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| Timor Leste's Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri(File photo) |
JAKARTA, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri finally surrendered to mounting pressure and announced his resignation in Dili on Monday, which was widely expected to help unravel or even end the months-long political unrest and riots in the world's youngest country.
"I declare I'm ready to quit my position as prime minister, so as to avoid the resignation of President Xanana Gusmao," he was quoted by Indonesia's Detikcom news website as saying.
The national interests were the most important things and "I am determined not to deepen the crisis," he said, adding "I am ready to hold dialogues with the president if I am needed in the formation of the (new) government."
Dramatic moments abounded in the process of Alkatiri's resignation, as he once survived frequent protests and resignations or firing of four cabinet ministers.
On Sunday, Defense and Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Ramos-Horta resigned in Dili, right after the ruling party Fretilin agreed to keep Mari Alkatiri as prime minister.
"I decided to resign from the government until a new government is established. I am ready to serve this nation in whatever position," Horta said through his spokesman.
The left-leaning ruling Fretilin party, which met in emergency session Sunday, said Alkatiri had accepted the unanimous appeal of its committee not to resign.
Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Ovideo Amaral also handed in his resignation on Sunday.
"Fretilin members should use realistic thinking. There is much pressure from the people. They don't want Alkatiri to stay in power, so why should Fretilin support him?" he said.
Alkatiri heads the Fretilin which has an overwhelming majority in the parliament.
Earlier last week, President Xanana Gusmao also threatened to resign if Alkatiri remained in the cabinet.
In addition, protesters frequented the streets in the capital city in recent months to demand Alkatiri's resignation as they held him responsible for the months-long riots in the country.
At the end of May when the riots was on height, Gusmao sacked Defense Minister Ruque Rodrigues and Home Affairs Minister Rogerio Lobato after a two-day emergency meeting with Alkatiri and other top officials of his government.
The president said that the two ministers were fired because they did not live up to their duties which led to the widespread riots in Dili. The two were widely thought to be scapegoats.
The tiny nation was plunged into violence in May after Alkatiri fired nearly 600 of the country's 1,400 strong army men for mutiny when they protested about alleged discrimination against them.
Since then, the sacked troops kept on exchanging fires with those loyal to the government and youth gang fighting, looting and arson ensued in Dili.
The situation led to the arrival of 2,500 international peacekeeping forces led by the Australian troops.
Timor-Leste became independent from Indonesia in 2002, after two years under the United Nations transitional government following a referendum for independence. Enditem
Profile of Mari Alkatiri:
JAKARTA, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri announced Monday that he was ready to resign owing to weeks of violent conflicts and calls for his resignation, saying he is determined not to contribute to any deepening of the crisis in the country.
Unlike the country's President Xanana Gusmao, who assumes the symbolic leadership role, Alkatiri is seen to have the real power in the government as prime minister and leader of the Fretilin Party that has the majority of seats in the parliament.
Born on Nov. 26, 1949, Alkatiri entered political life in 1970 when the territory was under Portuguese rule with the establishment of the Movement for the Liberation of East Timor. When Indonesia took over the Portuguese colony and ruled for 24 years until 1999, he lived in exile in Mozambique. He was one of the founder members of the Fretilin Party.
East Timor finally voted for independence under the U.N.-sponsored referendum in 1999 and Alkatiri joined the interim administration as minister for economic affairs.
He won reputation as a tough negotiator during the period when East Timor was making a final preparation to become an independent state, which was officially announced on May 20, 2002. During the period, the U.N. Transitional Administration East Timor (UNTAET) acted as the governing body of East Timor.
Alkatiri became the head of the government as the first prime minister for a five-year term when East Timor declared independence in 2002 and changed its name to Timor-Leste, while fellow guerillas' leader Gusmao became the head of state as president.
In March this year, Alkatiri sacked 600 disgruntled soldiers. The dismissal triggered a wave of violence that swept the country for weeks, leaving at least 30 people dead as dismissed soldiers clashed with those loyal to the government and riots and lootings broke.
Since then, calls have been mounting for Alkatiri to step down. The government has asked Home Affairs Minister, Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato and Defense Minister Roque Rodriguez to step down following the deadly violence. The two Ministers have officially announced resignation, but Alkatiri supported by the Fretilin Party continued to resist calls for him to resign.
Crisis in the government peaked when Foreign Minister Joe RamosHorta resigned on Sunday in protest to the defiant Alkatiri, only three days after Gusmao himself threatened to step down if Alkatiri refuses to do so.
Speaking at a press conference at his official residence in Dili, capital of Timor-Leste, Alkatiri said on Monday "I declare I am ready to resign from my position as prime minister." Enditem
Related Report:Timor Leste Prime Minister to resign
JAKARTA, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Timor Leste's embattled Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri is slated to announce his resignation very soon, former Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta said Monday.
Horta, who resigned Sunday amid political conflicts in the country's top government, told media to attend a news briefing at Alktiri's residence where the prime minister would make an announcement.
When asked if Alkatiri would announce his resignation, Horta nodded and replied "yes", reported the Detikcom news website.
Alkatiri, who leads the ruling Fretilin Party, is widely blamed for the political unrest in the tiny country over the last few months, following the sacking of 600 soldiers that degraded the situation into riots and lootings, leaving at least 30 people dead.
Calls have been mounting for him to step down. Enditem
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