DILI, 18 august 2023 (TATOLI)—The President of the Republic (PR), José Ramos Horta, today, presented an award ‘Ordem de Timor-Leste’ medal, to the Timorese writer and winner of the 2023 Ocean Awards, Luis Cardoso de Noronha (Takas).
President Horta, in his remarks, said the writer Luis Cardoso deserved the medal because he had talent in writing the History of Timor-Leste in Portuguese, which is currently read by other Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP).
“Thank you for accepting the invitation to come to Timor-Leste, in his own homeland, where 20 years ago he exiled to Lisbon, Portugal, which was at that time a war,” President Ramos Horta said at the Presidential Palace in Dili.
Timorese writer and winner of the 2021 Oceanos Prize, Luis Cardoso de Noronha “Takas”, undertook very important work in the interests of Timor-Leste’s self-determination and independence, carrying out the representative functions of the National Council of Maubere Resistance (CNRM) in Portugal and, in that capacity, working directly with the CNRM special representative and Nobel Peace Prize winner, José Ramos-Horta, to be part of the East Timor Resistance delegation that Nelson Mandela received in Lisbon.
Meanwhile, Luis Cardoso also thanked the President of the Republic, who invited him to receive the award.
“I have written seven books, and currently these books have been translated into various languages, and the last book I wrote won the Literature Award in World Geophilia, which is called the winner of Oceans, where he approved me from Timor-Leste to be the winner among all the writers who speak Portuguese, from Portugal, Angola, Brazil, and Cabo Verde,” Author Takas claimed.
As a citizen of Timor-Leste, the writer Takas is very proud because he can make Timor-Leste famous in the world through literature, and he hopes that this can awaken the souls of the younger generation to become reliable writers.
“Ordem de Timor-Leste” was established through Decree Law No. 20/2009, May 6, to show, with prestige and dignity, the recognition of Timor-Leste citizens and foreigners who, in professional, social, or even spontaneous acts of heroism or altruism, have made a significant contribution to the interests of Timor-Leste, the Timorese people, or humanity.
Thus, the President of the Republic, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph j) of article number 85 of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, which is connected with article number 2 with paragraph a) of article number 5, decided: Timorese writer Luis Cardoso de Noronha “Takas”, winner of the 2021 Oceanos Prize, received the ‘Ordem de Timor-Leste’ medal.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
