BREAKING NEWS: DIED: THE PROCLAMATOR OF TIMOR’S INDEPENDENCE

Written by Mau-Meta

Timor Doben Furak  March 6, 2012

The man who read out the text of proclamation of Independence of Timor Leste on 28 of November 1975, Francisco Xavier do Amaral, passed away this morning at the age of 78, at Guido Valadares Hospital in Díli, the capital of Timor-Leste.

The proclamator of Independence, once imprisoned by comrades from his own party FRETILIN and latter imprisoned by Indonesia for 22 years is also known to many Timorese as Avo Xavi (Grandpa Xavier), has endured sickness for several months.

Avô Xavier, is also a candidate in the current presidential election being held in the country, was hospitalized several times in the last two years both abroad and at the local hospital Guido Valadares passed away in the early ours this morning.

Xavier do Amaral is one of the founders of partido ASDT in 1974, a party which transformed itself into Fretilin. He then became to first president of Timor-Leste in 28 November 1975, when Fretilin proclaimed unilaterally the Independence of Timor-Leste from Portugal (jos).