East Timor presidential candidates in public debate<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Dili, East Timor<\/p>\n
East Timor's two presidential candidates held their first public
\ndebate on Thursday, three days before an election which marks the
\nfinal step in the territory's long and bloody road to
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Independence hero and overwhelming favorite Xanana Gusmao, and
\nhis rival Francisco Xavier do Amaral, took turns answering
\nquestions from the audience on how they would guide the world's
\nnewest nation.<\/p>\n
\"The president should be able to guarantee that the laws and
\nregulations are implemented,\" Gusmao told the audience.<\/p>\n
Analysts say Gusmao, if elected on Sunday as the largely
\nceremonial head of state, may have a tense relationship with the
\nterritory's biggest party Fretilin which will form the future
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Amaral said a president \"should be an intermediary between the
\ngovernment and the people.\"<\/p>\n
The two, who on Friday will wind up their four-week campaigns,
\ntackled a wide range of subjects -- from how they view the
\nimportance of amnesty for reconciliation to their priorities in
\nbringing stability in every field.<\/p>\n
Sunday's vote will be only the third in the history of the
\nterritory, which spent more than 400 years under Portugal
\nfollowed by 24 years of enforced Indonesian rule.<\/p>\n
A UN-organized vote for independence in August 1999 triggered
\na wave of bloodshed and destruction by pro-Jakarta militias in
\nwhich whole towns were destroyed and forced some 250,000 people
\ntook refuge out of the province.<\/p>\n
Last August East Timorese voted for a future parliament, with
\nthe veteran pro-independence Fretilin securing 57 percent of the
\nvote.<\/p>\n
Gusmao, in shirt and tie, appeared much more relaxed than a
\nsuited Amaral.<\/p>\n
Gusmao, 56, said participation by the people was a priority in
\ndeciding on development. Amaral said his priority would be
\nnational stability before anything else.<\/p>\n
Both called for East Timor, as a new and small country with
\nlimited resources, to develop ties with the world after
\nindependence on May 20.<\/p>\n
Amaral also stressed the need for good relations with giant
\nneighbors Indonesia and Australia. Gusmao has made similar calls
\nin the past.<\/p>\n
\"Differences of opinion is the essence of democracy,\" said
\nGusmao, vowing to continue his campaign to reconcile pro- and
\nanti-independence factions.<\/p>\n
\"Let history be history,\" said the former anti-Indonesia
\nguerrilla chief who spent seven years in a Jakarta jail. He added
\nthat justice should be meted out to those who deserve it but did
\nnot elaborate.<\/p>\n
In his campaign statement Gusmao has said he will press
\nparliament for an amnesty law allowing him to revoke the jail
\nterms of those convicted following the wave of militia violence
\nin 1999.<\/p>\n
His firm stance in favor of amnesty would put him at odds with
\nFretilin and other parties who strongly oppose amnesties for
\nthose involved in the bloodshed.<\/p>\n
Near the debate venue, some 200 university students angered by
\ntheir inability to attend the event due to space constraints
\nstaged a noisy free-speech forum in a courtyard.<\/p>\n
Amaral, 66, had nine days as East Timor's first president in
\n1975 before his term was interrupted by Indonesia's invasion.<\/p>\n
This week the underdog candidate told AFP he is \"not fighting
\nto win or lose\" but for principles like peace and human rights.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a minister said on Thursday the East Timor's new
\ngovernment will give refugees until the end of this year to
\nreturn home from Indonesian West Timor and elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\"We will give them until the end of December,\" said Chief
\nMinister Mari Alkatiri, who will become prime minister after
\nindependence on May 20.<\/p>\n
Alkatiri said some of the tens of thousands still in West
\nTimor were unsure whether to come back because their homes had
\nbeen occupied by others. Others were not well informed about the
\nsituation in East Timor.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-timor-presidential-candidates-in-public-debate-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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