Press Release
January 20, 2009

Loren, Ramos-Horta share view on 'sowing seed of peace'

Nobel Peace Laureate and Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta had affirmed a position expressed by Senator Loren Legarda that it is everyone's responsibility to sow the seeds of peace by respecting basic human rights and following the rule of law.

Ramos-Horta observed during his recent lecture in the Bridges Forum of the De La Salle University that long-lasting peace is an attainable dream, maybe in 50 years or so. Loren and Ramos-Horta met during the lecture which also saw the conferment by De La Salle to the latter of a Doctor of Humanities degree, honoris causa.

The visiting peace advocate stressed that in cases of discord, the protection of human rights must be the paramount concern of all parties involved and that violence or the use of force must never be resorted to, adding that doing away with weapons is a big stake in attaining peace.

For her part, Loren pointed out that it is the lack of justice, social inequality, gross poverty and lack of upward mobility for people that cause dissatisfaction feeding the fires of discontent. On the drawn-out insurgency problem in the country, Loren said the "mailed fist" or violent approach will not solve it.

"We should focus on resolving the real problems and put forth real solutions, such as the delivery of equal justice, social amelioration and a healthy economy. As poverty and abuse of human rights continue to persist especially in war-torn Mindanao, the fires of conflict will continue to be fed," said Loren.

"Government must take the appropriate action and take special caution in its all-out war against terrorism," she added.

President Horta also emphasized the need for media to be responsible in delivering reports about the conflict as wrong information can aggravate situations and even put at harm's way the innocent.

In an earlier lecture at Ateneo de Davao, Ramos-Horta urged Filipinos to attain peace by their own efforts and not to rely on Malaysians and others to attain it for them.

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