President José Ramos-Horta Reflects on Peacebuilding and ASEAN’s Future at ERIA Leadership Lecture

Jakarta, 2 June 2026: The ERIA School of Government hosted H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, for the fourth ERIA School of Government Leadership Lecture Series in Jakarta.

The lecture featured an interactive dialogue on the theme 'Leadership in Dangerous Times: Human Rights, Nation-Building, and Regional Diplomacy.' Drawing on his experience as a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, diplomat, and one of the key figures in Timor-Leste's journey to independence and state-building, President Ramos-Horta shared reflections on leadership, reconciliation, and regional co-operation in an increasingly complex world.

In his opening remarks, Professor Nobuhiro Aizawa, Dean and Managing Director of the ERIA School of Government, welcomed President Ramos-Horta and highlighted the importance of learning directly from leaders who have navigated major political and historical transitions.

'Timor-Leste provides a profound model of peace and reconciliation. It is a reminder of what leadership can do, where adversarial history can be transformed into a collaborative future,' said Prof. Aizawa. 'This transition, defined by a thoughtful transformation from reconciliation to active friendship, is the cornerstone of the regional stability we enjoy today. Without the reconciliation and friendship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia, we would not have the Southeast Asia we enjoy today. It is precisely this model that informs our optimistic outlook on Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN and its growing integration within the region.'

Prof. Aizawa also emphasised the importance of preserving leadership experiences for future generations.

'At the ERIA School of Government, we believe that sharing these invaluable experiences is essential to nurturing a future generation of leaders and restoring institutional confidence in the region. The finest leadership experiences of Southeast Asia have often been underappreciated and understudied. President Ramos-Horta's leadership journey offers exceptional lessons for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars alike,' he added.

Tetsuya Watanabe, President of ERIA, underscored the importance of learning from leaders who have shaped the region's modern history.

'Future leaders should learn not only from books, policy papers, and classrooms, but also from those who have experienced history firsthand and helped shape it,' said President Watanabe. 'President Ramos-Horta's lifelong commitment to peace, diplomacy, and regional co-operation offers valuable lessons that remain highly relevant today. At a time of growing global uncertainty, his experiences remind us of the importance of dialogue, trust-building, reconciliation, and international co-operation.'

During the lecture, President Ramos-Horta reflected on Timor-Leste's long journey from conflict to independence and its efforts to build lasting peace with its neighbours. Drawing from decades of diplomatic engagement, he emphasised that reconciliation requires political courage, patience, and a willingness to look beyond the grievances of the past.

'True regional stability is not merely the absence of hostility, but the result of deliberate, inclusive efforts to transform historical adversaries into sustainable partners,' he said.

Reflecting on relations between Timor-Leste and Indonesia, President Ramos-Horta highlighted reconciliation as one of the region's most significant peacebuilding achievements. He recalled the contributions of Indonesian leaders, including B.J. Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid, and Megawati Soekarnoputri, during Timor-Leste's transition to independence and stressed that friendship and co-operation ultimately proved stronger than conflict.

'Never once in our struggle was a single Indonesian civilian targeted,' he said, emphasising that even during periods of conflict, Timor-Leste's leadership sought to preserve the foundations for future reconciliation.

President Ramos-Horta noted that the spirit of reconciliation extended beyond political agreements and was reflected in the relationship between the peoples of both countries.

'Not a single Timorese felt discrimination,' he said, recalling the support and acceptance many Timorese received in Indonesia during and after the transition period.

President Ramos-Horta also discussed the importance of national reconciliation, arguing that sustainable peace cannot be achieved through revenge or division. Instead, societies must find ways to acknowledge the past while creating opportunities to move forward together.

'We went for national reconciliation,' he said, describing the approach taken by Timor-Leste following independence.

Beyond Timor-Leste's own experience, President Ramos-Horta addressed ongoing conflicts in Myanmar and the Middle East. He reiterated his long-held belief that dialogue and sustained diplomatic engagement remain essential for resolving even the most difficult conflicts, while cautioning against approaches that prioritise confrontation over reconciliation.

Looking ahead to Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN, President Ramos-Horta expressed confidence that the country could contribute its own experience in reconciliation, dialogue, and peacebuilding to the regional community.

'ASEAN has demonstrated that countries with different histories, cultures, and political systems can work together in pursuit of common goals,' he said. 'Timor-Leste hopes to contribute its own experience in reconciliation and nation-building as we deepen our engagement with the region.'

The event was attended by diplomats, government officials, academics, and policy experts, reaffirming the ERIA School of Government's commitment to cultivating future leaders and advancing dialogue on peace, governance, and regional co-operation across Southeast Asia.