DILI, 12 november 2021 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres ‘Lu Olo’ called on the young generation to follow in the footsteps of the young heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the independence of the nation during the Santa Cruz Massacre, at the Santa Cruz Cemetery, on november 12, 1991, in Dili.
Lu Olo made the comments in his remark at the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Santa Cruz Massacre 1991, at the Santa Cruz Cemetery, in Dili, today.
“I would like to call on the new generation to improve yourselves with science to have enough knowledge to be more professional in performing your daily jobs to contribute to the nation’s economic recovery,” said Lu Olo.
He said Santa Cruz Massacre spread the news around the globe about the real situation in the country.
“I would like also to call on those young people who participated in the Santa Cruz Massacre, in 1991, to keep setting good examples and becoming role models for the young generation to follow. Young people play a crucial role to move a nation forward. Young people are like a source of water in the middle of nowhere in a desert land, which gives life to many people,” Lu Olo stressed.
He reiterated that the young generation must keep up the spirit of the Santa Cruz Massacre to improve their knowledge through education and exchange experiences to better serve the people, society, and the nation.
“Let’s honor and praise our heroes, who died before, during, and after the Santa Cruz Massacre,” said Lu Olo.
At the same place, the Director of the 12th November Committee, Gregorio Saldanha, said that more than 2600 survivors had been registered; adding around 500 of the survivors had received support from the government.
“We will keep working until all of these survivors receive the support from the Government. So, we will also keep working to find the remains of those who are still missing to place them in their final resting place,” added Saldanha.
The Santa Cruz Massacre, in 1991, was filmed by British and Timorese filmmaker and journalist, Max Stahl, who arrived in East Timor (now Timor-Leste) several weeks earlier. The Santa Cruz Cemetery is where Max Stahl documented one of the most dramatic moments of the country, as the images of the massacre were spread around the world and changed forever the history of the nation.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
