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.