Susilo installs Cruz as new envoy to Portugal

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated on Tuesday East Timor (now Timor Leste)-born human rights activist Fransiscus Xaverius Lopes da Cruz as the Indonesian ambassador to Portugal.

Before taking up the new posting, Cruz, 63, was Indonesian ambassador at large with special tasks since April 1993 after serving as an advisor to Indonesian delegations to the United Nations Human Rights Subcommission from 1987.

Cruz, who once led East Timor's largest political party, the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT), is one of six East Timorese who proclaimed the territory's integration with Indonesia in November 1975.

As a token of gratitude on part of the Indonesian government, Cruz was appointed East Timor's first vice governor from 1976 until 1982. After East Timor gained independence from Indonesia in 2000, Cruz remained a loyal friend to Indonesia by maintaining his Indonesian citizenship.

Portugal severed diplomatic ties with Indonesia on Dec. 7, 1975, following the Asian country's invasion of East Timor, then under Portuguese control.

The two countries restored their relations 24 years later in New York.

On the same day, President Susilo received the credentials of six nonresident foreign ambassadors to Indonesia, including Jamaican envoy Paul Anthony Robotham who is based in Tokyo, Samoa envoy Kilifoti Sisilia Eteuati who resides in Canberra and Congo ambassador Francois Balumuene Nkuna who resides in New Delhi.

Susilo also received credentials from Mukhtar Tileuberdi of Kazakhstan who is based in Kuala Lumpur, Ashot Kocharian of Armenia who resides in New Delhi and Pedro Pablo De Bedeout Gori of Colombia who also resides in New Delhi.