有人曾把东帝汶称为“死亡之岛”,葡萄牙在1975年放弃这块统治四百年的殖民地后,印尼乘虚而入,强行占领。二十多年来,赞成和反对独立的战争给东帝汶留下了灾难深重的记忆,同时,独立运动也造就了东帝汶自己的民族英雄——沙纳纳·古斯芒。他为东帝汶的独立奋斗多年,深受百姓爱戴,成为他们心目中的英雄。2002年4月17日,东帝汶首席选举官巴伦苏埃拉宣布,沙纳纳·古斯芒以82.69％的得票率,当选为东帝汶的开国总统。 Some people once referred to East Timor as “the island of death.” After Portugal relinquished this colony of four centuries in 1975, Indonesia took advantage of it and forcibly occupied it. For more than two decades, the pro-independence and anti-independence wars have left a profound memory of disasters in East Timor. At the same time, the independence movement has also created East Timor’s own national hero, Xanana Gusmão. He has fought for the independence of East Timor for many years, loved by the people and became their hero. On April 17, 2002, East Timor’s chief elect Valenzuela Valenzuela announced that Xanana Gusmão was elected as the founding President of East Timor with 82.69% of the vote.