Xisto Freitas in Dili
A president with a military background will not be good for Timor-Leste, President José Ramos-Horta has warned.
“I want to make an appeal to all of our people and I ask the two candidates seeking to be elected, not to use the backdrop of threats of violence, because right now a lot of our people are scared about what may happen,” he said.
“In Suai and Bobonaro, the old women are preparing corn flour because they are scared. Why?
“Because [military candidate supporters] went around campaigning, screaming, wearing uniforms. Some went in and out of homes threatening election observers. This happened a lot,” Ramos-Horta said.
The Nobel Peace laureate made these statements during an address to his staff in the Presidential Palace at Bairro Pite yesterday.
Ramos-Horta, who campaigned tirelessly for East Timor’s independence for nearly a quarter-century and helped steer the new nation, was defeated after a poor showing in weekend first round elections, Associated Press reports.
With 80 percent of the ballots counted, Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres, leader of the traditionally strong leftist Fretilin party, was ahead with 28 percent of the vote, followed by former military chief, Taur Matan Ruak, with 25 percent.
Ramos-Horta, with just 18 percent, has not prospect of advancing to the April 21 run-off.
Xisto Freitas is the Timor Post Group editor. The story has been translated from Tetum.
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