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.