By Jon Land
The Timorese National Convention, held on April 23-27 in the Portuguese town of Peniche, has been hailed by participants as an overwhelming success.
The 218 delegates, representing the main East Timorese political and cultural organisations fighting for independence, discussed and approved a Magna Carta for the rights of the East Timorese people. A reorganisation and new structure — the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT) — was also announced.
A letter from imprisoned resistance leader Xanana Gusmao to the convention stressed the historical importance of the gathering in unifying and strengthening the efforts of the resistance. "We shall make it crystal clear, and as forcefully as possible, to the regime and to the world that the East Timorese people demand the right to self-determination and independence."
The Magna Carta Concerning Freedoms, Rights, Duties and Guarantees for the People of East Timor was adopted unanimously by delegates. Falintil guerilla leader Taur Matan Ruak voiced his full support for the Magna Carta in a recorded message sent from East Timor. Clauses within the Magna Carta include: democratic rights and freedom of association, the rejection of all forms of discrimination, protection of the environment, and the promotion of peace and disarmament.
A congress of East Timorese to be held within the next year will formally ratify the Magna Carta. The document will provide the basis for the constitution of an independent East Timor.
The CNRT supersedes the former resistance umbrella body, the National Council of Maubere Resistance. In the closing session of the convention, which was televised live on Portuguese television, Gusmao was sworn in as head of the political committee of the CNRT. The formation and membership of the executive committee and the jurisdiction and control committee of the CNRT were also announced.
The political committee has two vice-presidents — Jose Ramos Horta and other who lives in East Timor but remains anonymous to protect their safety. In a speech following the election of the leadership team, Horta said: "To those who are in East Timor today, probably at home, in schools, in small and large groups listening to and following this event on RTPi or RDPi [television networks], we have simply a message of hope, of faith: we are going to win this battle."
Some of the other members of the political committee include Joao Carrascalao, Father Francisco Fernandes, Mari Alkatiri, Domingos Oliveira, Estanislau da Silva and Agio Pereira. A further 14 committee members living within the territory were also elected.
Da Silva, political committee member and Fretilin external delegation representative for Australia, told Green Left Weekly: "The convention achieved a consensus amongst East Timorese on several issues, among which the reaffirmation of Xanana Gusmao as leader of the resistance and recognition of the commander of the struggle inside East Timor were very important. Everyone was very excited and committed in getting together and reaching consensus on these issues."
"The CNRT has the full support of Fretilin, UDT and other East Timorese independence organisations", he added. When asked if the former peace proposal from CNRM was discussed during the convention, da Silva said that it had not, but that the proposal would be taken into consideration by the newly elected body, along with other negotiation proposals.
One of the main tasks for the CNRT is to prepare for the congress, expected to be held in April next year, possibly in Australia.