Big day: Guterres (centre) is flanked by Ramos-Horta (left) and Gusmao at the anniversary event in Dili. — AP
The leader thanked the international community as his country celebrated the 25th anniversary of its referendum on independence from Indonesia, with visiting UN chief Antonio Guterres urging the world to do more to support the young democracy.
Thousands of citizens flocked to a stadium in the capital Dili to commemorate the tiny South-East Asian nation’s 1999 vote, which paved the way for its current democratic system.
“Remember, our nation’s independence is also thanks to the solidarity and efforts of the international community ... especially the United Nations, which helped with the referendum process on Aug 30, 1999,” Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said at the event, which was also attended by Guterres and Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta.
The poll saw nearly 80% of Timorese vote to split from Indonesia, ending a brutal 24-year military occupation that claimed up to 250,000 lives through fighting, disease and starvation.
The vote briefly sparked joy before Indonesian security forces destroyed infrastructure and displaced hundreds of thousands to other parts of Indonesia.
The post-referendum terror killed around 1,400 people before the mainly Catholic country of 1.34 million was recognised as an independent state in 2002.
Guterres said that after 25 years, the former Portuguese colony still struggled to provide essentials like food, education and healthcare, adding international support had been insufficient.
On Thursday, Ramos-Horta – who along with Gusmao is one of the country’s independence heroes – said in a statement that Timor-Leste’s journey to self-determination was “long and heavy”, but with international support it had been able to achieve peace, stability and development. — AFP
