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(12 Sep 1999) Eng/Portu/Nat
Thousands of people attended a concert for East Timor in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, on Saturday night.
Portugal has been outspoken in its criticisms of Indonesia over the bloodshed in its former colony and support for a multinational peacekeeping force is widespread.
On Saturday the Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres said a peacekeeping force should be sent immediately to restore security in the territory, even without a U-N mandate,
The Portuguese feel a strong bond with the people of East Timor and on Saturday came together to show their solidarity with them.
Thousands attended a concert for East Timor in the country's capital Lisbon.
Ordinary Portuguese have been showing their support for the Timorese ever since August's U-N referendum on independence.
White sheets have been hung from windows across the country as part of a campaign of support and pro-independence car stickers have proved popular.
On Saturday night there were repeated calls for a peacekeeping force to be sent to the province.
VOXPOP: (Portuguese)
"I think we are here to show our solidarity with the people of East Timor. They are suffering a lot. The importance of this event is to see if we can convince the international community to send a peace force to Timor. They need it."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop
SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese)
"This is very important. This shows, this reflects everything that we feel for the people of East Timor. I never thought Portugal could do so much. It's incredible. It's incredible."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop
After the concert many of those attending took part in a candlelit parade, and then arranged the candles in the shape of a cross.
The Portuguese government has been among the most outspoken of those calling for a multi national peacekeeping force for the province.
It has even suggested a force could be sent in without a U-N mandate.
On Saturday the Portuguese Prime Minister compared what is happening in the province to the recent events in Kosovo.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The question is whether the will of a people can be destroyed by the force of the gun, whether ethnic cleansing is acceptable in modern times. It was not accepted by the international community in Kosovo, it cannot be accepted in East Timor."
SUPER CAPTION: Antonio Guterres, Portuguese Prime Minister
On Sunday thousands of Portuguese are again expected to turn out, to attend a mass given by Bishop Carlos Belo, East Timor's spiritual leader.
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