In this Compass special, journalist Indira Naidoo goes on a remarkable journey to Timor-Leste, guided by President Jose Ramos-Horta. Indira, who previously reported on the country, is now visiting this new nation, accompanied by an old friend. President Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was instrumental in Timor-Leste’s independence, which Indira covered as a young journalist in the 1990s.
During their trip through the diverse landscape, Indira learns about the advancements and difficulties faced by the world’s newest democracy. Her conversations with the President give a unique perspective on his personal history and the sacrifices that influenced the nation’s path. He invites her to the Presidential Palace, where she sees his initiatives to tackle childhood malnutrition, and she also goes behind the scenes of his weekly TV show, ‘The President Horta Show’.
Timor-Leste, one of the poorest countries, has a significant proportion of its population living in poverty. Indira finds out that many people lack access to essential needs such as housing, clean water, and adequate food. Despite these challenges, the people of Timor-Leste are deeply religious, with 98% practicing Catholicism, often combined with animist beliefs. Indira is given the rare chance to observe sacred animist rituals.
With a median age of just 21, Timor-Leste has a youthful population. Indira discovers that while the country’s youth are patriotic, they also have concerns about its future. The country’s dependence on finite oil and gas funds and its aging leaders are issues for the younger generation, including worries about President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
Compass: Indira’s Journey to Timor-Leste with the President airs on Sunday, 18 August 2024, at 6:30 pm on ABC Australia.
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