José Luís Guterres
Encyclopedia
José Luís Guterres is a East Timor
ese politician and diplomat.
. He served as the ambassador of the unrecognized East Timor government to Angola
, Mozambique
and the United Nations
. When his country achieved independence in May 2002, he was appointed as the first East Timorese ambassador to the U.S. and concurrently the U.N.
In 2006, Guterres attempted to take over the leadership of FRETILIN from Mari Alkatiri
, the party's Secretary-General, but Alkatiri prevailed at a FRETILIN national congress. Guterres was named foreign minister
under Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta later in the year, serving in that position until May 2007.
Guterres' supporters, comprising a breakaway faction of FRETILIN called "Mudanca" (meaning "reform"), backed FRETILIN's main rival, the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction
(CNRT) of former president Xanana Gusmão
, in the June 2007 parliamentary election
. Despite this, Guterres' faction has refused to leave FRETILIN, and Alkatiri has warned of legal action.
Although FRETILIN won the most votes in the parliamentary election, the CNRT formed a coalition with other parties to hold a majority in parliament. In the government sworn in under Gusmão, who became Prime Minister, on August 8, 2007, Guterres became Deputy Prime Minister.
Jose Luis Guterres, also commonly known as "LUGU" along with his group such as Jorge Teme (current Secretary State of Enclave Oecusse), attempted to register FRETILIN-MUDANSA as a political party broke up from FRETILIN but then it was later rejected by the High court of Timor-Leste due to its political attributes, even name of the party itself which was similar to the existed political party, FRETILIN. Then, only few days later, as they were given chances to make any modification so that it could be legally registered, they changed FRETELIN-MUDANSA to FRENTI-MUDANSA. Then, the party was then approved by the high court of Timor-Leste and therefore it is now preparing itself by consolidating the militatants and simpatisants, putting up its political party structure in the grassroot level in preparation towards general election in 2012.
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 diplomat.
Career
Guterres was a member of the Central Committee of the former ruling party Revolutionary Front for an Independent East TimorRevolutionary 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...
. He served as the ambassador of the unrecognized East Timor government to Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. When his country achieved independence in May 2002, he was appointed as the first East Timorese ambassador to the U.S. and concurrently the U.N.
In 2006, Guterres attempted to take over the leadership of FRETILIN from Mari Alkatiri
Mari Alkatiri
Mari Bim Amude Alkatiri was the first Prime Minister of an internationally-recognized East Timor. He served from May 2002 until he resigned on 26 June 2006 following weeks of political unrest in the country...
, the party's Secretary-General, but Alkatiri prevailed at a FRETILIN national congress. Guterres was named foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
under Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta later in the year, serving in that position until May 2007.
Guterres' supporters, comprising a breakaway faction of FRETILIN called "Mudanca" (meaning "reform"), backed FRETILIN's main rival, the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction
National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction
National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction is a political party in East Timor founded by former President Xanana Gusmão in March 2007 in preparation for the 2007 parliamentary election....
(CNRT) of former president 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...
, 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...
. Despite this, Guterres' faction has refused to leave FRETILIN, and Alkatiri has warned of legal action.
Although FRETILIN won the most votes in the parliamentary election, the CNRT formed a coalition with other parties to hold a majority in parliament. In the government sworn in under Gusmão, who became Prime Minister, on August 8, 2007, Guterres became Deputy Prime Minister.
Jose Luis Guterres, also commonly known as "LUGU" along with his group such as Jorge Teme (current Secretary State of Enclave Oecusse), attempted to register FRETILIN-MUDANSA as a political party broke up from FRETILIN but then it was later rejected by the High court of Timor-Leste due to its political attributes, even name of the party itself which was similar to the existed political party, FRETILIN. Then, only few days later, as they were given chances to make any modification so that it could be legally registered, they changed FRETELIN-MUDANSA to FRENTI-MUDANSA. Then, the party was then approved by the high court of Timor-Leste and therefore it is now preparing itself by consolidating the militatants and simpatisants, putting up its political party structure in the grassroot level in preparation towards general election in 2012.