Dili, January 30, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Former Prime Minister General Taur Matan-Ruak said that the IX Constitutional Government of 2025 focused on development in Dili and the IX Government led by Xanana Gusmão showed a bad attitude towards the people.
Former Prime Minister General Taur Matan-Ruak said that respecting the government’s stance but the government’s choice is only to cause damage, the government’s role is to manage the risks that impact citizens.
“During my term, I issued martial arts in Komoro I made discuss for a year, but there are still big problems, many people criticize including the current PR. We see SEATOU meeting people in places around Dili from Manleu to Becussi, on the riverbank, Tasi-tolu, at beach of Bidau to Becora, not only in Dili but also in Baucau and all over the place.” General Taur Matan-ruak said
He emphasized that the IX Government already knows that 2025 is a development year, according to him, the development is carried out forward but unfortunately the development is actually detrimental to the backward.
He underlined that, “We only see, we only observe, we talk without anyone listening, the victims are the people who are affected, our constitution always asks for, the treatment of our citizens, fair treatment, but our behavior is serious. The government accepts criticism, the government did this right but made many people suffer, the government’s decision is ‘don’t want to know’ and only wants to destroy. This is a big reference for the Rights of Democracy, Freedom and Justice in Timor-Leste.”
He continued, the President of the Dili Authority resigned, that means inhumane treatment of the people, the people’s silence does not mean accepting, many are silent but do not accept, they choose to remain silent so they can see where this will go.
“I don’t think it’s necessary, we did it because we haven’t done it for years, we’re not doing it now because my grandfather said if I don’t do it, I’ll leave it to my children. Sacrificing a little, saving a lot of people, houses are damaged, being pushed and people are victims for the sake of development in Dili.” He added.
The former Prime Minister said they cried even more when saw the current Prime Minister taking two actions, first he brought seven households into the house, the second he and SEATOU pushed their houses. They didn’t understand whether it was really the Prime Minister or not.
The government led by Xanana demanded a tough stance to people, this made the former PR, former General, former PM not accept this action.
“I asked myself, when people were destroying people’s houses, what did I feel, I couldn’t find the answer because I didn’t have the strength and couldn’t face it, so I stepped back to accept it even though I cried, I put myself in their shoes, because I moved seven times, I moved so I know how it feels for mothers to carry their children, carry their belongings, they feel like they have no energy, just running helplessly, even their hearts are jostling and crying.” He said
Former Prime Minister said that Timor-Leste is 80% mountainous, SEATOU pushed all the mountains means all the fields are made into houses and they used the argument of natural disasters. The major natural disaster that happened in Timor in 2020-2021.
“I am not going to expel people, but I will help people affected by the river, on the contrary we will help them, but they expel the population, this argument is not true, Timorese people do not really think people use this argument, a democratic country does not hiss democratic behavior like this.” He said firmly.
The government’s reason is not correct because it has an impact on people’s investments, an impact on their daily income, an impact on their future and it is clear that many people are starting their lives from zero.
Reported by : Tomas
Picture by : Tomas