By Hayley Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
DILI, East Timor — After an assassination attempt nearly claimed his life, East Timor President, Jose Ramos-Horta, will return from a two month recovery this Thursday. As President Horta’s own wounds continue to heal, he has emerged from February’s attack eager to mend the pervading violence and poverty that have characterized East Timor’s past.
On February 11, rebel ex-soldiers shot President Horta at his home in the capital city of Dili. President Horta recalls seeing the gunman and turning quickly to avoid gunfire. The would-be assassins used “dum dum” bullets, which the Geneva Conventions banned because they expand in the body sending an explosion of shrapnel. Although the gunman aimed for his chest, President Horta was hit twice in the process of turning to take cover. The sudden movement may have saved his life. One bullet hit him in the back, a piece of shrapnel coming within 2 mm of his spinal cord.
After a two month recovery in Darwin, Australia, President Horta feels he has been given a second chance to repair his country’s civil strife. “Our country will need to get to the bottom of these events to heal from them,” President Horta said. The President is returning to his home, despite advice from security officials to move to a better protected location.
Last month, President Horta named Marcelo Caetano as his shooter. Caetano is one of 600 former military members turned rebels who lost their jobs during a 2006 strike. As the army became divided along factional lines, violence resulted in the death of 37 and drove 150,000 people from their homes. East Timor had to rely on foreign troops to help restore peace. In addition, around 2,500 foreign peace keepers remained to aid the country’s recovery.
Security forces tracked down and killed two rebels, including rebel leader, Alfredo Reinado. But the search continues for many rebels that remain in hiding.
The overwhelming support from citizens has humbled the President, who was admittedly unaware of the positive influence he has had on the country. Newspapers reported on Monday that the streets display banners proclaiming, “Mr President, Timor prays and waits for you.” His home was “cleansed of evil spirts” and nearby trees were whitewashed in anticipation of his arrival.
President Horta, a Nobel Peace prize winner, now plans to concentrate his efforts on solving East Timor’s poverty and creating a “zone of peace where all forms of violence are abandoned.”
When asked whether the President was concerned for his future safety, he replied, “No, God is on my side, the people of Timor are on my side.”
For more information, please see:
CNN.com — Commentary: How would-be assassin’s bullets changed me — 14 April 2008
The Sydney Morning Herald — Home exorcised as Ramos-Horta prepares to return — 14 April 2008
ABC News — Rock-star farewell expected for Ramos-Horta — 14 April 2008
Reuters, Asia — East Timor President Horta to return home Thursday — 13 April 2008
International Herald Tribune — East Timor president plans to return home this week after surviving assassination attempt — 13 April 2008
ABC News — Ramos Horta to return to E Timor — 13 April 2008
Macau Daily Times — East Timor president to return home next week — 13 April 2008
