|You are in: Talking Point: Forum|
Wednesday, 12 June, 2002, 13:55 GMT 14:55 UK
East Timor's Jose Ramos Horta
Nobel peace laureate and East Timor's foreign minister Jose Ramos Horta answered your questions in a live forum.
For almost a quarter of a century he was a leading figure in East Timor's campaign against Indonesian rule. The country finally became independent last month.
Jose Ramos Horta fled the former Potuguese colony a few days before Indonesia invaded in 1975, and worked in exile to lobby for a free East Timor.
He was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 alongside Bishop Carlos Belo, the leader of East Timor's majority Catholic population.
Now he is East Timor's foreign minster, with a key role in building the country's future.
Jose Ramos Horta answered your questions in a live forum.
Welcome Dr. Horta. We've had hundreds of questions for you. The first two that I want to put to you relate to the fact that really East Timor is in a very unique position and is seen by the United Nations as really the jewel in its crown - a country that it's been able to give independence to.
Abid from the United States says: Why do you think that the United Nations took the firm stand in case of East Timor? Because there are many areas around the world that also want independence, for example the Palestinian people, the people of Kashmir. Is it because it's a Christian issue and not a Muslim area under occupation?
We have also another question along the same lines from Serge Tshamala, who is from Kinshasa in the Congo, although I think he is writing to us from the United States. He says: What is your advice to the separatist movements in Somalia who are attempting to become independent?
I simply cannot conceive of a nation based on a record of killing civilians - how would a Palestinian state, for instance, look in 10 years from now - assuming there is going to be Palestinian state - I believe it will be, they deserve it. But how is it going to look when it is filled with so much hatred, so much violence? Are they going to be able to provide peace, tranquillity, justice to themselves and their own people?
The same would go with the Kashmir and to the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. My message is: abandon violence, push your cause with dignity, with honour and without violence and you will have the sympathy of millions of people. Let us assume in Palestine today - someone in Palestine would say to the people - let's all drop violence, let's all drop our guns, let's all follow Mahatma Gandhi's approach of civil disobedience. They would paralyse Palestine and they would have millions of people around the world supporting them. It would be far more effective than the suicide bombings and the terror tactics.
Relations with Indonesia
A further question from Sharaad Kuttan in Malaysia: East Timor has become independent in a region facing some of the severest tests in terms of economic and political management? What role could ASEAN could play to help East Timor?
But yes, we are very short in human capital - we need to develop our human resources. And for this reason, our government is spending more money than any country in the world in terms of education - about 30% of our budget goes to education, by next year it will go up to 40% or more. We are conscious that if we want to develop a country, we cannot just pour money into roads and bridges, into buildings and not pour money into human resources - into education.
But at the same time, in terms of our relationship with our neighbours, it's vital for East Timor's development that we develop strong foundations of relationships with our region. The ASEAN countries have been very supportive - the Philippines, Thailand have had peacekeeping troops there. Singapore has modest peacekeeping troops there as well but they have been very supportive. Malaysia has been in the forefront also now in supporting us. We are paying an official visit to Malaysia - we are attending the ASEAN ministerial meeting at the end of July. So as you see have a very active foreign policy that is on the move in forging relationships with the region and this will be the foundations of our security - the foundations of our economic wellbeing.
Peter Kemp in Australia asks: Why have you chosen Portuguese as a national language? Was this a political or a practical choice?
Another question from Australia, Ron Walker says: I appreciate that the real lingua franca of East Timor, Bahasa, carries political baggage that makes it unattractive to ex-freedom fighters; but isn't the most valuable use of language communication rather than political posturing?
Some people say, why don't we use English? Well, English does not resolve all our problems. Of course we teach English in schools - hopefully 10 - 20 years from now, we will have 5 - 10% of our people - our elite, our youth speaking English to enable them to access science, technology etc. But this is different from making a language an official language. It has to do with the history, the culture and the identity of the country. So when we went for Portuguese and Tetun, it was a strategic decision to strengthen the uniqueness of East Timor, the national identity of East Timor. We are not that idiotic to forget the importance of Bahasa or English. People can continue to use Bahasa if they so wish, we are not forbidding Bahasa - we still teach it in schools.
We inherited some legacy from the Indonesian time in terms of our corruption but I can assure you, as far as this government is concerned, as far as our president is concerned, we will stamp out corruption wherever it might emerge. Our people paid a heavy price for the independence of our country. We don't want to go down the path of so many others with broken dreams and promises. I would feel ashamed myself - someone who is known around the world, who has so many friends who trust in me, believe in me that one day I have to come forward and defend a corrupt government - I would never be in such a position. Many others in my government and my country share the same sentiments so I am confident that East Timor is not going to be like a few other countries in the world that are ridden with corruption.
We on the East Timor side have to make very clear, we will not support the dismembering of the Indonesian republic - it will not serve the interests of the region. At the same time, we commend the Indonesian president for putting forward the autonomy package which was unthinkable two years ago. I also personally two years ago, if you had asked me - would Indonesia grant autonomy is Aceh and West Papua - I would say no. They have surprised everybody. The autonomy package they have provided to Aceh and West Papua are unique opportunities that I would hope the Acehenese and West Papuans would seize on it. If they accept autonomy and if they drop demands on independence, they will be able to negotiate with Jakarta from a position of strength. The Indonesian people would support it and the international community would support it. If they keep demanding independence, they will not have the support from the international community and no support from the Indonesian people.
In response to the questioner from United Arab Emirates - I have met with some diplomats from the United Arab Emirates - they came to our independence. I have met with some very, very charming people from Kuwait. We are also interested in developing relations with the Arab world. We are working with some Arab countries - Muslim countries - in getting us observer status in the Islamic conference.
Although Timor is predominately Catholic - 98% Catholic - our prime minister - the very first prime minister in our country is a Muslim of Arab background - his ancestors came from the Yemen. I don't want to be arrogant in terms of saying that we set an example, but the fact of the matter that you have a country of 98% devout Catholics and a prime minister who is a Muslims when Muslims are no more than about 1,000 - 2,000 people in my country - it doesn't even count as a percentage of the population - I think it is a sign of hope that religions and ethnicities should not divide people.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Top Forum stories now:
Links to more Forum stories are at the foot of the page.
|E-mail this story to a friend|
Links to more Forum stories
To BBC Sport>> | To BBC Weather>> | To BBC World Service>>
© MMIII | News Sources | Privacy