DILI, 14 september 2021 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres ‘LuOlo’ ordered the flag to fly at half-staff as Timor-Leste mourns the death of the former President of the Republic of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio, who died on friday (10/0), at the age of 81.
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.
The Government of Timor-Leste, through the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, yesterday, decreed a three-day of national mourning following the death of 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.
On saturday President LuOlo honored Jorge Sampaio and extended his deepest condolences particularly to the bereaved family and the people of Portugal through a letter to his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
“Timor-Leste just lost one of its good friends and a comrade who fought for the nation’s independence. He is an intelligent person with a big heart. He is surely a role model to others as politicians with performing his duty responsibly,” LuOlo said in a statement released on tuesday.
He said Sampaio was a statesman who always fought for justice, peace, and freedom.
In 1999, after seeing many Timorese lives were in danger, as the violence escalating at that time, Sampaio tried hard to save the lives of many as possible from numerous tragedies which led to dropping tears on his eyes, the statement said.
In 2016, the National Parliament honored and awarded Jorge Sampaio with the Great Necklace of the Order of Timor-Leste in recognition of his solidarity and active participation in the fight for Timor-Leste’s independence.
“Sampaio’s legacy will live forever from generation to generation,” LuOlo said.
Journalist: Osoria Marques
Editor: Cancio Ximenes
Translation: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
