Also below: Apr 3 TP: “The Replacement Of The President Is A Political Process” News from ETimor added Apr 5
Several prominent political leaders have been named as possible candidates for the National Council presidency in the interim period leading up to the elections.
The names have originated from the National Council itself.
In the meantime Dr Jose Ramos Horta who was nominated by UN Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello to replace Xanana, will also be given an opportunity for the presidency.
The National Council members who have been named are Aniceto Guterres (director of Yayasan Hak), Manuel Viegas Carrascalao (a businessman), Clementino dos Reis Amaral (from KOTA Party) and Avelino Coelho (from the Socialist Party).
The NC debate yesterday was heated. Some
NC members wanted Xanana to give an explanation to the chamber on his resignation.
“I don’t accept his [Xanana’s] resignation.
This is serious and it has occurred at a crucial moment when we are in
difficulty,” said Angela Freitas from the Travalhista Party.
But other NC members stressed that the NC should not reject Xanana’s resignation.
“That is his right [to resign] and we have to respect that right. If we reject Xanana’s resignation, he will be a bad president for us and the international community,” said Aniceto Guterres.
Sergio de Mello’s nomination of Ramos Horta was also questioned.
“It’s not enough that it was done [on Saturday] through a press conference.
It has to be clarified officially at the
National Council,” said an NC member.
The resignation of Xanana Gusmao and the National Council President must be treated as a normal process in a democratic society, though it might have positive or negative implications for the country.
This was stated yesterday by the dean of the Sociopolitical Faculty Tolentino de Araujo.
The university dean said he agreed that Jose Ramos Horta was the best choice to replace Xanana Gusmao at the National Council and stressed that Horta was the preferred candidate by the international community.
He said this was inevitable because Timor Lorosae was still tied with in with foreign countries.
“But it is not a problem of who becomes the NC President, it is a matter, however, of whether that person has the vision and commitment to take this country forward,” said Tolentino.
Apr
2 LUSA: Gusmao Explains Resignation from National Council
News
“I believe that priority work, with debate
and explanations beyond the urban center of Dili, should be carried out
among the population. This requires attention and availability that my
overlapping positions did not allow me to fulfill” Xanana Gusmao
Apr
2 AP: East Timor Council Blocks Ramos Horta's Bid For Top Post
News
"Political squabbling in East Timor intensified
Monday when its transitional assembly blocked, at least temporarily, a
bid by Nobel Peace laureate Jose Ramos Horta to become its new chief following
the surprise resignation of popular independence leader Xanana Gusmao."
Associated Press
Apr
1 RDP: Horta on national council Interview
"I think it was my duty, my moral duty,
to accept this challenge [presidency of ETimor’s National Council interim
parliament]. There has been a lot of disorientation, sadness, consternation
and general concern among the population, the youth and the members of
the National Council. I have spoken with Sergio Vieira de Mello head of
UNTAET, with Xanana Gusmao and with practically every political party,
and also with Mari Alkatiri Economic Affairs Minister and Ana Pessoa Internal
Administration Minister, and they all thought that it would be important
for the National Council to continue its work, and to, how should I put
it, to avoid a breaking point, and that it would be important to send a
message of continuity, seriousness and tranquility to the whole of the
population, and naturally to the international community as well." Jose
Ramos Horta, vice-president, National Council
of the Timorese Resistance
Mar
31 Reut: Ramos-Horta replaces Gusmao as Timor leader News
"Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta,
foreign minister of U.N.-run East Timor, will take over as head of the
territory’s de facto parliament, the United Nations said on Saturday. He
replaces independence leader Xanana Gusmao, who quit last week over internal
squabbling which he said was hampering the tiny territory’s push for independence."
Reuters
Mar
29 RA: Allies back Gusmao's decision to quit East Timor assembly
News
"The civil society needs more his time
and work rather than the national council. So he wants to continue to bring
the people together to really reflect on the constitution so that it can
be a legitimate one, reflects the peoples’ wishes, spirit and soul as he
puts it, so his time is better used elsewhere rather than in the national
council." Agio Pereira
Mar
28 BBC: Gusmao resigns as East Timor leader News
"I feel, as president of the National
Council, that any attempt to overcome the deadlock is in vain due to the
lack of willingness [of Council] members, ... As I refuse to be part of
a politically irresponsible process, I hereby tender my resignation,” East
Timor independence leader Jose “Xanana” Gusmao