We extend our congratulations to our dear friend, Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of Timor-Leste. We strongly urge Dr. Horta to heed the advise, if not institutionalize mechanisms for civil society voices in the conduct of government and how best to pursue cohesion, security, tranquility and harmony among the people. It is also of course judicious of Dr. Horta to maintain an inclusive policy of consultations and cooperation with the outgoing government, the ruling party and other minority and opposition parties. A conflict prevention policy may also need to be mainstreamed in the new government.
We extend our congratulations to our dear friend, Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of Timor-Leste.
We are happy for Dr. Horta, who has been perhaps the most visible and constant partner and friend of the solidarity movement during East Timor’s struggle for self-determination. It is with hope that APSOC (Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition) welcomes his accession to the government’s premier post.
We trust that his appointment is an indication that the tiny nation of a million people is on the road to recovery following a two-month crisis.
Of course his appointment will not solve Timor Leste’s problems overnight and there are a number of fundamental issues that need to be addressed immediately and squarely– foremost of which is the security and welfare of the people. But other drawn-out issues which may have factored to the recent carnage such as concerns for justice, accountability and governance must be tackled along with the role of the international community, the UN and the neighbors of this infant nation.
It is going to be a Herculean and could be a lonely task, and we offer our help and solidarity to him and his government in whatever way we can. But we strongly urge Dr. Horta to heed the advise, if not institutionalize mechanisms for civil society voices in the conduct of government and how best to pursue cohesion, security, tranquility and harmony among the people. It is also of course judicious of Dr. Horta to maintain an inclusive policy of consultations and cooperation with the outgoing government, the ruling party and other minority and opposition parties. A conflict prevention policy may also need to be mainstreamed in the new government.
We reiterate our untiring solidarity to all the Timorese people. You can count on us and be assured that we will respond in our most humble way to be of service to your people as we accompany your nation towards full recovery and sovereignty.
A luta continua!
The Asia-Pacific Solidarity Coalition is a regional formation evolving from the Asia-Pacific Coalition for East Timor (APCET) in May 2004 in Dili, East Timor to forge solidarity for peace, justice and human rights in the Southeast Asian and Pacific region. APSOC has 14 founding organizations from 8 Asia-Pacific countries:
Asian Students Association (ASA) – Hongkong
Alternative ASEAN Network for Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia) – Thailand
Friends of the Third World/Center for Peoples Dialogue (FTW/CPD) – Sri Lanka
Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) – Philippines
Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) – Mindanao
National Coalition for the Union of Burma (NCUB) – Burma
Pax Christi – New Zealand
Philippine Solidarity for East Timor and Indonesia (PhilSETI) – Philippines
Solidarity Without Borders (SOLIDAMOR)- Indonesia
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) – Malaysia
Support Committee for Human Rights in Aceh (SCHRA)
Timor Leste Coalition for the Asia-Pacific (TILCAP) – East Timor
Yayasan Anak Dusun Papua (YADUPA) – West Papua
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