It is a time for common sense and for openness. The good of our new country is a moral value that everyone has to defend and promote. Political activity should be directed to the attainment of universal good not at the triumph of the interests of an individual, a family, a social class or a political party. The writing of a new constitution is one of our most urgent tasks. While it might be easy for a lawyer, or a group of politicians, to write such a document, perhaps in an afternoon, that sort of exercise will be meaningless unless the broad majority of people understand and accept it.
Democracy is the key to our future.
For that we must put every effort into education and consultation. It would be a grave mistake for a predetermined constitution to be put in place without adequate consultation that enables large numbers of people to understand the process and be confident in the outcome. An individual or political party that pushes their own version of such a key document runs the risk of destroying the democratic process before it has had the opportunity of taking root and growing. Democracy and human rights are also the keys to building respect for the law. The rule of law must be put in place in East Timor and this process must involve the ordinary people as much as possible.