Dili, 05 June 2026 (Media Democracia) – The External Front Data Validation Team has already submitted a list of 118 Veterans to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs to carry out verification before releasing it to the public in the near future.
According to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Gil da Costa “Oan Soru,” yesterday and today the validation team for External Front veteran data validated a total of 118 veterans, and today the team has submitted it to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. After that, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the National Liberation Combatants Council will verify it before releasing it to the public soon.
“The data has not been announced yet. Some of you today saw photos of the total of 118 people. There are different durations of participation. Today they signed. Last year the team chased after them, and today we are continuing the verification so they can be validated and approved to issue their edital. But the edital is not effective yet. We are waiting for the President and Secretary of CCLN to sign it tomorrow before announcing it to the public. It will also be announced in countries abroad, for example Australia and Portugal, for each person’s participation according to what is already mentioned in the database system.” said Minister of Veterans Affairs Gil da Costa “Oan Soru” to journalists at the 3 de Março Hall, Maubai, Comoro, Tuesday (02/06).
He said, regarding echelon one, two, and three, echelon one is the category for 20 to 24 years.
“For example, echelon two is about 15-19 years, and the others are for 8-14 years. Some don’t reach that, because as you witnessed today, they all signed. But some are not combatants, because to be recognized as a combatant, participation must be a minimum of three years, according to Article 4 of the National Liberation Combatants Statute. If it doesn’t reach that, currently it’s not valid. That’s just general participation, not exclusive dedication.” he said.
He explained that for this list, the identification was done by the validation team today, not by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
“It’s not the Minister who identifies. The Minister leads the institution that oversees this matter, but the identification was not done by us. Those team members are the ones who identified, because they did the verification.” he explained.
He added that after the list is released, anyone who wishes to contest it must follow the law if they have information to contest.
“That’s why I said we can’t announce it yet. The process will follow procedure. We will release it to the public, and if there are any complaints, contestations, or protests, and there are none left, only then can we say the list is final. But if people still have the right to complain, they can still file complaints according to the law in force. So we will give them time to file complaints and contestations. We will do it according to the law. We will not deviate from the law.” he stated.
Meanwhile, the External Front data verification was carried out over two days at the 3 de Março Hall, Maubai, from June 1 to June 2, 2026. The team was led by FRETILIN Secretary General Mari Alkatiri, Minister Agio Pereira, Estanislau Aleixo da Silva, and CCLN Third Vice President Ines de Almeida, among others.
Reporting: Trainees Baquita Marcal and Novita Soares
Photo: Trainee Novita Soares