Fernando de Araújo (East Timorese politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fernando de Araújo
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| President of East Timor | |
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Acting
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| In office 13 February 2008 – 17 April 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Xanana Gusmão |
| Preceded by | Vicente Guterres (acting) |
| Succeeded by | José Ramos-Horta |
| President of the National Parliament | |
| In office 8 August 2007 – 30 July 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Francisco Guterres |
| Succeeded by | Vicente Guterres |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 February 1963 Manutassi, Portuguese Timor |
| Died | 2 June 2015 (aged 52) Dili, East Timor |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Jacqueline Aquino Siapno |
Fernando de Araújo, also known as Lasama, was an important activist and politician from East Timor. He was born on February 26, 1963, and passed away on June 2, 2015. He worked secretly to help East Timor become independent. After his country gained freedom, he started the Democratic Party. He was the President of the National Parliament of East Timor from 2007 to 2012. He also served as the Acting President for two months in early 2008. His fighting name, La Sama, means "someone you cannot trample on."
Contents
Early Life and Activism
Araújo was born in Manutaci, in the Ainaro District of what was then called Portuguese Timor. He belonged to the Mambai ethnic group.
When he was 12 years old, he saw a terrible event where 18 members of his family were killed. Later, he studied literature at Udayana University in Bali, Indonesia. While there, he helped create the National Resistance of East Timorese Students (RENETIL). This group worked for East Timor's independence.
Standing Up for Freedom
In 1991, after a sad event called the Santa Cruz massacre, Araújo was arrested. He was accused of "subversion against the state," meaning he was working against the government. In January 1992, an Indonesian court sentenced him to nine years in prison. The judge said he had "disgraced the nation [Indonesia] in the eyes of the international community."
Amnesty International, a group that protects human rights, called him a "prisoner of conscience." This means he was jailed for his beliefs, not for violence. In 1992, he won the Reebok Human Rights Award for his bravery.
He was released from Cipinang Penitentiary Institution earlier than expected. This happened because human rights activists in Indonesia put pressure on the government. After his release, Araújo stayed in Jakarta. He continued to work for East Timor's self-determination and democracy. He worked closely with Indonesian human rights defenders.
Building a New Nation
Araújo returned to East Timor to help with the 1999 East Timorese independence referendum in 1999. In this vote, people decided that the country should become independent. He worked with the National Council of Timorese Resistance.
From 1999 to 2001, East Timor was governed by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor. During this time, Araújo served as a deputy foreign minister in the temporary government.
He also started an environmental group called Fundaçao Haburas. He created a weekly magazine called Talitakum and a weekly newspaper for his party, PD Vox Populi.
In 2001, he founded the Democratic Party (PD). This party offered a new choice for voters, different from the main Fretilin party. The PD was led by former student activists, including members of RENETIL. In the 2002 elections, the party came in second place. Since then, the Democratic Party has taken part in all parliamentary elections and has always won seats.
Running for President
In April 2007, Lasama de Araújo was the Democratic Party's candidate for president. He came in third place with 19.18% of the votes. On April 26, he announced that his party would support José Ramos-Horta, who came in second, for the next round of the election.
In June 2007, Araújo won a seat in the parliament. He was the first name on the Democratic Party's list of candidates. On July 30, he was chosen as the President of the National Parliament. He won against Aniceto Guterres from the Fretilin party.
He ran for president again in 2012 and came in third place with 17.3% of the votes. He was then re-elected as a member of parliament. In 2015, he became the Minister of State, Coordinator for Social Affairs, and Minister of Education.
Araújo did not run for the National Parliament presidency in 2012. Vicente Guterres was chosen to take his place in late July.
A Temporary Leader
On February 11, 2008, President José Ramos-Horta was seriously hurt in an attack. Because of this, Araújo became the Acting President on February 13.
Ramos-Horta returned to East Timor on April 17, 2008, and took over as president again.
Personal Life and Legacy
While he was in prison, Fernando de Araújo met his wife, Jacqueline Aquino Siapno, also known as "Joy." She was an academic from the Philippines who worked for Amnesty International. They had a son named Hadomi. De Araújo passed away in 2015 at the age of 52, due to a stroke.
Awards and Recognition
In 2012, Fernando de Araújo received the Order of Timor-Leste. This is a high honor given in East Timor.
See also
In Spanish: Fernando Lasama de Araújo para niños
- Politics of East Timor
