A
collection of recent CNRT speeches, statements, news and reports. The
CNRT
was the peak body of the East Timorese people's resistance to
the
Indonesian occupation of East Timor. It is now ended /
dissolved
/ wound up / defunct.
NEW =
Added
to BACK DOOR Website
since last Monday's Emailout
Contents:
Background
of Mr Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Updated
Oct 14
News
re Mr Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Updated
Feb 16, 2002
Statements
from the CNRT/National Congress Presidency Updated
June 26
President
of CNRT: Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Updated
May 15
Other
CNRT statements Updated
Mar 23
Reports
re CNRT Updated Jul
26
News
re CNRT Updated Feb
1,
2002
Background of Mr Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Oct
7 FAETTA / Niner: Biography of Mr Xanana Gusmao Info
added
Oct 14
"Jose Alexandre Gusmão was born
on June 20, 1946 in Manatuto, on the north coast of Portuguese Timor.
The
second of eight children and eldest son, he was raised in various parts
of the country. His parents were devout Catholics; his father a
schoolteacher
and catechist. He completed primary school at the Catholic mission of
St
Theresa’s in Ossu where his father taught, then went on to the Jesuit
seminary
“Nossa Senhora de Fatima” in Dare and later to night school at the
Liceu
in Dili. He began work to help support himself early in life and worked
various jobs as a young man: a chartered surveyor, a teacher, a public
servant, a wharf-side worker, a fisherman, a soldier and a laborer. He
began writing for the local newspaper, “A Voz de Timor” (The Voice of
Timor)
in 1974. ... " Sarah Niner, Editor of "To Resist is to Win: The
Autobiography of Xanana Gusmao"
News re Mr Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
see these earlier statements from Mr. Gusmão: CNRT/NCP and President of CNRT (note: the CNRT is now ended / dissolved / wound up)
Feb
14 LUSA: Fretilin Leader Offers Gusmao 'Unconditional' Presidential
Backing
News added Feb 16
"The president of East
Timor´s dominant party, Francisco Guterres, told Lusa
Thursday
that Fretilin would give Xanana Gusmao “unconditional” support
in
April 14 presidential elections, regardless of what form his candidacy
might take. Guterres, who is on a visit to Lisbon in his capacity as
speaker
of Dili´s Constitutent Assembly,
said,
however, that as a “national figure” he doubted Gusmao would stand for
the presidency with the backing of opposition
parties."
Lusa
Feb
13 LUSA: East Timor: Gusmao Rejects Fretilin ‘Pressure’ To Run as
Independent
News added Feb 16
"Independence leader Xanana Gusmao
said Wednesday he had not yet decided whether he would run for the
presidency
of East Timor in April 14 elections, adding that he would not bow to
“pressures
from anyone” to stand as an independent candidate. ... With 10 days
left
to the deadline for formalizing presidential candidacies, Gusmao
reiterated
that he would not run as an independent nor as a candidate of the
dominant
Fretilin
party, which he once led." Lusa
Portuguese:
Fev
5 Lusa/Fim: Xavier do Amaral é o primeiro candidato presidencial
Notícias de 6 fevereiro 2002
"Francisco Xavier do Amaral, que em 1975
foi escolhido pela Fretilin como presidente
de Timor-Leste, foi ontem nomeado como primeiro candidato nas
eleições
presidenciais marcadas para 14 de Abril próximo, confirmou a
Comissão
Eleitoral Independente (CEI). Xavier do Amaral, actual vice-presidente
da Assembleia Constituinte e
líder
da Associação Social Democrata
Timorense
(ASDT), foi nomeado como candidato por uma das forças
políticas
mais pequenas, a PARENTIL (Partai Republik
Nacional Timor-Leste), que não tem qualquer assento na
estrutura
timorense. ... Observadores consideram que a nomeação de
Xavier do Amaral põe fim ao debate sobre a possibilidade da
candidatura
única de Xanana Gusmão, fazendo respirar de
alívio
os responsáveis pela organização do voto." Lusa/Fim
Feb
4 Rt: East Timor headed for contested presidential vote
News added Feb 5
"East Timor looked headed for a contested
presidential vote after the electoral process began on Monday with the
opening of a registration period for political parties and candidate
nominations.
The April 14 election will be East Timor’s first presidential vote. ...
By midday on Monday, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials
confirmed
to Reuters that one candidate, Francisco Xavier do Amaral, had been
nominated
by the National Republican Party of East
Timor
(Parentil), a youth party formed in February 2001. The nomination
ended
speculation over whether charismatic independence hero Xanana Gusmao
would run unopposed, analysts said. ... Do Amaral is a member of the Timorese
Social Democratic Association (ASDT), a party with six seats in the
Constitutional
Assembly." Reuters
December
2001 ETSG Team: Transformation of Constituent Assembly into Legislative
Assembly: Do we need a new election? Seminar
Proceedings
added Jan 4
"As the Constituent Assembly moving
swiftly
to finalize and approve the Constitution
of East Timor, debates about their transformation into Legislative
Assembly
has already taken place. Mr. Xanana Gusmao, East Timor’s
national
leader began addressing the issue publicly by arguing that East Timor
needs
a new election to elect the members of the Legislative Assembly. The
elections
for the Legislative Assembly can be done together with presidential
elections
in 2002. The reaction against that option was mixed. Mr. Mari Alkatiri,
Chief-Minister in Second Transitional Cabinet
and Secretary General of Fretilin, the
majority
party in the Constituent Assembly and Mr. Francisco Guterres, Lu-Olo,
President
of Fretilin and the Constituent Assembly disagreed. They argue that
East
Timorese need more funding to rebuild their houses and providing food
for
their families instead of wasting money in new elections. ... " ETSG
Team:
Paulino Guterres, BA; Francisco da Costa Guterres, MA; Estanislau de
Sousa
Saldanha, M.Tech; Helder da Costa, Ph.D; João M. Saldanha, Ph.D
Oct
12 RA: Xanana's Poem: World Peace Poem added Oct 16
"Xanana
Gusmao
carries many titles .. freedom fighter .. presidential candidate .. big
brother to a nation. In Australia this week he carried all these titles
plus one other .. poet." Radio Australia
Oct
10 ABC: Gusmao: Priorities for the New Nation
Interview
added Oct 13
"I think the important question is how
can we achieve peace? ... Of course we will not deny justice, the need
of justice that if we look at justice in very formal way in terms of
trial,
punishment, prison, maybe we don’t solve the situation, the situation
of
the feeling of the people and that’s why to reconcile two sides it
needs
one who can reconsider, can recognise that he did mistakes and from the
other side the willingness to forgive - that is reconciliation."
East
Timor’s poet revolutionary and presidential nominee Xanana Gusmao
Oct
9 Age: US air strikes upset Gusmao News added Oct 10
“World leaders and all the people around
the world must fight against all the economic imbalances and social
problems
rather than using violence to respond to violence, ... That is
something
that makes the East Timorese very sad because we believe powerful
nations
could start the 21st century with new policies, a new understanding and
new mechanisms in which all people can love each other ... I
would
like to see the US and other countries seek another approach using all
means but not violence.” East Timor’s independence leader Mr Jose
“Xanana”
Gusmao, at launch of the Melbourne Festival [Australia]
Oct
7 RA: Xanana on plight of refugees News added Oct 10
"East Timorese Leader, Xanana Gusmao,
says he hopes the acts of terrorism in the United
States
last month don’t make people insensitive to the plight of refugees. ...
He says people have only to watch their television screen to see the
suffering
of tens-of-thousands of Afghani refugees, and there are many others
suffering
in other countries around the world. ... Besides the problem of going
to
the root causes, the people that are suffering need assistance." Radio
Australia
Sep
4 Tempo: Xanana Gusmao: All Cabinet members will be Timorese
Interview added Sep 6
"Tempo: What will be the total
number of Cabinet members and what will be the composition in its
transition
phase?
Xanana: The new Cabinet will be
formed in mid-September. So I’m not really sure. But what is clear is
that
its size will be bigger than the Cabinet before the election. All
members
of the new Cabinet will be Timorese. They will be responsible to the
Transitional
Administrator until Timor Lorosae gains full independence." Tempo
magazine
Sep
4 STL: Mario Carrascalao: Xanana Gusmao’s candidacy not challenged
News from ETimor added Sep 6
“But Xanana is a charismatic
figure
the same as South African leader Nelson Mandela. So when there
are
contenders to the presidency, they have to accept defeat because no one
would vote for them, ... Xanana is the figure who is able to unite all
parties in a democracy. He is always able to cooperate and work with
anyone.
But Xanana also has his principles and does not like his name being
used
by political parties for their own purposes,” President of the Social
Democrat Party (PSD) Mario Viegas Carrascalao
Aug
30 Time Asia: Gusmao: What Happens Next? Interview
added
Aug 30
"TIME: What is your position on
amnesty for the violence of 1999? Gusmao: Amnesty can be
considered,
but only after justice, after trials. Not
before.
TIME:
Would that mean not putting people in jail? Gusmao: It is not
my
decision to say. As a principle, I only can conceive amnesty after
justice.
But who can decide? It will be the assembly, the government. Not me."
Aug
29 FAETTA: Horta's response to PD advert Release added
Aug 30
"Tomorrow’s vote is not to choose the
President and the Vice-President of the Republic, but simply and only
to
elect the Constituent Assembly. ... Under these circumstances I
categorically
and unequivocally declare that neither Xanana Gusmao nor myself
Ramos-Horta are in the running for the August 30 elections. I therefore
encourage every Timorese to vote their conscience, in choosing from the
parties and candidates that are actually running for election, and vote
for those you trust." Cabinet Member for Foreign Affairs Dr
Jose Ramos-Horta
Tetum
Aug
25 Xanana: Desizaun ba Kandidata an Presidente hosi Timor Lorosa’e
Statement added Aug 29
"LORON OHIN NE, HÁ’U FO HATENE
KATAK HÁ’U SEI ACEITA NUDAR CANDIDATO PARTIDOS SIRA NIAN BA
PRESIDENTE
REPUBLIKA TIMOR LOROSA’E, se partidos sira né hatudu sira nia
kompromisu
maka’as atu simu ho laran luan resultado hosi eleisoens 30 de Agosto
mai
ne. Ne katak, partido ida-idak sei buka hametin, toó sira nia
estrutura
iha base, politica tolerância no respeitu malu nian, iha espirito
democratico nebe ita hotu-hotu hakarak atu harí."
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Portuguese
Aug
25 Xanana: "Aceitarei Ser Candidato Dos Partidos A Presidente"
Statement added Aug 29
"EU DECLARO AQUI E AGORA QUE ACEITAREI
SER CANDIDATO DOS PARTIDOS A PRESIDENTE DA REPÚBLICA DE TIMOR
LOROSA’E,
se os mesmos partidos demonstrarem o máximo compromisso para
aceitarem
quaisquer que forem os resultados das eleições. Isto
significa
que cada partido deve promover, nas suas estruturas de base, a
política
da tolerância e do respeito mútuo, dentro do
espírito
democrático que todos estamos empenhados a construir." Kay Rala
Xanana Gusmão
Aug
25 Xanana's statement on decision to run for President
Statement added Aug 29
"I DECLARE HERE AND NOW THAT I WILL ACCEPT
TO BE NOMINATED BY THE PARTIES TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC
OF TIMOR LOROSA´E, if the same parties commit themselves to
accepting
the outcome of the elections. This means that each party must promote,
through their structures at the grassroots level, the policy of
tolerance
and of mutual respect, in the democratic spirit which we are all
engaged
in developing." Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Aug
25 FAETTA: Ramos-Horta on Xanana decision Release
added
Aug 29
“Once again Xanana has shown his love
and loyalty to his people. ... He is a wonderful human being and will
be
a great President of an independent East Timor.” Dr
Ramos Horta
Aug
20 SMH: Gusmao ready to stand for president News added
Aug 20
"Ending months of speculation on the eve
of his country’s first democratic elections, East Timor’s charismatic
independence
leader Mr Xanana Gusmao has indicated he is prepared to stand for
president.
A diplomatic source in Dili said he would publicly confirm details of
his
proposed political role in days. ... “He says he is going to put the
condition
that if they want him to be president of East Timor that not a single
drop
of blood shall be spilt, [during the elections]” the source said." Mark
Dodd, Herald Correspondent in Dili and agencies
Aug
19 VOA: Xanana Gusmao: Guerrilla-Turned-Statesman
Article
added Aug 21
"East Timor is not likely not to hold
a presidential election until just before it achieves full independence
early next year, and that poses a problem for East Timor’s U.N.
caretakers.
Mr. Gusmao is so extraordinarily popular that many are under the
mistaken
belief that the August 30 ballot to election an interim council to write
a constitution is really a presidential election, and thousands
have
declared their intention to vote for Mr. Gusmao." Patricia Nunan
Jun
10 Age: Xanana Gusmao warms to election bid News added
June 10
“The single most important issue for them
is who is going to be the president. And there is only one person they
all, with unanimity, want. That is Xanana Gusmao. For them,
independence,
freedom, is associated with Gusmao, so a lot of people are worried he
says
he is not running for president - many say if he is not running, they
will
not bother voting. But I believe he will run,” Jose
Ramos Horta, Nobel peace laureate and East Timor’s de facto foreign
minister
Jun
6 Reut: Gusmao will be E.Timor president, Ramos-Horta says
News added June 12
“I told him [Gusmao] very bluntly that
if he doesn’t run for president then I will not be in any government,
...
The first five years he has to be there and I am persuaded he will be
there.”
Jose
Ramos-Horta, Cabinet Member for Foreign Affairs, United Nations
Transitional
Administration in East Timor
Apr
16 TP: “I leave, Not As An Enemy Of NC” News from
ETimor
“I respect you, but I have to say that
I am very sorry that I cannot fulfil your requests that I return to the
NC. This is because I defend my own personal political principles, ...
But I respect your wish to communicate the common person’s words and
aspirations.
I asked all the people not to be sad and not to worry that I have left
the NC because I do not rule East Timor. Tomorrow the parties that win
the general elections will govern the country and people of East
Timor.”
CNRT/NC president Xanana Gusmao, in response to a delegation of Liurais
(chiefs) of East Timor to the National Council (NC)
Apr
2 LUSA: Gusmao Explains Resignation from National Council
News
“I believe that priority work, with debate
and explanations beyond the urban center of Dili, should be carried out
among the population. This requires attention and availability that my
overlapping positions did not allow me to fulfill” Xanana Gusmao
Mar
29 RDP: Timorese leader Gusmao criticizes use of aid funds
News
"An ironic Xanana Gusmao told the donors’
representatives that if ministers in Sergio Vieira de Mello’s [head of
UNTAET, UN Transitional Administration in East Timor] government left
the
country less often and visited the districts in the interior of East
Timor
instead, listening to the people’s complaints and aspirations, then the
level of trust would be different. Xanana said that the people
would
feel the funds were being used properly." Antonio Veladas
Mar
29 RA: Allies back Gusmao's decision to quit East Timor assembly
News
"The civil society needs more his time
and work rather than the national council. So he wants to continue to
bring
the people together to really reflect on the constitution so that it
can
be a legitimate one, reflects the peoples’ wishes, spirit and soul as
he
puts it, so his time is better used elsewhere rather than in the
national
council." Agio Pereira
Mar
28 BBC: Gusmao resigns as East Timor leader News
"I feel, as president of the National
Council, that any attempt to overcome the deadlock is in vain due to
the
lack of willingness [of Council] members, ... As I refuse to be part of
a politically irresponsible process, I hereby tender my resignation,”
East
Timor independence leader Jose “Xanana” Gusmao
Mar
13 TP: Support For Xanana Pours In News from ETimor
"Following the incident
of 7 March 2001 in the Dili Gymnasium, several quarters have
expressed
their stand on the matter. Apart from strongly condemning CPD-RDTL
supporters
and regretting Civpol’s method of arresting the three political
activists,
there is full support for the leadership of Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao as
President
of CNRT/NC." Timor Post
Mar
6 TP: Civic Education, Urgent? Editorial from ETimor
"For us, the model that President Xanana
used in the gymnasium is most effective. It began "hot" and finished
with
Xanana embracing and crying. This is not to say that the model we are
proposing
is one of embraces and tears. What is most important is how to create
dialogue
and debate, during which the people are given unlimited time to freely
argue without protocol or moderator ... " Timor Post editorial
Mar 6 STL: Gusmao: “I’m Not Dreaming To Be The First President of Timor Lorosae” News from ETimor
Feb
23 ST: Xanana has opportunity to be Timor Lorosae president
News from WTimor
"For years the people of Timor Leste
experienced
and felt a harsh leadership style that frightened them. Now they are
free,
so they need a figure like Xanana who will give them back their freedom
that has disappeared for so long." Santino O. Baros, manager, HMTOP NGO
(Uniting Timor Lorosae Intellectuals for Development)
Feb
14 STL: Presidential Issue: Fretilin To Nominate Xanana
News from ETimor
“Regardless of whether the party has its
own candidate or not, we have decided that Xanana be Timor Lorosae’s
first
president when the country becomes independent,” Lu-Olo, General
Coordinator
of Fretilin
Feb
12 FRETILIN: Open Letter to CNRT's President Letter
"I believe that the FRETILINis
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."
David
Dias Quintas Corona, FRETILIN'S Rep. for Italy
Statements from the CNRT/National Congress Presidency
Jun
25 From the former office of CNRT/CNP Letter added
June
26
"As you are all aware, the CNRT/CN was
formally dissolved on 9 June 2001. Consequently, Mr. Gusmao is no
longer
President of the CNRT/CN and the Office that was set up in February
1999
to assist his work has ceased its functions. ... We kindly request that
all matters addressed to Mr. Gusmao be, as from today, addressed to the
already
existing institutions in East Timor and relevant sectoral
departments
within the East Timor Transitional Administration." Former Office of
the
CNRT/CN President, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao
Jun
9 CNRT: Xanana's Speech on Dissolution of CNRT Speech
added June 10
"The process of building something new
from ashes is difficult. If throughout 24 years nobody was able to give
guarantees of when the war would end, and even in the face of all
manner
of pressures, we fought on, confident that victory would come, today we
will redouble our efforts, our determination and that spirity of faith
and trust which united us always. Let us have faith in the future, a
future
of improved life quality for all our people, but let us remember, too,
the need for hard work in order to achieve this goal." Kay Rala Xanana
Gusmão, President of the CNRT/CN
Jun
9 CNRT: Dissolution Declaration Statement added June 10
"I, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão,
President
of the CNRT/CN, declare that at five p.m., on the ninth day of the
month
of June of the year
two thousand and one, the National Council
Of Timorese Resistance (CNRT/CN) is formally dissolved. Honour And
Glory
To The Martyrs Of The Liberation Of Our Homeland! Long Live CNRT! Long
Live The People Of Timor Lorosa’e!" Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão,
President
of the CNRT/CN
Apr
20 CNRT/CN: Gusmao: “The Liberation Movement in East Timor”
Speech in Jakarta added Apr 25
"War is a monster that devours human
lives.
People died but have not disappeared for they have left behind links of
remembrance. This is the other side of sacrifice, of the grief carried
by those who did not die. In this new millennium, all the peoples of
the
world should unite to set up a front for peace, to promote dialogue and
strive against any incitement to violence and war. Timor Lorosae was a
stage of war ... for twenty-four years! Today, it is attempting
to
rebuild itself from the ashes of total destruction and from profound
psychological
trauma and human grief. It is a hard but an exciting task ... because
the
East Timorese are motivated to overcome yet again. Beyond physical
reconstruction
and the establishment of Institutions, the hardest process will be
healing
the wounds. There is nothing motivating us against the Indonesian
people,
who also suffered under the former regime. There is nothing motivating
us against the present Indonesian regime who we know are trying to make
the democratisation process a success." Xanana Gusmao, President of the
CNRT
Mar
16 CNRT/NCP: Gusmao: Speech at signing of the Electoral Regulation
Speech
"[This is the] English version of the
speech of the Presdient of CNRT/CN and National Council (NC) at the
signing
of the Electoral Regulation for the forthcoming and first elections to
be held on August the 30th this year. The original
speech was said in Portuguese and translated into English by the
Media
Unit of CNRT/CN Presidency." Ines
Alemeida, Head, Media Unit CNRT/CN
Portuguese:
Mar
15 CNRT/CNP: Gusmão: O Regulamento Assinado pelo Dr
Sérgio
De Mello Speech
"Intervenção do Presidente
do CNRT/CN, Xanana Gusmão na ocasião da assinatura, pelo
Dr Sergio Vieira de Mello, Administrador Transitório, do
regulamento
sobre a eleição de uma Assembleia Constituinte para a
elaboração
de uma constituiçâo para um Timor Leste independente e
democrático"
CNRT/Congresso
Nacional Presidência
Mar
7 CNRT/CNP: A Threat on the life of the President
Press
Conference summary of events
"Commissioner Costa e Souza [of CivPol]
ended his report by stating that he has no doubt that this was a
planned
action designed to disturb the meeting between President Xanana
Gusmão
and the students and that given
the
level of violence it was also designed to threaten the life of the
President."
National Council of Timorese Resistance/Congresso Nacional Presidency
(CNRT/CNP)
Feb
12 Xanana: Symposium on “Reconciliation, Tolerance, Human Rights and
Elections”
Speech
"To avoid or control this likelihood of
violence there are several means if properly used could reduce existing
tensions and will also help in the promotion of a collective awareness
about the need to enhance a tolerant society in the country:
A- A greater involvement of young people
in open discussions about social problems;
B- A greater involvement of the civil
society in public debates on these same problems;
C- A greater involvement by political
parties leaders in Youth education; and
D- A greater involvement of the media
in the civic education process." President Xanana
Feb
1 Xanana: Address at Transition Ceremony Of Falintil
Speech
"As your [Falintil's] former companion
who shared the same difficulties in the mountains, who failed in
leading
you while we were reduced to less than one hundred men where as under
the
clear leadership of your Commander, Taur Matan Ruak, who enabled you to
become an army of over one thousand five hundred soldiers I can
only
but express here, today, my admiration for the spirit of self-sacrifice
that you showed by bearing yet another year of hardship in Aileu."
Xanana
Gusmao, President, CNRT/CN
Jan
1 CNRT/CNP: Xanana's New Year's Message Speech
"It is hard for us to believe that
foreigners
who come to East Timor to work do not have some knowledge of Timorese
political
reality. Foreigners should bear in mind that the essential condition
for
their operational success is to be aware that they do not come to save
East Timor but rather to fulfil a mission of support; therefore, if
they
are not aware of this reality they will face the ungrateful mission of
earning money for 6 months and returning to their homes, as so many
have
done, often revealing themselves to be less skilled than the East
Timorese
who can not find a job." Xanana Gusmão
Dec
5-6 2000 CNRT/CNP: Brussels donor's meeting - opening speech by the
CNRT's
rep Speech
"The Timorese ... find it hard to
understand
how, with the resources available, that after nearly one year following
the Tokyo Conference, Dili is almost in the same state. A worse
scenario,
which hurts one's soul to witness, can be seen throughout the rest of
the
country." Xanana Gusmao
Dec
5 2000 XG: President Xanana Gusmao open letter to East Timorese
Letter
"I have stated and explained to the people
that in the democratic society that we want to build we must create the
conditions for new leaders to assert themselves because the demands of
independence are much greater and harder than those of the armed
struggle.
My request to resign from the National Council must be looked at within
this context. The country needs democrats not autocrats. The people
need
qualified leaders for independence and my political engagement must be
directed toward creating the conditions for so many others to assert
themselves,
most of whom come from the historical political parties." Xanana
Gusmao,
CNRT/CN Presidency
Dec 2 2000 CNRT/NC: Xanana's Resignation Denied Release
Aug
2000 CNRT/NC: Draft resolution on human rights
Added Dec 26
"* Taking into
account
the many long years of pain and suffering resulting from the denial of
our basic rights and freedoms as a people and as individual men, women
and children;
* Acknowledging that while these abuses
were inflicted by individuals, they were essentially the outcome of an
oppressive system and policies which legitimised and institutionalised
the violation of human rights and fostered impunity and the abuse of
power;
* Recognising the necessity to ensure
that such violations are never repeated in an independent East Timor
and
that it is therefore our duty to build a new society which embraces
human
rights as the basis of democracy, good governance, the rule of law and
sustainable economic and social development for all the citizens of
East
Timor, especially the disadvantaged and minorities;
* Endorsing the principles and
undertakings
of the CNRT Magna Carta Concerning Freedoms, Rights, Duties and
Guarantees
for the People of East Timor adopted in 1998;
* Re-affirming our acceptance of the
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Civil,
Political
and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other human rights
instruments
endorsed in the CNRT Magna Carta;
* Declaring our support for the newly
established International Criminal Court and the Rome Statutes which
govern
it; ... " CNRT/National Congress
President of CNRT: Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
See also Statements from the CNRT/National Congress Presidency as most of these have been made by Xanana
Apr
17 Gusmao: No Need For Timor Lorosae To Have Instant Independence
News from ETimor
“We are not chasing instant independence.
We will be fully independent next year. But what we want from the UN is
to inherit a country which can govern and administer itself. That is
our
wish,” Xanana Gusmao, CNRT/CN President
Apr
4 DN: RealAudio of Interview of Xanana and Kirsty Sword Gusmao
Interview updated May 16
[Statements in the US and Indonesian press
quoting Xanana Gusmao as saying that an international crimes tribunal
is
not a priority for the East Timorese give the impression that he does
not
consider a tribunal as important to the East Timorese. However, these
and
other comments by Xanana reveal that he considers that the
establishment
of an international crimes tribunal is a role that the international
community
must play since East Timor doesn't have the resources to do it
themselves.
- BD]
"DN: The Indonesian government says
they'll try the people who they feel committed crimes but they are yet
to do this. Do you think an international war crimes tribunal should be
set up?
Xanana Gusmao: It is the job of the
international
community. ... East Timor is a very small country and, we cannot be
ambitious
to be, to be a model of justice, but we hope the international
community
can do that. I believe that the (?) project of searching all the
genocide
crimes in East Timor from 1975 can give to the international community
enough proof of the involvement of certain generals."
Mar
19 STL: Xanana Gusmao: CNRT To Be Officially Dissolved in June
News from ETimor
“In June, CNRT will close as its role
will be taken over by the on-going political process ... I know that
self-government
will be difficult, therefore in my personal capacity as an ordinary
citizen,
I will cooperate with all sides to have dialogue to support the
on-going
process” Xanana Gusmao, CNRT/NC president
Nov
11 2000 & Oct 1990 RN: Xanana Gusmao interviews
Interviews
"If in 20 or in 30 years later, if the
political leaders are not committed to give the benefits of
independence
to our people, the hurt will be still in the minds and the heart of our
people. But if they are committed to solve these, to give the real
means
of independence to our people, we are not a population of millions, we
are less than 800,000, we are a small country, a small population; this
is why it is more obligatory to the political leaders to think very,
very
deeply about this." Xanana Gusmao - from guerilla fighter to leader of
his country
Bahasa Indonesia:
Mar
23 CNRT: Kirsty Sword Gusmão Beserta Keluarga Perempuan Yang
Diculik
Milisi Akan Release
"Isterinya Presiden CNRT-CN akan berangkat
ke Geneva besok bersama bibinya Juliana dos Santos, seorang perempuan
berusia
15 tahun yang diculik dan ditahan di Timor Barat sejak tahun 1999. Di
Geneva
Kirsty Sword Gusmão akan menghadiri suatu konperensi yang
diselenggarakan
oleh UNHCR dengan tema kekerasan terhadap kaum perempuan. Bersama
dengan
Ny. Domingas Santa Mouzinho, Ny. Sword Gusmão juga bermaksud
untuk
menyampaikan suatu pernyataan mengenai situasi Juliana pada Komisi PBB
untuk Hak Azasi Manusia." Sarah Niner & Lurdes Bessa, CNRT
Mar
23 CNRT: Kristy Sword Gusmao & Kidnap Girl's Family to plead case
in
Geneva Release
"[Ms Sword Gusmão and kidnap girl's
family] hope that if Juliana can be returned it will offer a glimmer of
hope to other women, their families and communities and believe that
other
East Timorese women being held in West Timor by militias in similar
circumstances
must also be returned." Sarah Niner & Lurdes Bessa, CNRT
Portuguese:
Jul
20 OTL: As eleições para a Assembleia Constituinte e os
Partidos
Políticos Report added July 26
"O CNRT, coligação de
forças
que conduziu o território até as portas da
independência,
auto dissolveu-se, deixando o terreno livre aos partidos
políticos.
Ele pediu aos partidos para assinar um pacto pelo qual renunciariam
à
violência que marcou os últimos 25 anos e prometeriam
aceitar
o resultado da eleição: 14 dos 16 partidos legalizados
aceitaram
assina-lo."
Observatório Timor Leste
Jul
20 ETO: Constituent Assembly Elections and the Political Parties
Report added July 24
"The CNRT, the coalition of forces that
led the territory to the doors of independence, has dissolved, to leave
the field open for political parties. It did, however, ask all
political
parties to sign a pact renouncing the violence that has marked the past
25 years and promising to accept the outcome of the election: 14 of the
16 legalised parties signed it." East
Timor
Observatory
April
2001 ACFOA: Walsh: East Timor's Political Party Profiles: CNRTComplete
text of report [150KB] added May 22
"The CNRT Congress and the 13 District
Congresses which preceded it were the first opportunity to debate ideas
and broad national policy at the political level since the 1999 ballot.
Pre-congress meetings of civil society organisations concerned with
student,
women’s, and human rights issues fed into this process. Five
Commissions
achieved broad consensus on a range of policy issues which will shape
East
Timor’s orientation and, it is assumed, form the basis of ideas and
policies
adopted by political parties." Pat
Walsh, Human rights consultant,
Australian
Council for Overseas Aid
Bahasa Indonesia:
Maret
2001 ACFOA: Partai-Partai Dan Kelompok-Kelompok Politik Di Timor Timur:
CNRT Téks [150KB] added June 29
"Kongres CNRT dan 13 Kongres Distrik
sebelumnya
merupakan kesempatan pertama untuk debat pendapat dan kebijakan
nasional
yang luas pada level politik sejak pemungutan suara tahun 1999.
Pertemuan-pertemuan
organisasi masyarakat sipil yang diselenggarakan sebelum Kongres
menaruh
perhatian terhadap masalah-masalah pelajar, wanita dan hak-hak asasi
manusia
juga dimasukkan ke dalam proses ini. Lima komisi mencapai konsensus
yang
luas dalam sejumlah pokok kebijakan yang akan membentuk orientasi Timor
Timur dan diperkirakan membentuk konsep-konsep dasar dan kebijakan yang
akan diangkat oleh partai-partai politik." Pat
Walsh, Badan Bantuan Luar Negeri Australia
Portuguese:
Mar
5 OTL: Partidos políticos e Forças
pró-independência
Report added Mar 22
"Só uma rápida passagem
pela história desde 1974 permite compreender a insistência
de Xanana Gusmão na união de todos os partidos
políticos
pró-independência no Conselho Nacional da
Resistência
Timorense (CNRT) e o lugar que o presidente do CNRT teve na
aproximação
entre estes partidos ...
A prisão de Xanana em 1992 e a
sua detenção na Indonésia permitem, ao
nível
internacional, o que o cessar-fogo tinha permitido ao nível
interno:
o contacto directo (Nações Unidas, EUA, Nelson Mandela)
com
Xanana Gusmão. Este contacto revela-se fundamental para orientar
um processo de evolução que tem uma
aceleração
súbita com a queda do presidente Suharto, em Maio de 1998. Um
mês
antes, realizou-se em Portugal o 1º congresso que reúne as
principais forças de oposição à
ocupação
:CNRM, UDT, FRETILIN, e independentes, e nasceu o CNRT, a primeira
estrutura
da resistência com características democráticas.
É
sob a bandeira do CNRT que as forças
pró-independência
se apresentam à ‘consulta popular’ organizada pelas
Nações
Unidas em Agosto 2000, recolhendo 78,5% dos votos." Observatório
Timor Leste
Portuguese:
Mar
5 OTL: Partidos políticos e Forças
pró-independência
Report added Mar 22
"Forças que não têm
o estatuto de Partidos: CNRT - Conselho Nacional de
Resistência
Timorense
* Fundado em 1998 por membros do CNRM,
UDT e FRETILIN. Alargou a sua representação antes do
Congresso
de Agosto 2000, incorporando os novos partidos PST, UDC, PSD e os
antigos
partidos pró-Indonésia APODETI, KOTA e Partido
Trabalhista;
mas depois do Congresso FRETILIN e UDT afastaram-se.
* Merecem menção particular
no CNRT o seu presidente, Xanana Gusmão, e José Ramos
Horta,
Ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros do Governo
transitório,
por recusarem integrar-se em qualquer partido político.
Não
sendo partido político, o CNRT não poderá
concorrer
às eleições." Observatório
Timor Leste
Mar
5 ETO: Political parties and Pro-Independence Forces
Report
updated Apr 27
"A look at East Timor’s post-1974 history
would explain Xanana Gusmão’s insistence on unity among all the
pro-independence political parties under the umbrella of the National
Council
of Timorese Resistance (CNRT), and shed light on the role that the CNRT
President has played in getting these parties to work together. ...
Xanana’s arrest in 1992 and his
imprisonment
in Indonesia make possible, at international level, what the ceasefire
had previously enabled: direct contact (this time on the part of the
UN,
US, Nelson Mandela) with Xanana Gusmão. These contacts become
vital
in the subsequent evolution of events that, suddenly, take a new turn
when
President Suharto falls from power in May 1998. One month prior to
this,
the 1st Timorese Congress, attended by the main opposition
forces
CNRM, UDT, FRETILIN and independents – had been held in Portugal, and
had
given birth to the CNRT - the first democratically based resistance
structure.
Pro-independence forces, under the CNRT banner, run in the UN-organised
"popular consultation" in August 1999, winning 78,5% of the votes."
East
Timor Observatory
Mar
5 ETO: Political parties and Pro-Independence Forces
Report
updated Apr 27
"Forces without Political Party status:CNRT
– National Council of Timorese Resistance
* Founded in 1998 by members of the CNRM,
UDT and FRETILIN. Membership was extended before the August 2000
Congress,
to incorporate the new parties - PST, UDC, PSD – and the old
pro-Indonesia
parties - APODETI, KOTA and the Labour Party. After the Congress,
however,
FRETILIN and UDT left the CNRT.
* CNRT President, Xanana Gusmão,
and José Ramos Horta, now Foreign Minister in the transitional
Government,
deserve special mention as they refused to join any political party. As
the CNRT is not a political party, it cannot run in the elections." East
Timor Observatory
Nov
8 1999 Pat Walsh: From Opposition to Proposition: The National Council
of Timorese Resistance (CNRT) in Transition
Added Dec 30
"It is important that international NGOs
understand the history, outlook and role of this unique East Timorese
institution
[CNRT] and the extraordinarily difficult challenges those who comprise
it now face thanks to the devastation visited on East Timor by
Indonesia’s
destructive exit plan. CNRT’s current life span will be short and will
be limited to this period of transition at the end of which political
parties
will return to centre stage and CNRT will be replaced by a
democratically
elected government. In the meantime, however, the pro-independence vote
has given CNRT a clear political and moral responsibility to determine
East Timor’s development at this critical juncture, in close dialogue
and
cooperation with other sectors of East Timorese society, including
NGOs,
students and the church. Those recently charged with responsibility by
CNRT, whose names are listed in this report, deserve to be given all
the
space, resources and support they need to carry out their heavy and
daunting
responsibilities and to enable them to do this in the CNRT spirit of
inclusiveness,
participation and commitment to the common good." Pat Walsh
Jan
31 UNTAET: Assembly Votes To Transform Itself Into Legislature
News added Feb 1
"The Constituent
Assembly voted today to transform itself into East Timor’s first
legislature
upon final approval of the Constitution. ... The idea of transforming
the
Constituent Assembly - the 88-member body popularly elected
on 30 August 2001 to draft and pass the Constitution - was first
proposed
in late 2000 by the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT),
an umbrella organization of political parties and civil organizations
formed
in 1998. The proposal was adopted by the National Council - an interim
legislative body that preceded the Assembly - and included in Article
151
of the Assembly’s draft Constitution." UNTAET Daily Briefing 31 January
2002
Oct
27 RDP: Timorese leader rejects fresh general elections after
independence
Interview added Oct 31
"I can assure you that we will not have
general elections. I am saying this on behalf of the party which holds
the majority in the constituent assembly. [FRETILIN]
... I am a member of the constituent
assembly,
an elected and sovereign body, and it will be the assembly that
shall
decide this. ... when we laid down the electoral law, and when we
discussed
these elections, discussions that also took place at the CNRT [the
National
Council of the Timorese Resistance, now defunct], it was decided
that
the constituent assembly would become a legislative and parliamentary
assembly."
Mari Alkatiri, chief minister of the provisional
government
Jun
9 SMH: A long struggle is over, long live peaceful democracy
News added Jun 10
“But this is an event that happens to
most organisations. The reality is we have to allow the parties here to
now involve themselves in the political process of the transition. We
don’t
want the CNRT to go on as an umbrella for every party. We want to show
everyone that we want to set up democracy in our country.” David
Ximenes,
former CNRT head of security and veteran resistance fighter
Apr
24 TP: Carrascalao: No Evidence Of Indonesia Supporting Terrorists At
Border
News from ETimor added Apr 26
“I think these rumours have been spread
to terrorize the Timorese people in the run-up to the 30 August
election,
... A group of terrorists will not be able to defeat the Timorese
people.
Even the TNI, for 25 years, could not subdue the Timorese people,”
Mario
Carrascalao, Deputy President of CNRT
Mar
19 STL: Xanana Gusmao: CNRT To Be Officially Dissolved in June
News from ETimor
“In June, CNRT will close as its role
will be taken over by the on-going political process ... I know that
self-government
will be difficult, therefore in my personal capacity as an ordinary
citizen,
I will cooperate with all sides to have dialogue to support the
on-going
process” Xanana Gusmao, CNRT/NC president