DILI, 04 May 2026 (TATOLI) — Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta marked World Press Freedom Day on Saturday by urging stronger global protections for journalists, saying press freedom is essential to peace, human rights, and national security.
On this year’s observance, held under the theme “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security,” Ramos-Horta said peace cannot exist without truth.
“Peace is not a passive truce. It is an active, daily construction and it cannot be built without truth. And truth cannot be told without a free, independent, and courageous press,” he said in a statement.
Ramos-Horta warned that journalists around the world are increasingly under threat, including intimidation, censorship, forced exile, and targeted attacks, while misinformation continues to spread rapidly across digital platforms.
“Today, our world is fractured. Journalists are targeted, silenced, or forced into exile. Disinformation floods our digital commons, turning citizens against each other and weakening the very idea of a shared reality.”
He said press freedom has become “a pillar of human rights, a driver of development, and a non-negotiable condition for lasting security.”
Reflecting on Timor-Leste’s history, Ramos-Horta said the country understands the consequences of silencing the press.
“In Timor-Leste, our young nation knows the cost of silence. We know that without accountability, without the light of honest reporting, the seeds of violence are sown. Today, despite our challenges, we have chosen the path of democratic transparency.”
He pointed to international press freedom rankings as evidence of progress, noting that Timor-Leste continues to lead Southeast Asia in media freedom.
“Timor-Leste stands as a beacon of press freedom in Asia. In the most recent World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Timor-Leste ranks 30th out of 180 countries — the highest in Southeast Asia, ahead of many of our larger neighbors.”
Ramos-Horta said the ranking reflects the country’s commitment to democratic openness, but warned that press freedom must be protected in practice, not only in statistics.
“This ranking is also a testament to our unwavering commitment to the principle that a free media is a pillar of national security. We must ensure this freedom is not just a statistic, but a daily reality for every editor, reporter, and citizen journalist in every municipality.”
He also called for stronger protection for journalists facing threats and intimidation. “We must continue to protect journalists from threats. A future at peace is shaped by many hands — but it is the journalist’s pen that writes its first honest draft.”
Ramos-Horta closed his message by urging media professionals to continue their work in holding power to account. “To the brave men and women of the Timorese media: continue to question, to investigate, and to speak truth.”
“On this World Press Freedom Day, let us celebrate how far we have come. But let us also recommit to the journey ahead — toward a Timor-Leste, and a world, where every voice can be heard, and where freedom builds the only peace that lasts.”
TATOLI
