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New President for East Timor

Asia?s newest country, East Timor, voted in a new president, only a year after its first government was brought down by violence in this troubled region. The second president, Jose Ramos-Horta, vowed that he would do all he could to unite the people of the country, despite the difficult conditions and impoverishment of East Timor. In largely peaceful elections that took place across the country, the Nobel Prize-winning Ramos-Horta beat Francisco Guterres by a relatively good majority. Guterres, who serves as head of East Timor?s parliament, also swore Ramos-Horta into his new role.

In a moving speech to the people, the new president said, ?I swear in the name of God and the people ... to consolidate freedom and national unity with all the energy that I have.? It is hoped that Ramos-Horta will bring a new era of hope and stability to this tiny country that lost 37 people last year in national violence and ended with the downfall of its first government. In 1999, following United Nations intervention, East Timor broke free from oppressive Indonesian rule and come under special U.N. administration. In 2002, the country became a nation.

When the last president dismissed 600 soldiers last year, armed forces divided into factions, which resulted in gang warfare and chaos, with the need to call new elections. Next month, the country will go to the election polls again to vote for a new Prime Minister who has a stronger role than the President. It is hoped that the strong leadership of a new Prime Minster, together with Ramos-Horta?s peace vision, will bring East Timor out of the poverty that it finds itself in, towards a better future.