A Genuine hero

A hero of East Timor's independence struggle, Jose Ramos Horta, has resigned from the Government in disgust, while his former wife emerged as the frontrunner to take over from the embattled Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri.

Alkatiri', despite solid evidence of setting up death squads to eliminate his opposition, is refusing to step down as Prime Minister. President, Xanana Gusmao had threatened to resign in an effort to force Alkatiri’s hand, but was convinced by the people and foreign governments to stay.

Next in the pecking order is Ramos Horta and his resignation must further weaken Alkatiri’s position. It also weakens the process of negotiation with rebels and liaison with peace keeping troops; Ramos Horta had been the rock holding many of these issues in place.

Both sides have relied on him to bring key people together in his efforts to broker an end to the crisis.

I’ve never, personally, met Ramos Horta. I could have, he lived close enough for many years. But I have heard him speak, I’ve listened to interviews and followed his fight, in exile, to free his country from Indonesia’s cruel grip.

Believe me, when Ramos Horta is described as a hero, it is no idle boast. He stood firm and resolute over, 20 years of exile, getting the message out to a world community, which still has no idea where his country is.

Ramos Horta’s resignation was a shock to most who have been looking to his skills to break the crisis in the tiny country. But his move must be a well-judged ploy, because he rarely puts a foot wrong in anything he does.

The problem for Ramos Horta and Gusmao is there determination to play by the country’s constitution; to do it properly and ensure rule of law. Unfortunately Alkatiri’s group do’t seem to share that noble ideal.