Unfortunate East Timor
Unfortunate East Timor
There has been little good news from East Timor since its
independence on May 20, 2002.
The bloody incident on Saturday, Jan. 4, has obviously shocked
many people. A group of people garbed in balaclavas attacked
residential areas in the district of Atsabe, killing three locals
and injuring some others.
The bloody attacks are particularly sensitive as the
assailants were allegedly former militiamen who had supported
East Timor's integration with Indonesia. Indeed, East Timor's
presidential palace Chief of Staff Agio Pereira tended to confirm
that the assailants were former pro-Jakarta militiamen. Minister
of Foreign Affairs Jose Ramos-Horta had earlier stated that
former pro-Jakarta militiamen were involved in the Dec. 4, 2002,
riots in Dili. Two people were killed in the clashes.
However, no one has been able to explain whether the attacks
were "officially" ordered, or were carried out by individuals
acting on their own initiative.
Anyway, these attacks are very serious and need to be dealt
with promptly and properly.
Since its independence, East Timor has been facing very
serious economic problems. The prices of goods and staple foods
have been soaring while purchasing power has been declining. The
youth unemployment rate stands at 80 percent. The frustrations
felt by the pro-integration group have manifested themselves
through attacks on independence supporters. Economically, the
tiny country, with a population of only 700,000, is still very
weak.
However, it is impossible for the East Timorese people to turn
back the clock. They have made their choice - after 450 years of
being colonized by Portugal and twenty-four years of integration
with Indonesia - to become an independent nation.
The development and the future of the country depends on
accountability and cooperation between its government and
citizens.
The East Timor government and citizens should have been aware
that there are limits on the amount of foreign aid that will be
forthcoming.
-- Kompas, Jakarta