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Statement issued by Prime Minister Dr José Ramos-Horta
re: airport incident, 25 October 2006
"The incidents in Dili in the last 24 hours have caused
me great concern, disappointment and sadness, and heartache.
Concern because the ramifications that the temporary closure
- hopefully less than 24 hours -of the Dili airport will have
on Timor-Leste's immediate future.
Today's temporary closure was necessary because the staff felt
unsafe to travel to work.
Today's closure is ironic, as we survived the worst of the crisis
without any closure, and now due to a gang of common criminals,
who deliberately targeted defenceless citizens, we had to close
it.
We have now made the airport precinct safe for the staff and
airlines to go about their business.
I want to thank UNPOL and the international forces JTF631 for
their well coordinated effort to secure the airport area and restore
law and order.
As UNPOL, working with PNTL, deploy in the country, law and order
is gradually being brought under control.
I feel disappointed and sad because once again we see our people
fighting each other resulting in pointless deaths.
Heartache because of the unnecessary loss of life and to see
how we ourselves are weakening the very values we showed in our
struggle to be free.
Despite this current setback, I have faith that normalcy will
soon return, due to the courageous spirit of our people. I appeal
to all sectors of our population to be mindful that peace has
to be worked at and all have to maintain their commitment to it.
Timor-Leste's Armed Forces, the F-FDTL, led by Brigadier General
Taur Matan Ruak, demonstrated that courageous spirit, in a public
statement issued today. They apologised to all Timorese for all
the damage caused directly and indirectly by them during the crisis
and they also offered their condolences to the families of the
people who died during that time. They also stressed the need
for us all to strengthen our national unity and our supreme interests
as a people and a nation.
In Rome, on the eve of meeting His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI,
I have been in constant contact with the Vice Prime Minister Eng
Estanislau Silva who, with other Cabinet colleagues, has been
coordinating the response to the incidents of the last 24 hours.
I have been in contact with my President H.E. Kay Rala Xanana
Gusmao to review the situation and discuss a coordinated response
to this new development.
I also spoke with many other Timorese religious, civic and political
leaders including Secretary General of Fretilin and former Prime
Minister Dr. Mari Alkatiri, who indicated to me his readiness
to help lessen the tension and violence. He said that he would
visit the Airport IDP camp to talk to people there, to seek their
cooperation. I fully support this initiative.
Besides discussing many issues with His Holiness, I will brief
him on the current situation in Timor-Leste and ask him to pray
for our country and for our people in this hour of need."
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