DILI, 23 november 2022 (TATOLI)– The Presidency of the Republic of Timor-Leste and the Government launched a cultural showcase and music festival with the theme ‘my island Atauro, my Timor’ to bring people together.
The festival organizes a series of music competitions, sports activities, and exhibitions which are participated by communities from municipalities across Timor-Leste, including from western Indonesia, Kupang NTT.
At the launch of the festival President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta said Atauro would become a tourist spot for the world.
“Atauro will become a tourist spot for the world, therefore the people of Atauro must defend this land, plant lots of trees and flowers, also protect this marine environment well, and Atauro must become the type of place that attracts more tourists,” Horta said at the festival event.
Horta highlighted the festival as a unique initiative and Timor-Leste’s greatest arts showcase that will bring society together and back the nation building.
“This is a unique initiative, we hope to repeat in the years to come, to be one of the greatest all-art showcases of Timor-Leste, but as with any culture, sports, or initiative, it is always a great opportunity to bring people of this country, society more together, more unify, and backing, nation building,” said Horta.
Horta also thanked the international partners who have been steady partners in helping Timor-Leste build this country and state.
“It is a very dynamic program, we leave an absolute thank for our international partners who have been steady partners in helping us build this country and state,”
The Festiva was attended by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, The President of the Court of Appeal, Members of the VIII Constitutional Government, Participants of the Festival, Guest from West Indonesia, Kupang NTT, including Ambassadors from 14 countries wearing traditional clothes representing 13 municipalities in Timor-Leste including Ambassador from Indonesia, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, United States, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, Philippines, France, New Zealand, Saharawi, and European Union.
Meanwhile, the President of the Atauro municipality, Domingos Soares appreciated and honored the decision of the President of the Republic for selecting Atauro as the venue for this festival.
“This festival is the first major event held in the Municipality of Atauro after it was changed from an Administrative Post to a municipality. As a newly formed municipality, we are committed to uniting,” he said.
The festival is also composed of important activities realized by the State Secretary for Art and Culture and young archaeologists about Atauro Island while everyone was invited to share their thoughts on the survey results on Autauro Island.
Atauro is an island of Timor-Leste, about 25 km long and 9 km wide, about 140.1 km2 in area. It had 9,274 people living there in the 2015 Census. The nearest island is the Indonesian island of Liran, 12 km to the northeast.
At 999 m above sea level, Mount Manucoco is the island’s highest point.
The island is administratively divided into five sucos, each surrounding a village: Biqueli, Beloi, Macadade (formerly Anartutu), Maquili, and Vila Maumeta.
Journalist: Mirandolina Barros/ Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
