Dili (May 3, 2024), Prime Minister (PM) Xanana Gusmão asked Centro Nacional Chega! to write the memories of the men and women elderly who fought for independence as they are in advance and some passed away already. If we do not preserve it as soon as possible, the coming youngsters will invent it.
“I ask to collect the history of the elderly as day by day they keep dying, what else can young people learn, if any challenges are going on writing – cooperating with others. The existence of Chega! due to the suffering of the people of Timor-Leste,” said Prime Minister, in his visit to Centro Nacional Chega!I.P, Antigo Comarca Balide, Dili.
During his visit, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão visited the Dark Cells, Archives Room, Library, and the Exhibitions to see the historical narratives and original documentation. Then, the Prime Minister even attended a presentation by project manager, Januario Soares on the Museum of Old Prison Balide (MAC-B) re-development Project. Soares explained that on August 31, 2022, CNC I.P signed an agreement with the German government to support the re-development of the MAC-B project. The re-development aims to promote peace sustainability, get free of scarring, disseminate knowledge, advocate for human rights, education, gender equality, reparations, public recognition, and honor the victims of past conflicts.
The MAC-B Project was celebrated in 2022 and implemented in 2023. The first step to initiate the project was consulting with the partners. CNC I.P cooperated with Sejarah Lintas Batas (SINTAS) and hired an international exhibition curator and designer to develop a concept and design its exhibition sites. The graphic designer finalized the technical design for the permanent exhibition of the Old Prison-Balide Museum as a center for historical consciousness, human rights, and peace in Timor-Leste at the end of November 2023.
CNC I.P works with specialists in various areas in 2024, including graphic designers, content developers, IT consultants, coaches, and filmmakers, for exhibition content in physical and digital forms.
The project implementation has been commencing with the exhibition site maintenance to the following numbers of areas such as 01 Reception Room, 02 Introductory Room, 03 Resistance Room, 04 Dark Cells, 05 Prisoners Room, 06 Audio Visual Room, 07 Women and Children Room, 08 Tolerance Room, 09 Prison Security, and finally Garden of Reflection. It will be a technology package consisting of an LED TV, E-Kiosk, Touchscreen, Audio Guide, Mobile App, QR Code, projector, and digital learning facilities to be attractive, educative, accessible, and memorable upon the visitors’ experience improvement.
According to the plan, the German Federal Government funded the Antigo Comarca-Balide re-development project of $ 442,914.01, scheduled to be inaugurated in October and completed by the end of December 2024.
Hugo Maria Fernandes, Executive Director of Centro Nacional Chega, wished to provide good services for future improvements, and on behalf of Centro Chega!, he thanked Prime Minister Xanana as he could visit Centro Chega!, Antigo Comarca-Balide.
(Media CNC)
