Political Continuity and Conflict in East Timor by Ruth Nuttall

Author:Ruth Nuttall [Nuttall, Ruth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Asia, General, Political Science, Public Policy, City Planning & Urban Development, International Relations, World, Asian, Social Science, Ethnic Studies, Regional Studies
ISBN: 9781000381047
Google: oMIrEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2021-06-14T05:07:22+00:00

A third petition

Strains among F-FDTL officers were growing alongside loromonu-lorosa’e tensions in Dili. In early April a number of loromonu officers signed a third petition, addressed to parliament, believed to be focussed on management problems within the F-FDTL. Signatories included Major Tara and Captain Polito (Cesar Valente).101 Tensions were also believed to be emerging between a group of lorosa’e Falintil veterans led by Colonel Lere, and loromonu officers including Lt Col Pedro Klamar Fuik, Major Alfredo Reinado and Major Coliati.102 On 12 April Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak and President Xanana Gusmão met for the first time since the dismissal of the petitioners in March. It seemed that the president would take the lead on the petitioners’ issues, which were expected to be resolved over Easter. That evening on television, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said that the government would not abandon the dismissed soldiers and that the president and the government would look for solutions to address the issue. Ramos-Horta told the diplomatic corps that the government was looking for remedies, including case-by-case review of the dismissals and the inclusion of dismissed soldiers in employment programmes.103

On 16 April a special Easter Sunday Mass was conducted by the Bishop of Dili, Alberto Ricardo da Silva, at the F-FDTL Training Centre at Metinaru, as agreed between Xanana Gusmão, Mari Alkatiri and Taur Matan Ruak the week before.104 The programme included a blessing of the mortal remains of fallen warriors, heroes of the resistance, in 13 coffins representing the 13 districts. Those present included the three ‘organs of state,’ Xanana Gusmão, Mari Alkatiri and Lu’Olo, and UNOTIL SRSG Hasegawa. It had been intended that the mass would provide a path for reconciliation, but in the event only 15 of the 585 petitioners attended, without Gastão Salsinha.105 It was unclear where responsibility for the confusion lay, but Salsinha told the press that the petitioners did not participate in the mass ‘organized by the president’ as they were ‘still traumatized’ by their experience of being called to participate in the F-FDTL investigation the week before.106

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