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