MIYC missive to Timor-Leste calls for world peace
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 23 2025: In a letter greeting the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste President Dr Jos� Ramos-Horta on its 23rd anniversary of hard-won independence held on May 20, the Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) has called upon all nations and the United Nations to join in a global plea to cease all hostilities and give peace a chance.

"The scourge of conflict whether in Timor Leste, Palestine, Manipur, or elsewhere inflicts deep wounds that echo across generations.

It is time for the international community to reaffirm the principles of human dignity, justice, self-determination, complete decolonisation and the peaceful resolution of disputes," wished the MIYC letter signed by its coordinator MC Meetei.

The letter said, "We recall with reverence the long and painful struggle of the Timorese people against colonial occupation.

For centuries, East Timor was administered as a Portuguese territory until 1975, when the abrupt withdrawal of Portugal plunged the island into uncertainty.

In the pre-dawn hours of December 7, 1975, Indonesian forces launched a massive invasion to annex East Timor, initiating a military occupation that lasted from 1975 until the 1999 ballot that finally determined Timor Leste's future.

During those twenty four years of freedom struggle, the resilience of your people shone through in the face of grave human rights violations, estimated to have claimed the lives of over 180,000 Timorese men, women, and children" .

It also recalled that the international community's eventual intervention, under United Nations auspices, paved the way for Timor Leste's formal independence on May, 20, 2002 .

"Your Excellency, your own personal journey has inspired millions around the globe.

As co-recipient, alongside Bishop Carlos Belo, of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, you played a pivotal role in mobilising international opinion and advocating a peaceful resolution to the conflict in East Timor.

Your tireless diplomacy and untiring commitment to dialogue helped lay the foundations for the withdrawal of occupying forces and the establishment of self-determination for the Timorese people," it noted.

"At MIYC, we draw strength from Timor Leste's example as we bear witness to the unrest in our own homeland since India's takeover of Manipur on 15th October 1949.Today, in Manipur, the simmering tensions between communities have erupted into violence that eerily mirrors situations like that in Palestine under Israeli occupation.

The imposition of frequent, prolonged internet shutdowns - intended to stem the tide of misinformation - has instead severed both community members and humanitarian organisations from essential communication networks.

During these blackouts, aid workers have struggled to coordinate relief, and IDP victims in the relief camps have found themselves isolated from medical assistance and legal recourse," the letter highlighted.

"Today, on your nation's independence anniversary, we salute the enduring spirit of the Timorese people and the leadership you have provided in steering your young democracy through its formative years.

We also pay tribute to your unshakable belief in the power of peace, dialogue, and reconciliation a belief that was rightfully honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize," it added.

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