DILI, 11 March 2025 (TATOLI) – Today, the Konis Santana Memory Foundation (FMKS-Tetun) laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Nino Konis Santana Civic and Cultural Center (NKSCCC) in Tutuala village, Lautém Municipality.
The initiative was led by FMKS, with financial support of US$400,000 from Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language, and an additional US$28,000 provided by the Civil Society Support Office (GASC-Tetun).
Speaking at the event, FMKS President Izaldes Santana stated that the laying of the foundation stone coincided with the anniversary of Nino Konis Santana’s passing on March 11, 1998.
Santana stressed that FMKS’s role is to publicize the history of the country’s struggle for independence and strengthen cultural identity.
“In order to strengthen, publicize, and preserve the history of the struggle for the country’s independence, it is necessary for the foundation to create conditions and have sufficient resources to guarantee the sustainability of historical preservation in the future,” Santana said in a statement released today.
He called on the government and development partners to continue supporting FMKS in fulfilling its aforementioned role.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Manuela Bairos, said that the Nino Konis Santana Civic and Cultural Center would provide a space for the local community to promote cultural, artistic, and creative initiatives.
The Vice Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, also said that the center would serve as a space to promote culture and honor the legacy and memory of Timor-Leste’s Freedom Fighter Commander Nino Konis Santana.
Nino Konis Santana was born in the village of Veru, in the Tutuala subdistrict, on June 12, 1957.
When the Carnation Revolution took place in Portugal, Konis dreamed of becoming a primary school teacher. Between 1974 and 1975, he took the primary school teacher course at the Engenheiro Canto Resende School in Dili. During his studies, he was the leader of UNETIM (East Timorese Students’ Organisation), associated with FRETILIN. He then worked as a schoolteacher in a village in that same region before the Indonesian invasion.
After the Indonesian occupation, Konis left for the mountains and was appointed assistant to the Lospalos Military Region, according to the National Council of Maubere Resistance.
In 1981, after the dismantling of the Base Camps he was appointed member of the Liaison Group led by Xanana Gusmão.
In the beginning of 1992, after Mau Hodu was captured, he was appointed Political Assistant to Xanana Gusmão.
With the capture of Xanana Gusmão, in November 1992, Nino Konis Santana is appointed member of the Military Political Committee headed by Ma’Huno.
In 1993, after Ma’Huno was captured by the Indonesia forces, Nino Konis Santana became the operational Commander of FALINTIL and reorganized the Resistance by establishing the Executive Council of the Armed Struggle and of the Clandestine Front, which coordinates all the Resistance’s activity inside the territory. After five years, on March 11, 1998, at the age of 41, he passed away in Mirtutu village, Ermera District. According to those who were with him, he died of a heart attack, like his father.
The remains of Nino Konis Santana were handed over to the government to be buried in the National Garden of Timorese Heroes in Metinaro, on December 18, 2012.
Present at the event were the Retired Major General Lere Anan Timur, local authorities, and family members of Nino Konis Santana.
TATOLI
