BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
April 05, 2000, Wednesday
Leader visits Brazil; gets promised aid
'Folha de Sao Paulo' web site in Portuguese 31 Mar 00
Excerpts from report by Brazilian newspaper 'Folha de Sao Paulo' web site on 31st March
On the first day of his official visit to Brazil, Timorese resistance leader Xanana Gusmao, 53, was welcomed by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso [FHC] and received the first concrete aid actions.
The aid came from the CNBB (National Conference of Brazilian Bishops) and from the NGO ACA/Habicasa, which knows how to use the technology of the "School Factory" programme...
FHC promised to open soon a Brazilian representation office in Dili (the Timorese capital), as the seed of an embassy, and to help institutionalize the Portuguese language, send teachers, and open spots in universities and high schools for Timorese students. The Literacy in Solidarity programme, run by First Lady Ruth Cardoso, will also be taken to Timor.
CNBB President Bishop Jaime Chemello said yesterday that his organization will send a mission to Timor that will be religious, social, and educational in nature. Volunteers will be chosen on 6th-8th April, in accordance with Timor's needs. "If the biggest problem is in education, we are going to send teachers. If it is in health, we will send physicians," he said. Xamana is visiting the CNBB headquarters today.
The other concrete aid for East Timor came from a cooperative that distributes food in a shantytown in Sao Bernardo, Sao Paulo, which collected 1,500 reais to make possible the NO ACA/Habicasa project. It is to take to East Timor the technology to build schools, health posts, and hospitals...