On 21 February 2002, the National Commissioners of the East Timor Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation were sworn in to office, with speeches by Jose Ramos Horta, Sergio Vieira de Mello and Xanana Gusmão, and messages from Mary Robinson and Rev. Desmond Tutu. The following are the names and brief biographies of the Commissioners, from the program for the swearing-in ceremony.
Jacinto Alves, from Manatuto District, is Coordinator of the Ex-Political Prisoners Association and a founding member of the NGO Commission for Human Rights in East Timor. He is currently a Senior Policy Advisor to the Commission's Interim Office.
Olandina Caeiro, from Ermera District, is the Director of East Timorese Women Against Violence and for Child Care and a businesswoman. She has served in the Provincial Parliament (1997-99) and as Chairperson of the Public Service Commission (2000-01).
Fr. Jovito Araujo is a Catholic Priest and member of the Centre for Peace and Development. He is President of the Dili Diocese's Catholic Youth Commission and originally hails from Hatolia in Ermera District.
Isabel Guterres was born in Viqueque, spent fifteen years in Australia and now lives in Maliana. Isabel is a registered nurse and works with Jesuit Refugee Services in refugee return and resettlement.
Aniceto Guterres Lopes is Director and cofounder of the well-known human rights NGO Yayasan HAK. He was appointed to the National Council of East Timor, co-founded the East Timor jurists' Association, and is a current member of the UNTAET Judicial Transitional Services Commission.
José Estêvão Soares was appointed a member of the National Council in October 2000 after a long career as a civil servant in the Indonesian administration in East Timor. Jose was born in Manatuto District, and currently serves (with Jacinto Alves) as a Senior Policy Advisor to the Commission's Interim Office.
Rev Agustinho de Vasconselos has worked as a Protestant Church Minister
in Oecussi, his home district of Baucau, and now in Dili. He is Secretary
to the Youth Department of the Protestant Church.