Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta took office as East Timor's new prime minister yesterday, pledging to restore hope in the tiny nation shattered by weeks of uncertainty and unrest.
"Our people have suffered and many who were poor before the crisis have lost the little that they had, but they also lost faith in state institutions and in political leaders," he said in a speech after taking the oath of office.
"The government action in the weeks and months ahead [will be] to restore faith and hope, respect for our young democracy and for our young nation state," he said.
Ramos-Horta said the priority for his government, which will rule until elections next May, would be restoring security and moving 150,000 people in refugee camps back home.
The refugees fled for the makeshift camps in the wake of violence in May between rival security force factions as well as fighting between ethnic gangs on the streets of Dili.
At least 21 people were killed and more than 2,200 foreign peacekeepers deployed to restore calm, in the worst crisis to envelop East Timor since it became the world's youngest nation in 2002.
Ramos-Horta took a brief oath in Portuguese to serve East Timor's people, witnessed by President Xanana Gusmao who appointed him to the position on Saturday, as well as senior lawmakers, church leaders and foreign diplomats.
"I, Jose Ramos-Horta, swear to God, in the name of the people and with my whole heart to carry out the duties and functions given to me," he said.
The 56-year-old Nobel laureate takes the place of Mari Alkatiri, who resigned as premier last month to take responsibility for the deadly mayhem.
Alkatiri had overseen the dismissal of about 600 members of the 1,400-strong army in March after they protested against discrimination, which triggered the crisis.
He also faces questioning over allegations he armed a civilian hit squad tasked with eliminating his opponents, charges he has vigorously denied.
Ramos-Horta said the government's focus would be on the most impoverished in East Timor, particularly in rural areas.
"This government will try to serve the best interests of the poor. This government is going to be the government for the poor. This government will be at the forefront in the fight against poverty," he pledged.
At one camp among scores dotting the seaside capital, refugees said they were optimistic Ramos-Horta was equipped for the job.
"I support the appointment of Horta as the new PM because he is suitable to lead the government. I am sure he can solve this crisis," said Nomalay Freitas, 38, an agricultural worker and father of three.
Ramos-Horta also apologized to the military and police for not managing the problems that emerged within their ranks before they degenerated into May's explosive violence.
He said the forces would be examined "so they can be reborn from this crisis more dignified and more deserving of the trust of our people."
Ramos-Horta won a Nobel peace prize for his non-violent campaign against Indonesia's 24-year rule. His name was on a shortlist of candidates for the prime ministership offered to Gusmao by Alkatiri's ruling Fretilin party.
Although he is a political independent and not a party member, Ramos-Horta helped found the decades-old Fretilin, the political wing of East Timor's resistance against Portugal and then Indonesia.
RSS