Travelling to Parnell Square in a motorcade led by rows of uniformed gardaí, the president of the now-independent nation of Timor-Leste stopped last Monday to lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance.
The ceremony was a short one, and attracted a small crowd of curious onlookers, but it marked an important moment for the leader of a country that owes much to the efforts of Irish people.
President José Ramos-Horta was in Dublin for a two-day official state visit, during which he met with President Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power.
Dr Horta is the second president of Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, since it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 following years of violent clashes. A co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, he was shot last year during an assassination attempt.
He has praised Ireland in the past for its assistance in Timor-Leste’s lengthy effort to gain independence.
Pat Carey, Government chief whip Minister of State to the Taoiseach, said Timorese leader’s visit was in part to thank Ireland because it “played a significant role in the emergence of Timor-Leste”.
Carey also gave credit to Tom Hyland, the former bus driver from Ballyfermot who began campaigning for the rights of the Timorese people in 1999 after watching a documentary on their plight.
Hyland – who is known widely in Timor-Leste as ‘Mr Tom’ for his relentless lobbying of the Irish Government for aid – was hired in 2005 by the Timor-Leste government to work in its foreign office.
President Ramos-Horta’s visit to Ireland began with a ceremonial welcome at Áras an Uachtaráin. He also received an honorary Doctor of Law degree from University College Dublin in recognition of his dedication to securing independence for Timor-Leste, and attended a reception at Farmleigh House.
