Grant Supports National Registration of Civilian Resistance Veterans

Also available in: Tetum

Contacts: in Dili, Luis Sequeira

(670) 723 0554

lsequeira@worldbank.org

in Sydney, Elisabeth Mealey

61-2-9235 6331

emealey@worldbank.org

Dili, May 31, 2005---Timor Leste’s ongoing program for recognizing veterans of armed and civilian resistance received an additional grant of US$500,000 from the World Bank. The purpose of the grant is to assist the Comissão para os Assuntos dos Quadros da Resistencia (CAQR), in the identification and registration of veterans of the civilian resistance. The grant follows the completion of the work of Comissão para os Assuntos dos Antigos Combatentes (CAAC) and Commissão para os Assuntos dos Veteranos das Falintil (CAVF), under which 36,000 veterans of the armed resistance were registered and the final report submitted to the President and the National Parliament.  

This additional grant will enable the CAQR to hold consultations for the definition of criteria for identification of veterans of the civilian resistance; preparation of questionnaires; registration, verification and data entry in all districts and sub-districts; publication of provisional lists; and writing of final reports and final evaluation.  

“Under the leadership of the President, the CAAC, CAVF and the CAQR, we have fully supported Timor-Leste’s program for recognition of veterans of the resistance since its inception and we are pleased to continue to do so”, said Ms. Elisabeth Huybens, Country Manager, World Bank Timor-Leste. “As spelled out in Timor-Leste’s Constitution, we believe that recognition of the veterans of the resistance, both armed and civilian is critical to peaceful nation-building”.   

Miguel M. G. Manetelu, Office Manager CAQR said, “The grant is very important to support the work of the CAQR in identifying the veterans of civilian resistance and we appreciate and thank the World Bank for its continued support to the commission”.    

The CAQR was mandated per Presidential Dispatch on August 31^st, 2004 to identify and register all civilians who supported the resistance from 1975 to 1999 including those who died during the struggle, to lay the basis for the development of a national policy on civilian veterans. This is expected to include many women and youth who were active in the clandestine networks.

For more information please visit www.worldbank.org/tl.