Taur Matan Ruak quits as commander of Timor-Leste's armed forces
Big news, although it was expected. I wrote a few weeks ago about the presidential race heating up in Timor-Leste and referenced Tempo Semanal's story about Taur Matan Ruak being ready to hang up his army boots.
The Tempo Semanal website is reporting that Ruak is ready to hang up his army boots and make a bid for president.
It appears to have happened now, as confirmed by Ed Rees on Twitter.
Well MAJGEN Taur Matan Ruak submitted his resignation letter to #Xanana and #RamosHorta today. Wow. Politics is about to change in #Timor.
I haven't seen mention of this anywhere else but Ed is a very reliable source and is good friends with Jose Belo, who will presumably have a lengthy story up on the Tempo Semanal website soon.
It begins…
Addendum: AFP now has a story. Highlights:
"Yesterday I handed my resignation letter to the president (Jose Ramos-Horta) and his excellency the prime minister (Xanana Gusmao)," Ruak told reporters in Dili.
"Because I have already served the armed forces for 36 years I think I want to go back to civilian life."
As for his presidential aspirations, Ruak said he would wait until next year to announce whether he would contest the March 2012 polls.
"I want to serve those who suffered for this nation," Ruak said.
Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres said the government had accepted Ruak's resignation during a cabinet meeting on Friday in Dili.
"The letter has been accepted by the government," he told AFP.
Nobel prize laureate Ramos-Horta has not publicly announced he will seek re-election but Guterres said it had been "very obvious" for months that he intended to run.
Tempo Semanal also has a story:
Tempo Semanal can report that Major General Taur Matan Ruak has today confirmed that it is his intention to resign from his position as Chief of the FALINTIL-FDTL, the national defence force of Timor-Leste.
At a stand up press conference today 1610hrs Dili time 2 September 2011 General Ruak stated "today I informed the Secretary State for Defence that I have submited my resignation letter to the Prime minister and President. I have asked to resign because I have served in the Armed Forces for decades and I think its the moment for me to go back to civilian life."
The Secretary of State was unavailable for comment as he had to report in person to Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
In July 2011 Tempo Semanal reported that General Ruak has the intention to resign and run for President of the Republic in the 2012 elections.
