Four students from the National University of Timor-Leste who participated in FALINTIL Day celebrations in Betano say that they had stomach problems because food during the event was served late. 
An advisor for the President of the Republic organized for the UNTL students to go to the event, but after arriving in Betano the students were neglected and had stomach problems.
“The advisor, Aniceto, is responsible for bringing us here but the food for students was always late,” said the UNTL student coordinator Andre da Costa Oliveira in Betano.
He said the government found the students to sing the national anthem at the flag raising ceremony, but they couldn’t sing well if they were hungry.
“We came and had an agreement with Aniceto that food and all facilities would be complete, but we arrived here and the students questioned the food, as it was served at random.”
The student coordinator said he contacted the advisor with these concerns, but the food was always late.
He said this made it difficult for the students as they were late for training with the armed forces for the flag raising ceremony, and the 58 students were then yelled at for being late.
Meanwhile, UNTL student Alexandre Marques said the organizing committee should pay attention to the issue, so they won’t repeat it in the future.
“We’ve come here not on our own will but because we were invited. We missed some subjects, which is no problem as we want to show our patriotism, but when problems like this happen we’re unhappy,” he said.
In response to this concern, advisor Aniceto da Neves said he was not in charge of the food.
“I’ve accompanied them as they are my students but in regards to food, that’s for the national commission.”
He explained that consumption was not his responsibility, but the responsibility of the event managers.
