Nobel Peace Laureate Ends 24-Year Exile From E. Timor

DILI, East Timor — Ending 24 years of exile, Nobel Peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta made a triumphant return Wednesday to his homeland, where thousands of supporters greeted him with chants of “Viva Ramos-Horta!”

“I am overwhelmed--very, very happy,” Ramos-Horta said upon arrival in Dili, East Timor’s capital.

He played down his role in East Timor’s fight for independence from Indonesia. In an emotional speech, Ramos-Horta--banned from East Timor after he accused Indonesian troops who invaded in 1975 of atrocities--paid tribute to those who remained in the territory during the long struggle.

The crowd cheered as he called for reconciliation, asking East Timorese to show tolerance toward Indonesians who want to return to the territory, which voted for independence in an Aug. 30 referendum.

Also Wednesday, nearly 20,000 people raised a rebel flag in Indonesia’s eastern province of Irian Jaya as Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid embarked on a trip to China despite the tension at home.

But Wahid said he did not rule out repression to end unrest that threatens to tear Indonesia apart, citing Irian Jaya, which is on the western side of New Guinea, troubled Aceh province in northern Sumatra and the island of Ambon.