Maria Domingas Fernandes Alves (born 28 November 1959),[1] nickname Mana (sister) Micato[2]: 62 [3] or Mikato,[4] resistance name Beta Mau,[5] is a women's rights activist, former resistance fighter, civil servant and non-party politician from East Timor. From 2007 to 2012 she was Minister of Social Solidarity.
During the Indonesian occupation of East Timor (1975-1999), Alves was one of the main female leaders of the resistance movement, especially around Laclubar and Laclo.[2]: 62 She participated actively in the Organização Popular de Mulheres Timorense (Popular Organisation of East Timorese Women) (OPMT), the women's organization of FRETILIN.[2]: 63 [3][6] In 1978, Alves and her husband were arrested in the mountains and taken to Metinaro for interrogation.[1] They were released after about sixteen days, and sent to Dili,[1] where Alves worked as a civil servant in the Indonesian Industry and Trade Authority from 1983-1999.[2]: 63 In 1997, she co-founded the women's rights organization Forum for Communication for East Timorese Women (FOKUPERS),[2]: 63 [3][7][6] and campaigned for independence in the run-up to the 1999 East Timorese independence referendum.
Political career
In 2000, Alves organized the first National Women's Congress.[2]: 63 In the interim government under United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), Alves became a gender equality adviser on September 30, 2001.[2]: 63 The same year, Alves was selected by Rede Feto, a network of about 15 women’s organisations, to stand as an independent candidate in the first parliamentary elections,[2]: 30, 62 [8]: 81 but she was not elected to the national parliament of East Timor.[2]: 62 [3][8]: 82 Instead, she became an adviser to the Prime Minister on promoting equality,[2]: 63 [9][7] and in 2002, she was appointed director of the Office for the Promotion of Equality,[2]: 63 [3][8]: 84, 163 a role she held until June 2006, when she was the first holder of public office to resign during the 2006 East Timorese crisis.[1][2]: 63 In 2005, Alves was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her role in the independence movement and her work for the rights of women.[7] From May 2005 to 2007, Alves was an appointed member of the Council of State (Portuguese: Conselho de Estado), which advises the President of East Timor.[10]
From 8 August 2007 to 8 August 2012, Alves was Minister of Social Solidarity in the IV Government of East Timor, with Xanana Gusmão as president.[7][11] In 2012, under a new government, it was reportedly proposed that she would be appointed Minister of Defence and Security,[4] but according to press reports, President Taur Matan Ruak, who was a former military commander in chief of the army, opposed her appointment.[4][12] Alves allegedly rejected a return to her old ministerial post because of the "insult".[4] On October 23, 2012, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão was finally sworn in as Minister of Defence.
Alves was appointed a commissioner of the Civil Service Commission (Comissão da Função Pública) on 29 May 2015.[13]
Awards
On November 28, 2006, Alves received from the government the Nicolau LobatoOrder for her participation and contribution to the liberation of East Timor.[5]
Publications
c. 2004 - Written with blood, by Maria Domingas Fernandes Alves with Laura Soares Abrantes and Filomena B Reis. Dili : Office for Promotion of Equality. OCLC938443638
References
^ abcdefSee, Bridgette (January 2007). "Peace Activist". Timor Leste Now & the Future. Unicef Timor-Leste: 14–15. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
^ abcdeGabrielson, Curt (1 February 2002). "East Timorese Women On Their Way Up"(PDF). ICWA Letters. No. CG-14. New Hampshire, US: Institute of Current World Affairs. p. 2. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
^Whittington, Sherrill (2015). "Women in Postconflict Decision-Making". In Baksh-Soodeen, Rawwida; Harcourt, Wendy (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Transnational Feminist Movements. Oxford University Press. p. 754. ISBN9780199943494. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
