DILI, 31 january 2023 (TATOLI)- SASCAS (Serviço de Apoio à Sociedade Civil e Auditoria Social/Civil Society Support Service and Social Audit) this year has provided $1.3 million to construct a monument to the Proclamation of Francisco Xavier do Amaral in Turiskai Manufahi.
“This year SASCAS has also prepared funds for the construction of the monument to President Francisco Xavier do Amaral in Turiscai with a fund of $1.3 million,” explained SASCAS Executive Director, Edvin Soares Noronha to Tatoli in the Cathedral Hall, this monday.
The SASCAS Executive Director also said that currently, the technical team is preparing draft designs and calculations of the BoQ (Bill of quantity) prior to making a contract for the development project.
Previously, the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak also mentioned that the monument was built directly in Turiscai-Manufahi, the birthplace of the late proclaimer, to pay homage to his dedication so far in the nation’s struggle for independence.
“This monument is also the aspiration of the people of Turiscai who asked the Government to erect a monument so that generations can continue to remember, especially on historic, national days, they can also pay closer respects,” explained the PM.
Francisco Xavier do Amaral was born in Turiscai, on 3 December 1939, and was an independent proclaimer and president of Timor-Leste in 1975. During independence, he founded his party, ASDT (Associação Social Democratic Timorense) which won three seats in the National Parliament.
He died on 6 March 2012 at the age of 74 in Dili, due to cancer, at the Guido Valadares National Hospital and was buried at Jardim dos Heróis, in Metinaro, Dili.
On May 20, 2017, to honor this great figure of the nation, the Francisco Xavier do Amaral Monument was inaugurated, architecturally made in a large statue in the roundabout around the Dili Convention Center.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
