PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA

111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Tel +44 (0)20 8771 2904 Fax +44 (0)20 8653 0322
Email tapol@gn.apc.org Website http://www.tapol.org

< NEWS & STATEMENTS

TAPOL message to José Ramos-Horta

26 February 2008

TAPOL welcomes the statement issued today by the UN condemning the recent attacks on the two leaders of Timor-Leste, President José Ramos-Horta, who was seriously injured and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who escaped injury.

We welcome the UN's call for reconciliation between all parties in Timor-Leste to consolidate peace, democracy and the rule of law.

The UN also announced that it was extending its mandate in Timor-Leste for another year.

Shortly after the criminal attack on President Ramos-Horta, TAPOL sent him the following message:

'Dear José,

'We were deeply angered to hear that an attempt had been made on your life.

'Our long years of friendship with you give us every confidence that, thanks to your own resilience and with the help of the team of doctors working hard to heal the injuries you have suffered, you will pull through.

'You have always been a fighter and will certainly once again stand with your people.

'Please accept our best wishes for a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with you.

Carmel and Liem'

News that Ramos-Horta is making a good recovery and has been able to utter a few words is heartening and leads us to believe that he will be back among his people in the not too distant future.

Ramos-Horta has stood out as a staunch advocate and fighter for the people of Timor-Leste since the dark days of the Indonesian occupation. He used his diplomatic skills worldwide and helped to keep the issue of Timor-Leste alive, building a global solidarity movement that eventually created the right atmosphere for a referendum to take place in 1999.

Perhaps foremost among Timorese leaders, Ramos-Horta has retained the confidence of all sides in the bitter disputes that have overwhelmed the country in the past few years and was even able to establish a rapport with the rebel soldiers who were dismissed in 2006. TAPOL believes that his re-emergence alongside his people will help to repair the wounds that have caused so much damage in the past 18 months.

News & Statements archive

top