António Guterres has arrived in Timor-Leste to participate in the celebrations marking 25 years since the country’s independence referendum, which was organized by the UN mission in the former East Timor.
After months of violence and destruction, Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002, ending years of rule by Portugal and Indonesia, who annexed the country in 1975.
During his second day in Timor-Leste, the UN Secretary General met with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and paid tribute to the former resistance leader for his sacrifices in achieving independence for his country and people.
Mr. Gusmão, who served as the first president of the newly independent nation, was imprisoned for six years in Indonesia and was only released when the occupation ended in 1999.
Speaking to journalists at the Government Palace in Dili, the UN chief praised Timor-Leste’s progress in strengthening democracy and human rights, as well as its growing influence on the international stage.
Mr. Guterres also mentioned that Timor-Leste is the founder of the G7+, a group of countries emerging from conflict, and will soon join the ASEAN regional bloc. He expressed his hope that Timor-Leste will play a leading role in supporting a future peace process in Myanmar, which has been in turmoil since the military coup of 2021 overthrew the democratically elected government.
He also urged Timor-Leste to use its voice at the Summit of the Future in September to promote a world where the principles of the UN Charter are respected.
The Secretary-General also visited the Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum in Dili, where he toured the permanent exhibition “resisting is winning”.
As a former Prime Minister of Portugal during the year of Timor-Leste’s independence, Mr. Guterres saw himself featured in some of the exhibits on display.
He confirmed the historical accuracy of an exhibit stating that Portugal had threatened to withdraw its forces from Bosnia and Kosovo and leave NATO. This appeal was made at a time when several leaders were calling for immediate intervention by peacekeeping forces to protect the people of Timor-Leste from the violence that erupted after the referendum.
The UN chief also visited a replica of a hideout used by Timorese resistance fighters.
Later on, Mr. Guterres visited the “Women of Timor-Leste” exhibition, organized by UN Women, which showcases the life stories of resistance veterans and human rights defenders.
He was accompanied by Hilda da Conceição, who used the code name Lalo Imin during the resistance years. Another veteran featured in the exhibition was Maria Domingas “Mikato”, who organized the first Timor-Leste Women’s Congress before the 1999 referendum. She is credited with being the driving force behind the decision to allocate 30% of political representation to women in that vote.
According to UN Women, Timor-Leste’s electoral law mandates that 33% of political party lists must be composed of women. Currently, 38% of seats in the National Parliament are held by women, the highest rate in the Asia-Pacific region.
The UN chief ended his day with an appearance on “The President Horta Show”, broadcast on national television. The recording was attended by Prime Minister Gusmão.
Mr. Guterres highlighted his role as the Prime Minister of Portugal in supporting independence for East Timor. He mentioned that the collective determination of the people and the lack of fundamental geopolitical divisions at that time were key factors in the success of the referendum and peaceful transition to independence.
He also expressed his concern over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which violates the UN Charter and international law as a permanent member of the Security Council.
The Secretary-General also addressed the conflict in Gaza as an example of the limitations of the Security Council due to internal division.
He received applause from the audience when he stated that, like Timor-Leste, the Palestinian people also have the right to self-determination and their own secure nation, in accordance with the UN-backed two-state solution.
Prime Minister Gusmão emphasized that during his imprisonment in Indonesia, he witnessed the suffering caused by the political regime in charge, not the Indonesian people themselves.
President José Ramos Horta, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, highlighted how he has used the lessons learned from Timor-Leste’s reconciliation process to offer perspective on other post-conflict situations, such as the ongoing peace and reconciliation process in Colombia.
He also noted that during the years of armed struggle in Timor-Leste, there were no kidnappings or attacks against Indonesian civilians.
Prime Minister Gusmão stated that, in the context of the conflict, the guerrillas he commanded even provided medical care to injured Indonesian soldiers, something he personally did twice.