DILI, 16 august 2024 (TATOLI) – The former Portuguese Foreign Minister and former President of the European Commission, Durão Barroso, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, and the former Head of the United Nations Mission in East Timor, Ian Martin, have confirmed their presence at the commemorations of the 25th anniversary of the Popular Consultation.
According to the Minister for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Ágio Pereira, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, the Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, José Cesário, the Angolan Foreign Minister, Teté António, the former Portuguese ambassador to Indonesia, Ana Gomes, and the former spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Tamrat Samuel, will also be present at the celebrations.
In 1998, with Suharto’s resignation and the end of the “Indonesian economic miracle”, B.J.Habibie was immediately sworn in as President. He later announced that he was willing to hold a referendum on autonomy (with integration into Indonesia) or independence for East Timor.
On august 30, 1999, with courage and determination, the Timorese people expressed their wish for the independence of Timor-Leste.
On september 4, 1999, UN officials announced in Dili that the people of East Timor voted by 78.5 percent for independence and rejected the proposed special autonomy within Indonesia.
Therefore, Popular Consultation Day is considered one of Timor-Leste’s historic days. This day commemorates every year to remember the referendum which paved way for East Timorese self-determination.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
