UNMIT MISSION: DEVELOPMENT OR DESTRUCTION?

By: Julio Tomas Pinto

Secretary of State for Defence

Once again, UNMIT and its agencies’ attitude (UNDP UNCDF, UNEST and DGSU) have brought the Timorese to question United Nation’s mission in Timor-Leste. Through their actions we can also ask is UNMIT’s mission to develop or destroy? However before we can further discuss this we first need to clarify their mandate, UNMIT’s mandate in Timor-Leste, clearly is to support the state of Timor-Leste. Support means to provide technical assistance to the state in some of the areas which have been defined. For example to PNTL, UNMIT has provided support in five areas: operations, training, human resources as well as administration. In the defense sector they are providing only technical assistance, such as assessment assesoria as well as establishing a temporary building for the National Defense Institute. However if we properly analyse UNMIT’s attitude as well as their actions in Timor-Leste, we can see that sometimes their actions and words are not one and the same.

In 2009, I wrote an article entitled, (Reforming the Security Sector: Facing Challenges, Achieving Progress in Timor-Leste) to bring to UNMIT’s attention that their actions and words were not one and the same. You cannot say one thing up front and then behind the scenes do another creating a bad image for the state of Timor-Leste and appearing as though you know everything. The article “Reforming the Security Sector: Facing Challenges, Achieving Progress in Timor-Leste (2009)” was published in all the newspapers in Timor-Leste, and was met with a strong reaction from UNMIT. Sometimes we need an intervention to awaken UNMIT from their slumber, otherwise they will be running like blind cows. Mr. Ian Martin also reacted to this article. At a recent meeting in Timor-Leste between me and the SED team, Timor-Leste’s good friend Mr. Ian Martin in 2009 also gave his reaction to this article. In this article I said Timor-Leste knows democracy, knows human rights as well as the dignity of its people. That is why there cannot be a person, or an organisation as well as another nation to force the teachings or guide the implementation of human rights and democracy onto the people of Timor-Leste. The people together with Timor-Leste’s leadership know what Timor-Leste needs to do, and it’s not what other people want to have done in this beloved country. That is why we need to hold firm to the principle “to do what we (Timor Leste) need to do, rather than what others want”, so as to prevent the manipulative doctrine, which others have brought and tried to force Timor-Leste to implement. The implementation of human rights and democracy which is internationally enforced throughout the international community has to come from the people and Timor-Leste’s leaderships’ conscience according to the constitution and reinforced by the law.

The last case is the information which the newspaper Tempo Semanal published regarding UNMIT’s attack on the Head of Government (15/5/2011). On the 24th of January 2011, a member of UNMIT made a PowerPoint presentation with the topic FOR SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN TIMOR-LESTE. Contibutions to this presentation came from UN agenicies such as UNDP, UNCDF, UNEST & DGSU, because this document said “This presentation was based on contribution from UNDP, UNCDF, UNEST & DGSU”. This means that all the information in this presentation came from the UN agencies in Timor-Leste and based on their perception good or bad about the governance of Timor-Leste. The presentation said that “the executive, especially Prime Minister is seeking more and more power at the expense of parliament and the judiciary. By the end of 2012 this may have diminished the effective roles of the other two pillars and significantly reduced the accountability of the executive and rule of law, with the rule of Prime Minister.“ This statement means the executive especially the Prime Minister is looking to grab greater power from the Parliment and the Tribunal. (Tribunál de Contas reveals big political attacks). Prior to 2012 the results of this process is the effective responsibility of these two sovereign bodies (this refers to the Parliment and and tibunal) with the executive responsibility , the state’s democratic right will diminish, and “rule of law” will diminish, but the rule of the Prime Minister will be greater...” If we were to summarise this statement a little it means that UN and its agencies think that the Prime Minister is becoming a great obsticle for the development of democray in Timor-Leste.

UNMIT’s statement from the retreat shows that they wanted to incorrectly interpret the Prime Minister’s position regarding the democratisation process in Timor-Leste. They incorrectly interpreted in two funds which we previously mentioned, Human Capital Fund which comes under the Prime Minister and Infrastructure Fund which also comes under the Prime Minister. I do not want to explain why the two funds, to the public - even less to the UN because they always see themselves as beter than the Timorese, especialy about democratisation, reform in the security sector as well as justice.

Reactions to UNMIT’s statement came from many quarters, including the Opposition, President of the Republic as well as the Pirme Minister himself. The first UNMIT presentation was like a good “vitamin” for the opposition party. That is why Fretilin’s frontbench, through Anicetio Guterres, was happy to put out a political declaration to absolutely justify and support UNMIT’s opinion.

This is clear because, as an opposition party, Fretilin received great support from UNMIT’s statement. Second, reaction from the President of the Republic Dr Ramos Horta. Dr Ramos Horta angrily said that this is a dumb person’s report and added that “I think this was probably done by a dumb person”. We see who was responsible for the oil for food program in Iraq , 100% corruption, $60 billion of corruption. So it is better for the great dumbies not to talk too much” (www.temposemanal.timor.blogspot.com). Third, reaction came from the Prime Minister himself when he said “UNMIT does not know me”. There were many aspects that the Prime Minister mentioned in his speech to the UNTL academic seminar on 17th of May 2011 at the Dili Convention Centre. However, I would add to the two topics which the Prime Minister mentioned in his speech which is very important. One of the topics is regarding the IDPs problem in 2008 and the other is about the joint Commando Operations between F-FDTL and PNTL to solve the rebel situation in 2008. We will begin with the the problem of IDPs. The question as how to solve the problem of IDPs I humbly would like to tell you a little story regarding this topic. In 2008 after the attempted assassination of the President Ramos Horta and the Prime Minster Xanana Gusmao, Parliamentary President Fernando Lasama de Araujo called a high level meeting at the Palacio das Cinzas in Kaikoli. In this meeting there were many agendas to be discussed including questions regarding a solution for the IDPs. How will the IDPs return to their homes, as well as how many years it will take to solve this problem? A Deputy SRSG (I will not mention names) quickly said that the UN has experience solving problems of IDPs in many countries, especially in Africa. That is why the Deputy SRSG added that it will take 10-15 years to be able to close down the IDP camps. Members of the government that participated in this meeting were surprised because the Government’s intention was this; maybe the problem of IDPs and the Petitioners case needed to be solved much quicker so we could focus on the nation’s development.

After listening to the UN’s opinion, the Prime Minister said what he was thinking: that the people of Timor-Leste that are now IDPs are not the same as the people of Africa. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao also said, “I know the people’s suffering, a people who suffered during the long war, that is why the government will need 2-3 years to solve the problem of IDPs, there is no need to take 10-15 years”. “This was said and done”, within 2 years. The case of 150,000 IDPs was quickly solved. Timor- Leste’s own experience realy showed that with hard work between all the state bodies, especially the State Secretariat for Natural Disasters with the Ministry for Social Solidarity, the IDPs case was solved within 2-3 years. “ If the leader of the state and government listened to UN’s thinking , like we needed 10-15 years to solve the the IDP’s case , then even today the IDPs would still be staying underneath the tarpaulins in front of Hotel Timor, Obrigadu Baracks, Metinaro and Hera and many more places.” However we (all state bodies) together can solve the problem of IDPs”.

The Prime Minister’s speech also mentioned about the Joint Commando Operation between FALINTIL-FDTL and PNTL in 2008. This operation was decided by the Council of Ministers, then the President of the Republic was consulted and the Supreme interinu commander Fernando Lasama de Araujo declared martial law. The Council of Ministers nominated Brigadier General (now Major General) Tau Matan Ruak for the responsibility to establish the Joint Commando Operation and Commander Alfonso de Jesus (now Adjuntu Komisariu PNTL) as the Commandant and Vise Commandant of the Joint Operation. The reasons to establish the Joint Operation are; first, our hopes in the international institution, the International Stabilising Force (ISF) from Australia and New Zealand did not produce results. The whole night the Prime Minister, the Minister for Defence and Security, as well as SED, SES, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak and Commandant Afonso de Jesus met with ISF Commandant to conduct an operation to solve the problem of the rebels. However after the ISF conducted their two day operation, ISF inform that they encountered difficulties as they did not know these people. Second, it was not the UNPOL’s competence, as well as UNPOL’s lack of capacity to solve this problem. They did not come to face such great risks in a situation as difficult as this. It is because of these two reasons that the state decided to establish the Joint Operation. The results from the Joint Operation showed the whole world that once again the Timorese can solve their problems on their own. A Joint Operation in Timor-Leste’s own way. (Timorese way) can foster stability for this beloved country. A Major from New Zealand that worked in the Joint Commando Operation, wrote a report that said the Joint Operation was successful because there was first a positive integration between F-FDTL and PNTL, and it showed that they can work together. Second, the Operation had knowledge about the rebels and found support from the population base.

Third: the implementation of a psychological military tactic that was not intended to kill the target. It is because of this Joint Operation, that Timor-Leste found success in solving the case of the Petitioners in 2008. However, at that time, we were met with great challenges from Timorese themselves who did not believe in our two forces, as well as from UNMIT. UNMIT said that Timor-Leste was mixing the role of the Armed Forces with that of the Police Force, they accused the government of starting to militarise the police. However they had forgotten that during the Joint Operation these two forces found a good opportunity to work together and develop confidence in each other after the 2006 crisis.

If we analyse well, we can see that Timor-Leste has a long experience with violence. After the Restoration of Independence, every two years Timor-Leste entered into a difficult situation. On 4th December 2002, violence appeared in Dili. People burnt the Hello Mister shop, burnt other shops in Kolmera as well as Marie Alkatiri’s house in Pantai Kelpa. In 2004 violence appeared in Lospalos between some members of FALINTIL-FDTL and PNTL. The previous government together with the President of the Republic Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao established a team to conduct an investigation. In 2006 a political and military crisis appeared that brought a great problem to this new country. The problem of IDPs and the Petitioners had yet to be solved and then the problem of the attempted assassination of the Head of State Dr. Ramos Horta and Head of the Government Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao. However this government led by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao broke the chain of biannual conflict in 2010. Even if we encountered many problems and very difficult situations during the time of independence, we showed to the whole world that we ourselves can find solutions to solve our problems. The UN may have a lot of experience regarding conflict in other countries, like Africa, however they can not apply their experience in Timor-Leste because they do not know the Timor-Leste people.

The reaction from the President of the Republic we can say that even though at times our words are harsh, it seems that UN are really dumb. Finally, UNMIT continues to think, as well as tries to teach many things to the Timorese. I can provide an example to this effect. On 6 May 2011 some members of the government such as Vice-Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres, together with State Secretary of Defence, State Secretary of Security, Vice Minister of Finance, and Vice Minister for Economy and Development met with UNMIT staff including Amira Haq’s Chief of Staff Toby Lanze, Murry McCullough (Security sector Reform Unit UNMIT) and the UNPOL commissary Luis Carilho and other staff to discuss the “Transition Plan”. In a presentation regarding Good Governance, an UNMIT staff member spoke strongly asking the Timor-Leste Government to quickly establish institutions to oversee the areas of Good Governance as well as Democracy. Reponding one by one as a diplomat and Vice-Prime Minister, Dr Jose Luis Guterres, extended his appreciation to UNMIT’s suggestion, however the reaction from the Secretary for Security was much stronger. There is no need to institutionalise democracy through a special state institution because democracy is consecrated in the constitution and comes from the committment between the state, civil society and the people of Timor-Leste. Civil Society, like HAK foundation, Rede Feto as well as other NGOs that watch over democracy and human rights. Currently we do not have a special institution to watch over the area of democracy, however democracy and human rights continue to proceed, because of the constitution and the commitment of the Timorese people.

Regarding the UN’s mission in Timor-Leste, we can also analyse that sometimes UNMIT is infiltrated by international and national people that have separate political agendas. The newspaper Timor Post on 24^th May said that presently China has intentions to setup its intelligence in South East Asia. However, Timor-Leste needs to remember that this infiltration does not only come from China, but may come from other countries including infiltration from within the institution of UNMIT to seek information for their own country. So Timor-Leste does not need to fear, when there are some views that UNMIT also has many people who work in it, not for the UNMIT mission but for their country. Regarding this topic, we can analyse that there are two groups and one political group that is working and delivering the UN mission in Timor-Leste (this analysis may be wrong or right). First there is a group that is working for other countries “collecting information”so as to deliver other country’s work. This group is forcing its wishes and when they encounter some challenges, they always create public opinion to make the situation in the country worse. This group does not want the beloved country Timor-Leste to develop itself and become and independent sovereign.

Second, the group that wants to give great support to Timor-Leste to slowly become a developed nation. This group at this time is like “burung terkurung dalam sangkar”. This group has dominated the UNMIT leadership since the start, but between these groups, the first group dominates.

Third, a group of Timorese who work for UNMIT. There are many Timorese that are truly committed to the development of this beloved country. That, however, it is not wrong that there are some who are taking advantage of UNMIT to pursue their political, personal or group’s mission. PM Xanana in his speech said that “I want to say to the Timorese , that have become UNMIT experts , not to show off, there is no need to grovel for other people’s money because this is a bad sickness that we call: mental colonialism or intellectual colonialisim”. The Timorese that follow PM Xanana do not want UNMIT to leave Timor-Leste. In this world, interdependence and dependence between countries is a normal topic but, regading a new nation like Timor-Leste, there needs to be an end to premature dependence in this country.

I just wanted to say that what has now become public policy regarding UNMIT’s presentation from the retreat happened in January 2011, and that clearly it was not a report. However we can say that this presentation is an opinion for the UNMIT institution as well as other UN agencies in Timor-Leste. However, according to some deep sources from some people in the UN, this retreat involved the UN leadership. This means that the opinion of the UN leadership in Timor-Leste is negative regarding the government and the Prime Minister. UN is like an institution that needs to be neutral in political topics. UNMIT’s mandate in Timor-Leste is to give support to the state of Timor-Leste in all aspects, not to come and destroy and give contradictive opinions on the national development and progress.

This article is only a personal opinion

MISSAUN UNMIT: DEZENVOLVE OU DESTROI..?

Opiniaun Husi 

Julio Tomas Pinto

Secretario Estado da Defesa

(Article ne’e representa opiniaun Pesoal)

Dala ida tan, UNMIT ho nian ajénsias nia atetude (UNDP UNCDF, UNEST & DGSU), lori Timor oan sira para kestiona konaba Nassões Unidas nia missaun iha Timor-Leste.  Tuir sira nian hahalok, ita mos bele husu katak, UNMIT nian missaun ne’e para dezenvolve ou destroi?  Maibe, antes ita kualia konaba ne’e, ita tenki esklarece uluk sira nia mandatu. Mandatu UNMIT iha Timor-Leste, klaramente katak atu fo supporta ba Estadu Timor-Leste.  Supporta signifika katak, bele foo assistencia teknika ba Estadu iha area balun nebe defini tiha ona.  Pur ezemplu, ba PNTL, UNMIT foo apoiu iha área lima: operasaun, treinamentu, rekursos umanu no mos administrasaun.  Ba setór defesa, sira fo deit assistensia teknika, hanesan assesoria no mos hari’i edifisiu provejoria ba Institutu Defeza Nasional.  Maibe, se ita analiza didiak UNMIT nian atetude ho sira nia opiniaun iha Timor-Leste, ita hare katak dala ruma sira nia hahalok ho sira nian opiniaun la hanesan.

Iha tinan 2009, atan hau, hasai article ida ho tópiku, “Reforma Setór Siguransa iha Timor-Leste: Entre Progresu e Dezafius” (Reforming the Security Sector: Facing Challenges, Achieving Progress in Timor-Leste) para fanu e hatoo ba UNMIT katak, sira nia hahalok ho sira nian liafuan tenki hanesan.  Labele iha oin kualia ida, depois iha kotuk halo konspirasaun, hodi kria imagen aat ba Estado Timor-Leste, hodi sai hanesan, sira mak hatene buat hotu.  Article “Reforming the Security Sector: Facing Challenges, Achieving Progress in Timor-Leste (2009)” ne’e publika iha jornal hotu-hotu iha Timor-Leste, e hetan reasaun makaas husi UNMIT.  Dala ruma ita presiza intervensaun ida, para fanu UNMIT sira, husi toba, selae sira halai hanesan karau matan delek (blind cow).  Reasaun ba article ne’e mos mai husi Sr. Ian Martin.  Kuandu hau ho ekipa SED, halo inkontru ida, ho Timor-Leste nia kolega diak, Sr. Ian Martin iha 2009, nia mos foo nia reasaun konaba article ida ne’e.  Iha article ne’e, atan hau dehan katak, Timor-Leste hatene demokrasia, hatene direitus umanus e hatene mos dignidade povu nian.  Tamba ne’e, labele iha ema ida ou organizasaun ida, no mos nasaun ida, mai hodi obriga hanorin ou orienta implementasaun direitus umanus no mos demokrasia ba povu Timor-Leste.  Povu ho líder Timor-Leste hatene saida mak Timor-Leste presiza halo, laos saida mak ema seluk haruka halo iha rai doben ida ne’e.  Tamba ne’e maka ita tenki kaer metin prinsipiu “to do what we (Timor Leste) need to do, rather than what others want”, para prevene dotrina manipulativu, nebee ema balun lori mai hodi obriga Timor-Leste implementa.  Implementasaun direitus umanus no mos demokrasia nebee vigora universalmente iha komunidade internasional, tenki mai husi konsiensia povu e líder Timor-Leste, tuir konstituisaun e lei em vigor.

Kazu ikus liu maka informasaun nebe jornal Tempo Semanal hasai ba públiku konaba, UNMIT ataque Chefi Guverno (15/5/2011).  Iha loron 24 de Janeiru 2011, membru UNMIT ida halo aprezentasaun ho power point, ho tópiku, FOR SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN TIMOR-LESTE.  Kontribuisaun ba aprezentasaun ne’e mai husi ajéncias UN hanesan UNDP, UNCDF, UNEST & DGSU, tamba document ne’e hateten : “This presentation was based on contribution from UNDP, UNCDF, UNEST & DGSU”.  Ne’e signifika katak, informasaun hotu nebe iha aprezentasaun ida ne’e, mai husi ajénsias ONU nian, iha Timor-Leste e bazeia ba sira nian persepsaun diak ou aat ba guvernasaun Timor-Leste.  Aprezentasaun ne’e hateten katak: “the executive, especially prime Minister is seeking more and more power at the expense of parliament and the judiciary. By the end of 2012 this may have diminished the effective roles of the other two pillars and significantly reduced the accountability of the executive and rule of law, with the rule of prime minister. “ statement ida ne’e signifika katak...ezekutivu, espesialmente Primeiru Ministru buka atu hadau podér boot liu tebes husi Parlamentu no Tribunais sira (Tribunál de Contas sei hamosu atakes polítiku boot tebes). Molok 2012 prosesu ida ne’e nia rezultadu mak knaar efetivu husi órgaun soberania rua ne’e nian (ne’e refere ba parlamentu no tribunál) hodi responsabiliza ezekutivu, estadu direitu demokrátika sei menus, no “rule of law” sei menus no “rule of Primeiru Ministru” mak sei boot liu...” Se ita halo sumariu kik ba statement ida nee signifika, ONU ho sira nian ajensias hanoin katak: Primeiru Ministru sai hanesan obstaclu boot ba dezenvolvimentu demokrasia ba Timor-Leste.

Statement UNMIT nian iha retreat ne’e hatudu tan katak, sira hakarak interpreta sala pozisaun Primeiru Ministru nian, ba prosesu demokratizasaun iha Timor-Leste.  Sira interpreta sala konaba Fundu Rua nebe bain-bain ita temi, Fundu Kapital Humano nebe iha Primeiru Ministru nia okos e Fundu Infrastrutura nebe mos iha Primeiru Ministru nia okos.  Hau lakohi esplika tan fundu rua ne’e ba públiku liu-liu ba ONU, tamba sira ne’e sempre hare sira nia an perfeito liu Timor oan sira, liu-liu konaba demokratizasaun, reforma setor seguransa e seluk tan iha justisa.

Reasaun ba statement UNMIT nian ne’e, mai husi parte barak, inclui mos Opozisaun, Presidente Republika no mos Primeiru Ministru rasik. Primeiru, aprezentasaun UNMIT nian ne’e hanesan “vitamina” diak ida ba partido opozisaun. Purtantu Bankada Fretilin atraves deputadu Aniceto Guterres, ho kontenti hasai deklarasaun politika, hodi justifika e supporta absolutamente opiniaun UNMIT nian. Ne’e tamba klaru que nudar partidu opozisaun, Fretilin hetan supporta boot husi UNMIT nia statement.  Sigundo, reasaun mos mai husi Presidente Republika Dr. Ramos Horta.  Dr Ramos Horta ho hirus dehan, relatóriu nee ema beik ten nian, no mos hatutan katak “hau hanoin beik ten ruma maka halo karik. Ita hare to’ok se mak kaer programa ida naran oil and food iha Iraque, korupsaun ne’e makas 100 %, korupsaun $60 biloens. Purtantu, diak liu beik ten boot sira ne’e lalika koalia demais” (www.temposemanal.timor.blogspot.com).  Terseiro, reasaun mos mai husi Primeiru Ministru rasik wainhira hatete katak, “UNMIT ladun kunhese hau”.  Iha aspeto barak mak Primeiru Ministru temi iha nia diskursu ba seminariu akademi UNTL, iha loron 17 de Maio 2011 iha Centru Konvensaun de Dili.  Maibe hau hakarak aumenta tan deit assunto rua nebe Primeiru Ministru mensiona iha nian diskurso, nebe importante tebe-tebes.  Assuntu ida mak problema konaba IDPS nian iha tinan 2008 e seluk tan konaba Operasaun Komandu Konjuntu entre F-FDTL e PNTL para rezolve situasaun rebeldes nian iha tinan 2008.  Ita komesa uluk husi problema IDPs.  Konaba pergunta, oinsa rezolve problema IDPs, atan hau hakarak konta istoria oan ida konaba asuntu ne’e.  Iha tinan 2008, depois de assassinatu tentativa ba Prezidente Ramos Horta ho Primeiru Ministru Xanana Gusmao, Presidente interino Fernando Lasama de Araujo konvoka inkontru alto nivel (high level meeting) iha Palacio das Cinzas iha Kaikoli.  Iha inkontru ida ne’e, iha ajenda barak tebe-tebes para koalia, inclui mos pergunta konaba solusaun ba IDPs.  Oinsa mak IDPs bele fila hikas ba sira nia uma, no mos, tinan hira mak presiza para rezolve problema ida ne’e? Deputy SRSG ida (hau lakohi temi naran) hato’o kedas katak, ONU iha esperiencia rezolve problema IDPs iha nasaun barak, especialmente nasaun sira iha Africa.  Tamba ne’e Deputy SRSG ne’e hatutan tan katak, lori tinan 10-15 para bele taka kampu IDPs.  Membrus Guvernu nebee partisipa iha inkontro ne’e hakfodak tamba intensaun guvernu nian mak ne’e, katak problema IDPs e kazu Petisionariu sira, tenki rezolve lalais para ita bele fokus fali ba dezenvolvimentu nasaun nian.  Depois de rona tiha opiniaun ONU nian, Primeiru Ministru hato’o nia hanoin katak, povu Timor-Leste sira nebee agora sai IDPs, la hanesan povu Africa sira.  Primeiru Ministru Xanana Gusmao dehan mos katak,” hau kunhese povo terus atan ida ne’e, povu ida nebee terus iha funu naruk nia laran, tamba ne’e guverno sei presiza tinan 2-3 para rezolve problema IDPs, la persiza to’o fali tinan 10-15 tan”. “This was said and done”, ho tinan 2 nian laran, kazu de 150,000 IDPs rezolvidu kedas.  Timor-Leste nian esperiencia rasik, hatudu duni katak ho servisu makas entre orgaun Estadu nia hotu, specialmente Secretaria Estadu Dezastre Naturais ho Ministeriu Solidaridade Social, kazu IDPs rezolvidu duni iha tinan 2-3 nian laran. “Se líder estadu ho guvernu rona UNMIT nian hanoin, hanesan ita presiza tinan 10-15 para rezolve kazu IDPs, karik to’o agora, IDPs sira nian hela nafatin maka iha lona okos iha Hotel Timor nian oin, Obrigadu Barak nia Oin, Metinaro ho Hera no mos fatin seluk tan”. Maibe ita (orgaun estadu tomak) hamutuk, ita bele rezolve duni kazu boot ida ne’e (together we (all state organs) can solve the problem of IDPs).

Diskursu husi Primeiru Ministru mos temi konaba Operasaun Komandu Konjuntu entre FALINTIL-FDTL e PNTL, iha tinan 2008.  Operasun ida ne’e desidi husi Konselhu dus Ministrus, depois halo konsulta ho Prezidente Republika e Komandante Supremu interinu Fernando Lasama de Araujo, hodi foo sai deklarasaun Estado de Sitio.  Responsabilidade para harii Operasaun Komandu Konjuntu, Konselhu dus Ministrus nomeia Brigadeiro General (agora Major General) Taur Matan Ruak ho Komandante Afonso de Jesus (agora Adjuntu Komisariu PNTL), para sai hanesan Komandante e Vice Komandante ba Operasaun Konjuntu.  Razaun hodi hari’i Operasaun Kojuntu maka ne’e; primeiru, esperansa mak ita foo ba instituisaun internasional, atraves de International Stabilization Force (ISF) husi Australia e Nova Zealandia, la hetan rezultadu.  Kalan ida tomak Primeiru Ministru e Ministru Defeza e Siguransa, no mos SED, SES, Brigadeiru General Taur Matan Ruak e Komandante Afonso de Jesus halo inkontru ida ho Komandante ISF atu halo operasaun ida para rezolve problema rebeldes nian.  Maibe, depois de ISF halo tiha sira nian operasaun durante loron rua, ISF informa fali katak, sira hetan difikuldade tamba la kunhese ema sira ne’e.  Sigundo, laos UNPOL nian kompetensia, no mos UNPOL la iha kapasidade para rezolve problema ida nee.  Sira laos mai para hasoru risku boot iha situasaun dificil ida ne’e.  Tamba razaun rua ne’e mak Estadu deside, hari’i nafatin Operasaun Konjuntu.  Rezultadu husi Operasaun Konjuntu, hatudu ba mundu tomak, dala ida tan katak, Timor oan bele rezolve nia problema rasik.  Operasaun Konjuntu ho Timor-Leste nia dalan rasik (Timorese way) bele kria estabilidade ba nasaun doben ida ne’e.  Major ida husi Nova Zealandia mak servisu iha Operasaun Komandu Konjuntu, halo relatoriu ida e hakerek katak, Operasaun Konjuntu hetan susesu tamba primeiru hetan integrasaun pozitivu entre F-FDTL ho PNTL, e hatudu katak sira bele servisu hamutuk. Sigundo, Operasaun iha kunhecimentu konaba rebeldes e hetan supporta husi populasaun baze. Terseiru, implementasaun taktika psikologika militar, nebe laos para oho target.

Tamba Operasaun Konjuntu ne’e, maka Timor-Leste hetan susesu hodi resolve kazu petisionarius sira, iha 2008.  Maibe iha tempu neba, ita hasoru dezafiu boot husi Timor oan sira rasik nebe la fiar ita nia forsa rua, no mos husi UNMIT sira. UNMIT hateten katak, Timor-Leste komesa kahur papel Forsa Armadas ho Forsa Policial e sira akuza guvernu komesa halo militarizasaun ba polícia.  Maibe sira haluha tiha katak, durante Operasaun Konjunto ne’e, mak forsa rua F-FDTL ho PNTL hetan opurtunidade diak para servisu hamutuk e dezenvolve fali konfiansa ba malu depois de krize 2006.

Se ita analiza didiak ita bele hare katak, Timor-Leste iha esperiencia naruk iha violensia laran.  Depois de Restaurasaun Independensia, kada tinan rua Timor-Leste tama iha situasaun difísil nia laran.  Iha loron 4 de Dezembro 2002, violensia mosu iha Dili laran.  Ema sunu loja Hello Mister, sunu Loja balun iha Kolmera no mos sunu Marie Alkatiri nia uma iha Pantai Kelapa.  Iha 2004, violensia mosu iha Lospalos entre membru balun husi FALINTIL-FDTL ho PNTL.  Guvernu anterior hamutuk ho Prezidente Republika Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao harii ekipa ida hodi halo investigasaun.  Iha 2006, mosu krizi polítika no mos militar nebe hamosu problema boot ba nasaun foun ida ne’e.  Sidauk rezolve problema IDPs ho petisionarius sira, mosu tan problema assassinatu tentativa ba Chefi de Estado Dr. Ramos Horta e Chefi Guverno Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao.  Maibe guverno ida nebe lidera husi Permeiro Ministro Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao hakotu  korente (chain) konflito kada tinan rua ne’e iha 2010. Mesmu ita hetan problemas barak e situasaun difísil tebe-tebes durante tempu independencia nian laran, ita hatudu ba mundu tomak katak, ita rasik bele buka solusaun hodi rezolve ita nian problema.  UN sira bele iha esperiencia barak konaba conflitus iha rai seluk, hanesan Afrika, maibe sira la bele mai aplika sira nian esperiencia iha Timor-Leste, tamba sira la kunhese povu Timor-Leste.  

Tuir Prezidente da Republika nian reasaun, ita bele dehan katak, mesmu dala ruma ita nian liafuan hanesan kasar, mas parese ONU sira beik ten duni.  Ikus liu UNMIT sei kontinua hanoin, no mos hakarak los hanorin, buat barak ba Timor oan sira.  Hau bele foo ezemplu ida tan konaba ida ne’e.  Iha loron 6 de Maio 2011 Membrus Governu balun, hanesan Vice Primeiru Ministru Jose Luis Guterres, hamutuk ho Secretariu Estadu da Defeza, Secretariu Estadu da Siguransa, Vice Ministru Finansas e Vice Ministru Ekonomia ho Dezenvolvimento halo inkontru ho UNMIT staff sira inclui, Chief of Staf Amira Haq nian Toby Lanzer, Murray McCullough (Security sector Reform Unit UNMIT), e Komissáriu UNPOL Luis Carilho ho staff seluk tan, atu koalia konaba “Transition Plan”.  Iha aprezentasaun konaba Good Governance, staf UNMIT oan ida, koalia makas liu para husu guvernu Timor-Leste, hari’i lalais instituisaun ida para tau matan iha área Good Governance no mos Demokrasia.  Responde ba ideia ida ne’e, nudar diplomata e Vice Primeiru Ministru, Dr. Jose Luis Guterres, hato’o nia agradesimentu ba sujestaun UNMIT ne’e, maibe reasaun husi Secretario Siguransa makas liu.  Demokrasia la presiza institusionaliza atraves instituisaun especial Estado nian.  Tamba demokrasia konsagra ona iha Konstituisaun e sai hanesan kompromisu Estadu nian, sociedade civil, no mos povu Timor-Leste tomak.  Sosiedade Civil hanesan Fundasaun HAK, Rede Feto no mos NGO sira seluk tan, tau matan dadauk ba demokrasia ho direitus umanus.  Agora dadaun ita la iha instituisaun especial ida para tau matan iha área demokrasia, maibe demokrasia ho direitus umanus lao nafatin, tamba Konstituisaun e kompromisiu povo Timor oan nian.

Konaba missaun ONU nian iha Timor-Leste, ita mos bele analiza katak, UNMIT dalam ruma hetan infiltrasaun husi ema internasional e nasional, nebee iha ajenda politika ketak.  Jornal Timor Post iha loron 24 de Maio hateten katak, Xina agora iha intensaun para monta nia espionajen iha Ásia Sudeste.  Maibe Timor-Leste mos keta haluha katak infiltrasaun ne’e laos mai deit husi Xina, maibe mai husi nasaun seluk, inklui mos infiltrasaun iha instituisaun UNMIT nia laran para buka informasaun ba sira nia nasaun rasik.  Purtantu Timor-Leste la presiza hakfodak kuandu iha mos opiniaun balun katak, UNMIT mos iha ema barak, nebe nia servisu laos ba missaun UNMIT nian, maibe ba ninia nasaun mos.  Konaba assuntu ida nee, ita bele analiza katak, iha grupu rua e grupu politika ida mak agora halao ou servisu hela missaun ONU iha Timor-Leste (analiza ne’e bele los ou bele la los): Primeiro iha grupu ida nebe servisu ba nasaun seluk halao hela missaun “rekolha informasaun” atu bele hato’o ba nasaun seluk nebe nia servisu ba.  Grupu ne’e mak obriga hela ninia hakarak no mos bainhira hetan dezafius ruma, sira sempre kria opiniaun publiku atu halo aat ba situasaun iha rai laran. Grupu ida ne’e mak lakohi rai doben Timor-Leste dezenvolvi ninia an, hodi sai nasaun nebe independente e soberania.  Sigundo, Grupu ida nebe hakarak foo tulun ba Timor-Leste hodi sai nasaun dezenvolvidu ho neneik.  Grupu ida ne’e durante ne’e hanesan “burung terkurung dalam sangkar”.  Grupu ida ne’e mak domina lideransa UNMIT desde uluk kedas, mas iha grupu ne’e nia sorin, mesak grupu primeiru deit mak domina.  Terseiro, grupu Timor oan nebe servisu iha UNMIT. Iha Timor oan barak mak fo laran duni para bele kontribui ba dezenvolvimentu rai doben ne’e.  Maibe la sala mos katak iha mos balun mak, aproveita UNMIT para halao missaun politiku, pessoal ou grupu nian. PM Xanana iha nia diskursus dehan katak “hau hakarak dehan Timor oan sira nebe sai experts ba UNMIT, atu lalika loko-an, atu lalika hakruk demais ba ema nia osan, tamba ida ne’e, moras at ida nebe ita bolu : colonialism mental no colonialism intellectual”. Timor oan sira ne’e mos tuir PM Xanana lakohi UNMIT sai husi Timor Leste. Iha mundu ne’e interdependia e dependensia entre nasaun asunto ida normal mas nudar nasaun foun ida Timor Leste persiza halakon dependensia premature iha rai ida ne’e.

Hakarak hateten deit katak, saida mak agora sai polémiko iha publiku konaba aprezentasaun UNMIT nian, husi retreat mak akontece iha Janeiru 2011, klaru que laos relatorio ida.  Maibe ita bele dehan katak, aprezentasaun ne’e sai hanesan opiniaun husi instituisaun UNMIT, ho ajéncias seluk husi ONU iha Timor-Leste.  Maibe, klean tebe-tebes katak, tuir informasaun husi ema balun iha ONU, retreat ne’e involve líder ONU sira.  Ne’e signifika katak opiniaun husi líder ONU sira iha Timor-Leste, negativu ba guvernu no mos Primeiru Ministru.  ONU hanesan instituisaun ida mak tenki sai neutral e labele tama iha assuntu politika nian.  Mandatu UNMIT nian iha Timor-Leste maka, para foo supporta ba Estadu Timor-Leste iha aspeitu hotu, laos para mai destroi e fo opiniaun kontraditivu ba progressu no mos dezenvolvimentu nasional. 

EU Letter Exposes UNDP Incompetence: SSR Project.

UNDP Says Project Complete. Donors Wait for Result. Govt Says UNDP Did Not Deliver.

Tempo Semanal has obtained a letter from the EU to the UNDP, dated 1 October 2010 regard UN Security Sector Reform project conducted by UNMIT and UNDP.

At 1300 pm 24 May 2011 Tempo Semanal called Ms. Mikiko Tanaka the Country Director for UNDP in East Timor for comment on the letter written to her from Mr. Costas Tsilogiannis Charge D’Afair of the European Union delegation in East Timor on 1 October 2010.

EU letter to UN

When TS ask UNDP Country Director Tanaka for comment she stated she was busy having lunch. When asked again Tanaka stated “I did not know what you are talking about, can you call me later?”

Several minutes later TS called Mr. Costas of the EU asking about the letter in which he and the EU outline concerns about the “Contribution Agreement IFS 2008/21-028 Security Sector Review in Timor-Leste – Capacity Development Facility EU Delegation to Timor-Leste comments to UNDP progress report.”

TS asked Mr. Costas about the letter to which Mr. Costas said he did write the letter. Mr. costas  said “some of the concerns have been answered”.  He also said the “project could have been better”. He said the UNDP and others made mistakes. He said he was unsatisfied with some parts of the the project.

When asked about how the UN misused funds to send people to meetings in Africa instead of trainings in Europe he said “before you publish, lets talk”.

At 4pm TS met with Mr. Costas on the EU Delegation HQ in Acait, Dili, in the old Indonesian army HQ.

Mr. Costas told TS “I wrote the letter because in mid 2010 the UN had still not spent 50% of the money given for the project.  The project started in December 2008 and had duration of 1 year and eight month. But by July 2010, after 16 months into 18 month project only 50% spent. Total budget $2 million."

Mr. Costas also said “After I sent the letter, they responded by speeding up by funding NGO research and establishing National Defence Institute.”

Mr. Costas says the Defence Institute is of concern because while it was established it does not have the staff, resources as required in the Contribution Agreement. This is because it was a rush job.  Also he pointed out that the Defence Institute was made in the wrong place because Ministry of Defence have new building under way in Fatuhada.  Mr. Costa questioned UNDP planning and execution of the multi-million dollar project.

Secretary State Defence Julio Tomas Pinto told TS “UNDP promised 5 staff for the Defence Institute, but until today they did not deliver”.  Pinto said “you can interpret if this is UN a lie or not.”

Mr. Costas said the Defence Institute was poorly implemented because of UN delays.

Some NGOs that got fund for research from the UN SSR project funded by the EU told TS that they were given less time than had been promised and forced into a rush job so that the UN could report to EU that money was spent.  When TS asked Mr. Costa if he knew this Mr. Costa was very surprised. But he said ”overall the project some was some satisfied and some unsatisfied result”.

Mr. Costas said “project has finished but we are still waiting for the final report and for the UN to return money that was not used.”

TS spoke with Secretary State Security Fransisco Guterres the Chairman of UN SSR project management board. Mr. Guterres said “final report has not been submitted, because East Timor’s government will not sign it before they release the Security Sector Survey report.” According to Mr. Guterres “the UN has not released this survey report because the UN does not agree with the contents of the report.” He said the “UN does not like the contents of the public opinion survey because the people say the work of PNTL is better than the work of the United Nations Police.”

Regarding the EU funded UN SSR project Mr. Guterres said “there are some unfinished job, but the project is finished”.

TS again tried to speak with UNDP Country Director Tanaka, but the UN Spokesperson Sandra Macguir said TS has to send question in writing first.   TS received from the UN Spokesperson Sandra Macguir an SMS text “Sorry Mikiko says project was completed including all activities noted in the letter.”

In the letter the EU says the UNDP did not report correctly the financial details for the project activity and costs.  The EU asked UNDP for new report as required by the contract.  Mr. Costas says he still waiting for report, but Ms. Mikiko says the job is done. Secretary State Defence and Secretary State Security say they are unsatisfied with the UN project.

Komplete letter below.

DR. Pinto Informa Lala'ok F-FDTL, Husu USA Investe iha Baze Naval Kosta Sul

Tempo Semanal-Dili, 24.02.2011


Iha loron sorin kinta Feira feira konvoi vizita komandante United Pasific Fleet nian to'o iha palacio do Governu eskolta husi motorizadas polisia Militar.


Sekretariu do estadu da Defeza DR. Julio Tomas Pinto hein ona ninia servisu fatin ho oin midar kaer liman ho ninia bainaka Admiral Patrick Walsh ne'ebe akompania husi segundu enkaregadu ba embaixada USA ninian iha Dili, Jonathan haneeck, atase militar ba embaixada iha Dili no ekipa admiral ninian nain rua seluk.


Hafoin de enkontru ho SED, Julio Tomas Pinto, Admiral Patrick fo agradece wain ba vontade diak simu ninia vizita iha nasaun Timor Leste hodi tara tais haleu ninia kakorok tuir kultura Timor ninian.


Iha parte seluk DR. Julio Tomas Pinto dehan, liu husi power point hodi esplika ba ninia bainaka ne'e kona ba prosesu dezenvolvimentu F-FDTL ninian. Julio informa hikas admiral Patrick husu kona ba dezenvolvimentu forsa Maritima ninian. Sekretariu do estadu ne'e esplika kona ba planu Forsa 2020 ne'ebe fo prioridade ba forsa tasi nian, komitmentu governu Timor Leste hodi fo liu prioridade ba dezenvolvimentu komponente Naval.


Tuir Julio Tomas pinto esplika katak kooperasaun iha area defeza entre Timor Leste ho Amerika la'o diak teb-tebes tan ba daudaun ne'e Estadu Unidus da Amerka hahu investe barak ona iha dezenvolvimentu iha rekursu umanus ninian ho foo oportunidade ba Forsa foin sa'e sira ba tuir treinamentu ida ho naran International Military Educational training iha Texas no kursu especialista iha Hawa'i.

Nasaun barak apoiu Timor Leste iha area hasa'e kapasidade rekrusu Umanus no Xina maka gasta ninia osan hodi harii netik gabinete importante balun iha Timor Leste maiske besi iha lutu gabinete Ministeiru Negosiu estranjeiru ninian hahu dodok no tohar daudaun.


Nune'e duni DR. Julio Tomas Pinto propoin ba Estadus Unidus da Amerika atu konsidera hodi investe mos iha area infra estrutura F-FDTL ninian hodi harii baze Forsa Naval iha Mota boot, area same, parte sul nasaun ninian. Baze Naval ne'e sei uza hodi kontrola atividades ilegais iha Tasi Timor ninian iha parte ne'eba maibe sei sai mos hanesan fatin ba treinamentu konjunta ho nasaun sira seluk ho Timor Leste.


Tuir membru senior ida iha F-FDTL hateten katak dezenvolvimentu F-FDTL la'o ho diak no lalais liu kompara ho instituisaun sira seluk iha nasaun ne'e tan ba aplika metodu kooperasaun bilateral no identika tarjetu hamutuk, la'os hanesan PNTL ne'ebe ninia dezenvolvimentu iha tinan barak ninia laran liu husi kooperasaun multilateral ne'ebe la iha opsaun hodi hili maibe obriga simu de'it.


Iha oportunidade ne'e DR. Pinto mos informa katak roh rua husi Korea do Sul sei too iha Timor Leste iha meiadu tinan ne'e. (TS)