MARIO VIEGAS CARRASCALAO
One Mario, Three Timors
Mario Viegas Carrascalao, 76 has been around since Timor-Leste was Portuguese. He was among the first 10 East Timorese to graduate from university during the 400 years of its colonization. In those days, he served as head of the Office of Agriculture and Forestry, then became a major player when the region was under Indonesian control from 1976 to 1999. After the referendum for Timor-Leste independence in 1999, Mario returned to his homeland, going on to become a member of its parliament and vice prime minister.
December 17, 2013
It was nearly 9:30am. Mario Viegas Carrascalao entered the lobby of the Hotel Timor across from the Port of Dili, Timor-Leste. "I'm not late, am I?" said Mario, who was East Timor's governor while it was a still province of Indonesia. After its residents voted for independence in a referendum in 1999, Mario relinquished his Indonesian citizenship and became a citizen of the new country.
It is not difficult to meet Mario. He has a lot of free time no
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