ASIA/EAST TIMOR - Ramos-Horta candidate for Presidency in April elections

Monday, 26 February 2007

Dili (Agenzia Fides) - Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta, present prime minister of East Timor, has announced his intention to run for presidency in elections in April.
Ramos-Horta who led the Timor executive in recent years facing considerable social and economic difficulties, will have eight adversaries including the popular leader of the governing FRETILIN party Francisco Lu-Olo Guterres.
The announcement by Ramos-Horta came after consultations with members of the local Catholic Church and out-going president Xanana Gusmao, hero of Timor’s independence. “Many people have come to see me in recent months. Ordinary citizens and all kinds of people are collecting signatures to support my candidature. But if people choose someone else I will not be disappointed”, Ramos-Horta said
In the coming months Ramos-Horta and Gusmao will try to convince the voters that their presence and action in politics will guarantee the country, stability, peace and development, pushing away the ghosts of chaos and widespread social violence.
Other presidential candidates include Fernando de Araujo, former political prisoner and leader of the East Timor Student Movement; lawyer Lucia Lobato; Opposition leader Joao Carrascalao.
The East Timor presidency recently promoted an initiative in common with the Indonesian government: the setting up of a Truth and Friendship Commission to investigate violence in 1999, find out the truth and promote good relations between the two governments. A priority in Timor’s politics is in fact to foster among the people spirit of optimism with regard to the future, while not overlooking the painful signs left by the past. In East Timor, with young population, 75% under 30 education is a priority for the government, local Church and social forces to guarantee human and cultural development for the new generations. The Church in East Timor is very active in the fields of education, youth pastoral and social services. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/2/2007 righe 25 parole 258)


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