Subject: IPS: East Timorese Wins New Norwegian Peace
Prize
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 18:36:42 -0500
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>Received from Joyo:
East Timorese Wins New Norwegian Peace Prize
OSLO, Mar 11 (IPS) - The first "Student's Peace Prize" established by the
International Student Festival in the Norwegian city of Trondheim will be awarded Friday
to Antonio Benedito da Silva of East Timor, it was announced here..
Da Silva, the 30-year-old leader of the East Timor Students' Solidarity Council (ETSSC)
will accept the prize at a ceremony in Trondheim ''for his relentless and distinguished
non-violent struggle against oppression, and for an independent and democratic East
Timor,'' a statement said.
Da Silva had endured harsh treatment by Indonesian authorities who controlled East
Timor and felt the ''terror of the regime through the tragic loss of family members and
threats made against his own life.'' Nonetheless, he continues to work for reconciliation
between East Timorese and Indonesians..."
The International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFIT) was first held in 1990 with 375
delegates from 45 nations followed by festivals in 1992, 1994 and 1997.
This year's festival, which began March 5 and ends March 14, has attracted 450 students
from 100 different nations. Participants were selected from about 5,000 applications based
on their motivation and knowledge of this year's topic "Solving Conflicts."
(END/IPS/asb/mk/99)
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