Lisbon city council has approved a Bloco de Esquerda proposal – presented over a year ago – for a municipal project to provide emergency reception for Timorese citizens, most of them duped into coming to this country thinking they would find employment and accommodation. At a public meeting of the municipal executive last night, the proposal was made possible with seven votes against from the PSD/CDS-PP leadership and 10 votes in favour, from the PS, PCP, Bloco de Esquerda, LIVRE and PS/ LIVRE coalition Cidadãos Por Lisboa. The proposal provides for the creation of a municipal emergency reception project “ITA HOTU HAMUTUK – todos juntos” (ITA HOTU HAMUTUK – all together), to support and accompany Timorese citizens by providing housing, work, health and education conditions.
