DILI, 07 May 2025 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s FALINTIL freedom fighter, Ernesto Fernandes, known as ‘Dudu’, passed away on Wednesday at around 5:25.am local time at the Guido Valadares National Hospital, at the age of 80.
HNGV’s Director of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support Services, Vidal Lopes, said that Dudu died of a hemorrhagic stroke after being hospitalized at the Hospital since April 10, 2025.
He said that, based on an assessment by a medical team consisting of a neurologist, an intensivist, and a cardiologist, Dudu’s condition was already too critical to be transferred for treatment overseas.
Lopes emphasized that the doctors sought advice from their counterparts in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and were advised to continue treating Dudu’s condition with a ventilator.
“We did our best with the resources we had, but we were unable to reverse Dudu’s condition,” he said.
Dudu was born on June 18, 1945, in the administrative post of Hatulia, in the municipality of Ermera.
He served as a Commander of FALINTIL Freedom Fighter in Region IV during the Indonesian occupation of the country.
Dudu served as a member of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste for the Democratic Party from 2018 to 2023.
In November 2021, he was awarded the Order of Timor-Leste by former President Francisco Guterres ‘Lú Olo’ in recognition of his contribution to the country’s independence.
TATOLI
