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Dili – 17th April 2007 – With East Timor’s second round presidential elections approaching, Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta has once again outlined his key election platform as the President for the poor. To date he is the only candidate to clearly vocalise his platforms and policies.
Ramos-Horta stated, “The only way that we are ever going to truly unify our country is to eliminate poverty so that every citizen of our country has food on their plates, a roof over their heads and clothes on their body. We should not be arguing politics when people are starving, people are dying from easily treatable diseases and the majority of the population has no access to basic amenities such as fresh water and electricity.
“The People of East Timor need action, well planned and sustainable action, to provide them with the basics for survival and hope for the future. As I have proposed before, I advocate the establishment of pensions for the extreme poor, the widows and our veterans. We have the means to action this in a responsible and sustainable manner. I advocate the creation of jobs to build our infrastructure and put money in the pockets of our people.
“I am the person that will unite the country from East to West - all people. As President I will address the issues that affect them all, as I always have. I travel through the villages, the mountains and the cities, I listen to the people and work to develop solutions to address their needs.
“When the Government ignored the needs of the poor, I took action. When the people were displaced and scared, I took action. I stand to address the issues that affect all my people, right across East Timor and represent their best interests as I have done my entire life. I am the servant of the poor, therefore I pledge to serve the poorest, poor children of God in our country.”
Ramos-Horta's position is not rhetoric; The Nobel Laureate is a man of action as an individual, a Prime Minister and as a Presidential candidate. Ramos-Horta has a proven track record of distributing his own wealth to the needy in East Timor. Through consultation with Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank, Ramos-Horta established the JRH Micro Credit Trust, modelled on Yunus’ revolutionary strategy to eliminate poverty in the world. Ramos-Horta used JRH Micro Credit to distribute his own personal funds and those charitably donated to assist the poor in establishing small businesses to create the means to support themselves in the future. To date this body has distributed over US$40,000 to East Timor’s needy citizens to help them secure a prosperous future.
In the time of crisis in 2006, Jose Ramos-Horta opened his own home to provide shelter for those displaced by the violence. At one point housing some six hundred refugees including many ministers from the ruling Government who deserted their own homes and ministries. While most people were barricaded in their homes, Ramos-Horta was out on the streets comforting the people and working to diffuse the situation. His office was the only one to remain open throughout those difficult times.
Ends.
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