The wife of the Timorese prime minister and former presidential candidate, Isabel da Costa Ferreira, died of cancer on Sunday, the medical team that provided assistance said.
“The medical team of the Guido Valadres National Hospital, which provided medical assistance to Isabel da Costa Ferreira, informs everyone that Isabel da Costa Ferreira passed away today at 8:48 p.m. as a victim of cancer,” a spokesman for the team said in a video. post shared by Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak’s official Facebook page.
Born in Same, Isabel da Costa Ferreira turned 49 in April and is a lawyer, politician, former deputy and candidate in the 2022 presidential election.
The second youngest of 13 siblings, she studied law in Indonesia and has devoted most of her life to human rights issues, denouncing violations during the Indonesian occupation.
She was general coordinator of the non-governmental organization Contras Timor-Timur (between 1998 and 1999) and director of the Timor-Loro Sa’e Human Rights Commission (CDHTL) in 1999-2001.
She was a member of the Constituent Assembly of the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) and held various positions after the restoration of independence on 20 May 2002, including Vice President of the Red Cross East Timor and Human Rights Adviser to the Prime Minister, between 2001 and 2006.
She was deputy minister of justice and has since held other positions in the government.
Isabel da Costa Ferreira and Taur Matan Ruak married in May 2001 and the couple had three children.
Source: DN
