April 2, 2001
Political squabbling in East Timor intensified on Monday when its transitional assembly blocked, at least temporarily, a bid by Nobel Peace laureate Jose Ramos Horta to become its new chief following the surprise resignation of popular independence leader Xanana Gusmao.
Mr Gusmao, who had been chief of the National Council, quit the grouping last week, citing infighting among its 36 members. On Saturday the territory's UN administration announced that it had appointed Mr Ramos Horta to fill Gusmao's council seat. Several officials later confidently predicted that the council would elect Mr Ramos Horta as its new leader.
However, in what became a heated session on Monday, a majority of council members said they had not been properly advised of Gusmao's resignation and voted to postpone debate on his replacement and the leadership until April 9. Some members also demanded that the council draft a list of several candidates for the position rather than automatically accept Mr Ramos Horta's nomination. Mr Ramos Horta was not present at Monday council session and was not immediately available for comment. UN officials also did not comment.
The National Council is wholly appointed by the UN administration and is regarded as a dress rehearsal body for eventual East Timorese self-rule. It has no direct powers, but debates and comments on regulations drafted by the United Nations. The council is to be dissolved in June ahead of August elections for a new body that will draw up a national constitution to be in place before independence is granted and a head of state is chosen, probably early next year.
Until now Gusmao, had been the clear front-runner for the position of East Timor's first president. However, his departure amid infighting among Timor's various political factions makes it unclear who will get the top job. Mr Ramos Horta and Roman Catholic Bishop Filipe Ximenes Belo received the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for their international diplomatic fight against 24 years of Indonesian rule.
After Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975, Mr Ramos Horta remained in self-imposed exile to lobby foreign governments to support freedom for his homeland.
East Timorese voted overwhelmingly for independence in a UN-sponsored referendum in 1999. The result of the ballot triggered a wave of violence by pro-Indonesian militias.
