PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Tel +44 (0)20 8771 2904 Fax +44 (0)20 8653 0322
Email tapol@gn.apc.org
Website http://www.tapol.org
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20 May 2002
Dear Xanana Gusmao,
At last, the great day has come when the independence for which the people of East Timor have dreamt of and fought for so tenaciously has now arrived.
As you, the country’s first President, along with your people, celebrate this hard-won victory, TAPOL would like to convey its congratulations and profound good wishes to your people and to you yourself who gave unstinting leadership to the people for so many difficult years, often isolated and seemingly with so little support. from the international community. But against all the odds, the East Timorese people never gave up their conviction that they were fighting for a just cause and that victory would be theirs.
For us in TAPOL, the struggle of the people of East Timor throughout all the years of the Indonesian occupation was an enduring inspiration and helped to keep us going as well through many difficult times of our own.
We feel proud of the contribution we were able to make in supporting the East Timorese people with our solidarity, going back to the very first days of the struggle.
As you enter the first years of independence, we are aware that your country will be confronted with the daunting problems of reconstructing a battered infrastructure, restoring its economy, ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law, and improving the health and welfare of the people. We feel sure that your people will grapple with these problems with that tenacity and sense of purpose that were so clearly demonstrated throughout the occupation.
East Timor will be the first independent country to be born in the 21st century and we are confident that this will set the pattern and be an inspiration to other peoples who are pursuing the same objectives.
Please accept our very best wishes for a bright and happy future.
On behalf of TAPOL,
Carmel Budiardjo
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