Estanislau da Silva
Encyclopedia
Estanislau da Conceição Aleixo Maria da Silva (born August 4, 1952) is an East Timor
ese politician and a key member of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor
(FRETILIN). He was acting Prime Minister from May 2007 to August 2007.
A member of FRETILIN since 1974, Da Silva served on the diplomatic front for the East Timorese resistance during the years of the Indonesian occupation of Timor Leste (1975 to 1999). During the occupation, Da Silva resided in Mozambique (1976 to 1984), Portugal (1975 to 1976 and 1984 to 1985) and Australia (1985 to 1999), before returning to Timor Leste in 1999.
After Timor Leste achieved independence in 2002, Da Silva was appointed as the country's first Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. On July 10, 2006, he was officially sworn in as the First Deputy Prime Minister of Timor Leste. He was sworn in as the acting Prime Minister on May 19, 2007 to replace José Ramos-Horta who had been elected President of the young nation. He left office when Xanana Gusmão
was sworn in as Prime Minister on August 8, 2007, following the June 2007 parliamentary election
.
in 1952 to Luis da Silva and Genoveva Aleixo. He attended primary school from 1961-1962 to 1964-1965 in Fuiloro - Lautém district, and Dili Technical School from 1965-1966 to 1970-1971. Upon graduation from Dili Technical School, Da Silva went to Lisbon
to pursue further training in electrical and mechanical engineering.
In 1976, Mr Da Silva interrupted his studies in Lisbon and was sent to Australia by the FRETILIN leadership to lobby support for Timor Leste’s independence struggle. During that time Australian supporters of Timor Leste’s independence struggle (Campaign for Independence of East Timor - CIET) requested that Da Silva assist Neville Cunningham and António Belo operate a radio connection to the FRETILIN leadership in Timor-Leste. As Da Silva was not an Australian resident, he had to operate the radio underground and spent six months in bush of the Northern Territory in radio contact with the FRETILIN leadership in Timor-Leste.
In September 1976, Da Silva and Cunningham were encircled and arrested by the Northern Territory police and the radio link was stopped. Da Silva was released after a one day trial and he decided to settle in Mozambique . The radio link was later re-established by FRETILIN members and Australian supporters of Timor Leste's struggle for independence.
Upon his return to Australia in 1985, Da Silva campaigned tirelessly for Timor-Leste's independence. This included speaking at public forums, organising demonstrations against the illegal Indonesian occupation, organising fundraising activities and lobbying MPs. Da Silva also maintained regular contact with the clandestine movement and the FRETILIN leadership in Timor Leste and assisted in helping persons in danger of persecution in Timor Leste escape and settle in Australia. In 1994 he became FRETILIN Representative in Australia.
Da Silva was voted into the FRETILIN Central Committee in 1998 at the FRETILIN National Conference held in Sydney, Australia. His mandate was renewed at the First National Congress in 2001 as well as the Second National Congress which was held in May 2006. He was elected Chairperson in both events. He is also one of the 15 members of the National Political Commission of FRETILIN which leads the work of the party between the FRETILIN Central Committee meetings.
He was re-elected to a seat in parliament in the June 2007 parliamentary election
as the ninth name on FRETILIN's candidate list.
in India for short training courses in agriculture systems for arid and semi arid regions.
In Australia
, Da Silva continued his studies in agronomy at the University of Sydney
, where he completed a post-graduate diploma in Agronomy
in 1987. In 1988 Da Silva was employed by the NSW Agricultural Department at the Trangie Research Agricultural Centre and from 1994 to 1997 worked at the Australian Cotton Research Institute in Narrabri.
In 1999, Da Silva returned to Timor-Leste. He worked as a World Bank
consultant for agriculture and later as Asian Development Bank
project manager for infrastructure before becoming Minister for Agriculture during the second United Nations transitional government. In May 2002, upon the restoration of independence of Timor Leste, Da Silva became the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
In 2002, Da Silva completed a two year post-graduate training course in management and leadership provided by the Asian Development Bank Institute
in Tokyo
, Japan
.
Da Silva is a capable and respected administrator and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is one of the success stories of an independent Timor Leste. The Ministry is regularly praised by international donors for its achievements. Under Da Silva, Timor Leste’s rice production has increased every year except for in 2006 where the political crisis had a negative effect on the country’s institutions and economy as a whole. Also, in Da Silva’s time, Timor-Leste’s rice import dependency has been reduced from two thirds to one third of domestic consumption.
Da Silva is fluent in English, Portuguese and Tetum.
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
ese politician and a key member of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor
Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor
The Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor is a leftist political party in East Timor. They presently hold a plurality of seats in the National Parliament and formed the government in East Timor from independence until 2007...
(FRETILIN). He was acting Prime Minister from May 2007 to August 2007.
A member of FRETILIN since 1974, Da Silva served on the diplomatic front for the East Timorese resistance during the years of the Indonesian occupation of Timor Leste (1975 to 1999). During the occupation, Da Silva resided in Mozambique (1976 to 1984), Portugal (1975 to 1976 and 1984 to 1985) and Australia (1985 to 1999), before returning to Timor Leste in 1999.
After Timor Leste achieved independence in 2002, Da Silva was appointed as the country's first Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. On July 10, 2006, he was officially sworn in as the First Deputy Prime Minister of Timor Leste. He was sworn in as the acting Prime Minister on May 19, 2007 to replace José Ramos-Horta who had been elected President of the young nation. He left office when Xanana Gusmão
Xanana Gusmão
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão GCL is a former militant who was the first President of East Timor, serving from May 2002 to May 2007...
was sworn in as Prime Minister on August 8, 2007, following the June 2007 parliamentary election
East Timorese parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in East Timor on 30 June 2007. Although a narrow plurality was achieved by the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor , a coalition involving the next three largest groups formed a government...
.
Early life
Da Silva was born in DiliDili
Dili, spelled Díli in Portuguese, is the capital, largest city, chief port and commercial centre of East Timor.-Geography and Administration:Dili lies on the northern coast of Timor island, the easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands....
in 1952 to Luis da Silva and Genoveva Aleixo. He attended primary school from 1961-1962 to 1964-1965 in Fuiloro - Lautém district, and Dili Technical School from 1965-1966 to 1970-1971. Upon graduation from Dili Technical School, Da Silva went to Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
to pursue further training in electrical and mechanical engineering.
Political activities
Da Silva joined FRETILIN in 1974 and was a founding member of the FRETILIN External Branch in Lisbon.In 1976, Mr Da Silva interrupted his studies in Lisbon and was sent to Australia by the FRETILIN leadership to lobby support for Timor Leste’s independence struggle. During that time Australian supporters of Timor Leste’s independence struggle (Campaign for Independence of East Timor - CIET) requested that Da Silva assist Neville Cunningham and António Belo operate a radio connection to the FRETILIN leadership in Timor-Leste. As Da Silva was not an Australian resident, he had to operate the radio underground and spent six months in bush of the Northern Territory in radio contact with the FRETILIN leadership in Timor-Leste.
In September 1976, Da Silva and Cunningham were encircled and arrested by the Northern Territory police and the radio link was stopped. Da Silva was released after a one day trial and he decided to settle in Mozambique . The radio link was later re-established by FRETILIN members and Australian supporters of Timor Leste's struggle for independence.
Upon his return to Australia in 1985, Da Silva campaigned tirelessly for Timor-Leste's independence. This included speaking at public forums, organising demonstrations against the illegal Indonesian occupation, organising fundraising activities and lobbying MPs. Da Silva also maintained regular contact with the clandestine movement and the FRETILIN leadership in Timor Leste and assisted in helping persons in danger of persecution in Timor Leste escape and settle in Australia. In 1994 he became FRETILIN Representative in Australia.
Da Silva was voted into the FRETILIN Central Committee in 1998 at the FRETILIN National Conference held in Sydney, Australia. His mandate was renewed at the First National Congress in 2001 as well as the Second National Congress which was held in May 2006. He was elected Chairperson in both events. He is also one of the 15 members of the National Political Commission of FRETILIN which leads the work of the party between the FRETILIN Central Committee meetings.
He was re-elected to a seat in parliament in the June 2007 parliamentary election
East Timorese parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in East Timor on 30 June 2007. Although a narrow plurality was achieved by the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor , a coalition involving the next three largest groups formed a government...
as the ninth name on FRETILIN's candidate list.
Education and professional career
Da Silva studied agronomy at Eduardo Mondlane University, and worked at Marracuene state enterprise as the Chief Agronomist for the Mozambican government. He also attended the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid TropicsInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics is a non-profit organization in India.It was founded in 1972 by a consortium of organizations convened by the Ford and the Rockefeller Foundations. Its charter was signed by the FAO and the UNDP...
in India for short training courses in agriculture systems for arid and semi arid regions.
In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Da Silva continued his studies in agronomy at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, where he completed a post-graduate diploma in Agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
in 1987. In 1988 Da Silva was employed by the NSW Agricultural Department at the Trangie Research Agricultural Centre and from 1994 to 1997 worked at the Australian Cotton Research Institute in Narrabri.
In 1999, Da Silva returned to Timor-Leste. He worked as a World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
consultant for agriculture and later as Asian Development Bank
Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 22 August 1966 to facilitate economic development of countries in Asia...
project manager for infrastructure before becoming Minister for Agriculture during the second United Nations transitional government. In May 2002, upon the restoration of independence of Timor Leste, Da Silva became the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
In 2002, Da Silva completed a two year post-graduate training course in management and leadership provided by the Asian Development Bank Institute
Asian Development Bank Institute
The Asian Development Bank Institute is an Asian think tank focused on identifying effective development strategies for Asia and the Pacific, and on providing support to ADB member countries in managing development challenges. It was established in Tokyo in 1996 as a subsidiary of Asian...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Da Silva is a capable and respected administrator and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is one of the success stories of an independent Timor Leste. The Ministry is regularly praised by international donors for its achievements. Under Da Silva, Timor Leste’s rice production has increased every year except for in 2006 where the political crisis had a negative effect on the country’s institutions and economy as a whole. Also, in Da Silva’s time, Timor-Leste’s rice import dependency has been reduced from two thirds to one third of domestic consumption.
Da Silva is fluent in English, Portuguese and Tetum.