The East Timorese Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão, received the Professor Doctor Jorge Miranda — Constitution and Human Rights Award today, which he dedicated to the “martyrs of the homeland” and to the thousands of Timorese who fought for the country’s independence.
“This tribute does not fall upon me, but on the collective journey of a people who fought, suffered, and persevered to conquer freedom, dignity, and the right to decide their own destiny,” the historic East Timorese leader said after receiving the award in the Aula Magna of the University of Lisbon.
“Were it not for the sacrifice of the martyrs of the homeland and the silent effort of thousands of Timorese—many of them anonymous heroes whose exceptional acts remain unknown to the wider public—today we would have neither a State nor a Constitution,” he insisted.
Xanana also stated that receiving a distinction associated with the name of Jorge Miranda represents a special honor, recalling that the Portuguese constitutionalist was “a major reference in Portuguese-language constitutionalism” and “a long-time friend of East Timor.” According to the Timorese Prime Minister, Jorge Miranda contributed “with his knowledge and his vision to the constitutional debate and to the strengthening of the legal culture” of the country.
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“After decades of occupation and serious violations of fundamental rights, the people of East Timor never stopped believing in a future of justice, peace, sovereignty, and freedom,” Xanana stressed, in the presence of Jorge Miranda, the dean of the University of Lisbon, Luís Ferreira, and others.
The Professor Doctor Jorge Miranda — Constitution and Human Rights Award was created by the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon to distinguish public figures who stand out in the defense of constitutional values, democracy, and human rights.
In his acceptance speech, Xanana further argued that East Timor’s struggle for independence constituted “an exemplary milestone in the defense of human rights” and recalled the international solidarity received by the Timorese people during the years of occupation, highlighting in particular the support of Portugal.
“During all this time of struggle and suffering, we did not receive a single weapon, a single bullet, nor any military or strategic training, but we received the shield, or perhaps the most fundamental weapon of all: international solidarity, and very particularly the solidarity of the Portuguese people,” he underlined.
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The East Timorese Prime Minister has been in Portugal since Saturday for an official visit, during which he has met with the President of the Republic, António José Seguro, visited the CPLP headquarters, and held meetings with officials from the sectors of justice and higher education.
