Prime Minister of Timor-Leste calls on young Timorese to leave the “so-called” martial arts

The Prime Minister of Timor-Leste asked young Timorese, living in the country and in the diaspora, to stop practicing the “so-called” martial arts and rituals.

“This appeal we are making to stop so-called martial arts”, stated Xanana Gusmão, who recalled that there has been a reduction in violence since martial arts and rituals were suspended in the country.

The prime minister spoke to journalists at the Timorese Presidency, at the end of a meeting with the head of state, José Ramos-Horta, during which the incidents recorded on Sunday in Fátima (Portugal), which involved young Timorese people and which caused one death and four injuries.

Last November, the Timorese Government had suspended the learning and practice of martial arts, taking into account the serious incidents recorded in the territory, having renewed the suspension in April.

Xanana Gusmão condemned the events in Fátima, in which two martial arts groups (22 and 77) were allegedly involved. The incident involved around 40 young people, from various parts of Portugal, including Lisbon, Setúbal and Leiria, and was due to “differences between the two groups”, she added.

“Yesterday [quarta-feira] We have decided, if the family so requests, to transfer the body to Timor”, the Timorese Prime Minister also said.

A young East Timorese man from the municipality of Aileu died in the clashes.

The Prime Minister also said that the Portuguese Judicial Police is investigating and that everyone involved must be expelled and returned to Timor-Leste to “instill in the entire Timorese society that it is necessary to stop” the martial arts.