DILI, 10 november 2021 (TATOLI) – November 12 is a national youth day for Timor-Leste to honor and remember the sacrifices of Timorese young people during the 24-year resistance, said Executive Director of Centro National Chega!, Hugo Maria Fernandes.
Fernandes said he is very grateful to the government for choosing November 12 as the National Youth Day, saying that on that day, 30 years ago, many youths demonstrated against Indonesia.
“In my opinion, the November 12 is a very important national day, to honor, and acknowledge youths’ contribution to the independence, by participating in one of the well-known demonstrations, which led to Santa Cruz Massacre November 12, 1991,” Fernandes told TATOLI at CNC’s office, in Dili, Wednesday.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Santa Cruz Massacre, on November 12, 1991, the organizing committee had come up with a theme ”Young people play leading roles in fighting Covid-19 with the spirit of the Santa Cruz Massacre.” Young people need to keep up this kind of spirit.”
“In my opinion, young people in 1991 showed a spirit of loyalty, passion, resistance, and responsibility,” said Hugo.
He said the topic should not be just rhetoric, calling on young people to put it into practice.
“I called on the young generation to continue the spirit of volunteerism, and solidarity of those young people in 1991,” he said.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
