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 that has an overwhelming majority in
the parliament.
Earlier last week, President 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.
(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2006)
