Government announces Popular Consultation and INTERFET Anniversary Organising Committee
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Government announces Popular Consultation and INTERFET Anniversary Organising Committee
On 30th August 2019, Timor-Leste commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the Popular Consultation. On this day 20 years ago, the Timorese people exercised their right to self-determination and voted overwhelmingly for independence. This moment fulfilled the long-held dreams of the people of Timor-Leste to achieve sovereignty over their future.
20th September marks the anniversary of the deployment of the International Force East Timor or INTERFET, the peacemaking taskforce that came to Timor-Leste to address the humanitarian and security crisis from 1999–2000. INTERFET, which was led by Australia, involved 21 countries who made an important contribution at a critical time in the history of Timor-Leste.
The Government of Timor-Leste has announced the Organising Committee for the Anniversaries – an inter-ministerial team, tasked with managing and coordinating all aspects of the anniversary events.
The Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak issued Dispatch no: 04/PM/II/2019 of 18th February, in which Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, leader of the Timorese Resistance and first elected President and former Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, was appointed President of the Organising Committee.
As such, the Organising Committee has started its work on the preparations for the anniversary.
Government spokesperson Minister Agio Pereira said the 20-year anniversary is an occasion to reflect on the birth of our sovereign nation and the first two decades of our development. Led by Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, the Organising Committee will develop a comprehensive program that includes official ceremonies, exhibitions, commemorations, sporting competitions and concerts.
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To honour this historic occasion, the government is calling on anyone who may have photographs, documents, artworks or artifacts relating to this period in their personal collections. An exhibition is being developed of memorabilia from this period, drawn not only from within Timor-Leste but all over the world.
All items are to be taken to the Organising Committee Secretariat at the Maritime Boundary Office at the Palácio do Governo, where a copy or scan of original photographs can be taken for inclusion in the exhibition.
For more information about this initiative, please contact Felismina Carvalho dos Reis on +670 7742 5544 or Domingos Guterres on +670 7705 5344 or email: info@gfm.tl
