Fri Dec 12 23:40:58 UTC 2025: East Timor President Ramos-Horta Voices Disillusionment with ‘International Community’
Dili, East Timor – On the 50th anniversary of Indonesia’s invasion, East Timor’s President Jose Ramos-Horta has expressed profound disillusionment with the international community, particularly the West, criticizing what he sees as hypocrisy and inaction regarding global conflicts.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and longtime advocate for East Timorese independence, reflected on the challenges he faced in seeking international support after the 1975 invasion. He lamented the lack of media coverage and the complicity of some nations in silencing news of Indonesian atrocities.
Ramos-Horta drew a stark contrast between the West’s swift financial support for Ukraine and its muted response to the situation in Gaza. He condemned the disproportionate bombing of Gaza, comparing it to the horrors of Cambodia’s “killing fields” and expressing disbelief at Israel’s actions given its own history of persecution.
Despite his disappointment, Ramos-Horta highlighted East Timor’s achievements in maintaining peace and stability, boasting of low crime rates and a commitment to free media. He also expressed optimism about the country’s future, citing the potential benefits of joining ASEAN, developing the Greater Sunrise gas field, and strengthening ties with China. While acknowledging China’s growing influence, Ramos-Horta dismissed the notion of China as an enemy, contrasting this with what he sees as the US’s struggle to accept China’s rise as a global superpower.
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