Jose Ramos-Horta Interview Response

Jose Ramos-Horta interview on the Diplomata Program

For those who do not know the life story of Nobel Laureate Jose Ramos-Horta, the Diplomata interview from 9 May provides an excellent overview of one of the founding fathers of Timor-Leste. Given his position in the history of the country, he is an ideal position to provide important guidance and perspective on what course of action Timor-Leste should take during the COVID-19 crisis. Jose Ramos-Horta has the big picture of the country in mind, and he approaches this challenge with the wisdom of both a local and global perspective.

Over the years, I have often found myself sharing his optimistic views for the country when others doubted if it would succeed in independence. COVID-19 has brought the world together to fight a common foe, so this time, Timor-Leste is not alone in crisis. In the final five minutes of the Diplomata interview, Ramos-Horta says that COVID-19 provides us with an opportunity to reshape aspects of the world that needed to change. An unashamedly idealistic, internationalist perspective.

But, first, there are local issues to be resolved. So far, Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak and his Council of Ministers have implemented hugely successful strategies that have contained COVID-19. They closed borders, particularly the Indonesian land border, swiftly, established an isolation space, and have medical infrastructure in place. If they continue on this trajectory, they will be one of the global success stories of this period. 

The Government agreed upon a COVID-19 financial assistance package that will help the country through the inevitable economic downturn. The strategy is promising and political parties have risen above partisan squabbles and worked together to do what is best for their people and the country. They now need to deliver this package, and soon. 

Minister Fidelis Magalhães wrote in The Diplomat magazine, that the total value of the financial assistance package is around ten per cent of GDP; meaning their spend is in line with other developed economies. I believe the package should be rolled out similarly to those of developed nations – supporting employees, through wage assistance, not only via direct Government welfare payments. 

Forms are now available, giving the option of payments to be sent directly to employees bank account from the Government or to be paid through their employer. The process is similar to Australia’s JobKeeper payment but includes a sensible element of flexibility given that not all employees have banks accounts in Timor-Leste. 

The ease of delivering financial assistance will vary across the country. A large number of people, particularly in Dili and the larger villages have internet access, so direct communication is possible. Veteran’s in villages across the country already line up to receive their welfare payments, so the financial delivery infrastructure is in place in many areas. Remote areas will be more difficult to manage, but it is not an insurmountable problem. 

It has now been three weeks since the Government announced the economic support package and the wheels are turning. This package must be transparent, accountable, simple to understand, and most importantly, fair for community and business alike. To achieve all these things, due diligence needs to be rigorous, but there is also an urgency to deliver so that the economy remains buoyant and people have money to put food on their tables. I pray we will now see the Government set aside bureaucratic hurdles and protect the economy by rolling-out this assistance package, with a sense of urgency.

Using the momentum from the economic assistance package and now having a majority coalition, assuming there are no legal hurdles, the Government also appears to be in a perfect position to pass the national budget, which has been in a stalemate for almost three years. 

There is no doubt these are momentous tasks, but as Jose Ramos-Horta said in his interview, at this time we need brave leaders that show ‘audacious, courageous, visionary leadership’. I believe Timor-Leste has the right people in place, and evidence from the past month suggests that the Government is on the right path to deliver such leadership at this challenging time.