Jose Ramos–Horta

In 1996, Jose Ramos-Horta earned the prize with Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo. The two were honored for their work towards a just and peaceful solution to the violence raging in East Timor since Indonesia took control of the nation in 1975. The Nobel Committee estimated that one-third of the country’s population had lost their lives from 1975–96 due to starvation, epidemics, war and terror.

Ramos-Horta recently was appointed interim prime minister of East Timor. Since Ramos-Hortas’ homeland voted to become independent of Indonesia seven years ago, the nation has been rife with violence.

A U.S. State Department report notes that following the vote, Timorese militias that were organized and supported by the Indonesian military commenced a large-scale campaign of retribution which damaged or destroyed the country’s infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, schools and the electrical grid. The U.N. Transitional Administration in East Timor subsequently governed the country from 1999–2002.

In recent weeks, violence re-erupted until a 2,700–member Australian-led international force arrived to keep the peace. Ramos-Horta says he hopes to restore lasting peace in the troubled nation by improving its internal security. He is expected to remain in the post until East Timor holds its election next year.

As for his involvement in PeaceJam, Ramos-Horta says, “For the past eight years, I have participated in this dynamic outreach program whose goal of inspiring youth to become compassionate agents of positive change in their communities continues to inspire me.”

— Brenda Gillen