Words by Raia Flinos • Image by Gary Sissons •August 20 2025
ON his official visit to Australia last week, President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta recognised the longstanding relationship between Timor-Leste and Australia.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate reflected on the past 25 years of friendship between the two countries in an interview with The News.
“The 25 years of history of Timor-Leste [and Australia] is full of chapters that are good to celebrate and tragic situations that we cannot forget.” Ramos-Horta said.
He spoke candidly about the killings of the Balibo Five, which took place 50 years ago, and their impact on Australia and Timor-Leste’s relationship.
The Balibo five were a group of Australian journalists, including Greg Shackleton, who were killed by Indonesian forces on 16 October 1975, when they were covering the lead-up to the invasion of Timor-Leste.
Ramos-Horta spent the days leading up to their deaths with them and recalls sleeping on cement floors and sharing bottles of wine. As he was leaving, he wamed them of the dangers and urged them to leave for their safcty.
“They said no, we came here to film some action,” he said. “So, they declined to leave, and I left and then October 16 happened.”
Ramos-Horta said their deaths were unnecessary, but they were not in vain.
“These were young journalists who had zero connection with politics of Timor-Leste. They were not anti-Indonesia,” he said. “It was totally unnecessary to have killed them.”
The president said their deaths were a turning point in the relationship between Timor-Leste and Australia.
“The killings ignited anger and inspiration and a sense of duty, of responsibility on the part of Australians, to speak out and to keep the Timor-Leste struggles on their agenda,” Ramos-Horta said.
Every year, Ramos-Horta makes a point to attend commemorations of the Balibo Five. He made note of the grief their families had to endure, particularly Greg Shackleton’s wife, who spent years searching for the truth before her passing.
Ramos-Horta spoke on the role of the media and journalism in global affairs.
“In general, media is extremely important. And when I say media, I mean free press. Freedom of expression is important,” Ramos-Horta said.
He said it is important governments be held accountable for their actions.
“When we criticise a particular government, we aren’t criticising the people of the country. We are not criticising the whole country, we are criticising particular policies, particular actions,” he said.
Ramos-Horta acknowledged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s plan for Australia to recognise Palestine as a state at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
“[Timor-Leste) already recognised way back in 2004,” he said. “We are ready to reaffirm recognition of the Palestinian state.”
Ramos-Horta highlighted the need for people to understand the difference between criticising actions and criticising people.
“When we criticise what is happening in Gaza, the extreme violence by Israel against the Palestinians, we are criticising that action. We are not criticising Israeli people or Jewish people,” he said. “We will continue to recognise the legitimacy of Israel, the need for Israel’s safety and security and we continue to criticise and to condemn Hamas and the killings of innocent people.”
Ramos-Horta fought for Timor-Leste’s independence for decades and continues to actively shape and influence the nation’s future. He said he is appreciative of the support Australia has shown Timor-Leste over the past 25 years and hopes the spirit of solidarity will continue between the two nations.
Home 