DILI, 13 december 2021 (TATOLI) – The government of Timor-Leste has been putting efforts to find the remains of the national heroes who were killed and disappeared in the 24-year resistance but is still waiting for information and a response from the Indonesian government.
“We have been putting efforts to look for the remains of our national heroes who lost their lives during the wartime; however, the Indonesian government hadn’t provided us with enough information about the whereabouts of the remains of these heroes. We keep waiting for the information from the government of Indonesia regarding this matter,” Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno told reporters after having a meeting with the President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres ‘Lu OLo’ at the Palace of the President, in Dili, today.
She said so far, MoFAC had been discussing the matter with its Indonesian counterpart, adding future discussion on the matter depends on the Indonesian government.
“MoFAC will keep putting efforts to find the remains of these heroes. So far, we haven’t received any response from Indonesian parts to discuss more the matters,” Magno said.
Previously, the Minister for the Affairs of National Liberation Combatants, Júlio Sarmento da Costa “Meta Mali” informed that it is hard to find the remains of the national heroes: “Although the national veterans always insisted the government to find the remains of the national heroes, and what I tell you is that it is hard to find the remains of the first Prime Minister, Nicolau Lobato, FALINTIL’s Commander David Alex ‘Dai-Tula’ and many others.”
“It’s easy to talk about searching the remains of these heroes, but you know it is hard to start the finding process, as we don’t actually know where to begin the search of their remains. So, I can tell you that, it is hard,” said Meta Mali.
Journalist: Cidalia Fatima
Editor: Armandina Moniz
Translation: Filomeno Martins
