East Timor's big tasks

East Timor's big tasks

The Straits Times
Asia News Network
Singapore

East Timor has managed to hold two elections since its break
with Indonesia in August 1999. In the presidential election held
on Sunday, resistance leader Xanana Gusmao was confirmed by a
large margin as the newest icon to emerge from the world of the
deprived.

In August last year, parliamentary elections had installed in
government the Fretilin, the secessionist movement which fought
Portuguese colonial rule and Indonesian occupation for three
decades. Considering the territory's background of administrative
neglect by the Portuguese, then of horrific violence unleashed
over the outcome of the 1999 referendum which went against
Indonesia, the Timorese people can claim some satisfaction over
the growth of their institutions.

On May 20, East Timor will become the world's newest sovereign
state when the United Nations withdraws its protection. Concern
over whether the trajectory and pace towards statehood have been
too fast can be answered only by the Timorese people themselves.

The new state will remain dependent on international aid
agencies and donor governments -- and plenty of impartial expert
advice. This has special relevance to its offshore gas and oil
reserves under the Timor Sea between the territory and Australia,
which oil companies and the Australian government have been quick
to work on. There is considerable interest in the agreements
reached between the UN interim administration for East Timor and
Australia to exploit the reserves, thought to be worth up to
US$20 billion (S$36.7 billion). The resolution of disputes over
the delineation of the undersea border will determine how much of
the wealth will actually flow to East Timor.

This issue has the potential to flare into a major diplomatic
row, which an incoming Timor government may not be well-equipped
to handle. East Timor should seek technical advice from UN
agencies and world energy councils. OPEC (Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries), would be one place to look.
Membership in a regional grouping is also an imperative, to take
advantage of the full range of economic cooperation and support
networks. Either ASEAN, or the South Pacific Forum of island
nations dominated by Australia and New Zealand, looks an ideal
fit. ASEAN carries much the greater potential for organic growth,
but East Timor may not find it easy gaining admittance.

That is the external dimension. Internally, achieving a
semblance of national cohesion will be the first order of
business for the Fretilin-led government under Chief Minister
Mari Alkatiri. The Fretilin did not gain its expected two-thirds
majority in the legislative election. A loose alliance forged
with minor parties in the 88-seat Constituent Assembly will give
the nascent administration the clout to push through programs.
Much is expected of President-elect Gusmao in playing the
delicate role of unifier, despite the presidency being a
ceremonial office.

But regrettably, a false start has been made. Portuguese has
been reinstated as the official language at the expense of
Indonesian. Portuguese is spoken by only 17 percent of the
800,000 population, Bahasa Indonesia by 63 percent. Tetum, an
indigenous language used by nine out of 10 Timorese, co-ranks
with Portuguese as an official language. Indonesian may still
retain importance as a working language, and English could become
dominant in commerce. But to foist Portuguese on a liberated
people who have no affinity with anything remotely Iberian, bar
Christianity, is an odd way to launch nationhood.