Lusa – The former prime minister of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak, said that the best reconciliation is the one that "comes from the heart", referring to the recent social outrage provoked by an invitation to the militia leader to take part in the celebrations for the declaration of independence.

"You're going to have to let time take care of itself a little, while morally and psychologically people are not ready, not for reconciliation in general, but for particular factions, the case of Eurico Guterres," said Taur Matan Ruak.

Timor-Leste's President Jose Ramos-Horta invited the former Aitarak militia leader to take part in the celebrations marking the 49th anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence, which took place on Thursday in Oecussi. This provoked social outrage.

Eurico Guterres led the Aitarak militia, responsible for several attacks in Timor-Leste and the destruction of Dili after the 1999 referendum, which determined an end to Indonesian occupation and the restoration of independence on 20 May 2022.

"It's commendable that a president of Timor-Leste has done this, but society isn't ready, it's not that they don't want to, they're not ready. That means leaving it a bit longer, which time will help to appease better," Taur Matan Ruak emphasised.

According to the leader of the People's Liberation Party (PLP), the "best reconciliation is the one that comes from the heart". "It's an internal process; the external can influence it, but the internal determines it," he said.

Regarding the events of 1999, Taur Matan Ruak said there were cases that the population had moved on from, but "there are cases that are still very fresh".

"It's not that people don't want to; they're not ready yet, and it's too early for them. But it's always a praiseworthy act, but you must be very careful to manage all this emotional problem then," he added.

Source: https://www.macaubusiness.com/timor-leste-reconciliation-comes-from-the-heart-former-pm