Ivo Mateus Goncalves da Cruz Fernandes

Timorese Activist Nelson Roldão poses with a West Papuan ‘noken’. Zevonia Vieira

With pope’s visit, Timor‑Leste must shine a light on its democratic ideals – not intolerance for dissent

Timor-Leste is proud of being rated as the strongest democracy in Southeast Asia, but as it prepares to receive Pope Francis, tensions between activists and the authorities are rising.

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