DILI, 13 July 2026 (TATOLI) – President of the Republic, Jose Ramos-Horta joined mourners in Dili today to pay a final, emotional tribute to Paula Pinto, describing her as one of the most dedicated and “coherent” friends of Timor-Leste’s independence.
During the funeral ceremony, the President highlighted Paula Pinto’s 50-year journey with the Timorese people, noting that while she was a professional translator for the European Union, she always found time to serve the resistance behind the scenes.
Ramos-Horta, who visited Paula Pinto and her partner Roque Rodrigues just days before her passing, praised her preference for “the last row” and the “penumbra,” emphasizing that her lifelong service was defined by profound discretion rather than a search for recognition.
Paula Pinto’s most critical contribution occurred during the high-stakes final phase of the Indonesian occupation. In early 1999, she traveled alone to Jakarta to establish the support office for the imprisoned leader Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, becoming a vital link for international diplomacy and logistics.
Alongside Kirsty Sword and Natacha Meden, she formed the trio affectionately dubbed “Charlie’s Angels” by the international press, managing the complex communications that led to the 1999 Popular Consultation.
She was also instrumental in the secret, high-security operation that ensured Xanana Gusmão’s safe journey to Darwin following the referendum.
After the restoration of independence in 2002, Paula Pinto remained in Timor-Leste, dedicating the last 24 years of her life to building the new nation as a trusted administrator and advisor for the CNRT.
The President noted that she was a rare figure of unwavering integrity who earned respect across all political lines.
“She made our cause the cause of her own life,” Ramos-Horta concluded, affirming that while Paula Pinto avoided the spotlight, her name and “silent contribution” are now permanently etched into the history of Timor-Leste’s journey toward freedom.
TATOLI
