DILI, 03 july 2023 (TATOLI) – Foreign Minister of National Unity Government of Myanmar, Daw Zin Mar Aung, met with the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, to share experiences on the current situation of both countries – Timor-Leste and Myanmar.
Aung said that Myanmar and Timor-Leste have a common experience in the struggle for democracy and human rights, with many leaders having experiences as political prisoners.
“We have a very common experience. During my lifetime, I have been a former political prisoner and I know that the leaders of Timor-Leste are revolutionaries and have gone through many experiences in the struggle for Democracy and Freedom in this country,” Aung told reporters after meeting President Horta at the Presidential Palace, in Dili, on monday.
Myanmar is one of the ASEAN countries still struggling for democracy and freedom of expression and movement.
The freedom of movement was highly restricted in Myanmar and those traveling outside their designated townships faced arrest and imprisonment for “illegal movement.”
“During the meeting, we exchanged ideas and thoughts on what is currently happening in Myanmar and the President is very encouraging and shows his support for our struggle and how we can work together to address these issues,” he said.
Daw Zin Mar Aung was delighted to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Timor-Leste’s new government and to have the opportunity to meet Timor-Leste’s leaders: “This is my first visit to Timor-Leste.”
“It is a great honor to meet President Horta and to be here and on behalf of the people of Myanmar. I thank Timor-Leste for standing with us. We appreciate all the support from the government of Timor-Leste,” she said.
Aung was among the many foreign special delegations from ASEAN and neighboring countries who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão as the new Prime Minister of Timor-Leste for the period 2023-2028.
The National Unity Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is a Myanmar government in exile formed by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), a group of elected lawmakers and members of parliament ousted in the 2021 Myanmar coup d’etat.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
