The challenges facing an independence E. Timor

The challenges facing an independence E. Timor

Bantarto Bandoro, Editor, The Indonesian Quarterly,
Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta, bandoro@csis.or.id

May 20 will be an important and memorable moment for the East
Timorese as they celebrate their independence after more than 20
years of political struggle against the Indonesian government. At
that moment, the United Nations Transitional Administration in
East Timor (UNTAET), which has been running East Timor since it
broke away from Indonesia in 1999, will cease to exist. The
independence of East Timor has taught the world a lesson: That
foreign rule is only temporary. With independence, East Timor is
set to join the international community.

Many of us here see the East Timor issue as having been a
headache for Indonesia's domestic politics and foreign policy.
There was little coverage of East Timor's presidential election
in Jakarta's media. It seemed the country sought to downplay the
significance of independence of its former province, which came
about thanks to the policy of former president Habibie that
allowed East Timor to finally emerge as an independent entity. It
is a political reality some should not ignore, including those in
Indonesia who continue to strongly oppose the separation of East
Timor from the republic of Indonesia.

East Timor's independence also signals the beginning of a new
fight facing its leaders against a myriad of problems. The next
five years or so will involve a great number of challenges, not
only for the government of East Timor, but also for civil society
and the country's democratic institutions. We will witness, among
other things, how the interplay of politics, rule of law,
economics and the type of regime will affect the process of East
Timor's transition to a fully fledged democratic country.

Perhaps one of the greatest challenges East Timor is set to
face is maintaining the continuation and sustainability of nation
building. It is natural that a new born nation carries with it
certain risks. The new government of East Timor must, therefore,
guarantee, through policy priorities and directives, that such
processes be kept in motion to the extent that it results in a
more favorable climate for East Timor's long-term national
development .

The leaders of East Timor must listen to the problems of their
people and make sure their government responds appropriately to
public demands. it will be a rough ride after independence, and
this will be the real test for president-elect Xanana Gusmao and
his aides.

The main source of problems facing East Timor is internal.
This is because of the conflict that arose immediately after the
1999 referendum. It is reported that villages and towns were
burned to the ground, infrastructure was totally destroyed and
more than 1,000 people murdered. The violence was brought to an
end only after the UN intervened. The suppression of the East
Timorese due to Indonesia's strict military rule for more than
two decades has also contributed to the internal source of
problems.

Rebuilding the political and economic infrastructure and the
traumatized mentality of the East Timorese people will perhaps be
the most difficult task facing the country's leadership. Once
they achieve official independence, the most important thing is
that the people of East Timor face their own challenges head on.

Another important front that the government of East Timor will
have to face is the extraction of its natural resources. It is
reported that East Timor has at its disposal oil and natural gas
in the Timor sea. Such resources have not yet been explored.
Therefore, cooperation with neighboring countries is necessary so
that such natural resources can be exploited to the full and
contribute to East Timor's revenue.

East Timor will also have to look for other sources of
revenue, which could generate regular, sufficient amounts of
money for the massive investment needed to build an education and
health system and create jobs. Thus, the economy should be one of
the top priorities in East Timor's national development. East
Timor, however, should not cut itself off from the outside world.
Although independent, it will continue to be highly dependent on
international assistance.

Being a newly born state, East Timor will certainly be
vulnerable to all kinds of disturbances from inside, as well as
outside, the country. Micro and macro level efforts are
imperative to prevent the nation from collapsing due to political
mismanagement. The one issue that may worry the people of East
Timor is unity.

As East Timor builds the institutions necessary for
independence, there is one underlying issue, namely
reconciliation. If internal conflict from the past cannot be laid
to rest, then the foundation of the new nation will be weak. In
other words, past conflict could cause divisions in the future.

Thus, the spirit of reconciliation and of unity could perhaps
tackle the tendencies for division and conflict. East Timor will
have to prepare for the worse and hope for the best. After
independence, expectations will be very high, and the anxieties
and necessities enormous. It is understandable that the leaders
of East Timor will need a very long time before they can
demonstrate to the world their political, economic and strategic
significance in the international community.

East Timor has a bright future as long as the people accept
that it will take time to accomplish, and as long as the people
of East Timor recognize they have the right to exist. Only then
will they have the chance to enjoy independence and a well
deserved presence in the international community.