Comunicado - PM em inglês

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

MEDIA RELEASE

Dili, November 16 2006

Soldiers and police embrace friendship as peace is given a chance

With tears in their eyes, soldiers and police embraced each other as they gathered for an historic ceremony at the Palacio do Governo yesterday in Dili.

As hundreds of spectators packed the Palacio grounds and the national anthem was played, the President of the Republic Xanana Gusmão called on the youth of the country to collaborate with the army and police in the process of peace.

Army and police paraded before President Xanana, the President of Parliament Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo" and Prime Minister Dr José Ramos-Horta and members of his Government.

Spectators including most members of the diplomatic corps and public servants, watched as members of the F-FDTL and PNTL lined up alongside each other in a display of solidarity and trust.

Traffic along the main ocean-front boulevard was brought to a stop. Bunches of flowers were handed out to the country’s army and police forces and as they raised them above their heads the crowd cheered.

“This is a time to work together and to accept each other,” President Xanana said.

“Youth must promise their mothers and fathers that they will no longer be involved in violence.”

Dr Ramos-Horta said today that it was time for Timor-Leste’s youth to embrace peace “just as our army and police have done”.

“We cannot allow ourselves to be drawn into violence,” he said. “There is no future for our country in that. We must use our energy for peace.”

The President of the Court of Appeal, Claudio Ximenes told the rally Timor-Leste’s courts would be independent and impartial.

“The tribunal will make decisions independently and impartially,” he said.

Yesterday’s historic rally followed a series of extraordinary meetings held recently between the President, the Prime Minister and leaders of Timor-Leste’s army and police.

The head of the armed forces, Brigadier Taur Mata Ruak shook hands and embraced many of the police at the rally as the Commander of the Police Paulo Fatima Martins walked among soldiers shaking hands and greeting friends.

The demonstration of comradeship and trust between the F-FDTL and PNTL has given encouragement to many people in the Internally Displaced People’s camps to return to their homes.

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