Lusa – The president Timor-Leste said on Tuesday that National Youth Day, which marks the Santa Cruz massacre, is not only about "remembering", but also about strengthening the "freedom and dignity" of the Timorese.
"Today, we are together to celebrate National Youth Day, a date that represents your strength and enthusiasm, which marks the 33rd anniversary of an unforgettable event in our history, the Santa Cruz massacre, which is not only a day of remembrance, but also a moment to reinforce our freedom and dignity," said Jose Ramos-Horta.
The Timorese head of state was speaking at the celebrations for National Youth Day and the 33rd anniversary of the Santa Cruz massacre on 12 November 1991, which included a mass in Motael and a march to that historic cemetery in the Timorese capital.
On that date, more than 2,000 people marched to the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili to pay homage to the young Sebastiao Gomes, who was killed in October of that year by people linked to the Indonesian forces.
At the cemetery, the Indonesian military opened fire on the crowd, causing dozens of deaths and injuries.
According to figures from the 12 November committee, 2,261 people took part in the demonstration, 74 were identified as having died on the spot and more than 100 died in the following days in the military hospital or as a result of pursuit by the occupying forces.
For the Nobel Peace Prize winner, on that day the young Timorese faced what many considered impossible and which came to fruition on 30 August 1999, with the holding of the referendum that allowed the country's independence to be restored.
The Timorese President emphasised that despite the challenges, Timor-Leste lives in peace and with functioning state institutions.
Jose Ramos-Horta remembered the journalist Max Stahl, who filmed the Santa Cruz massacre and let the world know about the Timorese drama.
"I want to pay tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives in the event of the Santa Cruz massacre, they all deserve honour and respect," said the President, who asked people to heal their wounds and look to the future so that the country can be a model of reconciliation.
The celebrations were attended by several members of the government, members of parliament, the former Timorese president and president of the Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste (Fretilin), Francisco 'Lu Olo' Guterres, as well as the secretary general of Fretilin, Mari Alkatiri, and members of the diplomatic corps in Dili.