José Abílio Osório Soares

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José Abílio Osório Soares (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒuˈzɛ ɐˈβiliu ɔˈzɔɾiu suˈaɾɨʃ]) (2 June 1947 – 17 June 2007) was an Indonesian politician. He was the last governor of the Indonesian province of East Timor before the country's independence.

Governor of East Timor[]

Soares served as Governor of East Timor between 1992 and 1999. He is a highly controversial figure in the history of East Timor, having been a supporter of the Indonesian government as well as its annexation and the incorporation of the territory into Indonesia. Likewise, he was an opponent of the pro-independence movement which eventually succeeded, leading to the independence of East Timor. Many East Timorese accuse Soares of human rights violations and other atrocities while in power.

Death[]

Soares died in Kupang of cancer on 17 June 2007 after being in a coma for four days. Despite Timorese objections he was given a state hero's funeral by the Indonesian government. Frans Lebu Raya, the deputy governor of East Nusa Tenggara province laid a wreath sent by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who did not personally attend the funeral. Other important dignitaries who attended the funeral included several highly controversial figures from the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, including retired Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, retired Indonesian Major General Zacky Anwar Makarim, former deputy army chief of staff Kiki Syanakri, and West Papua Governor Abraham Octavianus Atururi.

Soares, who was 60 when he died, is survived by his wife, Maria Ângela Correia de Lemos Osório Soares, and their four children, as well as his 86-year-old mother, Beatriz Osório Soares. All of the family members attended the funeral.

Soares was buried in Dharma Loka Heroes' Cemetery in Kupang.

External links and references[]

• Ex-East Timor governor given hero's burial (accessed on 12 July 2007)
• People's Daily Online:Ex-East Timor governor given hero's burial (accessed on 12 July 2007)
• Trial Watch: Jose Abilio Osorio Soares

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