Saturday, June 01, 2002 09:48:33 PM

Timor Lorosa'e President's Opinion on the Contrary to Jose Ramos-Horta's opinion on Supporting Independence Movement in Aceh and West Papua

The following report was received on 23 May from Adi Mento in Dili:

On 22 May, following Timor Loro'sae's independence day celebrations, a large number of international activists involved in solidarity with East Timor had a meeting with President Xanana Gusmao and Prime Minister Mari bin Amudin Alkatiri at the university campus.

An activist from the US asked President Xanana for his opinion about the struggle of the Acehnese. He said: 'I won't say we will not support them, but I recognise that the role of international solidarity is very important for the people of Aceh and Papua'. He went on to say that he had noticed that many friends were talking about the struggles in Aceh and Papua.
Hopefully, he added, after a year, Timor Loro'sae's government would be able to do something to help them in their struggle for independence.

An Indonesian activist, Yenni Rosa Damyanti [who knew Xanana from her days in detention, TAPOL] spoke about the actions of the Indonesian armed forces in Aceh and Papua. The meeting was attended by around fifty activists from many different countries.
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The meeting was also attended by the president of the Western Sahara who gave a short account of the struggle of the Saharawi people. He had been given the opportunity to address the East Timor Parliament. There are reports that the government in Dili will permit the Western Sahara government to open an embassy in the capital even though they are not yet free from Morocco. This suggests that the government of Timor Loro'sae will give support to oppressed people struggling to free themselves from their oppressors.

A Luta Continua (Tetap berjuang)
Adi Mento