(AseanAll) — President of the Republic of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Laureate, J. Ramos-Horta, bestowed the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste on the Fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Her Excellency Prof. DR (H.C.) Megawati Soekarnoputri, at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace in Dili, on July 9,2026.
The Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste is the nation’s highest honour, conferred upon Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri under the Decree of the President of the Republic No. 70/2026, in recognition of Ibu Megawati’s extraordinary contributions to fostering enduring friendship, dialogue, and cooperation between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, particularly during the critical period of normalization of bilateral relations following the restoration of independence of Timor-Leste.
Ibu Diah Permata Megawati Setiawati Sukarnoputri was president of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004, the country’s first and only female president. She previously served as the eighth vice president under President Dr. Abdurrahman Wahid, from 1999 to 2001. Ibu Megawati assumed the presidency after Wahid was impeached and removed from office in July 2001. Ibu Megawati is the founder and current leader of the
Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan (PDI-P), the nation’s largest political party, having led the organization since 1999. Before her presidency, she was a prominent opposition figure during the Suharto era, notably surviving a government-engineered removal from her party chairmanship in 1996 which sparked significant pro-democracy rebellion.
Ibu Megawati ran for re-election in 2004 and 2009, and was defeated both times by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. She remains a highly influential figure in Indonesian politics and was appointed head of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency in 2018.
Throughout her public career, Ibu Megawati has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly through the reconciliation process that followed Timor-Leste’s independence—a testament to the power of dialogue and regional cooperation as foundations for peace, stability, and sustainable development.
President Ramos-Horta stated: “Your Excellency Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri, by conferring the Order of Timor-Leste, we honor a leader who chose the difficult path—from symbol of hope during the Suharto era to President who, despite past defenses of territorial integrity, accepted Timor-Leste’s destiny, cooperated with the UN, normalized relations, and built the lasting foundation of our friendship, turning former adversaries into partners and borders into bridges; today we pay tribute to your political courage and vision, and on behalf of the State and People, I confer upon you the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste—may future generations preserve this shared heritage. Terima kasih banyak.”
In accepting the honour, Ibu Megawati in her remarks stated:
The Grand Collar is not just a medal; it is a chain that binds us. Each link supports the next. The friendship between Indonesia and Timor-Leste is a chain that must continue to stretch from one generation to the next, without ever being broken. To the young people of both nations, let me speak from the heart. You nherited something that we did not have in our youth: two friendly neighboring countries that have chosen to stand side by side as equal friends. Take care of it. As long as I have breath, I will continue to maintain this friendship. I believe those young hands will carry it forward — stronger, braver, and further than we can imagine today.
This honour serves not only as a tribute to Ibu Megawati’s personal statesmanship but also as a lasting symbol of the shared future that Timor-Leste and Indonesia are building together—one rooted in mutual respect, peace, and prosperity for generations to come.
