The Conferral of Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy Honoris Causa on His Excellency Jose Ramos-Horta, Assumption University of Thailand

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2013-12-18
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eng
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The Conferral Ceremony of Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy Honoris Causa on His Excellency Jose Ramos-Horta Under-Secretary-General Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Head of the UN Integrated Peace Building Mission in Guinea-Bissau (West Africa) on December 18, 2013
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Global history at present witnesses people and events, some momentous, others disastrous. Universities on the other hand are centers of learning and training of scholars and the point at which global histories and university roles intersect, inspiration comes from great global personalities who stride the courses of their lives and live ebullient philosophies which inspire and lead others to realize the value of living through giving selflessly to the human communities. His Excellency Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Laureate and former President of East Timor is a pivotal example of a contributory leader-philosopher and it is fitting that Assumption University of Thailand recognize a Global leader for his inspirational catholic appeal.

Born on 26 December 1949 in Dili, East Timor, H.E. Jose Romos-Horta through his enduring passion and conviction in service above self, has been recognized through the following awards nationally, and globally: Order of Timor-Leste (2012), Order of Dom Boaventura (2006), Order of Freedom, from Portugal (1998), Order of Liberty, Grand Cross, from Portugal (1996), Nobel Peace Prize (1996), shared with his fellow countryman, Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, for their work towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor, and Orders from Portugal, Brazil, Cuba, Cape Verde, among other numerous international awards.

Balancing such achievements, H.E. Jose Ramos-Horta has achieved recognition and plaudits in academe with Doctor Honoris Causa from universities in Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Philipinnes, Brazil, Portugal, and USA. Such distinctions arise in the context of a consistent and impressive academic career which in summary can be enumerated as follows: H.E. Ramos-Horta is a Doctoral Candidate in International Relations at Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Peace Studies, Antioch University, Ohio, USA (1984). Additionally, H.E. Ramos-Horta has achieved an Advanced Diploma, Public Relations, Centro International de Marketing, from Colombia (1970-1974) and a Diploma, Executive Program, Leaders in Development, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA (1998). Complementing such a rich array of academic qualifications, H.E. Ramos-Horta completed post-graduate courses in American Foreign Policy, Columbia University, USA (1983), Public International Law, Hague Academy of International Law, the Netherlands (1983) and trained in Human Rights Law, International Institute of Human Rights, Strasbourg, France (1983). In 1987 he served as Senior Associate Member, International Relations, St. Antony's College, University of Oxford, UK.

Augmenting a diverse and yet incisive academic career, H.E. Jose Ramos-Horta is author to Books and other writings noteworthy among which are the following: FUNU: The Unfinished Saga of East Timor, Red Sea Press, Trenton, NJ, USA, (1987), Timor-Leste: Amanha em Dili, Dom Quixote, Lisbon, (1994), The Lost World of Timor-Leste, Ministry of Education, UNICEF, Dili, Timor-Leste (2010), a children's story book written with Patricia Vickers-Rich, and illustration by Peter Trusler. It is gratifying to note that amidst his various other engagements, our honoree has written extensively on international affairs for the International Herald Tribune, New York Times, Wallstreet Journal, Huffington Post, and the Bangkok Post, Thailand. We elicit through such work that H.E. Jose Ramos-Horta transcends borders and academic disciplines through speaking to diverse topical interests in a voice which does not only understand the cadences and nuances of human states but also brings into rich display languages from both native and acquired tongues among which H.E. Ramos-Horta uses: Tetum (the lingua franca of East Timorese) and Portuguese, fluent English, French and Spanish.

Any recognition worth its merit on an illustrious and generous life such as that of H.E. Ramos-Horta, must balance between the meditative aspect, the work of a gifted leader. As such, of more recent note is his role as Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, with the rank of Under Secretary of State to Guinea-Bissau in February 2013 to bring about reforms, constitutional order, democratization, respect for human rights and political rights, and most significantly, freeing the country from chronic coups and drug cartels. H.E. Ramos-Horta has accomplished the impossibly by restoring the State of Guinea-Bissau to its dignity and democracy within the targeted time frame of November 2013. H.E. Jose Ramos-Horta, the immediate former President of the Democratic Republic of East Timor (2007-2012), has lived a life of a gifted political statesman and has dedicatedly served his country as Prime Minister and simultaneously, Minister of Defence (2006-2007) and Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (2002-2006). More significantly however, when his nation emerged in its present shape, H.E. Ramos-Horta took up the portfolio of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Information, in the first Government proclaimed in December 1975 following Timor-Leste's Unilateral Declaration of Independence, and Representative, Spokesperson, for the Resistance (1975-1999).

Deriving therefore from a life so wholesome and yet one that has shined equally inspirationally in dark moments in the seeming obscurity of Timorese struggle for independence, and more recently in the West African State of Ginuea-Bissau, in the hallowed halls of learning, in the reverberating halls of parliament and on the stage of life itself, Assumption University of Thailand, in keeping with its core belief of Luceat Lux Vestra, "Let your light shine", bestows upon His Excellency Jose Ramos-Horta the title of Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy Honoris Causa on this Eighteenth Day of December, the Year of Our Lord, Twenty Thirteen.
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