Timor Leste: Peace and Reconciliation Take Centre Stage

On 28 April 2006 violence reemerged in Timor Leste, when a peaceful protest by dissatisfied soldiers descended into widespread unrest. Following this, the nation was thrown into months of political instability, riots and fear. Over 30 people were killed. Houses and offices were looted and burnt.

The union movement suffered relatively little damage in the looting and burning. Fortunately, no-one from the union movement appears to have been physically injured, and while the office of the Teachers' Union was broken into and almost everything was stolen, no other union office appears to have suffered significant damage. During the unrest up to 150,000 Timorese people fled their homes to live in refugee camps in Dili or the surrounding districts.

There are many complex reasons for the development of the recent conflict in Timor Leste. Political conflict, an ill-prepared police force, high unemployment, poverty, trauma and a disenfranchised youth were the foundations underlying the unrest.

In the context of these long-term structural problems, the failure of Timor Leste's political leaders to resolve disputes within their military led to the splintering of the armed forces. On Monday 11 July 2006, the President of Timor Leste, Xanana Gusmao recognised the need for government employees to have their own union to help settle future disputes. There is appreciation of the fact that the original catalyst for the civil unrest was because 596 members of the armed forces went on strike over issues such as promotion and wages, and were immediately sacked. A union would have provided a forum for negotiating around issues of concern.

Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal deployed military land, sea and air personnel when international assistance was requested. Some estimate that troops will be required in Timor Leste until the elections in 2007. There have been some changes to the political situation in Timor Leste, with Mari Alkatiri resigning as Prime Minister and José Ramos Horta being appointed as his interim replacement.

Throughout the unrest the union movement remained solid, united and did not become factionalised. With concerted attacks on the major political party, Fretilin, and especially on its leader, former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, it might have been expected that the union movement could divide along political lines, but the movement remained united. There were also attempts by the anti-Alkatiri forces to develop an east vs west split in the country, but again the union movement remained undivided.

The last few months in Timor Leste's history have been disheartening for all those who have taken part in the rebuilding since independence. The Timorese, as well as the international community, have been faced with the fact that their efforts at national development have been severely disrupted by the recent unrest.

Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA has been working in Timor Leste since 1999, with local partners in vocational skills training, education, community radio and trade union development. These partners have all been affected by the problems over the last few months. Some have had equipment stolen or damaged, most have been affected by the movement of staff to the relative safety of the districts and many have shut down their programs for periods of up to two months.

As in the past our local partners have always aimed to address the very issues that led to the violence. They continue to recognise that the long-term problems of unemployment and poverty need be a focus of their work.

In the short term, the response of Union Aid Abroad's partners to the crisis was varied. Generally programs in the districts continued however in Dili there was a short break during the worst of the civil unrest. As soon as possible our partners responded to the changed circumstances in their country. Those who could, took up humanitarian work in the refugee centres.

Meanwhile, our other partners began the process of reconciliation and peace building. In an effort to counter the misinformation being spread, our community radio partners, Lorico Lian and Radio Rakambia, conducted interviews with refugees, took the mobile broadcasting unit to the districts and reported on key speeches by political figures and demonstrators.

The Knua Buka Hatene ('Place of Learning', in Tetum) theatre group developed a performance relating to health issues affecting the refugees. They performed these plays at both the refugee centres and key public spaces. They are currently developing radio plays aimed at peace building, which will be broadcast on the community radio stations.

In the longer term, Union Aid Abroad will provide support to our partners so they can continue work where they have previously had success. Upon request from our partners there will be some changes to the programs - more unemployed men will be included in vocational skills training programs and a mechanical training course will be introduced to provide more opportunities for unemployed youth in Dili; we will look to community radio as a tool that can be a catalyst in peace-building and reconciliation; and we will further support the role of civil society as a major player in the development of a peaceful, free and productive Timor Leste.

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.
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Last Modified: Saturday, 31-Mar-2007 12:10:05 EST
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