Media Release - Lu Olo vows to end social division and promote security

Francisco Guterres Lu Olo for President
“I shall be a President of all and for all”
Media release
26 April 2007

Lu Olo vows to end social division and promote security

Presidential candidate Francisco Guterres Lu Olo today visited IDP camps in Metinaro and Hera Port to express his support and solidarity for them in their hardship.

“The hardship of the IDPs is completely unacceptable,” he said. “We were forced to live in fear in poor conditions when we were fighting for our independence, but now we control our own future. We must unite to help the IDPs come home, so we can all live together in peace and security.”

“To do this, we must assist people who have lost their homes, and help them build new ones as the government has already begun to do. We must secure the neighbourhoods of Dili, and protect everyone’s right to live where they choose. We must solve the problem of land disputes. We must provide livelihood programs. I promise to work with the government and civil society on all these things.”

“But above all, we must restore justice and security to our country, and bring back the rule of law. Our security should be protected by our own security forces, FFDTL and PNTL, and we must strengthen them so they are able to assume full responsibility, allowing the international forces to withdraw. As President, my first priority will be to help the government, the parliament, the judicial institutions and the security forces re-establish peace in our country, restore our sovereignty and bring all perpetrators of violence against our people and our nation to justice.”

“I know the problems of the IDPs are difficult to solve. I know that people in the camps are afraid for their security if they return home. I also know that it is very hard for people to live in the camps. As a father, I am very sad to see so many children living like this. I am sad to see that teachers cannot go to their schools.
I am sad that people only feel safe when there are security forces nearby. Our security should not depend on guns, not now that we have won our freedom.”

“Nearly twelve months ago, people said this crisis would be solved if the government changed. This did not happen. A new Prime Minister did not solve the problems. The President who asked for the new Prime Minister did not solve the problems. There are still over 70000 people who are receiving food relief, because they have been forced to leave their homes. Too many people are afraid to go back to their homes. Too many people no longer have homes to go to. ”

“As President, I undertake to work with the all our institutions to find a solution. To build peace and security, we must work together on those things which unite us. I will not fight with other leaders, and cause more conflict. I will promote the sharing of different political views and listen carefully to their ideas for the development of our precious country.”

“We need to stop this talk of East-West divide. I have always promoted the ideals of our Resistance, that Timor-Leste is one nation. We are one people, from Jaco, Tutuala through to Atauro to Oecusse, and from from north to south. We have always been and will always be Timorese together united as one proud people. We owe it to all those who died for our independence and sovereignty to stop the divide and to unite for the future. I will promote the ideal of Maubere as the national identity for all Timorese.”



For more information contact:
Harold Moucho (Lu Olo’s political adviser) (+670) 723 0048 (Dili)
Jose Manuel Fernandes (Lu Olo’s official election representative) (+670) 734 2174 (Dili)

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