ETAN
Condolences on Death
Fernando "La Sama" de
Araujo
 ETAN
is saddened by the
news of the death of
Fernando "Lasama" de
Araujo. ETAN helped
facilitate a
speaking tour with
him in late 1998 and
had many
interactions with
him since. Our
condolences to
friends, colleagues
and family. The
photo is of Lasama
speaking in New York
City on Dec. 10,
1998 - Human Rights
Day.
During
the fall 1998
speaking tour,
Ferando and
Indonesian activist
Yeni Rosa Damayanti
spoke before small
and large groups at
churches, schools,
and elsewhere. He
attended a
national ETAN
strategy meeting
(appropriately in
Freedom, New
Hampshire) where
close to 50
activists analyzed
rapidly changing
events after the
downfall of Suharto
and planned future
actions. During his
speaking tour, his
example, humility,
dedication and clear
vision, helped to
educate, inspire,
and activate
hundreds of us to
continue our
struggle to change
in U.S. policy to
support East Timor's
self-determination.
While
studying in
Indonesia, Fernando
was a leading
activist, helping to
found the
Resisténcia Nacional
dos Estudates de
Timor-Leste,
(RENETIL). He was
arrested and
imprisoned
for organzing
protests within
Indonesia
soon after the Santa Cruz
massacre. While
imprisoned, he was
given
the
Reebok Human Rights
Award. Journalists
Allan Nairn and Amy
Goodman
accepted the award
on
his behalf. He later
became one of
Timor-Leste's
leading politicians
as a founder and
president of the
Democratic Party. He
served in government
in several
positions, including
Acting President
from February 13 -
April 17 after
President
Ramos-Horta was
shot. Most recently,
he was Minister of
State, Coordinating
Minister of Social
Affairs, and Minister
of Education.
see also TLGov:
The loss of a
National Hero
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