Meteorologia

  • 17 NOVEMBER 2024
Tempo
21º
MIN 14º MÁX 22º

Signing of agreement for referendum in East Timor was "a beacon of hope"

Timorese MP David Dias Ximenes considered today that the signing of the agreement between Portugal and Indonesia, at the United Nations, for the holding of a referendum on the self-determination of East Timor was a "light of hope".

Signing of agreement for referendum in East Timor was "a beacon of hope"
Notícias ao Minuto

08:26 - 04/05/24 por Lusa

Mundo Timor-Leste

"It was a way for us to free ourselves from military oppression, it meant that at the end of the tunnel there was already a light of hope, joy, as it is obvious, but it was a process", said David Dias Ximenes, "Mandati", coordinator of the 1999 referendum and deputy of the Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor (Fretilin).

On May 5, 1999, Portugal and Indonesia signed an agreement at the United Nations that determined a referendum on the self-determination of East Timor.

The Portuguese side was represented by Jaime Gama, then Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, and by his Indonesian counterpart, Ali Alatas, and by Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The agreement determined the holding of the referendum, organized by the United Nations, and the Timorese had to answer whether they accepted a "special autonomy" integrating Indonesia or if they rejected it, "leading to the separation of East Timor from Indonesia".

More than 78% of the Timorese rejected the "special autonomy", leading to the restoration of the country's independence.

The announcement of the discussions between Portugal and Indonesia led to an increase in violence in East Timor, which intensified even more after the announcement of the referendum result.

"We knew very well that when the security of the process was handed over to Indonesia it was the same as putting the thief in charge of security in the house, but, nevertheless, it was a process that we had to hold on to so that the solution would not be more prolonged", said the former member of the Timorese Clandestine Front.

David Dias Ximenes stressed that the Timorese held on to the "process" and that despite being a "risky situation" they had to accept it.

"We usually say that when we want something it is with sweat and tears, here it was with a lot of blood, sweat and tears", lamented the deputy, considering, however, that it was an "opportunity" and that they could not deny it.

With the result of the referendum, Indonesia abandoned East Timor with the pro-Indonesian militias leaving a trail of horror and violence and the transitional authority of the United Nations entered, which managed the country until the restoration of independence, on May 20, 2002.

Read Also: Sporting-Portimonense: Win and wait for (another) rival slip (Portuguese version)

Recomendados para si

;
Campo obrigatório