Just this past weekend Timor Leste celebrated not only the transition of power from the incubent president, Jose Ramos-Horta, to its new and 5th president, Taur Matan Ruak, but it also celebrated it's 10th anniversary since the Restoration of Independence!
It's the restoration because Timor declared its independence from Portuguese colonial rule back in 1975, on November 28th to be precise, and they still celebrate this particular day as Independence Day. However, shortly after this declaration, Timor-Leste was invaded by neighbouring Indonesia - with the full support of the US and Australia's complacency, I might add - and its independence was only restored again on May 20, 2002, with the help of the UN and after many years of bloody struggle and lost diplomacy.
This Sunday (and well, the whole weekend) was, therefore, a huge day for Timor and we were invited! As were the leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Tuvalu, Indonesia and Portugal (I might be forgetting someone, apologies!)
Before I say anything further though, one big gain from all these VIP visits was that Dili got a new makeover - the government's palace was whitewashed and the bullet holes were finally covered, the holes in the roads were also covered up (let's count how many days those last!), a new park was inaugurated and the city just looked cleaner...almost unrecognizable!
On Friday we were invited to the President's Palace - I finally got to see Timor's dinosaur - for the ceremony presenting the final honours bestowed by the president before he left office. Our director general from STAE, Mr. Tomas Cabral, was receiving one of these honours and he invited all the STAE UNVs to be present. The President gave out several honours to those that have helped in the development of Timor, among them, to FRETILIN, STAE and CNE. It was quite a sight and it felt very special to be attending the final moments of Ramos Horta's presidency. It was funnier though to hear him speak, I'd never seen this in a politician but it was quite amazing the way he used his speech to show his outward contempt and dislike for the Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmao! But he did it in a humourous way so you couldn't help but laugh with him which is quite appealing and comic at the same time.
Afterwards we were invited back to STAE to greet Tomas Cabral and congratulate him on this honour, oh and eat of course. Our STAE nationals put out quite a feast! TC even invited Ameera Haq (our SRSG by the way) to celebrate. We all ended up a bit tipsy and unfortunately the girls were 'forced' to dance...Timorese style...I kept telling them I had two left feet but they wouldnt listen, but it was all in good fun.
Later on that afternoon - yes, still Friday! - we had a visit from President Ramos-Horta at the UN barracks in Dili to present Ameera Haq and Luis Carrilho (Head of UNPOL) with a medal and to thank the UN staff for their hard work and dedication to the development of Timor. He also presented the honourees with Timorese coffee, which he then went on to tell us, to the immense laughter of those present, that scientists found that it contained a high degree of viagra so we should drink up!!! Quite a comedian, really!
Saturday, at precisely midnight, saw the beginning of the official festivities. We were told that the roads would be closed going out to the event's location but with the help of our UN cars we were able to sail through the crowds and after 'infiltrating' the VIP tent, we were able to witness Ramos-Horta handing over his position as president to Taur Matan Ruak, in the presence of thousands of Timorese as well as foreign dignitaries.
(photo by N. Lobato)
The crowd was vibrant and happy albeit calmer than I expected. This was great and emotional moment for them, a truly great step in their right to free determination, democracy and freedom and the whole world was watching.
With the handover of power and the official ceremony over, it was time to truly celebrate, with a massive show of fire works that could be seen from the entire city.
Saturday festivities were followed by a concert on Sunday given by the Prime Minister - he wanted Michel Telo but got Leandro and Leonardo instead (Portuguese and Brazilian readers will know who I'm talking about those, those that don't, you're better off for it!)
And on Monday, we, the Portuguese residents of Timor, were invited by our own President, Cavaco Silva, to dress up to the nine's to attend a reception at the Portuguese School in honour of his excellency's visit to Timor as well as Timor's 10th anniversary. After some controversy over the dress code - I mean, who wears a dark suit in tropical climates? - the evening took off quite pleasantly. Tuar Matan Ruak was also present and his speech, probably one of his first since assuming office, was impressive and actually surprising. And we finished the evening off with bacalhau - of course! - and lots of croquetes, pasteis de bacalhau and paes com chorico - oh yeah!
It was indeed a very long weekend of celebrations and I am happy that I was here to witness such a momentous occasion in the history of this nation. Thank you, Timor, yet again, for the honour!
It's the restoration because Timor declared its independence from Portuguese colonial rule back in 1975, on November 28th to be precise, and they still celebrate this particular day as Independence Day. However, shortly after this declaration, Timor-Leste was invaded by neighbouring Indonesia - with the full support of the US and Australia's complacency, I might add - and its independence was only restored again on May 20, 2002, with the help of the UN and after many years of bloody struggle and lost diplomacy.
This Sunday (and well, the whole weekend) was, therefore, a huge day for Timor and we were invited! As were the leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Tuvalu, Indonesia and Portugal (I might be forgetting someone, apologies!)
Before I say anything further though, one big gain from all these VIP visits was that Dili got a new makeover - the government's palace was whitewashed and the bullet holes were finally covered, the holes in the roads were also covered up (let's count how many days those last!), a new park was inaugurated and the city just looked cleaner...almost unrecognizable!
On Friday we were invited to the President's Palace - I finally got to see Timor's dinosaur - for the ceremony presenting the final honours bestowed by the president before he left office. Our director general from STAE, Mr. Tomas Cabral, was receiving one of these honours and he invited all the STAE UNVs to be present. The President gave out several honours to those that have helped in the development of Timor, among them, to FRETILIN, STAE and CNE. It was quite a sight and it felt very special to be attending the final moments of Ramos Horta's presidency. It was funnier though to hear him speak, I'd never seen this in a politician but it was quite amazing the way he used his speech to show his outward contempt and dislike for the Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmao! But he did it in a humourous way so you couldn't help but laugh with him which is quite appealing and comic at the same time.
Afterwards we were invited back to STAE to greet Tomas Cabral and congratulate him on this honour, oh and eat of course. Our STAE nationals put out quite a feast! TC even invited Ameera Haq (our SRSG by the way) to celebrate. We all ended up a bit tipsy and unfortunately the girls were 'forced' to dance...Timorese style...I kept telling them I had two left feet but they wouldnt listen, but it was all in good fun.
Later on that afternoon - yes, still Friday! - we had a visit from President Ramos-Horta at the UN barracks in Dili to present Ameera Haq and Luis Carrilho (Head of UNPOL) with a medal and to thank the UN staff for their hard work and dedication to the development of Timor. He also presented the honourees with Timorese coffee, which he then went on to tell us, to the immense laughter of those present, that scientists found that it contained a high degree of viagra so we should drink up!!! Quite a comedian, really!
Saturday, at precisely midnight, saw the beginning of the official festivities. We were told that the roads would be closed going out to the event's location but with the help of our UN cars we were able to sail through the crowds and after 'infiltrating' the VIP tent, we were able to witness Ramos-Horta handing over his position as president to Taur Matan Ruak, in the presence of thousands of Timorese as well as foreign dignitaries.
The crowd was vibrant and happy albeit calmer than I expected. This was great and emotional moment for them, a truly great step in their right to free determination, democracy and freedom and the whole world was watching.
(Photo by M. Perret)
With the handover of power and the official ceremony over, it was time to truly celebrate, with a massive show of fire works that could be seen from the entire city.
And on Monday, we, the Portuguese residents of Timor, were invited by our own President, Cavaco Silva, to dress up to the nine's to attend a reception at the Portuguese School in honour of his excellency's visit to Timor as well as Timor's 10th anniversary. After some controversy over the dress code - I mean, who wears a dark suit in tropical climates? - the evening took off quite pleasantly. Tuar Matan Ruak was also present and his speech, probably one of his first since assuming office, was impressive and actually surprising. And we finished the evening off with bacalhau - of course! - and lots of croquetes, pasteis de bacalhau and paes com chorico - oh yeah!
It was indeed a very long weekend of celebrations and I am happy that I was here to witness such a momentous occasion in the history of this nation. Thank you, Timor, yet again, for the honour!
Very nicely written, Filipa! I really enjoyed reading it, much more than any news by the media.
ReplyDeleteQuerida Filipa, venho acompanhando as tuas crónicas de "cooperante internacionalista" com grande prazer e proveito, porque além de descritivas estão muito bem escritas. Parabéns e beijo grande da clementina
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