Peter Murphy

President José Ramos-Horta had a whirlwind visit to Sydney and Canberra on October 8-9, speaking to over 1,000 people at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall and to the National Press Club in Canberra, as well as ABC Radio National Breakfast. The Greater Sunrise petroleum project was one of many issues the President addressed. (more…)

On 29 July, 2024, Dr José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste met in Beijing with Chinese People’s Republic President Xi Jinping to upgrade the relationship between the two countries to “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”. On the one hand Ramos Horta punctured Canberra fears of a Timor-Leste – China Security Agreement, but on the other, the Timorese leader firmly rejected US and Australian pressure about the status of Taiwan. (more…)

Despite the adoption in early May this year of a new development plan by the last Timorese government, incoming Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão has declared that his government will implement the Strategic Development Plan adopted when he was Prime Minister in 2011. His calls for unity ring very hollow when he ignores the serious work of his predecessors. (more…)

The Timor-Leste March 2022 Presidential elections gave a resounding win in the second round to Nobel Laureate Jose Ramos Horta, and this provided leverage for Xanana Gusmão in his efforts to wrest back the executive power he apologetically relinquished in February 2015. (more…)