DILI, 12 November 2025 (TATOLI) – President and Nobel Peace Laureate José Ramos-Horta has called on Timor-Leste’s young generation to honor the legacy of past sacrifices by shaping a future defined by peace, innovation, and progress.
In his message commemorating the 34th anniversary of the Santa Cruz Massacre and the 20th National Youth Day, President Ramos-Horta paid tribute to the courage of Timorese youth and urged them to continue building a resilient and forward-looking nation.
“On this 20th Anniversary of our National Youth Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all young Timorese across our beloved nation. Today we are guided by two powerful truths: the profound sacrifice of our past and the boundless potential of our future,” Ramos-Horta said.
He recalled that November 12, 1991, marked a defining moment in Timor-Leste’s struggle for independence when young people at the Santa Cruz Cemetery in Dili stood up against oppression. “The courage of our youth became a defining moment in our struggle. The world could no longer look away,” he said.
Ramos-Horta praised the work of British journalist Max Stahl, whose footage of the massacre “ignited a global conscience, amplifying our cry for freedom and proving that the martyrs of Santa Cruz did not die in vain.”
The President said that the legacy of Santa Cruz must now serve as “a torch of responsibility and opportunity passed to your hands” for the younger generation, the first to be born in an independent Timor-Leste.
“The youth of 1991 fought with courage for our right to determine our destiny. You, the youth of 2025, now hold the power to shape it,” he stated, emphasizing that the nation’s new arena is no longer conflict but “creation, innovation, and regional competition.”
With Timor-Leste now a full member of ASEAN, Ramos-Horta encouraged young people to seize new opportunities by mastering technology, embracing education, and becoming leaders across diverse fields.
“Be the generation that masters digital technology, becomes fluent in the languages of our region, drives entrepreneurship, raises the flag of Timor-Leste high as diplomats, engineers, scientists, and artists, embraces education, shuns the scourge of drugs, rejects the voices of division, eradicates malnutrition, and positions our nation as a beacon of peace and sustainable development,” he said.
Calling on youth to balance tradition with progress, Ramos-Horta added: “Preserve our rich culture while embracing positive change. Engage actively in your communities. Remember, you are not just the leaders of tomorrow – you are the changemakers of today.”
He concluded his message with a call for unity and hope: “The future of Timor-Leste in ASEAN belongs to you. Together, let us build a nation that is prosperous, peaceful, and progressive. May God bless our youth, and may God bless Timor-Leste.”
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
