My name is David Dias Quintas Corona, I was born in Lospalos and I am proud to be the representative of the FRETILIN in Italy since 1991. I wrote to you before the last conference of CNRT to express my disappointment about your stance against the Timorese political parties. I did not want to defend a political position in my letter, but I wanted to try to explain the reasons of an uneasiness that is threatening our relations.
I have accepted that you did not take into consideration my disappointment, but my party shared my opinion and the roots of our criticism are deeper than I could imagine. I think that we have to strengthen the unity of our people and I wish to make my opinions public in order to attain this goal.
We obtained our victory through our common thoughts and efforts . We have to draw example from our history in order to plan the future of our nation. Nobody can deny that the Timorese political parties and in particular the FRETILIN took part to the struggle for the liberation ; these parties express the passion for the freedom of the people of East Timor. The lack of experience induced us to make some mistakes, but our mistakes are nothing in comparison with the deafening silence of the so-called highly-civilized world about the genocide of our people. Everybody must take responsibility for his own behaviour after twenty years of struggle. Our party wants to examine the past and we have to enable everybody to express his opinion about the events of the occupation and of the previous period.
Our parties were 'community in the community', they were living , because Timorese people identified themselves with these parties. We cannot erase this part of our existence. The CNRT is the product of a compromise between the Timorese political parties. Not all the people agreed with your leadership in Peniche, not all the people agreed with the adoption of the banner of the FALINTIL like an emblem, not all the people agreed with Carta Magna, but we decided a common position after a long debate .
The breakdown between the most important Timorese party and the leadership of the CNRT has happened without a real discussion in August. We have to acknowledge very bitterly that the CNRT is no more representative of the whole Timorese people. I ask you to hear me, if I said that we have to think about the causes of this situation . Supposing that the Timorese political parties deprived CNRT-CN of authority, we should ask ourselves why they found sufficient arguments to fulfil their goal. The strength of an antagonist depends on our weakness.
I believe that the FRETILIN is ready to rule our country and it is necessary, by my opinion, that the Timorese people elect their constituent assembly made-up of all Timorese political parties. Our people need a super-parties man, and you can play this role, as well as Nelson Mandela did in South Africa. The discussion between the political parties is positive : you have the prestige and the authority to enforce the rules of the Carta Magna.
I believe that our people need a common effort in order to overcome the difficulties. This effort must be not less strong than the struggle that carried out the referendum of August 1999. I ask you to contribute to give visibility to the Timorese political parties.
Thanking you for your attention , I confirm my high opinion of you and my respect for you; I wish a happy new year to you and our people.