DILI, 17 august 2023 (TATOLI)- The National Commission of Chega! (CNC) and Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta University, from Indonesia, dealt with preserving history from the colonization period and aimed to promote reconciliation between two countries, Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
The Executive Director of CNC, Hugo Maria Fernandes, stated it is an opportunity to deal with the Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta University in two main programs, such as implementing the report provided by CNC to preserve past memories of conflict during the 24 years of occupation. Including to promote reconciliation and lose the sentiment of anger and haters over a long period of time.
“We made a deal today to support each other in implementing the report provided by CNC. The reports will be used for preserving memory and also to promote reconsolidation between Timorese and Indonesians,” The executive Director of CNC, Hugo Maria Fernandes, told journalists after signing the MoU in the CNC office in Balide on Thursday.
The executive emphasized that CNC and Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta University will help victims release their in-depth sentiments from past times of torture, intimidation, murder, and others.
Likewise, The Rector of Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta University, Albertus Bagus Laksamana, said that it is a great privilege and an honor to be here to support CNC in the persevering memory of history and also to promote reconciliation.
“We are here to listen to the victims recall the history that happened during the resistance time. We also help CNC document the archive to preserve it and ensure information for the future generation,” he explained.
Rector added Timor-Leste and Indonesia continue to work side by side on vital programs that focus on human rights and reconciliation.
It is required for any support for CNC to support Victims to express their life history that happened in the past, and they should be able to move forward to reach a better future without any anger or hate sentiment.
In the same place, the Secretary of Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes, claimed the government is eager and committed to continue promoting reconciliation to build peace and harmony between the two countries.
“It is a huge appreciation for CNC’s cooperation with Indonesia’s Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta University to continue preserving past history and promoting reconciliation on both sides,” the executive addressed.
It is known that CNC and Sanata Dharma University will present some women who survived the massacre of November 12, 1991, the victims of the colonization period from 1995 to 1999, or the resistance people for 24 years.
So far, over 500 Timorese young people have participated in the Pacific demonstration held on November 12, 1991. Based on the Portuguese government data shown, there were 271 passed away, 382 injured, and 250 missing.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
