FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
FRETILIN
FRETILIN
Media Release
14 August 2007
FRETILIN calls for peaceful protests against unconstitutional government
FRETILIN, the biggest party following the 30 June parliamentary elections, has urged its supporters to refrain from violence and to protest peacefully against President Ramos Horta’s unconstitutional decision to invite the second most voted party, the Gusmao-led CNRT, to form government.
Senior FRETILIN leaders visited several districts of Timor Leste (East Timor) over the weekend to deliver a message of peace.
They included former Prime Minister and member of parliament Estanislau Da Silva in Dili and Manatuto districts, First Deputy Secretary General Jose Reis in Viqueque and Baucau districts, Second Deputy Secretary General Jose Manuel Fernandes in Covalima district, MP Anna Pessoa in Bobonaro district and MP Jose Teixeira in Manufahi district.
“Fretilin leaders have spent the weekend in several districts requesting our supporters to refrain from committing acts of violence and to engage in peaceful protest against the unconstitutional government,” said FRETILIN Vice President Arsenio Bano.
“FRETILIN’s position on violence has always been clear and has not changed. Anyone who commits violence regardless of their political affiliation should be brought before the courts so that justice can be served,” Bano said.
“We will visit remaining districts over the next few days to deliver the same message to our supporters.
“Jose Ramos Horta’s decision was unconstitutional because the most voted party, not the second most voted party, should be invited first to form government and be given the opportunity to negotiate the passing of its program for national development through the Parliament.
“If FRETILIN’s program is twice rejected by Parliament, then the second most voted party can be invited to form government.
“We explained to our supporters that FRETILIN proposed the formation of a government of grand inclusion, with an independent Prime Minister and two deputies, one from CNRT and one from FRETILIN.
“We proposed a government of grand inclusion because FRETILIN believes the election showed this is the kind of government the people wanted, with the county’s leaders working together to bring stability to the nation.
“This proposal was supported by President Ramos Horta but completely rejected by Mr Gusmao who insisted he personally be allocated the position of Prime Minister and be given responsibility for defence and internal security even though his party came second.
“Many of the 75% of people who did not vote for CNRT see Mr Gusmao as a divisive figure, hold him partly responsible for last year’s crisis, and are now protesting the decision to appoint him Prime Minister.
“We have also informed our supporters that we will not seek a constitutional ruling from the Court of Appeal. The formation of an inclusive government to bring about national stability is essentially a political problem which needs to be solved by Timor-Leste’s political leaders working together.
“Timor-Leste is a fledgling democracy and we need to promote the judiciary as an independent legal institution and not put it under extreme political pressure.”
For more information, please contact:
Arsenio Bano (+670) 733 9416, Jose Teixeira (+670) 728 7080, FRETILIN Media (+670) 733 5060 and fretilin.media@gmail.com
www.fretilin-rdtl.blogspot.com, www.timortruth.com
