E. Timor Cabinet members threaten mass resignation

E. Timor Cabinet members threaten mass resignation

DILI, East Timor (AP): Four Cabinet members have threatened to
resign from the United Nations-appointed quasi-government in East
Timor, calling themselves "caricatures of ministers in a Banana
Republic".

In a letter to the head of the United Nations in East Timor,
Sergio Vieira de Mello, who administers the former Indonesian
province, along with cabinet ministers Joao Carrascalao, Anna
Pessoa, Mari Alkatiri and Father Filomeno Jacob, threatened to
resign over inability to exercise their power.

All four were appointed to their posts by Vieira de Mello.
Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta, who did not sign the letter, is
also a member of the Cabinet. Four more posts are held by UN
staff.

In the letter obtained by Portuguese news agency Lusa over the
weekend, the four complained of a lack of a legal clarification
of their positions and an inability to exercise any power over
their portfolios.

"We continue to be used as a justification for the delays and
the confusion in a process which is outside our control," the
letter said. "The East Timorese cabinet members are caricatures
of ministers in a government of a Banana Republic. They have no
power, no duties, no resources to function adequately."

The four have set a deadline of Dec. 15 to resign should two
main conditions not be met: defined legal status for the cabinet
positions and a defined relationship between the Cabinet and the
UN

Vieira de Mello had been told about the possible resignations
and has scheduled a meeting of the cabinet for Dec. 9, UN
spokesperson Barbara Reis said.

"The concerns are legitimate and the frustrations are
legitimate ... but we didn't expect this letter," Reis said.

Cabinet members head up a number of departments, and
supposedly have local as well as international staff under their
control.

A few members of the UN international staff had voiced their
opposition to working under the Timorese ministers.

"This is the first situation where you have internationals
working under nationals. It's never happened before in 50 years
of the UN so we are learning," Reis said.

The threat of resignation has been used often as a political
tool in East Timor. During the congress of the major political
umbrella group, the CNRT, its president Jose Alexandre "Xanana"
Gusmao -- the man most likely to be the first elected president
of East Timor -- and his deputy, Ramos-Horta, both resigned twice
from their posts.

Gusmao last week sent a letter of resignation to the quasi-
legislative assembly, the National Council, indicating his desire
to step down as its speaker, but to remain on the council. The
letter was not tabled and the resignation was not discussed.
Gusmao was absent from the council most of the week.

Indonesia ruled East Timor until its people voted
overwhelmingly for freedom in a UN-sponsored referendum late last
year. The United Nations is overseeing the territory's transition
to independence.