Guiné-Bissau: Partidos do governo solidarizam-se com Fretilin

Diário Digital / Lusa

14-08-2007 18:22:00

Os três partidos que integram a coligação do governo da Guiné-Bissau manifestaram-se hoje solidários com o povo de Timor-Leste e a Fretilin, vencedora das eleições legislativas mas «preterida» da governação do país.

A posição vem expressa em comunicado divulgado no final de uma reunião de líderes do Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde (PAIGC), Partido da Renovação Social (PRS) e Partido Unido Social Democrata (PUSD), as três forças políticas que integram o Pacto de Estabilidade, instrumento de sustentação do governo guineense.

No comunicado, os três partidos manifestam solidariedade para com «um país irmão», esperando que o posicionamento do governo da Guiné-Bissau possa ajudar o «martirizado povo» a encontrar uma solução «airosa e digna» para o problema criado com as eleições.

Em relação à decisão do Presidente da República de Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, de entregar a governação à coligação parlamentar liderada por Xanana Gusmão, os partidos no poder em Bissau afirmam que tal constitui «deixar de lado a vontade» do povo maubere.

A votação verificada nas últimas eleições legislativas de Timor-Leste «reflecte a vontade suprema de uma maioria do povo irmão de Timor» onde o partido vendedor «foi preterido do poder», lê-se ainda no comunicado.

De acordo com os responsáveis dos três principais partidos guineenses, a decisão do Presidente Ramos-Horta está a criar já «alguma instabilidade e perturbação» em Timor-Leste, levando-os a tomar posição por um «sentimento de solidariedade».

Na nota, os três partidos guineenses lembram que têm o dever de manifestar a sua preocupação face à situação em Timor-Leste também pelo facto de a Guiné-Bissau estar a presidir à Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (CPLP).

A CPLP integra oito países lusófonos: Angola, Brasil, Cabo Verde, Guiné-Bissau, Moçambique, São Tomé e Príncipe, Portugal e Timor-Leste.

Media Release - FRETILIN calls for peaceful protests against unconstitutional government

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
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

Media Release - FRETILIN offers joint investigation into violence, denounces false rumours

FRENTE REVOLUCIONÁRIA DO TIMOR-LESTE INDEPENDENTE
FRETILIN

Media release
12 August 2007

FRETILIN offers joint investigation into violence, denounces false rumours

FRETILIN today offered to conduct a joint investigation with United Nations officials into reports of politically-motivated violence in Timor Leste (East Timor) including an attack on a UN convoy on Friday 10 August.

FRETILIN Vice President Arsénio Bano said the party would do all it could to assist the UN mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) in a joint investigation to determine the facts and prevent further violence.

‘We condemn all acts of violence and again call on our supporters and those of other parties to exercise their legal right to demonstrate by peaceful means,’ Bano said.

He said opponents of Fretilin were spreading false rumours and exaggerations to damage FRETILIN’s image.

“In particular we denounce rumours reported in foreign media that FRETILIN members are distributing weapons in preparation for an armed insurrection. This is completely false.

“Similar false rumours were spread last year with the aim of subverting the FRETILIN government.”

Bano said it appeared Friday’s attack on UN vehicles was sparked when UN police set about destroying banners and flags of peaceful FRETILIN demonstrators.

“Despite this extremely provocative and illegal action by UN police, we urge our supporters to avoid any violent response,” he said.

“We have a legal right to demonstrate peacefully against this illegitimate government which excludes the biggest party in the country. We maintain our position that only a government representative of all parties in parliament, and headed by an independent prime minister, can bring stability to Timor Leste.”

Bano said UN police and foreign troops of the international Stabilisation Force were taking a much tougher stance against FRETILIN supporters than they did against FRETILIN’s opponents in the year leading up to recent elections.

“UNPOL and the ISF sat on their hands and did nothing to stop months of violent persecution of FRETILIN supporters in Ermera and other places last year,” he said.

“UNPOL and ISF have now surrounded all IDP camps in Dili in order to prevent them taking part in peaceful demonstrations against t he illegitimate government.

“President Horta has threatened to sack civil servants who join anti-government demonstrations, despite the fact that the president has no constitutional right to do so and there is no law to stop civil servants taking part in peaceful protests in non-working time.”

Bano said FRETILIN was conducting its own investigation into media reports of an alleged rape of students at a convent on Friday.

“It seems that some form of abuse did take place in the Baguia area of Baucau district. It was a horrendous act which we vehemently condemn. It was a purely criminal act having nothing to do with political problems. It was perpetrated by a 16 year old youth who once lived in the orphanage. There is no connection whatsoever with the FRETILIN demonstrations in Baguia. It is slanderous to suggest this had anything to do with FRETILIN,” he said.

Arsénio Bano concluded by stating that “This an outrageous repetition of the slander campaign to discredit FRETILIN launched last year by a number of media representatives.”

Contact:
Arsénio Bano, Vice-President and member of FRETILIN National Political Commision, Tel. (+670)
733 9416 e.mail: fretilin.media@gmail.com
Jose Teixeira, FRETILIN parliamentarian (+670) 733 5060