FRETILIN held a peaceful, lawful demonstration against corrupt and incompetent Gusmao de facto Government

FRETILIN NEWS FLASH


Dili, 0730 hours, 9/12/2009

Yesterday, the de facto government disseminated a media release that was simply a fabrication, claiming there was no demonstration against the AMP de facto government (please see below).

There was indeed a demonstration as everyone who was in Dili could see for themselves, and it was clearly the largest demonstration since FRETILIN's demonstration during the 2007 parliamentary election campaign. (Images available on this site:
http://timorlorosaenacao.blogspot.com/2009/12/reportagem-que-rtp-nao-fez-timorenses.html)

FRETILIN showed the way yet again of how Timorese can express their political discontent against the dismal and corrupt fashion the country is being governed, by demonstrating publicly in peace and according to the law. It is a marked contrast to the violence utilized by many of those now comprising the so called AMP against innocent people and especially FRETILIN supporters in 2006 and 2007.  We are informed, and are happy to be corrected if our information is incorrect, that the de facto government spokesperson was not even in Timor-Leste last Sunday.

As for the reports of the numbers of persons attending the conference, around 5,000 party members were registered and present as delegates.  The lawful and peaceful demonstration which ensued involved between 8,000 to 10,000 people.

It is simply a lie for the de facto government spokesperson to state what he stated in the media release.  It is very much the head in the sand mentality, and arrogant approach we have come to expect from the de facto AMP government, and which they displayed in the last three weeks during the budget debate.

END



The Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers and Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

Ágio Pereira

December 8, 2009

Díli, Timor-Leste

No protests against the Government during Fretilin Congress

Secretary of State Ágio Pereira confirmed that there were no demonstrations against the Government in Timor-Leste last weekend as asserted by Fretilin in a statement made December 8, 2009.

Pereira also confirmed there were not 8.000 people in Díli participating in a demonstration or march as has been claimed.

The Fretilin Party held their National Congress meetings with the presence of around three thousand participants; it was an understated and peaceful gathering that caused no incident.

ENDS
For More Information Please Contact:
Ágio Pereira +670 723 0011
E-mail: agiopereira@cdm.gov.tl