The conflict in East Timor has been called "the forgotten conflict". It has not, however, been completely forgotten. One man continues to be the international voice of peace and prosperity for the world’s newest nation. A Nobel Peace Laureate, Dr. José Ramos-Horta’
QUESTION
In the lead up to the election there has been a lot of deeply offensive criticism coming from many different sources. What do you have to say on that?
RESPONSE - DR ROMAS HORTA
What I would say, as I have been saying already countless times throughout this campaign, no matter what happens on April 9th, whether I am elected president or not, the country (East Timor) will win…
I have said again and again that we can win only through the power of our intellect, of our mind through persuasion and we never win through threats, coercion and the use of force. We won our freedom in 99 through the ballot box. We survived for 24 years under Indonesian rule in spite of all the weapons used by Indonesia. So let’s trust more in the power of our ideas and conviction, then in rocks, in machetes and guns. They lead us nowhere; they create only a cycle of hatred, of revenge and violence.
QUESTION
What is your dream for East Timor?
RESPONSE - DR ROMAS HORTA
My dream first and foremost is that the country stays at peace within ourselves, so that the poorest of this country, the elderly, the children, the women, that is to say the more vulnerable, can feel safe. Safe at home, safe walking down to do their work, down the street, doing shopping, going to the fields to fetch firewood, to fetch water. Be at peace without fear in their normal daily lives.
The dream is that within five to ten years there will be no more extreme poverty in this country, there is no one that is hungry and that in most houses we have electricity, water. In all schools of this country we have the internet, so that children, young people can learn about science and technology and what is happening in the rest of the world.
QUESTION
On your campaign trail you have become increasingly known as the president for the poor. If elected president, how will you go about trying to ease the poverty of the people of East Timor?
RESPONSE - DR ROMAS HORTA
I will use the resources of the country, the powers of the president, both my moral power and my democratic power, because I am elected by the people to serve them. I will use the powers of the constitution working with the government, with the parliament, with civil society to allocate enough money to feed the poor… Poverty is not only economics, it’s not only development, it’s a moral issue …
Ends.
For the full interview and transcript - www.ramos-horta.org
http://www.ramos-
Or contact: infor@ramos-
Or call: Dionisio Babo Soares T: +670 724 3952
