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Foreign Affairs Minister Ramos-Horta: border patrol units
performing a patriotic duty with dedication and professionalism,
16 May 2006
Timor-Leste's Senior Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs
and Cooperation, Nobel Peace Laureate Dr José Ramos-Horta,
toured Suai and the border posts of Fatumean, Foholulic and Foxtrot
where he walked half-way the bridge and was greeted by Indonesian
military and police.
Dr Ramos-Horta told the Indonesian side how much he appreciated
their goodwill in cooperating with their Timorese colleagues in
ensuring that the border area remains peaceful. At the end of
the meeting Foreign Affairs Minister Ramos-Horta presented the
Indonesian military with a souvenir.
Throughout the day during the very arduous journey in the area
Dr Ramos-Horta made unannounced stops in numerous locations to
greet the hundreds of school children and adults who flocked to
the streets to welcome him.
The main focus of yesterday's schedule was the sub-district of
Fatumean. There, Foreign Affairs Minister Ramos-Horta addressed
a gathering of the local community where he appealed for unity
and peace.
He made a personal donation of US$500 to enable the vice- administrator
of the district to purchase some buffalos and rice so that the
local police, the border patrol unit and the local population
may have a small celebration on Sunday.
Dr Ramos-Horta also handed over to the vice-administrator two
boxes of clothing, brand new and of good quality, and gave him
the responsibility to distribute them to those in most need.
After the visit to Fatumean, the delegation returned to Suai
where Foreign Affairs Minister Ramos-Horta had a long conversation
with Majors Tara and Marcos, active members of FDTL, who on May
3, along with Major Alfredo Reinaldo, separated themselves from
FDTL. The two officers traveled all the way from their base in
Aileu to Suai to meet with Dr Ramos-Horta.
At the conclusion of the conversation the two majors restated
their allegiance to FDTL, its Commander, General Taur Matan Ruak,
and above all to the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief, President
Xanana Gusmão.
The Senior Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation,
Dr Ramos-Horta, is continuing today his visit to Suai with a public
address this morning to local government and community leaders
and the population in general. Later he is scheduled to visit
the border post units of Lela (Maukatar), Fatululic and Alto Lebos,
and finally Maliana.
In a phone conversation to Foreign Affairs Ministry staff, Minister
Ramos-Horta said how heart-broken he is in seeing the precarious
conditions in which Timor-Leste's border patrol units live. He
said they are performing a patriotic duty with dedication and
professionalism and yet they are not well looked after by the
government.
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