para informar.
Dos leitores:
President Xanana, the charismatic leader of Timor-Leste can put a stop to all this with another hour and a half speech to the nation. But the fact that he is not doing anything to prevent this kinds of attack make me suspicious about his integrity. Where is the national unity he has been preaching?...
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Por
Malai Azul 2
à(s)
12:32
"Apesar de frágil, Timor-Leste é uma jovem democracia em que acreditamos. É o país que escolhemos para viver e trabalhar. Desde dia 28 de Abril muito se tem dito sobre a situação em Timor-Leste. Boatos, rumores, alertas, declarações de países estrangeiros, inocentes ou não, têm servido para transmitir um clima de conflito e insegurança que não corresponde ao que vivemos. Vamos tentar transmitir o que se passa aqui. Não o que ouvimos dizer... "
This is my blogchalk: Timor, Timor-Leste, East Timor, Dili, Portuguese, English, Malai Azul, politica, situação, Xanana, Ramos-Horta, Alkatiri, Conflito, Crise, ISF, GNR, UNPOL, UNMIT, ONU, UN.
35 comentários:
This statement is absolutely untrue. No matter his charisma, Xanana has no control over the actions of these criminal elements that are still acting on their own agendas.
To credit Xanana with so much power and influence is merely to blame him for their criminal action. Whoever wrote this comment could not be more transparent in his/her intention to discredit President Xanana and won't fool anyone.
Anonymous of 2:46:30, you are wrong when you say that Xanana has no control over the actions of these criminal elements! Who was controlling the likes of Reinado, Salsinhas and RaiLos! Answer: XANANA.
What he did not expect was the ramifications of the undemocratically removal of the government of Mari Alkatiri. Mari is gone, but the troubles have not!
Who wanted Mari's scalp? Who demanded Mari to step down?
Xanana! So he is the one that will be blamed and correctly for the aftermath of his actions.
Fote Make Riba
Anonymous of 2:46:30, you are wrong when you say that Xanana has no control over the actions of these criminal elements! Who was controlling the likes of Reinado, Salsinhas and RaiLos! Answer: XANANA.
What he did not expect was the ramifications of the undemocratically removal of the government of Mari Alkatiri. Mari is gone, but the troubles have not!
Who wanted Mari's scalp? Who demanded Mari to step down?
Xanana! So he is the one that will be blamed and correctly for the aftermath of his actions.
Fote Make Riba
Anonymous of 2:46:30, you are wrong when you say that Xanana has no control over the actions of these criminal elements! Who was controlling the likes of Reinado, Salsinhas and RaiLos! Answer: XANANA.
What he did not expect was the ramifications of the undemocratically removal of the government of Mari Alkatiri. Mari is gone, but the troubles have not!
Who wanted Mari's scalp? Who demanded Mari to step down?
Xanana! So he is the one that will be blamed and correctly for the aftermath of his actions.
Fote Make Riba
"To credit Xanana with so much power and influence is merely to blame him for their criminal action. Whoever wrote this comment could not be more transparent in his/her intention to discredit President Xanana and won't fool anyone. "
Xanana was speaking at the rally which the same people participated and yelled "kill all lorosae" people.
Fote Make Riba, your judgement toward Xanana is completely wrong and has no strong evidence. How much time did Portugal need to establize democracy upon removal of Salazar's regime? Although Mari is gone, the continuing troubles are the consequences of what Mari had contributed in his policies.
anonymous 3:59.01 pm
Be careful with your judgement. The truth will be known soon! Be patient!
Não tenho dúvidas de que não é Xanana quem controla estes bandidos, mas começo a achar que já era tempo de, publicamente, Xanana denunciar estes comportamentos criminosos e desestabilizadores.
In response to 3:59:01 PM
"the continuing troubles are the consequences of what Mari had contributed in his policies."
Thats a load of crap. Don't try and shift the blame back to Mari. Mari, having already resigned, has taken his share of the responsibility for the crisis. Its time Xanana stepped up to the plate and resolved the crisis which he helped to aggrevate (some would argue that he was behind an alleged coup attempt- although this is unproven).
This crisis has as much to do with Xanana's unequivocal position in relation to the soldiers and rebels (including Railos and Reinaldo) as it has to do with the sacking of a third of the army (a decision which was generally supported by the President, JRH and the government). All East Timorese leaders must take their share of the responsibility, including the President. Get some perspective.
you asked who wanted Mari to go?
THE PEOPLE OF EAST TIMOR. His goverment was corrupt, incompetent and arrogant. Who are fightinhg? the unemployed and poor people he created. Who fomented divisions? His policies and behaviour. His ministers who were incompetent and corrupt.Don't blame Xanana for Mari's incompetence, he didn't have any executive powers.
Exactly! Next these fretilin diehards are going to blame the President for not GOVERNING properly. What a joke you guys are. As far as I can remember the former and current governments are fretilin governments. Wasn't Mari the one who insisted till the last minute that he was in control of the whole situation? Well he wasn't and became a "victim" of his own shortcomings.
It is laughable that you now blame the President for all the frustration that people bottled up for the last 4 years of Mari's government.
Crap to this statement. He cannot control anything. He cannot even control his cognative functions because of the pain killers he takes for his back injury. The sooner we realise this instead of thinking there will be this magic wand the sooner we can all help the East Timorese. He thought he could manage events by pricking here and there and managing events...like he pricked here and there the youth during the Indonesian Invasion and unnceccessarily caused the death of hundreds of students during the Santa Cruz massacre (an event Bishop Belo writes was avoidable except for Xanana's insistence that it go on) to get his desired outcomes. Well... he has lost control of things. Xanana often preached the straegy of smashing things you do not like as the only means of rebuilding what you want. Tara and others are still armed out there right now roaming around Covalima and Bobonaro districts. His instruments for smashing (in a controlled fashion) the things he did not like have not worked. He lost control of the way things went. And now.....like an uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction....things are heading for a meltdown...unless the forces of law and order crack down on these rebels and anarchists who challenge this state. But we cannot do the job we have been sent here to do...because others may well want things to smashed up...others in other countries and the diplomats control the agendas.
anonimo 5:59:56 PM
"you asked who wanted Mari to go?
THE PEOPLE OF EAST TIMOR.
You call 1/2 dozen cats "PEOPLE"? There are close 1 million people in ET? Do you really think that 2000 or 3000 was justified to remove a democratically elected government?
Facto 1: Lamentavelmente, o PR instigou e incendiou sentimentos dormentes como os que se expressam actualmente.
Facto 2: A prova de que uma palavra de calma do PR pode atenuar a violencia já foi vivida no passado e vice-versa, pois também já acerrou comportamentos. Quem afirmou que a palavra do PR pode parar a violência foram os próprios que a provocam!
Facto 3: a esmagadora maioria das pessoas não distinguem as competências do PR e do Governo e apenas encaram os 'erros cometidos pela liderança'.
Facto 4: O Governo de Mari Alakatiri foi avaliado pela comunidade internacional, em particular os parceiros de desenvolvimento. Acho espantoso que os anónimos deste Blog afirmem com enorme irresponsabilidade e tão trivialmente que o Governo chefiado por Mari ALkatiri era 'incompetente', etc.
Facto 5: Não foi o Povo de Timor-Leste que afirmou que queria o fim do I Governo Constitucional. A afirmação de que foi é sinónimo de afirmar que o Povo de Timor-Leste é um vasto bando de criminosos! Não será mais sensato aguardar as eleições de 2007 para ouvir o que o Povo tem a dizer?
Por fim, todos reafirmam que a governação durou 4 anos. Nenhum dos membros do Governo tivera anterior experiência de governação. Por vezes, este argumento é utilizado para explicar erros e falhas de governos noutros países, mas, para atacar Mari Alkatiri e a Fretilin vale tudo ... até fazer querer que era possível em quatro anos inverter uma situação que resulta de séculos de colonização e 25 anos finais de repressão e desenvolvimento de fachada. O que Mari Alkatiri tencinou fazer foi por fim às lógicas e estratégias superficiais e artificiais de desenvolvimento. Como foi provado durante a luta de Resistência contra a ocupação militar indonésia, o que o Povo desejava não eram estradas ou arranjos cosméticos, pois continuava sem liberdade, com taxas de mortalidade superiores a qualquer outro país da regiao, fome e a fugir à morte.
Este argumento será, certamente, 'recuperado' quando tentarem justificar os erros e falhas de Ramos-Horta.
Da mesma forma que o PR Xanana Gusmão tem recorrido a dois pesos e duas medidas para avaliar e opinar, alguns anónimos deste Blog tem recorrido a estratégia identica para criticar o I Governo Constitucional. Creio que nem devem ter lido os inúmeros documentos que têm sido colocados neste mesmo Blog a demonstrar o nível e tipo de avanços conquistados nestes quatro anos.
Creio que alguns dos erros cometidos foram inevitáveis por razões diversas, sendo que uma importante, serão mesmo os limites e imposições colocados pelos parceiros de desenvolvimento relativamenbte à forma de utilização dos financiamentos disponibilizados.
Este Blog seria bem mais rico se as pessoas tentassem ser um pouco mais objectivas na sua análise e não reajissem apenas emotivamente às palavras que vão sendo escritas.
Nao so o silencio de agora e que e pertinente. E que do silencio entre o periodo depois de incendiar Timor depois da regrassa do exterior em Marco e ate a data dos rebeldes actuarem contra o pais e desafiar o pais. Silencio total.. Notado pela imprensa Australiana que sublinhou ter sido estranho o PR nao pronunciar-se sobre estas questoes. Estava a planera meus amigos...como agora.
Esperem...quando dizer algo vai ser para choqar. Ainda nao estamos no periodo de anarquia. E o que ele quer e planeou....para retomar o pais....como slavador da patris. mas outra vez vai ver que nao se diesafia o povo Timorense sem consequencias para ele...piores do que tem visitado a ele ate agora.
anonimo:6:53:45 PM
este factos ñ são...verdadeira factos do crise.
O silêncio do Presidente da República é sem dúvida mais um dado acrescido à incompetência de Xanana.
Um Chefe de Estado não pode manter o silêncio perante ataques de violência generalizada à segurança dos cidadãos.
Um Chefe de Estado não pode interferir no sistema judicial.
Um Chefe de Estado não pode ter na lista protocolar de convidados da Presidência violadores da lei.
Um Chefe de Estado não pode nem deve incitar a violência e a desestabilização do país e por isso "premiar espertezas" e declarar ao lado de criminosos "guerras ganhas".
Mas Xanana pode e por isso o seu silêncio actual não é surpreendente é sim previsivel.
Bamija!
Ja volto quando o fotemargariba
ganhar juizo.
Nao pode haver nada mais sintomatico de um sentimento anti-democratico do que lideres de um governo que professavam de boca cheia que o seu partido iria governar 50-100 anos e que almejavam uma vitoria de 100% nas legislativas, ou que premeditavam o derramamento de sangue caso o seu partido perdesse as eleicoes.
Palavras para que? Os primeiros 4 anos de governacao foram somente uma amostra dessas crencas e ambicoes em funcionamento.
Nao admira nada que odeiam o Xanana porque ele, como chefe de um estado democratico, empecilhou os planos para que tal acontecesse. Nao fez nada senao a sua obrigacao. Foi para isso que 83% do povo votou nele atraves de um sufragio universal, livre, directo e secreto. O povo jamais aceitaria que o seu PR eleito testemunhasse impavido as tentativas de estrangulamento da democracia em Timor-Leste. Esta crise foi um mal que veio por bem.
Esperemos que as infelizes mortes e destruicao verificadas nesta ultima crise, que estes ultimos enormes sacrificios nao tenham sido em vao e que por fim Timor-Leste se vingue no mundo como uma verdadeira e celebrada democracia.
Viva Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao!
Presidente da Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste
Tanba Xanana,. agora nee tur nonok hela..hanoin atu halo nusa bele taka Alfredo nia Ibun. Se no caso Alfredo tama prisao duni... Alfredo sei temi sai Nai ulun balun nebe suporta hodi halai ba Foho......heheheh. karik...se iha buat barak tan nebe mak sei bele akontese.....tanba Xanan la gosta Fretilin, POrtugal, Alkatiri, No LOrosae sira hehehhe.....
hein deit saida mak atu akontese tan karik...
"MUndo hatene tena se mak kharismatik duni hhehh"
A todos os criticos de meia tijela que dizem que o PR remeteu-se ao silencio aqui estao alguns artigos do site da UNOTIL que desmentem isso, e mais, provam que ele esta activo em tentar ajudar a resolver os problemas.
Monday, 7 August 2006
Daily Media Review
National Media Reports
"PR appeals to the youth for peace + Reconciliation must begin with Xanana and Taur
After the arrest of Major Alfredo and his followers, there has been fighting between youth groups in Dili for the past three days. President Xanana Gusmao has appealed to the youth for calm and to contribute to efforts to restore peace and stability in this country, so that Timor-Leste may not lose its dignity as a nation. “I appeal to all youth in Timor-Leste to stay calm and maintain national unity and restore peace in this country”, said Xanana. He further stated that this government is trying to find the best solution to help people emerge from the crisis through to national reconciliation."
"President Xanana Gusmão appeals to youths to calm
President appeals to youths to stay calm and give the political leaders time to resolve the crisis. Speaking to press, President Xanana Gusmão stated that he has met with some groups of youths and will try to organize the next meeting with other groups in next week. President also appeals to stop taking revenge with each other."
"President Xanana Gusmão participated in PNTL meeting.
On Friday 04 August President Xanana Gusmão participated at PNTL meeting in Ministry of Interior office. The objective of meeting was to put together the PNTL members who have divided because of the crisis"
"President Gusmao meets government and diplomats
President Xanana Gusmão convened a meeting at his office on Thursday with the PM, government ministers, F-FDTL commander and foreign diplomats. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, PM Ramos Horta said that they had discussed how to strengthen security in the suburbs of Dili and plan for the districts ahead of the scheduled deployment of some 1600 UN police personnel. Community reconciliation plan was also discussed. Meanwhile, Horta stated that he had not forgotten the problems of the petitioners and urged them to cooperate with the TL High Commission of investigation. He has also reportedly issued a letter instructing all the civil servants to cooperate with the international investigation team."
http://www.unotil.org/UNMISETWebSite.nsf/cce478c23e97627349256f0a003ee127/ec16f5daf4cbf85a492571c00028497b?OpenDocument
Anonimo 12:36:19 AM.
O nee koalia arbiru deit. Ita hare momoos o nia apa Mari maka haruka o hakerek hanesan nee sa. Lalika bosok. O nee halo parte ba clique nebe han matak povo nia riku soin tanba deit o kamarada ho Mari no sira hosi mosanbike sira. Iha Mari nia okos imi riku ba babeik no povo maka kiak ba bebeik.
Ba lohi ema seluk.
Relativamente aos supostos esforços do PR para "apaziguar" os jovens, gostaria de dizer o seguinte:
1. Quando convocou os mesmos jovens para desestabilizar, manifestarem-se conflituosamente e fazer a tal gerra "esperta" a qual "ganharam", segundo as suas palavras, que levou à demissão de Mari Alkatiri, foi mais convincente, não?
2. Se está tão interessado nesse apaziguamento, porque não começa por desmentir publicamente todos os boatos sobre a GNR? Ou a GNR é uma força de bloqueio às suas intenções?
3. Quem se deu ao ridículo de fazer aquele discurso de lavagem de roupa suja contra a Fretilin e Mari Alkatiri, não podia fazer uma declaração pública com a mesma indignação, agora que o povo marterizado continua a sofrer afinal? E a tal frase do "se isto não pára demito-me? Talvez funcionasse.
4. E como justifica que os homens da sua confiança, como o Tara façam declarações a caluniar e a lançar boatos sobre a GNR, sem que o PR os trave?
5. É este o preço que tem de pagar a quem usou, pelos favores que lhe fizeram?
6. A falta de solidariedade do PR com Ramos-Horta começa já a sentir-se. Ainda vamos assistir a Mari Alkatiri e à Fretilin a ajudarem Ramos-Horta contra manobras do PR.
7. QUEM CALA CONSENTE.
Essa do "quem cala consente" é que me parte todo.
Já vi isso aqui repetido pelos muchachos da FRETILIN vezes sem conta.
É que nem pôem a hipótese:
1. De não estar calado, mas dizer o que tem a dizer na discrição do gabinete.
2. De estar activamente envolvido na solução do problema mas sem o confidenciar aos muchachos portugas da FRETILIN
3. De estar a dar espaço de manobra ao novo governo para dentro das suas competências resolver a parte que lhe cabe na crise que o governo anterior deixou
etc...etc...
Com um enfático "quem cala consente", definem toda uma estratégia de maquinação urdida.
Aliás foi assim que nos tribunais revolucionários se condenaram muitos milhares a fuzilamento.
Ouvido o rol de acusações inventadas, o arguido ficava aturdido com a trama de tal forma que nem conseguia articular palavra. E peremptório o acusador rematava: Quem cala consente!
O seu silêncio é a sua confissão.
E lá vinha a setença mais que esperada: Condenado à morte por fuzilamento, por alta traição à pátria, por vezes magnanimemente comutada em 25 anos de trabalhos forçados no GulagIIIA, bens nos confins da Sibéria.
E o único crime do desgraçado tinha sido o de casar com uma mulher engraçada, em quem o chefe local do partido se queria pôr.
Quem cala consente!
Até a minha filha aos 5 anos deixou de usar esse argumento.
In response to 5:59:56 PM
"who wanted Mari to go?
THE PEOPLE OF EAST TIMOR." You are a real idiot- probably can't count how many people were out there protesting. Probably can't count the ten fingers on your own hand.
Xanana is as responsible for this crisis as any other leader. Charismatic guerilla leader he may have been, but a great President or even a good President he is certainly not. The sooner he leaves East Timorese politics the better. And thank God he doesn't have any executive powers....
The people are represented in the Parliament. FRETILIN represents 57% of the People of Timor Leste. It has a mandate top govern, one that has been ignored by the President.
Fretilin had a mandate in 2001 to participate in the Constituent Assembly to draft the Constitution.
It never got a mandate to govern because there never was a Parliamentary election from which it could legitimately form government.
That is the truth that cannot be denied.
As per the constitution it has a right to Govern. By the way the Parliamentary elections are due next year, it was lamentable to see those hungry for power to by-pass next years elections and the constitution and seek Governance without elections. It was a sight of sheer desperation.
If you profess Parliamentary elections then be prepared for it in April 2007. No one except the opposition in Timor Leste were denying the people this right.
In response to 11:30:46 AM
"It never got a mandate to govern because there never was a Parliamentary election"
That is incorrect. People new what they were voting for. It was a vote for the constituent assembly which was to draft the constitution and become the parliament of Timor Leste. This was a process supported by the UN and the elections were declared free and fair by the UN and the international community. This model, as I understand it, has also been used in other countries which have transitioned to democracy.
The argument that FRETILIN has no right to govern is used by those who couldn't win the elections fair and square. Stop crying over spilt milk. Also, if you need any other indication of the support for FRETILIN- take a look at the election results for the local level.
You will have your chance next year to gain some seats in Parliament.
In response to the 12:57:33 PM anonymous
Don't think that if you keep repeating the same lie it becomes a true. A lie is just a lie.
You said "People new what they were voting for. It was a vote for the constituent assembly which was to draft the constitution and become the parliament of Timor Leste."
That is absolutely not as shown by some surveys conducted at the time about peoples participation and knowledge of the election process. Below is an excerpt from one such report conducted by The Asia Foundation which proves exactely the opposite of what you said.
Given that this is the basis on which you tried to establish the legitimacy of Fretilin's goverment and dismissed the need for REAL Parliamentary elections I suppose this evidence ends up proving instead its iligitimacy.
The following is just an excerpt. The full report is posted at the end of the comment. You will find some of the figures interesting and quite revealing. Indeed!!
I am not contesting the freedom and fairness of the election, just the purpose which was not to confer any party the power to govern but simply to be a part of an constituint assembly (CA) charged with drafting the constitution. as for the local level elections, there were so many "administrative" problems and manipulations to made the oppositionslife hard that it would require a whole report just to deal with that. Anyway, don't forget that most parties did not even run for the elections as they thought (wrongfully) that it was not important.
As for this self-transformation of a CA into a full Parliament being the model used in other countries I hope that you are not arguing that just because other countries have used it Timor-Leste should follow suit without serious consideration as to whether deceiving voters, who thought they were voting for one thing and got another, it is the right thing to do.
That kind of reminds me of that shameful violent incident in Parliament when one Fretilin MP threw insults and picked-up a chair in readiness to assault an opposition MP and the deputy speaker (Fretilin MP) justified hqis comrade's actions saying it was quite normal as it also happens in other countries. Funny? I don't think so!! More like simptomatic of adespotic attitude.
Anyway here is that report. Read it and stop trying to defend the indefensible. (but then again I can tell that you are one of the Fretilin diehards by the way you write your party's name e capital letters. FRETILIN. so probably you will keep looking for less informed people to repeat your lies.)
*EXCERPT*
"VOTER EDUCATION
• 32% of eligible voters in East Timor have not heard about Civil Registration. Those East Timorese without access to media and in the more remote east and west of the country are least aware.
• While 75% of eligible voters have heard that there will be an election this year, only 30% know that the election is scheduled for August 30.
• Only 5% of eligible voters correctly stated that the election will be for a Constituent Assembly. 61% think the upcoming election is for the presidency.
• 94% of respondents said that they would vote. This does not guarantee a large turnout, though, since a majority believe the election to be for something other than the Constituent Assembly.
• Only a slim majority, 52%, said that voting in the 2001 election will make a difference. Men and better educated East Timorese are more confident of the impact of voting.
• There is a lack of knowledge about the political parties that currently exist.
• Riots and political party-related violence are the two most prominent concerns expressed in relation to the electoral process.
• 56% of respondents indicated that the presence of election observers would increase their confidence that the election will be free and fair.
• While a majority of respondents expressed a preference for both East Timorese and foreign election observers, only 7% specifically expressed a preference for foreign observers."
*REPORT*
Foreword and Executive Summary only.
The complete report available at: http://www.asiafoundation.org/pdf/EastTimorVoterEd.pdf [355k]
EAST TIMOR NATIONAL SURVEY OF VOTER KNOWLEDGE (PRELIMINARY FINDINGS)
CONTENTS:
FOREWORD
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
. NATIONAL MOOD
. CIVIC EDUCATION
. VOTER EDUCATION
. MEDIA
. LANGUAGE
. CIVIC EDUCATION—RECOMMENDATIONS
. VOTER EDUCATION—RECOMMENDATIONS
FOREWORD
This report presents the findings of the first ever random nationwide survey to assess East Timorese political opinions and knowledge. Conducted in February and March 2001, and sponsored by The Asia Foundation, the survey sought to gather essential information about the views and knowledge of the electorate in a critical year for East Timor’s political development.
The survey results are intended as a resource for all, but particularly as a guide for policymakers and practitioners to better target election support programs in East Timor in 2001. It is also intended to serve as a baseline from which any organization can measure the success of specific projects and assess the progress of democratization over time.
The survey involved 1,558 in-person interviews of potential voters in a total of 392 Aldeia in196 villages in all the 13 districts of East Timor. It addresses critical issues related to the national mood; voter and civic education issues; access to media; language use and preference; and demographics.
The methodology of the study is explained overleaf, following a summary of the survey’s most important findings. The report also contains recommendations for voter and civic education initiatives.
To conduct the survey, The Asia Foundation partnered with and trained the NGO Forum’s Kelompok Kerja Pendidikan Pemilih (KKPP-Voter Education Working Group), without whose substantial involvement this project would not have been possible. Some 69 KKPP members representing 21 NGOs carried out the field work and data entry over a month-long period. The dedication and commitment to non-partisanship of these individuals was commendable. The international survey research firm, AC Nielsen, also played an invaluable role, by working together with The Asia Foundation and the KKPP to design the questionnaire and train the staff who carried out the field work, as well as conducting the data compilation. The Asia Foundation would like to express thanks to USAID for its financial support for this project.
This is the fourth in a series of democracy surveys sponsored by The Asia Foundation in Asia. The first was a national voter education survey conducted in Indonesia in advance of the 1999 elections. The second was a follow up survey in Indonesia in August 1999, and the third was carried out in Cambodia in 2000.
The Asia Foundation, currently involved in East Timor in election support programs focusing on voter education, domestic election monitoring, media development and the constitutional development process, welcomes comments on this report.
The Asia Foundation
Dili
May 2001
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
NATIONAL MOOD
• 75% of East Timorese feel that the country is heading in the right direction.
• Pessimism about the country’s direction is slightly stronger among younger respondents and concentrated mainly in Dili and Baucau and in areas of recent conflict (Viqueque, in particular).
• To 63% of East Timorese who say that the country is headed in the right direction, the calmer situation and the end to violence are strong indicators that the country is headed in the right direction. Economic recovery was the second most popular reason, but cited by far fewer respondents.
• Women are considerably more likely than men to refer to the problem of violence.
Younger East Timorese, too, are far more likely to refer to violence than older East Timorese.
• Among the 12% of East Timorese saying the country is headed in the wrong direction, the main reason cited is riots and violence, followed closely by economic problems, high prices and unemployment.
• 26% of all respondents say that nothing has improved in the country. For others, improvements include greater freedom, the transitional government and preparations for independence, and improved security.
• When asked about problems in the country, violence and political conflict dominated the answers, and were regarded by 29% of respondents as the two biggest problems facing East Timor.
• 60% of East Timorese, and younger East Timorese in particular, disagree with the statement that the government does not care about them.
• East Timorese overwhelmingly feel free to express opinions where they live.
• Levels of concern about security within East Timor and at the border with West Timor are fairly high.
• Perceptions of security at the border are colored by perceptions of internal security. Unexpectedly, those most concerned about border security tend to live in the districts furthest from the border.
• Younger East Timorese expressed the greatest concerns about security.
• There is a lot of concern about corruption, collusion and nepotism in current and future government structures.
• Those with greater access to information and with higher levels of education express greater concern about corruption, collusion and nepotism.
• 42% of East Timorese say that they have had to reduce purchases of basic goods due to price increases. 27% say that they have remained unaffected by price increases.
• The eastern districts in East Timor have been hit hardest by price increases.
• A large majority of East Timorese are confident of a happy future for East Timor.
CIVIC EDUCATION
• 54% of those polled are interested in politics. Men, younger East Timorese and those with higher levels of education are more interested in politics.
• There is little clear understanding of the meaning or implications of democracy.
36% understand democracy as freedom of speech. 11% of respondents defined democracy in cautionary terms. No-one equated democracy with elections.
• A majority of East Timorese view the government in paternalistic terms.
Those in the east more strongly assert that the government and people are equals.
• Tolerance for free expression appears to wane in the context of political party campaigning. While 81% of East Timorese say that they feel free to express their opinions, only a slim majority, 53%, support all political parties holding meetings in their areas.
• There is less tolerance for political party activity in Dili and Baucau.
• 64% of those who consider political party competition a bad thing are concerned about the potential for violence and riots.
• A large majority of East Timorese support the idea that women should be as active as men in positions of political leadership. Young East Timorese are less likely to hold this opinion, and women are no more likely to be stronger proponents than men of equal participation in political leadership.
• Over half the population, 56%, do not know anything about East Timor’s constitution.
VOTER EDUCATION
• 32% of eligible voters in East Timor have not heard about Civil Registration. Those East Timorese without access to media and in the more remote east and west of the country are least aware.
• While 75% of eligible voters have heard that there will be an election this year, only 30% know that the election is scheduled for August 30.
• Only 5% of eligible voters correctly stated that the election will be for a Constituent Assembly. 61% think the upcoming election is for the presidency.
• 94% of respondents said that they would vote. This does not guarantee a large turnout, though, since a majority believe the election to be for something other than the Constituent Assembly.
• Only a slim majority, 52%, said that voting in the 2001 election will make a difference. Men and better educated East Timorese are more confident of the impact of voting.
• There is a lack of knowledge about the political parties that currently exist.
• Riots and political party-related violence are the two most prominent concerns expressed in relation to the electoral process.
• 56% of respondents indicated that the presence of election observers would increase their confidence that the election will be free and fair.
• While a majority of respondents expressed a preference for both East Timorese and foreign election observers, only 7% specifically expressed a preference for foreign observers.
MEDIA
• Radio is the most widely accessed medium in East Timor.
• Despite 34% illiteracy nationwide, more East Timorese are reading either newspapers or magazines and newsletters than are watching television.
• Younger and better educated East Timorese are listening to radio and watching television more often than those who are older and less educated.
• The eastern four districts of East Timor have particularly low levels of radio listenership.
• Radio UNTAET is clearly the most popular radio station in the country and is popular across all major demographic categories.
• Television viewership and VCD ownership is heavily concentrated in Dili.
• The peak time for watching television and listening to radio is 17:00 - 21:00.
• Suara Timor Lorosa’e (STL) is the most widely read newspaper in East Timor, with 72% of those who read a newspaper saying that they read STL most often.
• While Tais Timor is the most widely read periodical, East Timorese publications with much smaller print runs are more widely read in four districts.
• Tetum is the most widely spoken and understood language by those accessing media in East Timor.
• Indonesian is a practical language for use in media.
LANGUAGE
• The survey data confirm the strength of Tetum as a practical and preferred language. More East Timorese understand Tetum (91%) than any other language and can read and write Tetum (58%) than any other language.
• Tetum was overwhelmingly selected, by 80% of respondents, as the language of choice for election related information. Local languages were the second most popular choice at 17%, substantially more popular than Indonesian (3%).
• The use of local languages is strong and widespread: A majority of East Timorese (57%) identify a local language, other than Tetum, as their mother tongue. The remaining 43% cite Tetum. However, while 83% understand at least one local language, only 16% of East Timorese can read and write a local language.
• Portuguese is the only language that has a strong gender bias. While 21% of men can speak Portuguese and 19% can read Portuguese, this can only be said of 12% and 8% of women, respectively.
• Age is a significant determinant of language ability, with younger East Timorese relatively more proficient in Tetum, Indonesian and English and older East Timorese relatively more proficient in Portuguese.
• While 96% of those under 25 speak Tetum, this can be said of 77% of those over 50. 83% of those under 25 can speak Indonesian, as opposed to only 27% of those over 50. 27% of East Timorese between the ages of 35 and 50 can speak Portuguese, as opposed to only 11% of those under 25.
• Those East Timorese with little or no formal education rely far more heavily on Tetum and local languages (82% speak Tetum, 90% a local language). Just 6% of this group have Portuguese language ability and 32% of them can speak Indonesian.
• The level of illiteracy in East Timor is still extremely high (34%).
Country-wide, 41% of women are illiterate, compared to 31% of men. Illiteracy is highest in Oecussi (69%) and lowest in Dili (20%) and Manatuto (18%).
CIVIC EDUCATION—RECOMMENDATIONS
Target Group: All voters
Emphasis:
• Fundamental Concepts of Democracy. Few East Timorese know anything about democracy and none polled equate democracy with elections. 40% of respondents revealed basic knowledge of rights but there are limits to the support of rights of others (especially in regard to political party campaigning).
• Representative and Accountable Government. With the country’s first democratic election approaching, a majority of East Timorese still view the government in paternalistic or authoritarian terms.
• The Benefits of Political Party Competition. Approximately half of the East Timorese polled are wary of political party competition.
• East Timor’s Constitution. Few respondents know that a process is underway to draft East Timor’s constitution—one of the most important steps of which is the upcoming election.
Media:
• Radio is the most effective medium to use (particularly between 17:00 and 21:00).
• There should also be a concentrated effort to educate and engage Chefes de Suco and to encourage public discussions at the village level.
Specific Target Groups:
• Women in particular should be targeted for information on the fundamental concepts of democracy through village-based discussions.
• Equal political participation by men and women should be addressed more specifically with young East Timorese and women. Young East Timorese are more likely to access all media and understand Tetum and Indonesian, while radio and face-to-face discussions would be more appropriate for women.
• Programs in Oecussi should give extra attention to discussing the role of government and the constitutional drafting process. Given high illiteracy rates and low media coverage in the districts, public discussions should be used.
• East Timorese in Lautem, in particular, need information on East Timor’s constitution. Public forums supplemented by radio would be most effective.
• While residents in Viqueque, Aileu, Liquica and Bobonaro feel most free to express their opinions, they are less likely to accept political parties expressing themselves. These districts, together with Dili and Baucau, would benefit from campaigns about political party competition. Media coverage is relatively high in these districts.
VOTER EDUCATION—RECOMMENDATIONS
Target Group: All voters
Emphasis:
• Civil Registration. Public knowledge about civil registration is an immediate priority given the fact that one-third of respondents are unaware of the civil registration and that the deadline for eligible voters to register is June 24.
• Who will organize the election. Voters also need information about who is organizing the election (given the recent creation of the Independent Electoral Commission).
• The purpose of the upcoming election. Only 5% of respondents know the answer.
• Information on the parties who register and why political party campaigning is beneficial. There is little knowledge nationwide of the political parties that currently exist and little tolerance for competition between them.
Media:
• Radio is the most effective medium to use (particularly between 17:00 and 21:00).
• There should also be a concentrated effort to educate and engage Chefes de Suco and to encourage public discussions at the village level.
Specific Target Groups:
• Information on Civil Registration and the election is critically needed in the more remote eastern and western districts. Unless media coverage can be rapidly improved, this information must be provided in public meetings or door-to-door.
• Older East Timorese should also be targeted for civil registration and election information. Older East Timorese have less access to media and are less likely than younger East Timorese to speak Indonesian, so a face-to-face approach using Tetum or a local language is needed.
• Programs should engage the political parties themselves to address the concerns of East Timorese in the four eastern districts about party competition and the potential for violence.
• Anti-violence initiatives should engage women, younger East Timorese, and students prior to the election. Younger East Timorese access a variety of media and are more likely than women nationwide to speak Indonesian and Tetum.
• Women and those in the western districts of Liquica, Ainaro, Covalima and Manufahi should be targeted concerning the benefits of participating in the election process.
• Information about the role of election observers should focus primarily on Dili and Baucau. While Dili enjoys good media coverage, relatively speaking, more direct approaches are needed in Baucau.
In response to 5:21:18 PM
As I said: You will have your opportunity next year- stop crying over spilt milk.
I wonder who should be crying right now.
Keep on wondering as much as you like.
Of course I will.
To the 8:46:27 AM anonimous who said: "As I said: You will have your opportunity next year- stop crying over spilt milk."
Is that the only thing you have to say after I exposed your lie that people knew about the transformation o the Constituent Assembly into Parliament?
I know. Its pretty dificult to dismiss the stats in such a comprehensive report isn't it?
Caught with your pants down? Pretty embarassing ah!
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