ASIA: Yunupingu rates East Timor life highlight

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2000
ASIA: Yunupingu rates East Timor life highlight

Aboriginal singer MANDAWUY YUNUPINGU, twice voted Australian of the Year, says his
invitation to East Timor's independence anniversary celebrations is the highlight of his
life.

YUNUPINGU and his internationally renowned band Yothu Yindi arrived in Dili yesterday
to accept National Timorese Resistance Council leader XANANA GUSMAO'S invitation to perform
at the celebrations.

He's rated the invitation from the former guerrilla leader who seems destined to become
East Timor's first democratic leader, above becoming Australian of the Year.

He says he's really excited about performing and when GUSMAO invited the band it was
the best moment of his life.

YUNUPINGU says there are close parallels between the East Timorese struggle and that
of Aborigines.

He says the colonised indigenous peoples of both countries are at the same stage.

AAP RTV rmg/smf

KEYWORD: TIMOR YOTHU DILI

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