Go to:    Constancio Pinto, 39, is a former independence activist who has recently worked as East Timor’s representative in the United States. "What happened in the past is not going to go away. Every East Timorese has a story to tell about what happened to them. I think it is important to remember what happened, but I think we must remember constructively. We need to learn from what we have experienced because where there is no experience there is no progress. Independence means we are free, we are going to take care of this country on our own."