East Timor celebrates independence anniversary, new leader

By GANTRY MEILANA
Associated Press

DILI, East Timor (AP) — Former East Timor independence fighter and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta has been sworn in as president of Asia’s youngest country as it marks its 20th anniversary of independence. Crowds cheered as he then traveled by motorcade to Parliament, where a ceremony kicked off nationwide festivities commemorating independence from Indonesia, which invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975. Ramos-Horta, who led the resistance during Indonesia’s occupation, called for unity as he took the oath of office shortly before midnight, when the country declared independence 20 years ago. East Timor’s transition to a democracy has been rocky, with leaders battling massive poverty, unemployment, corruption and bitter factional politics that have occasionally erupted into violence.