CNRT/NC president, Xanana Gusmao announced that CNRT would be officially dissolved in June in response to the on-going political process in the country. “In June, CNRT will close as its role will be taken over by the on-going political process,” said Xanana, President of CNRT/NC in an interview with Radio UNTAET that is quoted by STL on 18/3. According to him, after the CNRT National Congress of 30 August 2000, its role has been diminished with the participation of a number of NGOs, both local and international. The UN has also demanded that CNRT be dissolved.
Answering questions on his role as a figure of unity in coordinating CNRT and his future role after CNRT is dissolved, Xanana said that his role is that of an ordinary citizen in the establishment of democratic institutions in East Timor. Xanana said, “The theory of myself as a figure of unity is only valid till 20 August 2000.” Xanana said that CNRT has tried to unite all political forces towards independence. However, he continued, that was achieved when the majority of the people of East Timor voted for independence during the Referendum.
“At this moment, the UN has tried to lay a strong democratic base in society and political parties have been formed in preparation for the independence process,” he continued. He said that only political parties that are legitimate to take part in the elections would be able to govern East Timor. Xanana also admitted that after the CNRT National Congress, it was no longer the uniting body, because FRETILIN and UDT withdrew from CNRT at that moment. He stressed, “I do not possess the power to unite political parties that are conscious and guarantee the unity of the people, political parties and stability in East Timor.”
Xanana also reminded every political leaders that would be elected to be aware that they cannot perform miracles as the country is still in chaos and only will improve in 5 to 6 years’ time. “I know that self-government will be difficult, therefore in my personal capacity as an ordinary citizen, I will cooperate with all sides to have dialogue to support the on-going process,” he said. Because the situation is still very difficult, added Xanana, all sides must again be ready to sacrifice meaningfully. However, it is still very hard to have the patience to understand the situation.
Mar
16 CNRT/NCP: Gusmao: Speech at signing of the Electoral Regulation
Speech
"[This is the] English version of the
speech of the Presdient of CNRT/CN and
National Council (NC) at the signing of the Electoral Regulation for the
forthcoming and first elections to be held on August the 30th this year.
The original speech was said in Portuguese
and translated into English by the Media Unit of CNRT/CN Presidency." Ines
Alemeida, Head, Media Unit CNRT/CN
Portuguese:
Mar
15 CNRT/CNP: Gusmão: O Regulamento Assinado pelo Dr Sérgio
De Mello Speech
"Intervenção do Presidente
do CNRT/CN, Xanana Gusmão na ocasião da assinatura, pelo
Dr Sergio Vieira de Mello, Administrador Transitório, do regulamento
sobre a eleição de uma Assembleia Constituinte para a elaboração
de uma constituiçâo para um Timor Leste independente e democrático"
CNRT/Congresso
Nacional Presidência
Mar 13 TP: Support For Xanana
Pours In News from ETimor
"Following the incident of 7 March 2001
in the Dili Gymnasium, several quarters have expressed their stand
on the matter. Apart from strongly condemning CPD-RDTL supporters and regretting
Civpol’s method of arresting the three political activists, there is full
support for the leadership of Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao as President of CNRT/NC."
Timor Post
Mar
7 CNRT/CNP: A Threat on the life of the President Press
Conference summary of events
"Commissioner Costa e Souza [of CivPol]
ended his report by stating that he has no doubt that this was a planned
action designed to disturb the meeting between President Xanana Gusmão
and the students and that given the
level of violence it was also designed to threaten the life of the President."
National
Council of Timorese Resistance/Congresso Nacional Presidency (CNRT/CNP)
Mar
6 TP: Civic Education, Urgent? Editorial from ETimor
"For us, the model that President Xanana
used in the gymnasium is most effective. It began "hot" and finished with
Xanana embracing and crying. This is not to say that the model we are proposing
is one of embraces and tears. What is most important is how to create dialogue
and debate, during which the people are given unlimited time to freely
argue without protocol or moderator ... " Timor Post editorial
Mar 6 STL: Gusmao: “I’m Not Dreaming To Be The First President of Timor Lorosae” News from ETimor
Feb
23 ST: Xanana has opportunity to be Timor Lorosae president
News from WTimor
"For years the people of Timor Leste experienced
and felt a harsh leadership style that frightened them. Now they are free,
so they need a figure like Xanana who will give them back their freedom
that has disappeared for so long." Santino O. Baros, manager, HMTOP NGO
(Uniting Timor Lorosae Intellectuals for Development)
Feb
14 STL: Presidential Issue: Fretilin To Nominate Xanana
News from ETimor
“Regardless of whether the party has its
own candidate or not, we have decided that Xanana be Timor Lorosae’s first
president when the country becomes independent,” Lu-Olo, General Coordinator
of Fretilin
Feb
12 Xanana: Symposium on “Reconciliation, Tolerance, Human Rights and Elections”
Speech
"To avoid or control this likelihood of
violence there are several means if properly used could reduce existing
tensions and will also help in the promotion of a collective awareness
about the need to enhance a tolerant society in the country:
A- A greater involvement of young people
in open discussions about social problems;
B- A greater involvement of the civil
society in public debates on these same problems;
C- A greater involvement by political
parties leaders in Youth education; and
D- A greater involvement of the media
in the civic education process." President Xanana
Feb
12 FRETILIN: Open Letter to CNRT's President Letter
"I believe that the FRETILIN is ready
to rule our country and it is necessary, by my opinion, that
the Timorese people elect their constituent assembly made-up of all Timorese
political parties. Our people need a super-parties man, and you can play
this role, as well as Nelson Mandela did in South Africa. The discussion
between the political parties is positive : you have the prestige and the
authority to enforce the rules of the Carta Magna." David Dias Quintas
Corona, FRETILIN'S Rep. for Italy
Feb 1 Xanana: Address at Transition
Ceremony Of Falintil Speech
"As your [Falintil's] former companion who shared the same difficulties
in the mountains, who failed in leading you while we were reduced to less
than one hundred men where as under the clear leadership of your Commander,
Taur Matan Ruak, who enabled you to become an army of over one thousand
five hundred soldiers I can only but express here, today, my admiration
for the spirit of self-sacrifice that you showed by bearing yet another
year of hardship in Aileu." Xanana Gusmao, President, CNRT/CN
Jan 1 CNRT: Xanana's New Year's
Message Speech
"It is necessary that we are sincere and humble so that we do not lose
track of the highest interests of our People. Democracy is not built overnight
and it is by experiencing the system that democracy can be shaped." Xanana
Gusmão
Dec 5-6 2000
CNRT/CNP: Brussels donor's meeting - opening speech by the CNRT's rep
Speech
"CNRT also thinks that it is extremely important to establish a policy
of commitment among the groups that make up the Timorese social fabric
toward ensuring National Unity and the necessary political stability for
the implementation of multiparty democracy and a smooth development process
in a future independent State of Timor Lorosae." Xanana Gusmao
Dec 5 2000
XG: President Xanana Gusmao open letter to East Timorese
Letter
"I have stated and explained to the people that in the democratic society
that we want to build we must create the conditions for new leaders to
assert themselves because the demands of independence are much greater
and harder than those of the armed struggle. My request to resign from
the National Council must be looked at within this context. The country
needs democrats not autocrats. The people need qualified leaders for independence
and my political engagement must be directed toward creating the conditions
for so many others to assert themselves, most of whom come from the historical
political parties." Xanana Gusmao, CNRT/CN Presidency
Dec 2 2000 CNRT/NC: Xanana's Resignation Denied Release
Nov 11 2000
& Oct 1990 RN: Xanana Gusmao interviews Interviews
"If in 20 or in 30 years later, if the political leaders are not committed
to give the benefits of independence to our people, the hurt will be still
in the minds and the heart of our people. But if they are committed to
solve these, to give the real means of independence to our people, we are
not a population of millions, we are less than 800,000, we are a small
country, a small population; this is why it is more obligatory to the political
leaders to think very, very deeply about this." Xanana Gusmao - from guerilla
fighter to leader of his country