was reborn in the bush. The people renewed hope! The world was surprised! So, today we celebrate this historic day,” he said.
Viva Povu Timor-Leste!
The first Veterans Day celebrations in the current form were marked in 2017, under then-president, Taur Matan Ruak.
President Lú Olo appealed to the Council of National Liberation and Combatant (CCLN) to continue its work remembering the combatants’ sacrifices.
“First, [we must] record all the stories from each combatant who still survive, as we have lost many people during the independence [period]; when one dies, we are losing part of our collective history.”
“Secondly, help educate our people to respect the RDTL constitution, [and] strengthen the value and principle of national liberation struggle.”
“And thirdly: help the government develop historical tourism,” the president said.
The president said the CCLN ought to help the government in “valourising” fallen combatants, but also to support surviving veterans in a more practical way.
“At the first [national veterans] congress last year, I gave all my support to a government initiative to create a veteran fund…[that will] answer to their needs an the present, and also support their children,” he said.
He said the fund has the backing of CCLN secretary Gil da Costa Monteiro “Oan Soru”, but called on lawmakers to draft a law to deliver it.
The parliament approved $103.7m for veterans’ entitlements in the 2019 budget.
In the rejected proposed budget for 2020, the allocation was around $100m, according to calculations by La’o Hamutuk.
Journalist: Cipriano Colo
Editor: Robert Baird; Cancio Ximenes
Translation: Nelia Borges
