Timorese opposition leader criticizes Myanmar’s decision and reaffirms defense of principles

The leader of the largest Timorese opposition party, Fretilin, criticized on Sunday the “extreme” decision of the Myanmar military junta to expel the East Timorese chargé d’affaires, stressing that all leaders are consistent in defending the same principles .

“The issue of the military junta not participating in ASEAN meetings shows that it is the junta that excludes Myanmar from ASEAN and that is why our position is consistent,” the secretary general of the East Timor Revolutionary Front told Lusa. Independent. Fretilin), Mari Alkatiri.

“We want to be a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) but we do not want to betray the values ​​and principles for which we fight, the affirmation of freedom, peace, democracy and respect for the rule of law. and universally recognized rights, ”she considered.

Alkatiri, contacted by phone in Lisbon, where he is visiting, reacted to the decision of the military junta of Myanmar (formerly Burma) to order the expulsion of the East Timorese chargé d’affaires, in protest at the recent positions of the Timorese. authorities of that country.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, requests the charge d’affaires of the embassy of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, Mr. Avelino Fernandes Ximenes Pereira, to leave Myanmar no later than on September 1”, refers to a diplomatic note from that country to which Lusa had access.

In the two-page note, the military junta points out what it considers several acts committed by the Timorese authorities, including references to the situation in the country by the President of the Timorese Republic, José Ramos-Horta.

He also alludes to the statements by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, who on August 3 stated that East Timor might not join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) if the regional body fails to find a solution to the conflict in Myanmar.

“As long as you are prime minister, you will not be able to join ASEAN if ASEAN does not convince the military junta, if it does not find a solution. We are a democracy. We may have problems, but there are no coups, there is respect for the presidential and parliamentary elections, showing the world that we have a democratic culture,” Xanana Gusmão said at the time.

These comments prompted the Myanmar government to summon the charge d’affaires to a protest vote on August 15.

“The prime minister’s reckless and irresponsible statements are not only detrimental to the maintenance of bilateral relations between Myanmar and Timor-Leste, but also flagrantly neglect the continued violent attacks by the terrorist group called the National Unity Government (NUG),” he said. . the note of August 25.

Mari Alkatiri affirmed that East Timor’s position demonstrates consistency and respect for the “principles, values ​​and international conventions that the country has ratified”, considering the decision to expel an “extreme position”.

And he considers that the expulsion decision “only came to demonstrate that the regime did not understand the position of East Timor, expressed by the Prime Minister.”

The Fretilin leader said that Timor-Leste has for decades maintained its desire to be a member of ASEAN, the regional organization of which Myanmar is a part and where Timor-Leste has observer status, and that everyone should understand the country’s position. . which is in its own story.

“We, the national liberation leaders, came from a very difficult struggle, but we quickly managed to reach an understanding with the Indonesian government, we reconciled with Indonesia, after this long-running 24-year conflict demonstrated a sense of statehood,” said. saying.

“This was a demonstration of consistency on our part that the issues of the past, although pending, are not conflicts or problems. And I think all of ASEAN should understand that,” he said.