NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE ACCUSES AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST OF PRACTISING GUTTER JOURNALISM

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Senior Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta reacted today to an article published in the Murdoch-owned ultraconservative daily paper The Australian in which an unemployed former reporter alleges that the government of Timor- Leste might seek weapons from the communist regime of North Korea. (See "Korean Guns for Timor", The Australian, 22 Dec 2003).

The story originated with the visit to Dili in November by the Canberra-based North Korean Ambassador for the signing of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Timor- Leste entertains diplomatic relations with more than 80 countries.

While in Dili, the North Korean diplomat paid the usual courtesy calls on a number of Government officials. He did not ask for, and did not meet, with the Minister of Internal Administration, Mr. Rogerio Lobato, who is mentioned in the article. The reporter did not make any effort to contact Minister Rogerio Lobato or the media officers in the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister's offices.

The full itinerary of the visiting diplomat as is the case of all other official visitors is a matter of public record.

Speaking to a group of local and foreign press, Dr. Ramos-Horta said: "The story is one of the most biased, irresponsible and unethical piece of journalism I have ever seen, exceeding even the Australian own famed tradition of gutter journalism ".

Dr. Ramos-Horta, a former journalist and whose opinion articles have been published in newspapers like the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The International Herald Tribune. Sydney Morning Herald. among others, said:

"The only source for the article is a so-called Dili-based diplomat who was not referred to by name. We are assuming that the reporter did actually talk to a diplomat and did not simply make up the quote. If we assume that the alleged Dili-based diplomat actually exists and has concerns of such nature, serious and substantiated, then we are the more puzzled that these concerns have not been raised with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of this country by the said diplomat. It seems that the said diplomat prefers to speculate and engage in rumors than in fulfilling his/her normal diplomatic duties ".

Dr. Ramos-Horta further said: "The North Korean diplomat who visited Dili is actually based in Canberra and is also accredited to New Zealand. Are we to think that Australia and New Zealand are receiving weapons from North Korea? Why is it normal for Australia to have diplomatic ties with countries like North Korea, China, etc while developing countries are always regarded with suspicion when they chose to diversify their relations?"

"Timor-Leste enjoys fraternal relations with countries like Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, India, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Japan, China. We also have very good relations with the US, Portugal, Spain, Italy, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, New Zealand, etc.”

"We have established diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Does this mean there is an intention on our part to seek Iranian nuclear technology and capacity to develop WMDs?"

"This kind of writing and rational verges on racism as it implies that developing countries are not able to think and have responsible and mature relations with other countries. "