Government of Timor-Leste

Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Dili, May 19th, 2017

Government organizes celebrations for the 15^th Anniversary of the Restoration of Independence

As the clock hands lined up at midnight the official moment marking the restoration of Timor-Leste’s Independence arrived; the 20^th of May 2002. Around the globe people gathered to celebrate the end of Timor-Leste’s long struggle for self-determination and to herald the restoration of independence, first proclaimed by Francisco Xavier do Amaral on the 28^th of November 1975.

On the 20^th of May 2002 the largest gathering took place in Tasi-Tolu in Dili where the official ceremony was held and international guests joined Timorese leaders and thousands upon thousands of jubilant citizens to celebrate and honor that historical occasion.

Tomorrow, fifteen years later, celebrations will again take place at Tasi-Tolu along with the inauguration of H.E. Francisco Guterres ‘Lu-Olo’, who at midnight will be sworn into office as fourth President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

The Government through the Ministry of State Administration has organized a program of events spanning several days to commemorate the National Day. Events include a special Mass on the morning of the 18^th of May, the program at Tasi-Tolu which runs continuously from 6:00pm on the 19^th of May to 6:00am on the 20^th of May, and the Flag Lowering Ceremony also at Tasi-Tolu on the 20^th of May at 4:00pm.  The Inauguration of the Statue of the Proclaimer, H.E. Francisco Xavier do Amaral, will take place near the entrance to the Dili Convention Centre, on the 20^th of May between 3:30 and 7:00pm.

In addition to these celebrations a major International Conference is to be held at the Dili Convention Centre focusing on the United Nations 2030 Agenda and themed A Roadmap for SDGs in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States [22^nd-23^rd May]. Three associated side events are also being convened: Economic Diversification in the SDGs Era [21^st May], Health in the Era of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development ‘Programa Saúde na Família [23^rd May] and a Side Event on SDG 14, Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development [23^rd May].

Spokesperson, Minister of State Agio Pereira, reflecting on this year’s 15^th anniversary noted “In fifteen years Timor-Leste has consolidated peace, established the institutions of the state, built functioning health and education systems, constructed essential infrastructure and significantly improved the wellbeing of our people. All of this in a post conflict country which literally had to ‘start from scratch’ and ‘rise from the ashes’ after 1999. In these next days’ he said, ‘we celebrate the liberation won by our older brothers and sisters, welcome our new President, reflect on our journey till today and commit ourselves to continue to build and serve our beloved, independent, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.”ENDS