DILI, 13 september 2021 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste, through the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers today, decreed three days of national mourning following the death of the former President of the Republic of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio.
The Government at the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers decreed the three days of National Mourning, from september 13, 2021, 08:00 am to september 16, 2021, 07:59 am, and presented the condolences particularly to the bereaved family and the people of Portugal.
Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães said that: “The national mourning implies that the national flag must be hoisted at half-mast in all public buildings across the country, including Timor-Leste’s embassies overseas.”
Jorge Sampaio (18 September 1939 – 10 September 2021) was a Portuguese lawyer and politician who was the 18th President of Portugal from 1996 to 2006.
Magalhães said Sampaio play an important role and made a significant contribution to the independence of Timor-Leste: “His commitment and efforts led to raising the awareness of the international community on the human rights situation in Timor-Leste. It strengthened the ties of the Portuguese and Timorese people.”
“He first became the President in 1996, when the two of our Nobel Peace Laureate José Ramos-Horta and Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo won the Noble Peace Prize. During his administration, several important negotiations took place back then and he always raised the right of the people of Timor-Leste. It led to consolidating the commitment of the Portuguese government in supporting Timor-Leste’s independence,” he said.
Magalhães added even after Timor-Leste got its independence, Sampaio and other Portuguese institutions keep supporting the nation.
Earlier, Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak expressed his deepest condolences on the passing of the former President of the Republic of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio, following his death on Friday (10/9) at the age of 81.
“On behalf of the 8th Constitutional Government and my family, I extend my deepest condolences to the family, and the people of Portugal on the passing of the former President Jorge Sampaio,” Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak said in a statement released on friday.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
