TIMOR-LESTE has declared a week of mourning for former President Francisco Guterres, the former guerrilla leader who died in a Malaysian hospital at the weekend.
Guterres, 71, was President from 2017 to 2022, capping decades of involvement in the political and armed struggle that led to the independence of the small Southeast Asian nation.
Flags will be flown at half-mast on public buildings, including embassies and consulates.
Guterres’ body was expected to arrive in Timor-Leste’s capital, Dili, on 23 June, and funeral arrangements are still being organised.
Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta, who defeated Guterres in the 2022 presidential election, said in a statement that his former rival was a “great patriot”, describing his passing as “a great loss for the nation.”
Guterres had humble beginnings, fighting for Timor-Leste’s independence from Indonesia, which was achieved in 2002 after a brutal 24-year occupation.
He won the 2017 presidential election to become the nation’s sixth president after securing more than 57 per cent of the votes.
Guterres ran for re-election in 2022 but was defeated in a run-off by Nobel laureate Ramos-Horta.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was “saddened” by Guterres’ passing and extended his condolences to his family and the people of Timor-Leste.
