Dili - March 5, 2007 - In contrast to the church’s representative on the National Electoral Commission in East Timor, churches across the country made key efforts in separating the sanctity of the church from the furore of the upcoming elections - avoiding conflict within their parishes.
Dr Jose Ramos-Horta has worked closely with the Catholic Church to establish peaceful dialogue since independence. He was the first invited representative from East Timor to hold an audience in Rome with the Pope, Pope Pope Benedict XVI.
“I was honoured to be in the presence of such a man of faith, of great intellect and one of the great leaders of our time,” said Ramos-Horta. “I was received with great warmth and the Pope expressed his greatest wishes for the all the people of East Timor”
Last night in Dili, Ramos-Horta responded to the late breaking decision by Father Martinho Gusmao to endorse an opposing candidate. “What is disturbing is not that a church official chose to support a candidate, that is well within his right as a citizen and as a man of god. What is disturbing is that he was nominated to sit as an objective member of the Electoral Committee, and he still chose to publicly endorse a candidate.”
“I would be equally disappointed if the church appointed representative to the Electoral Commission had endorsed me. This is very upsetting in our journey to being a true democracy. I know I am not alone in this sentiment, the hierarchy of the church is equally shocked by his indiscretion. It is not consistent with the views of the church, and not consistent with his role on the Electoral commission.”
In 2006, a damning report recommended that current political players should withdraw from the political arena to neutralise the volatile confrontations between factions, encouraging the view that by introducing a new political presence, there would be an end to violence throughout communities in East Timor.
Ramos-Horta spoke with reflection and honesty, “If I thought the violence would end by stepping away from political life, I would have stepped away long ago, I would willingly submit for the benefit of my people. However, this is not the answer to preventing violence; a stable democracy prevents violence; creating jobs prevents violence; educating our youth prevents violence; expelling poverty prevents violence. This is a job for a leader who understands economics, who understands social justice, who understands civil service, who understands domestic and foreign diplomacy. This calls for a man who has experience, compassion, faith, and lastly but most importantly, a plan to feed the poor, cloth the naked and house the elderly, A man who has a pan to build a nation - this is my call to duty”
“Throughout this crisis, starting in April/May last year, when dialogue broke down between Fretilin and the president, Fretilin and the church, Fretilin and the other parties, I was one person that kept the doors open to build the bridges of dialogue. I was frequently in touch with the Fretilin leadership, with the president, with the church, with the common people, doing everything I have been able to, to prevent an escalation of the violence and the tensions.”
Ends.
For Further information:
Visit: www.ramos-horta.org
Email: info@ramos-horta.org
Call: Dionisio Babo Soares - T: +670 724 3952
