- We want to build something together

Morten Harket is dreaming about making a holiday resort on East-Timor together with his good friend, President José Ramos-Horta.

- I am very optimistic by nature, so I'm thinking that he will be able to pull through this. I haven't wanted to imagine anything else, Morten Harket tells Dagbladet.

On Monday, President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao of East-Timor were victims of an assassination attempt. Gusmao escaped unhurt, but Ramos-Horta was severely injured when two bullets hit him in the stomach. He was flown to Australia for treatment, and his condition is reportedly no longer life-threatening.

Doctors reported yesterday that the president remains in a serious but stable condition.

- This attack is very serious because it almost killed the only hope for lasting peace and reconciliation on East-Timor. José and Xanana have a strong support among their people, and there is no other political alternative, Harket says - who as recently as last Friday received a friendly e-mail from Ramos-Horta through his manager Sigurjon Einarsson.

Stayed with the President
Morten Harket has been a friend of Ramos-Horta since 1993. By then, Harket had already become involved in East-Timor's fight against the Indonesian occupation.

- I met José while he was living in exile, and he also lived with me in London for a short period. I also helped him financially, since it was obvious that he lacked funds - even though he never talked about it, Harket says.

He last visited Ramos-Horta in East-Timor in May 2003, when the country celebrated its first independence day. During the visit, Harket stayed in Ramos-Horta's home, the same place where Ramos-Horta was attacked on Monday while talking a morning walk on the beach.

Harket visited the country together with a team, in order to talk to leading politicians about environmentally friendly energy politics.

- The country has large oil reserves, but we were there to make a case for more environmentally friendly solutions, Harket says.

East-Timor is dependent on foreign investments, and Ramos-Horta is actively working on making international contacts - on many levels.

- José has asked me on many occasions if I would be interested in establishing a small holiday resort on the island. Maybe together with him. It's absolutely possible that I will do that at some point in the future, Harket says.

He characterises the president as a funny, smart and inclusive friend.

- As a politician he is completely invaluable for East-Timor. He is experienced, and knows the codes of international politics. Ramos-Horta lived in exile, and worked for the liberation of East-Timor. An effort that awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize together with Bishop Carlos Belo in 1996. But Ramos-Horta's work for peace and independence has also come at a price, Harket feels.

- He has lived with an unstable situation his whole life. That has been a challenge for his family, and he has probably had limited time for being a father. That has been difficult for him, Harket says.

The country regained its independence in 2002, after having been under UN leadership for three years following the liberation from Indonesia in 1999.

East-Timor is a very poor country, and has not yet succeeded in creating stability after the liberation. 2006 saw large riots which caused 150.000 people to flee from their homes, and dozens of people were killed.

The wrong impression
The riots are supposed to have been led by Alfredo Reinado - the same man who organized the attacks against the president and prime minister on Monday, and who was killed himself in one of the attacks.

But Harket wants to make it clear that the current situation in the country is better than the impression left by the attacks.

- The assassins tried to create an image of chaos and unstability. They know that it will hurt the work being done by the official authorities. Right now, it's very important that the world is keeping an eye on East-Timor, Harket says.


Written by Geir Ramnefjell