JosČ Ramos-Horta has not seen his homeland, East Timor, for more than 20 years. A military invasion by Indonesia in 1975 has kept him from returning to the tiny island located just north of Australia. During that time, reports of human rights abuses and torture against the people of East Timor have proliferated.

Since his exile, Ramos-Horta has been a leader in the struggle to end the oppression in East Timor, using non-violence and dialogue to bring about a peaceful solution. In 1994, Ramos-Horta organized a public meeting between pro-independence activists and the foreign minister of Indonesia, bringing together the opposing factions for the first time since the military takeover.

Because of his efforts on behalf of East Timor, Ramos-Horta was awarded the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize. The award is shared with fellow activist Felipe Ximenes Belo.

Ramos-Horta will discuss his involvement in the East Timoran struggle at a lecture scheduled Tuesday, March 4. "Toward a Peaceful Resolution of the Conflict in East Timor" begins at noon and takes place in the Chevron Auditorium at International House.

Free tickets to the event are available