DILI, 03 may 2025 (TATOLI) —President of the Republic (PR), José Ramos Horta, stated that although Timor-Leste’s global press freedom index ranking dropped from 20 to 39 in 2025, there are currently no issues regarding press freedom in the country.
“Timor-Leste continues to enjoy total press freedom. There are no problems with press freedom in Timor-Leste, and there is no government interference. Over the past 20 years, I have never heard of journalists or media outlets being shut down due to government interference, nor have I heard of journalists being imprisoned. I have never encountered such a case,” President José Ramos Horta said to journalists at Plaza on Saturday.
According to PR Horta, over the past 20 years, journalists and media in Timor-Leste have not faced any issues or interference from the government.
“I don’t know why the ranking dropped, but as journalists in the country, you would know better because you experience press freedom firsthand. However, based on my observations, I see no issues with press freedom. If someone is providing impartial information to organizations abroad, I am not aware of it, and therefore, I cannot comment on it,” he stated.
The Head of State emphasized that Timor-Leste, as a democratic nation, does not impose restrictions on press freedom.
For this reason, he urged journalists to protest against Timor-Leste’s declining press freedom index ranking this year, arguing that press freedom in the country is not restricted.
“There is a possibility that certain individuals within organizations are politicizing the results because they come from different political parties,” he remarked.
PR Horta also pointed out that journalists in Timor-Leste enjoy significantly greater press freedom compared to those in other countries such as Gaza, Israel, Myanmar, and others, where many journalists have lost their lives while covering news.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
