English language Indonesian newspapers available online:
ATAMBUA – It is predicted that Xanana Gusmao has a big chance at
becoming the first president of Timor Lorosae. In short he
is seen to have achieved a lot of merit in the struggle for independence
and has shown himself to be solid and loyal in that struggle. Santino
O. Baros, manager of the HMTOP NGO (Uniting Timor Lorosae Intellectuals
for Development) said this to reporters on Wed. (21/2) following the rumour
that it would be impossible for Xanana to sit as president because his
leadership is too weak so that is would be better were he replaced by other
figures to save Timor Leste. According to Santino, in an era of democracy,
anyone can become the president of Timor Leste as long as that person fills
the prerequisites desired by the people such as loyalty to the nation,
loyalty in the struggle, and high intellectual abilities. Besides
that the figure must be a role model to the people. Responding to the rumour
about Xanana being too weak, Santino said that actually it needed to be
this way because the people of Timor Leste long
for a figure whose leadership style is refined yet is oriented towards
the people and not rough so that he oppresses and castrates the rights
of the common folk. "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." With this understanding,
continued Santino, it is clear that actually Xanana is not weak in the
sense that he lacks the ability to lead, but that internally and externally
he wants to show a way to lead that is true. Meaning Xanana is a
great figure to move Timor Lorosae towards a fully sovereign nation.
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 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
"During the most difficult period of the resistance struggle, when our faith in victory was at its lowest, I made an oath to those who had been killed and before the handful of men who believed in me, that I would never accept any reward for I was only working in the service of an ideal shared by us all, nor would I ever foster ambition for an office or position, for I was not struggling for that reason. I hereby declare that I will abide by this sacred oath made to the guerrilla fighters, to those who died and to those who survived and that I will keep the promise recently made to the CNRT/CN cadres!"