Timor Leste: present problems; future strategies

The Guardian 9 August, 2006

Timor Leste: present problems; future strategies

Andy Alcock*

For those who have supported the independence of Timor Leste (TL) for over 30 years, Timorese and others, the events occurring there over the past few months are heartbreaking. Many world leaders are describing TL as a failed state — this is particularly so of Australia’s political leaders who have worked tirelessly to push for the removal of former TL Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri.

Much of the media analysis about events in TL have centred around the performance and personality of Alkatiri. In my view this is very naïve and it has overshadowed attempts to highlight the many other contributing factors that led to the crisis.

It has to be admitted that TL’s leaders have made some mistakes. Probably, the worst one was to sack almost 600 members of the FDTL (TL’s defence force) following protests over conditions in March 2006.This led to divisions that could have been avoided if there had been some attempt to address the grievances more sympathetically. One FALANTIL (National Armed Forces for the Liberation of East Timor) I know personally complained to me that Alkatiri did not listen to the concerns of the veterans and did not treat them with respect.

Many of the problems within PNTL (TL’s police force) have been laid at the feet of the disgraced former Interior Minister, Rogerio Lobato, who has been accused of training its members to be an opposing force to the FDTL.

It has to be said that Australia’s politicians have contributed largely to the problems being faced in TL. For the 24 years of the Indonesian military (TNI) occupation, Australia gave military and diplomatic support to Indonesia.

In 1999, when the UN was planning for TL’s independence referendum, it was Australian leaders who insisted that UN peacekeepers were not needed and that a policing operation would provide sufficient security. The result was that TL gained its independence, but saw the deaths of a further 2000 of its citizens and the destruction of 80 percent of its infrastructure.

Poverty

TL, the poorest nation in SE Asia, has the lowest per capita GDP in the world ($400 pa) with over 40 percent of its population living below the poverty line of 55 US cents per day.

Eighty percent of the population is under 18 years of age and unemployment exceeds 50 percent. In addition, the British Medical Journal Lancet, which carried out a study of mental health needs in TL identified that significant numbers of people have post traumatic stress disorder and other psychological problems because they witnessed the torture, rape or murder of relatives or friends.

In addition to the actions taken by rebel members of the PNTL and the FDTL, little mention has been made in the main stream media of former militia groups and millenarian groups (eg Colimau 2000) that have contributed to much of the opportunistic violence.

Despite the criticisms of him, it must be acknowledged that Alkatiri has actually played a vital role in TL’s leadership. He was one of the main architect’s of the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT). The reason he is disliked by Australian political leaders is that he stood up to their bullying over the Timor Sea oil and gas negotiations. He has played a major role in keeping the TL economy out of the hands of the World Bank and the IMF. It will be interesting to see if interim PM Jose Ramos Horta will be as successful in this regard.

Alkatiri is responsible for bringing Cuban doctors to TL to work in rural areas and established a new medical school at the national university. He is known to have concerns about environmental and women’s issues and is an opponent of the privatisation of TL’s electricity.

If it is proven that he was responsible for arming unofficial militias, obviously this is a serious matter. However, in most democracies, he would have been asked to stand aside — not resign — until the allegations had been disproved. I think Xanana’s decision to force him to resign was wrong and unwise. It will further antagonise the hard-liners in FRETILIN who have been critical of him.

With all of these problems, what steps need to be taken return TL to effective development and rebuilding TL?

Security

The following actions need to be taken to assist TL to protect its security:

UN peacekeepers need to remain in TL for some years to come

TL certainly needs more assistance with the recruiting and training of its police force

international peacekeepers and police will need to have a continuing presence in the border region until the TL border police and FDTL are able to effectively stop incursions by the TNI, its militias and its black marketeers

the UN needs to pressure the Indonesian Government to ensure that all militia groups trained by the TNI on the TL/West Timor border are disbanded and remove the present TNI divisions away from the border

the UN must insist that all member nations cease all forms of military cooperation with the TNI until all the war criminals in its ranks have been brought to justice

the UN needs to establish an international war crimes tribunal to try the scores of war criminals in the ranks of the TNI and its militias

this tribunal will need to have powers of extradition and UN member

nations will have to be prevailed upon to cooperate with the tribunal

and extradite any alleged TNI criminals who are found within their borders

The economy

The Australian Government needs to be pressured by the UN and the world community to:

sign the International Law of the Sea

hand over all the oil/gas profits it has taken from TL’s half of the Timor Sea since drilling began

The Indonesian Government be compelled to pay reparations for all the destruction that it has been caused by its military in TL.

The UN should provide interest-free loans and grants to:

fund urgently needed humanitarian programs

establish industries and job creation schemes

rebuild the rice growing industry

Training and administration

It will be necessary for the UN with support from friendly nations to stay longer in TL to provide administrative support and training to the new nation.

The UN is presently committed to remain for another two years. PM Ramos Horta believes that a 10-year commitment is necessary.

Respect for TL’s sovereignty

There has been much debate about the motives of Australia in wanting to send its soldiers before being asked by TL’s political leaders. There has to be some international agreement between all nations dealing with TL to respect its sovereignty on both land and sea and not to seek to profit unfairly from this nation at this early and very precarious stage of its rebuilding and development.

I believe that if the above strategies are undertaken, TL will be able to overcome its many problems and build a more successful future for its long suffering and courageous citizens.

*Andy Alcock is the Information Officer
of the Australia East Timor Friendship Association (South Australia Inc) Inc

.