Rua Demokratika: Interview with Fernando de Araujo, Leader of the Partido Democratico 2001

Speech of the President of Democratic Party (PD)

Speech of the President of Democratic Party (PD)
Mr. Fernando La Sama de Araujo
Dili, June 10, 2001

Your Excellence Dr. Sergio de Melo, The UN Transitional Administrator in East Timor
Mr. Xanana Gusmao, the President of the Veteran Association
Mgr. Carlos Filipe X. Belo, SDB, Bishop of the Diocese of Dili,
Brigader General Taur Matan Ruak, Commander of Defense Force of East Timor
Diplomats accredited in East Timor
Leaders of the Political Parties

Cadres, members, militants, followers of the Democratic Party whom I trust
and respect

And ladies and gentlemen,

In the name of the Democratic Party (PD) and myself, I would like to thank you for taking part in this ceremony. Today is a historic day for the Democratic Party.

The formation of PD was not meant to increase the number of the political parties, but to strengthen the democracy amongst East Timor's people based on the coexistence of cooperation with all political parties for the interest of our people.

Because of the past experiences that our people have experienced prior to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor, today, many people are afraid to talk about political parties. Their concern is legitimate, however, if we want to build a new nation based on democratic principles, the role of the political parties is paramount in order to carry out democracy based on the experience we have witnessed, heard and read concerning political parties in the
democratic countries around the world.

We have also heard that political parties are precursors of war. PD does not believe that there will be war because our people are tired of living in war and suffering, also tired of injustice as a consequence of war. Therefore, if we continue to talk about war, we are revealing that we do not
trust in our own capacity as leaders to bring this new nation forward.

Others have oppressed us, the people of Timor, also are tired of being under foreign domination. Thus, PD appears to send another message, which people wish to hear- a message that would bring people peace of mind. This is the message: PD detests war, overlooks all the indecency of the political leaders in the past; detests hatred and revenge resulted from the misconduct
of the political leaders. Aspires to build a democracy on the bases of reconciliation and mutual respect. Thus enables the people of Timor Loro Sae to build a new nation free from injustice and war, and to give every Timorese the opportunity to move forward as a nation, a nation that counts on its economy, political system and people's wisdom.

PD acknowledges that we cannot escape from globalization process. Therefore, PD will develop a policy that would favor cooperation with other nations especially those whose missions have been accredited in Timor Lorosae. PD Believes that together we will build a strong democracy trough our knowledge abroad and our experience from within the East Timor.

PD is a political alternative that will confer a healthy contribution to democracy in days to come, because the desire of PD is to embrace all the people of Timor Loro Sae, who can contribute their knowledge and experience in development the country based on the history, culture and political
system that the people of Timor Loro Sae had faced until this historic moment.

PD detests all kind of violence took place in East Timor.

With its human resource, PD can contribute to the development of a just and democratic government based on the rule of law.

PD believes that democracy will flourish in East Timor because our tradition of "Tesi lia", which has been practiced for centuries in the districts and sub-districts and they're own respective " Knuas" reflects the very same principle of democracy. PD will look into the ways of combining traditional system " Consensus Building" and the new practices of democracy based on
East Timorese traditional values and western democratic values.

PD believes that its political program will be carried out with success because of human resources available, expertise and experience of its members. However, it is conscious that the success will also depends on the coexistence and cooperation with other political parties in Timor Loro Sae. Thus, PD is determined to work with all political parties on the basis of
mutual respect of the principles and beliefs of each political party.

PD believes that the relationship with our neighbors is tantamount for the stability and peace, pre-requisite for the implementation of democracy, economic development, and guarantees for the well being of the people. Therefore, PD will ensure to develop a good neighborly relationship with our neighbors in every levels including political, economic and security cooperation.

To conclude, PD would like to inform you those who are present in this ceremony and those who are unable to come, that PD's vision above mentioned can become a reality only when all the people of Timor Loro Sae live in equal footing under the rule of law and mutual respect of individual freedom of expression according to democratic principles that PD defends.

In this opportunity, and before I conclude, the Democratic Party, want to remind and appeal to all of you to contribute your strength, knowledge and experience to the political party that you have chosen. The Democratic Party respects your freedom of choice and its doors are wide open to every citizen of Timor Loro Sae. If you want democracy and the new political alternative
you are welcome to join PD!

Long Live PD!

A Brief History of PD

Partido Democrático (PD) was established in June 10, 2000. In August 2001, two months after its formation, PD ran in the Constituent Assembly election and came second to FRETILIN, currently the ruling party

PD has since grown in size and has become a serious political contender and advocate of the public's socio-economic welfare and political interest in the current Timor-Leste's political spectrum.

The founding members of PD consist mostly of former clandestine activists and young graduates from Indonesian universities and abroad, former active senior members of the former historical CNRT's Frente Politica Interna or (FPI) including other former supporters of FRETILIN and local leaders across East Timor.

These founding members and supporters are well-known for theircreativity, courage, and conscience which they had gained and developed during the years of resistance and occupation. During this post-independence period, they have drawn on the same courage, creativity and conscience with willingness to innovate and imagine a brighter future for all Timor-Leste's families.

Regrettably, critical interpretations of the country's situation during the first period of Timor-Leste's own government point to what is seen as economic stagnation and the escalation of poverty and misery. These interpretations are based on a series of observations and evidence that includes unemployment crisis, discriminatory access to state resources based on political affiliations, poor government spending on social programs and poor investment in the economic sector. Indicators include among others a majority of the working age who are yet to find their first paid job; hundreds of thousands who are still struggling under the mounting burden of life's everyday costs and cannot afford a house, clean water and power, and many more who are still seeking justice as they mourn over their lost ones. All these families feel that the Timorese Dream they had during the cruel years of occupation and resistance is seriously endangered if not vanished.

Under the leadership of Fernando "Lasama" de Araujo (40), a former political prisoner during the Indonesia's New Order regime and Rebook Prize Winner, PD has a political platform to create a society with strong, healthy and well-educated citizens to permit them to seek a better future for themselves, for their loved ones, and for the country in a stable and fair environment.

THE PD MANIFESTO

The struggle of the liberation of East Timor has entered into its phase of liberating the nation and the people from poverty, illiteracy, ignorance and injustice, remnants of colonialism and foreign occupation. Because of the difficulties inherited from post-colonial and post-occupation and pressures resulted from the globalization, the process of the struggle for the liberation of the people from colonial and foreign occupation vestiges above mentioning is far more difficult than the struggle for the liberation of the country.

To fight against all the vestiges above mentioning and to reduce the negative impact on the process of the liberation of the nation, each and every citizen shall have its own appropriate space and make itself avaible to participate actively in this process. The history of the struggle of the liberation of the people has shown that an active and creative participation of every sector of East Timorese society in the uprooting of the shortcomings and to overcome obstacles that hinder the achievement of the national objectives is indispensable.

Without ignoring the sacrifice of our heroes and martyrs and determine to uphold their ideals of the struggle of the national liberation, and concious of the limitations that the nation is facing, and binding to the commitment of the sustainability of the national liberation, some of the citizens of Timor Loro Sae decided to establish the Partido Democratico (PD) with the following objectives:

1. Developing a participatory democracy and respect of human rights - the right to participate in the political decision-making process at every level of the system in order to guarantee a clean transparent and accountable government. Establishing a representative institution that accommodates the aspirations of the people, and developing a clean, independent and accountable judiciary system.

2. Developing a market economy with a selective intervention of the government suported by a third party in order to involve every citizen as subject and object of the economic development.

3. Developing an education system which guarantee equal opportunity and accessible to all citizens of Timor Loro Sae as well as providing opportunity for the participation of the East Timorese citizens in the management of economic development of the country.

4. Developing a social system that ensures social welfare, harmony and solidarity amongst citizens.

5. Developing a security and defense system that guarantee the protection of the territorial sovereignty and integrity of Timor Loro Sae with the purpose to create necessary conditions for peace, social tranquility, that ensure national stability.

6. Developing an active foreign policy in the spirit of cooperation and solidarity aiming at the promotion of international peace and stability.

Every act which threatens and endangers national security will be countered on the basis of the laws in order to ensure a free, democratic and sovereign society of Timor Loro Sae in accordance with socio-cultural values, internal and external factors which influence the process of the liberation of the people.

Dili, 24 May 2000

PD Organizers, Fernando "La Sama" de Araujo, President Mariano

"Assanami" Sabino Watumi Sa, Secretary General