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.