Sydney Morning Herald
Neighbours divided by wealth and power - SMH link
JOSE BELO
June 15, 2010
The handover of two Chinese patrol boats to East Timor this month represents not only a failure of maritime surveillance arrangements between Canberra and Dili but a larger failure of Australian policy towards its newest northern neighbour.
For six years, from 2002 to 2008, Canberra tried to convince East Timor to join the South Pacific patrol boat program in which Australian ships patrol the seas of neighbouring countries on their behalf. This arrangement comes with many strings attached: Australia has overall command and all communications are routed through Australia, thus ensuring Canberra has access to all intelligence gathered.
This clumsy, almost post-colonial, effort to tie East Timor to an arrangement in which it would be required to cede sovereignty led Dili to look elsewhere for a supplier. China was only too willing, selling the boats with no conditions, giving new meaning to the whole notion of gunboat diplomacy.
Relationships are often fractious, even between friends, and this is the case between Australia and East Timor. The problem is not at a grassroots level: ordinary Timorese and Australians have a long history of living and even dying together. They share intimate friendships. Australian volunteers are many and highly valued.
But bilateral relations between our two governments are generally poor, primarily because Australia and East Timor do not always see eye to eye on matters of importance, and Canberra often turns a deaf ear to our interests and pursues only its own.
East Timor and Australia have had long disagreements over the Timor Sea, for example, and the petro-wealth that lies beneath it. Since East Timor gained independence in 2002, negotiations on this have been very difficult, at times acrimonious. As a rich developed nation, Australia is viewed as mean-spirited and even treacherous by many East Timorese when it tries to get more Timor Sea wealth than it deserves. Don't forget half of all Timorese live on $1 a day.
Australian development assistance is another source of friction. While such aid is viewed as generous and useful in spirit, it often comes across as self-interested and misguided in practice.
Australia does fund a range of useful projects in rural areas, including water and sanitation, cash for work, specialist eye doctors, building markets through the Peace Dividend Trust, and several others.
But in the areas of justice reform, public financial management and infrastructure development, AusAID funds huge projects costing tens of millions of dollars a year and almost nothing is achieved.
Meanwhile, the agents of Australian aid efforts - the "development consultants" - get rich quick and return home.
As the President, José´ Ramos Horta, said in a letter to the Australian ambassador last week: "The vast majority of donor aid spent on Timor-Leste is not spent in Timor-Leste [but] is spent on consultants, study missions, reports and recommendations."
Finally, there are many things going on in East Timor that ordinary people are not happy about. Corruption is a problem and accountability at an all-time low. Yet when civil society seeks assistance from the Australian embassy to try to deal with these kinds of problems, the embassy does little or nothing to help.
Australia is a regional hegemony and when it acts in its interests often comes across as a bully. When a friend bullies a friend, it can result in a real grudge match. Like forlorn lovers, the vindictiveness can become self-defeating.
But try to understand the Timorese. We only became independent eight years ago. We are poor, but proud and determined. We managed to successfully free ourselves from a huge and oppressive dictatorship. We don't like being pushed around.
Even if we think we might lose the fight, we will nonetheless fight it. Australia may view this as irrational, but for those of us in East Timor, all of whom have suffered horrible violence in the past, it's a matter of national pride.
Jose Belo is the editor-in-chief of the Dili-based Tempo Semanal.
Showing posts with label international aid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label international aid. Show all posts
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Monday, 7 June 2010
Donors Dollars Dry Up, PDT has a Lack of Funding: Horta Sad
The Donors such as AusAID, and others have begin to step on the brake on providing assistance to the most famous project in Timor-Leste. PDT has begun to get serious illness in funding and will cease its activities while the local businesses were groaning because of losing a guide in the rural marketplace.
On Friday afternoon, the Tempo Semanal received a press release from Peace dividend Trust stating, “effective 1 July 2010 the Peace Dividend Marketplace project, and the "Buy Local, Build Timor-Leste" campaign operated by the Peace Dividend Trust (PDT) will begin to phase out due to a lack of funding. Based on the observation, this project is a good one and, “have successfully redirected over $16 million to Timorese entrepreneurs, PDT will regrettably cease the activities later in the year unless additional donor support can be found.”
“AusAID and other donor organizations were most likely to spend money in the town by paying high salary to their people who worked as advisers, although often with no result, rather than to cooperate with NGOs which are working closely with the Timorese in the rural areas, said Antonino d. C. P. Ximenes, a student of UNTL.
“The donors always said that they wanted to help reduce poverty in Timor-Leste, while the NGOs which have made good contribution only received limited funding from AusAID and USAID. I have the suspicions that the Australians in Dili do not want this country to get better so that they can use as a project for its advisers,” said the student of the faculty of economy.
This suspicion might be true because within the last decade, the Australian government has spent A$820 million in grant and according to the plan, they will increase the amount for poverty reduction fund by A$600 from the Australians for the next five years in Timor-Leste.
In relation to the ineffective spending of money from the Australian aid to Timor-Leste, President Horta will speak with PM Kevin Rudd to ask his people in Dili to increase their productivity because there has been more spending but the people are still poor. It shall mirror from what the Chinese government has done. They have only spent a small amount of money but have constructed many new buildings. “I will speak with PM Kevin Rudd within next month when I pay a visit to Australia and will ask him to spend more money into projects which will give intensive work in Timor-Leste such as to make construction of the roads in the rural areas, agriculture, reforestation as well as improving the education in the rural areas by rebuilding the schools, which often being forgotten. Build health clinics, community centers, water and sanitation. I will also ask him to reduce technical assistance (advisers) because there has been lots of money being spent by AusAID to pay for advisers.”
The President wanted to see Australia, “to use more of its donation to the physical and concrete projects in this country to create more job opportunities and generating income for the people of Timor Leste.
Based on the report of The Daily Telegraph on 23/05/2010 that the Australian funding has been ineffectively allocated to pay for the consultants’ mega-salary and contracts which enrich private companies, such as in Dili, people are suspicious of GRM and said that AusAID has paid an adviser, Gerald Gahima, who is the former Rwandan Minister of Justice. “Beginning February 2008, he worked as a senior adviser for the justice sector in Timor-Leste for two years and was tax-free while his salary was paid by the tax-payers in Australia in a total amount of US$757,960,” published in the Australian newspaper.
In 2009, AusAID Dili received a funding allocation of $117 million, however, either with the lack of capacity in execution or of no good intention, AusAID Dili can only spend $94 million and the remaining was handed back to Canberra, meanwhile PDT and other organizations which are in need, were lack of funding and starts floating.
PDT informed, “Since its launch of operation in 2007, the PDT team in Timor-Leste has accelerated over $16 million ($16,463,294.21) of confirmed new spending to Timorese entrepreneurs. The estimated result is as high as $23 million ($23,060,000). PDT has facilitated more than 10,000 contracts through its matchmaking services with a total value of nearly $8 million. Of these nearly $7 million were directed into economically disadvantaged rural areas. The annual economic impact of the project is comparable to 0.41% of GDP in 2007; 1.51% in 2008, and 0.91% in 2009.”
The money from the donor countries are to support the people of Timor-Leste, however it is often only mentioned in number while the actual money remains in Canberra, Washington and London. “This project was launched to address the critical problem that only a small fraction of international money being spent to support Timor-Leste is actually spent on Timorese businesses. The vast majority goes to international companies and consultants. The Marketplace project fixes this by providing services that help drive donor spending into the local economy, which in turn generates wealth, creates jobs, and produces tax revenue,” said in the PDT statement.
PDT has provided five services to connect international buyers with Timorese suppliers.
Presently the project’s Business Verification team, in cooperation with the MTCI, has verified 2,700 businesses in Timor-Leste, and each has a unique business profile found at BuildingMarkets.org. The Timor-Leste site is due for an upgrade to a full Timor-Leste Business Portal in the next 3-4 weeks. This team has also generated key reports on the state of the private sector and the labour market in Timor-Leste, found here. Since its launch on 20 May 2008, Timor-Leste at BuildingMarkets.org has had 20,000 visits with business profiles being viewed 98,000 times.
“The project Matchmaking Team pro actively connects international and national buyers and domestic suppliers across the country. To date the Matchmaking Team has facilitated or created over 14,000 business transactions with a confirmed value of $8 million.”
“The Tender Distribution Service (TDS) pushes tenders via email, the web, SMS and hardcopy to businesses in Timor-Leste. It has provided support services to businesses in developing their bids. To date the TDS has distributed 496 tenders to 23,000 recipients (many repeat clients). The value of tenders won by PDT clients is over $8,000,000.”
Francisco de Asis, the second person in-charge of the Raflima Company which buys cattle in Covalima district to export to Indonesia, expressed his sadness and requested the donors to extend the life of this organization.
The company has officially started its activity in 2006. Either in July or August 2006, the Peace Dividend Trust (PDT) begins to provide them with information. “At that time, some PDT staff members have helped us with information regarding the cattle in some areas which we have not reached. We often only goes to the places that are nearby but they helped us by extending our coverage.” Fransisco de Asis told this newspaper on Friday (04/06).
He added, “There are some places that we did not cover in our search of cows that generates profit. However, they reached these places and collect the information which then we use to find the cattle we looked for. Since then, we have been a good partner.”
Just recently they are going to help us again. PDT will zinc for roofing and timber. That’s why we are so pleased with the assistance from PDT.
“But then we heard that PDT is going to be closed. This means that you (the donors and Government) are going to destroy the cooperation which we have created in order to build this country.”
“We are now working together with PDT. They often help provide information from other districts such as Same and Manatuto because they have staffs in every place that collects information for us. We often buy cows based on the information they provided. “
Indeed, if PDT is to close its operation, this entrepreneur from Suai feels like he has lost his other ear. “If PDT phase out, it will give a huge impact to our businesses because we will lose our source of marketplace information.”
Fransisco hoped that PDT will get a kind support so that it will remains operating in order to help creating linkages between them and the local products in the rural areas which they can buy and sell in the marketplace. “To an extent possible, we want them to exist because they have helped connect us with the products from the people in the villages and hamlets. They worked from door to door. Whenever they found the local products such cattle, candlenut or other products, they will quickly pass on the information to us and then we will buy it our self.”
We often could not reach all villages and the places that are distant. They are the one who have searched for the information and passing it on to us. According to Fransisco, whom, with the assistance of PDT, has been able to export cattle from Suai to Batam in Indonesia, since the 2006 crisis to date, he already forgot the total number of cattle collected with the information support from PDT. In one time the number of cattle was from two to three hundred per export. “We have just exported 190 cows.”
“We are satisfied with the information from PDT because it helps generate more income to our company,” Francisco ended.
The NGO’s Marketing and Advocacy Team manages the Buy Local Build Timor-Leste campaign, which creates awareness and knowledge about the project and the domestic private sector in general.”
PDT’s training activities were suspended in 2008 due to lack of funding, but 2008 saw PDT launch "Doing Business with UNDP" guidebooks in 2008, designed to assist local business win tenders with UNDP.”
Agusto Pinto, the director of Olobai Star carpentry in Viqueque feels sad with the situation PDT is facing. “There has been some times where we have lack of information on the market. However, the presence of PDT has generated income to us because they have helped linking us with the buyers in other places,” Agusto informed Tempo Semanal on Friday (04/06).
“For us, PDT is like a bridge. When the bridge is broken, we will be in the other side of the river while our clients were in the other end. So, we still need its assistance. Therefore we would like to ask the donors to help them so that they can help us delivering service to the poor. Since we are isolated and having lack of access to information, we have been able to sell our product with the assistance of PDT.”
“PDT is our voice by providing information to the clients. When we produced chairs, they are the one who helped us finding the market for the products and, at least, we earned some money from this.”
Agusto acknowledged that they have not had enough experience therefore he requested PDT to, “keep assisting us because we are still unable to stand alone in selling our goods in order to gain benefit.”
The director of the company which supplies chairs to Dili, including to some state institutions, made an appeal to the Government and the donors to support this organization which have acted as their eyes, arms and ears.“I would like to make an appeal to the Government and the donors, which have provided funding to PDT, to prolong their assistance. We have learned a little bit. We will get the impact if suddenly they were closed, especially for us to be connected with the buyers. All these are a process which takes time. Moreover it has internet connection and the channels or staffs which have been with us to go through all these progress.”
Alfredo Malibere, the coordinator of Hametin Estadu group from Bobonaro, has also expressed his dissatisfaction with the donors’ attitude for not giving importance to the good service delivered by an NGO. However, they are more likely to give assistance to the people who are only sitting in Dili and writing reports.
Meanwhile in Bobonaro, Justinho Luis from Loko Jaya Ltd. whose business activity involves buying cattle from Manatuto, Viqueque and Maliana to export to Indonesia via Mota-Ain border, said that his company still needs the assistance from PDT because he is currently processing his document in order to get permission from Indonesia to allow him exporting these cattle to Indonesia. “PDT is still assisting us and that we can move forward with their assistance. We will get stuck if they are closed,” Justinho expressed his sadness.
The President of the Republic, DR. Jose Ramos Horta who have gave his support to the NGO since 2009, expressed his sadness to this newspaper. “I am so upset with the donors who do not really provide their support to the work done by Peace Dividend Trust. If they (donors) often talked about supporting the local businesses, one of the ways is by connecting them with both the suppliers and buyers.”
The President of the Poor is so concerned with the children of the poor who will lose their job, therefore, on 06/07/2009 he recommended the donors to give more support to the PDT in its Matchmaking project in order to connect the businesses in the rural areas with those in the city and abroad, once again expressed his dissatisfaction with the donors’ work. “I am worried with the donors’ attitude which does not really supporting the work of the Peace Dividend Trust. If they often talked about supporting the local business, one of the ways to support them is by connecting them with the suppliers and buyers, “said Horta.
I am totally disappointed with some donors who does not show their firmness in providing support to Peace Dividend Trust as because it is an ONG which provide assistance to the development of local business and help them create links for buyers and suppliers, in particular to the small businesses in the rural areas who does not have information on the marketplace in Dili as well as the international marketplace. I am already discontent because the donors who often said to assist the local economy and support the private sector development withdraws from funding an NGO which actually has worked very well in developing the capacity of the small entrepreneurs. This really makes me surprised and discontented,” said Ramos Horta.
Nevertheless, Ms. Ali Gillies, the officer in-charge of AusAID Dili said that they will continue to support the project only by establishing the Business Directory. This shows that they are not listening and not supporting the concerns raised by President Horta regarding the Matchmaking which will give direct benefit to the businesses in the rural areas to help reduce poverty in Timor-Leste.
She said that AusAID has provided funding for three years with a total amount of A$2.63 million to promote business opportunities for the local suppliers. “We are glad that our support to the PDT has been successful in the development of local business directory and have facilitated many business transactions as a form of contribution to the private sector development in Timor-Leste,” said Ms. Ali diplomatically.
When questioned why shall reduce funding to other parts of the project, diplomatically Ali Gillies tried again to convince Tempo Semanal that PDT may be able get another funding as it has announced to reduce the number of staff by the end of July. Let’s see if AusAID will continue its support to PDT before July.
PDT works across Timor-Leste's 13 districts, assisting over 2,700 businesses, the Ministry of Tourism Commerce and Industry (MTCI) and other national partners. They stand to lose a useful service when the Marketplace project closes in July 2010.
The Peace Dividend Marketplace Timor-Leste project was launched in August 2007. It has field offices in Baucau, Covalima, and Viqueque and works with local businesses in each of Timor-Leste's 12 rural districts in addition to Dili.
Doador Sulan Dollar PDT Falta Osan: Horta Triste
Iha loron Sexta feira loro kraik Tempo Semanal simu nota de imprensa ida husi Peace dividend Trust ne’e dehan, “hahú iha loron 1 Jullu 2010 Peace Dividend nia projetu Merkadu nian, no mós kampaña "Sosa iha Rai-Laran, Harii Timor-Leste" ne’ebé funsiona husi Peace Dividend Trust (PDT) sei hahú hamenus husi faze ida ba faze ida seluk tanba falta iha finansiamentu. Tuir observsasaun projetu ne’e diak no, “susesu tebes diriji hikas ona osan Dollares Amerikanu millaun 16 (millaun $16) resin ba emprezáriu Timoroan sira, maibé PDT ho laran susar tebes sei hapara atividade sira hotu iha tinan ne’e nia rohan anaunserke bele hetan apoiu adisionál husi doadór.”
“Ausaid ho organizsaun sira seluk gosta liu maka hasai osan iha vila laran hodi fo salariu boot ba ninia ema sira mak sai asesor maibe dala barak liu la iha rezultadu duke halo servisu ho NGO ne’ebe hakbesik an ba Timor oan iha area rurais,”dehan Antonino d. C. P. Ximenes Mahasiswa UNTL.
“Doador sira sempre dehan sira hakarak tulun atu hamenus Ki’ak iha Timor Leste maibe kuandu ONG hanesan ida ne’ebe halo servisu diak mak Ausaid ho USaid sei foo menus ajuda tan ba hau deskonfia liu-liu Australia ninia emar sira iha Dili lakohi atu buat hotu diak lalais nune’e nasaun ne’e bele sai nafatin projetu ba ninia asesor sira,” dehan estudante fakuldade ekonomia ne’e.
Deskonfiansa husi Antonio bele loos tan ba iha dekada ida kotuk Australia gasta saugate ona milaun A$820 no tuir planu sira sei ajuda aumenta fundu hamenus kiak husi Australia iha Timor Leste ba tinan lima oin ho total A$600.
Ko’alia kona ba gasta arvisu osan husi ajuda Australia ba Timor Leste ne’e Presidente Horta sei hasa’e lia ba PM Kevin Rudd hodi bele husu ninia ema iha Dili bele hadia liu tan sira nia produtividade tan ba gasta barak maibe rezulta povu la haree duku Governu Xina gasta Uitoan maibe ita haree uma foun lubun ida. “Ha’u sei ba ko’alia ba PM Kevin Rudd iha fulan ne’e nia laran bainhira hau vizita ba Australia no sei husu ba nia atu aumenta liu tan osan ba projetu ne’ebe fo servisu intensive iha Timor Leste hanesan hadia dalai ha area rurais, agrikultura, kuda ai oan nune’e mos hadia edukasaun iha area rural katak hadia eskola iha fatin rurais ne’e dala barak haluha. Halo klinika, centru komunitariu, bee no sanitasaun. No sei husu atu hamenus osan ba asistencia tekniku (asesor sira) tan ba osan barak liu gasta husi Ausaid para selu asesor sira.”
Karau halibur iha Bobonaro atu faan ba sosadores sira husi Indonesia.
Presidente ne’e hakarak haree atu Australia, “uza barak liu osan doasaun ba projetu fiziku no konretu iha nasaun ne’e hodi kreia servisu barak no foo rendimentu ema iha Timor Leste.
Tuir reportajen husi jornal The Daily Telegraph loron 23/05/2010 katak osan ajuda husi Australia gasta saugati ba selu mega-salariu konltan sira nia no fo kontratu para hariku kompania privadu sira hanesan iha Dili ema deskonfia kompania GRM no dehan Ausaid selu asesor ida naran Gerald Gahima eis ministru Justica Rwanda nian. “Iha Fevereiru tinan 2008 nia servisu hanesan asesor senior ba justice iha timor Leste durante tinan rua no livre husi selu taxa maibe ninia salariu selu husi Taxa nain iha Australia ho total montante US$757,960,” publika iha Jornal Australia nian ne’e.
PDT informa katak, “Desde lanxa ninia operasaun iha tinan 2007, ekipa PDT nian iha Timor-Leste aselera ona osan Dollares Amerikanu millaun 16 (($16,463,294.21) resin husi despeja foun sira ne’ebe konfirmadu ba iha emprezáriu Timoroan sira. Tuir esimativa, ninia rezultadu sei to’o Dollares Amerikanu millaun 23 ($23,060,000). PDT fasilita ona kontratu 10,000 resin liuhusi ninia servisu mak sira halo parseria (matchmaking) nian ho totál valór osan besik Dollares Amerikanu millaun 8 (millaun $8). Husi totál osan sira-ne’e besik Dollares Amerikanu millaun 7 (millaun $7) mak hatama ona ba iha área rurál sira ne’ebé mak iha desvantajen ekonómiku. Impaktu ekonómiku anuál husi projetu ida-ne’e nian bele kompara ba 0.41% husi GDP iha tinan 2007; 1.51% iha tinan 2008, no 0.91% iha tinan 2009.”
Osan husi nasaun Doador sira nian mai atu foo apoiu ba povu Timor Leste maibe dala barak liu naran maka ma ii osan isin hela iha Kanberra, Washington ho Londres. “Projetu ida-ne’e lanxa atu hatán ba problema kritiku ne’ebé hatudu katak iha frasaun ki’ik oan ida deit husi osan internasionál nian ne’ebé gasta ona hodi fo apoiu ba Timor-Leste mak atualmente gasta ba iha empreza Timor nian. Maioria boot husi osan ne’e ba iha kompania no konsultór internasionál sira. Projetu merkadu nian rezolve problema ida-ne’e hodi fornese servisu sira ne’ebé ajuda lori doadór sira nia despeja ba iha ekonomia lokál nian, ida ne’ebé ikusmai sei hamosu rikusoin, kria serbisu, no prodús rendimentu impostu nian,” dehan iha PDT ninia surat ne’e.
PDT fornese ona servisu lima hodi liga sosa-nain internasionál sira ho fornesedór Timoroan sira.
Daudaun ne’e projetu ne’e nia ekipa halo Verifikasaun Negósiu nian, iha kooperasaun ho MTCI, verifika ona negósiu 2,700 iha Timor-Leste, no ida-idak iha pérfil negósiu ida úniku ne’ebé bele hetan iha BuildingMarkets.org. Timor-Leste nia web site ne’e to’o ona tempu atu hasa’e tán nia kapasidade ba iha Timor-Leste Business Portal (Portál Negósiu Timor-Leste) nian ida ne’ebé kompletu iha semana 3-4 tuir mai nia laran. Ekipa ida-ne’e mós fó sai ona relatóriu prinsipál sira kona-bá estadu/kondisaun husi sektór privadu nian no mós merkadu traballadór nian iha Timor-Leste, bele haree iha ne’e. Desde ninia lanxamentu iha loron 20 Maiu 2008, Timor-Leste iha BuildingMarkets.org hetan ona vizita hamutuk 20,000 ho pérfil negósiu nian ne’ebé ema haree ona dala 98,000.
“Projetu ne’e nia Ekipa Halo Parseria (Matchmaking) nian ho pró ativu tebes halo ona ligasaun ba sosa-nain internasionál no nasionál sira ho fornesedór doméstiku sira iha rai-laran tomak. To’o ohin loron Ekipa Halo Parseria (Matchmaking) nian fasilita ka kria ona transasaun negósiu nian hamutuk 14,000 resin ho valór ida ne’ebé konfirmadu hamutuk Dollares Amerikanu millaun 8 (millaun $8.”
“Servisu Distribuisaun Tender (SDT) nian diriji tender sira liuhusi email, web, SMS no mós kópia iha surat-tahan ba negósiu sira iha Timor-Leste. Nia fornese ona servisu sira apoiu nian ba iha negósiu sira hodi dezenvolve sira nia oferta/proposta. To’o ohin loron SDT distribui ona tender hamutuk 496 ba simu-nain sira hamutuk 23,000 (barak mak kliente sira ne’ebé repete fila-fila). Valór husi tender ne’ebé mak PDT nia kliente sira manán ona hamutuk $8,000,000 resin.”
Francisco de Asis ne’ebe nu’udar ema segundu iha kompania Raflima ne’ebe sosa, foo han iha distritu Kovalima hodi exporta ba Indonesia hato’o ninia laran susar no husu atu bele Doador sira ho seriu atu ajuda hanaruk tan vida organizasaun ne’e.
Kompania ne’e ofisialmente hahu hetan licensa iha 2006. Iha Jullo ou agusto 2006 sira hahu Peace Dividend Trust (PDT) hahu fo apoiu informasaun ba sira. “Ihaq momentu ne’ebe straf balun husi PDT tulun ami ho didiak kona ba karau sira iha suku ne’ebe amid ala barak la konsege too. Ami dala balun ba de’it iha fatin ne’ebe besik maibe sira maka fasilita liu ami,” dehan Fransisco de Asis ba jornal ne’e iha Sexta (04/06).
Nia kontinua katak, “iha fatin ne’ebe ami la ba maibe sira maka ba to’o hetan karau bo’ot mai fali foo hatene no ami ba Lo’os duni ami hetan karau bo’ot tan ne’e maka ami servisu hamutuk dezde ne’eba too agora.”
Depois foin lalais ne’e sira atu ajuda tan ami. Husi PDT ajuda ami kalen ho ai. Ne’ebe ami agora kontente hela hetan ajuda sira ne’e husi PDT.
“Maibe depois PDT maka taka derepente entaun buat ne’ebe ami halo hamutuk atu hadia nasaun ne’e ita boot (Doador no Governu) sira halakon de’it.”
“Ami ho sira PDT ne’e kan agora ami servisu hamutuk nune’e dala ruma sira tulun ami ho informasaun husi Same no Manatutu tan ba sira PDT ne’e iha fatin bara-barak ne’ebe hato’o informasaun mai am ii ami mos ba sosa karau to’o iha ne’eba. “
Kuandu PDT remata duni ninia misaun maka emprezariu husi suai ne’e hanesan lakon ona ninia tilun sorin. “Se PDT taka duni maka sei iha impaktu baa mi nia bisnis tan ba informasaun de’it dala ruma ami labele hetan.”
Fransisco espera harohan atu PDT sei hetan ema ruma ninia laran luak hodi bele existe nafatin atu nune’e bele tulun halo ligasaun entre sira ho produtu local iha area izola atu nune’e sira bele ba sosa hodi lori ba merkadu. “Karik sebele sir abele iha nafatin lai ba tan ba sira konsege ona liga ami ho povu sira nia produtu iha suku no aldeia sira tan ba sira la’o tama sai hotu. Husi aldeia ba too suku hotu-hotu maka sira hetan karau ka iha kami ou hasil ruma sia mai hatoo informasaun mai ami mak ba sosa.”
Dala barak ami la too suku no fatin dook sira. Maibe sira maka la’o ba lori informasaun sira ne’e mai ami. Tuir Fransisdco ne’ebe ho PDT ninia tulun konsege ona exporta karun husi Suai ba Batam Indonesia ne’e katak dezde 2006 ate agora nia rasik haluha ona numeru karau ne’ebe sira konesge koleta via PDT ninia informasaun no exporta kada dala ida too atus rua ou tolu. Foin daudaun ne’e ami konsege haruka sai 190 karau baka.”
“Ho informasaun PDT nian ne’e ami kontente tan ba aumenta lukru baa mi nia kompania,” remata Francisco.
NGO ne’e iha ekipa Merkadu (Marketing) no Advokasia nian mak jere kampaña Sosa iha Rai-Laran, Harii Timor-Leste, ne’ebé kria konxiénsia no koñesimentu kona-bá projetu ne’e no mós sektór privadu doméstiku nian iha jerál.”
PDT sira nia Atividade treinamentu suspende tiha iha tinan 2008 tanba falta iha finansiamentu, maibé tinan 2008 haree PDT lanxa livru matadalan "Halo Negósiu ho PNUD" iha tinan 2008, ne’ebe dezena hodi fó asisténsia ba negósiu lokál sira atu manán tender sira ho PNUD.”
Agusto Pinto direitor Karpinteiru Olobai Star iha Vikeke sente triste ho situasaun n’ebe infrenta husi ONG ne’e. “Durante tempu balun ami iha ne’e kekurangan informasi maibe ho kehadiran PDT ninia ami konsege hetan lukru tan ba sira lori ami liga ho fatin sira seluk,” informa Agusto ba Tempo Semanal iha Sexta (04/06).
“PDT mai ami hanesan ponte ida se karik ponte ne’e kotu ami iha mota sorin no ami nia kliente sira iha mota sorin entaun ami sei susar uitoan entaun ami husu ba doador sira atu nune’e sir abele tulun ami hodi fo servisu ba ema kiak sira seluk. Tan ami iha ne’e izoladu uitoan ne’ebe ami falta informasi i ho PDT ninia prezensa ne’e maka ami konsege faan ami nia produtu.”
“PDT hanesan ami nia lian hodi informasaun ba klientes sira. Kuandu ami halo kadeira ruma sira maka ba buka hela merkadu baa mi nia produtu i ami konsege netik osan ruma.”
Agusto rekunese katak sira seidauk iha esperiensia barak nune’e duni nia husu PDT atu, “akompania lai ami tan oras ne’e ami mesak seidauk bele faan ho didiak oin sa ami nia sasan ne’e bele folin.”
Kompania ne’ebe mos fornese kadeira balun mai Dili inklui instituisaun estadu balun ne’e nia director halo apelu ba Governu no Doador sira atu tulun sira nia matan, lian no tilun ne’e.“Ha’u husu ba Governu no doador sira ne’ebe durante ne’e fo suporta ba PDT sebele karik prolonga tan uitoan. Tan ba durante ami apreende uitoan maibe derepenti de’it sira taka ne’e sei fo impaktu ba ami liu-liu dalan atu hasoru malu ho ema sosa nain sira. Buat sira ne’e liu prosesu ida tan ba sira iha internet no sira nia kanais sira ka estaf sira ne’ebe mai hamutuk ho ami tulun ajuda ami atu la’o.”
Alfredo Malibere koordenador ba grupu Hametin Estadu husi Bobonaro mos triste ho Doador sira nia atetude ne’ebe ladun fo importansia ba servisu diak ne’ebe ONG ida halo maibe Doador sira gosta liu ajuda ema sira ne’ebe tuur iha Dili hodi hakerek relatoriu de’it.
Iha fatin seluk ida iha Bobonaro Justinho Luis husi kompania Loko Jaya lda. Ne’ebe ninia atividade maka sosa karau husi Manatutu, vikeke no maliana hodi halo exportasaun liu husi mota ain ba Indonesia sei presizsa nafatin ajuda husi PDT tan ba daudaun ne’e iha hela prosesu trata dokumentus hodi nune’e Indonesia atoriza hodi halo exporta Karau ba Indonesia. “PDT sei ajuda hela ami, ho sira maka ami bele la’o ba oin nune’e se sira taka derepente ami labele la’o ba oin,” Justinho hato’o ninia laran triste.
Presidenti da Republika DR. Jose Ramos Horta ne’ebe fo apoiu ba NGO ne’e dezde tinan 2009 ba jornal ne’e hatoo ninia laran taridu. “Ha’u nia laran susar tebes duni ho Doadores sira maka ladun fo apoiu ba servisu ne’ebe Peace Dividend Trust halo. Se sira (doador) ko’alia kona ba apoiu emprezariu local maka dala ida atu apoiu sira halo ligasaun ba fornecedor no sosa nain sira.”
Presidenti ba Ema ki’ak ne’e preokupa ho ema ki’ak nia oan ne’ebe sei lakon servisu nune’e nia hatoo rekomendasaun loron 06/07/2009 atu doador sira bele fo apoiu liu tan ba PDT hodi halo Matchmaking hodi liga empreza sira iha area rurais ba cidade nop rai liur ne’e dala ida tan realsa ninia sentiment la satisfaz ho doador sira nia servisu. “Ha’u laran taridu ba doador sira nia lala’ok ne’ebe ladun fo apoiu ba servisu Peace Dividend Trust se sira koalia beibeik kona ba apoiu ba empreza local kona ba dalan ida atu apoiu sira maka liga sira ho fornesedor no sosa nain sira, “ dehan Horta.
Ha’u la kontente tebes liu tiha ona ho doador ne’ebe ladun firmeza hodi fo apoiu ba Peace Dividend Trust tan ba ne’e hanesan ONG ida maka fo apoiu ba dezenvolvementu bisnis local sira ho ajuda sira halo ligasaun ba sosa nain no fornesedores partikularmente ba empreza kiik sira iha area rurais ne’ebe la hetan informasaun kona ba merkadu iha Dili no merkadu Internasional. Ha’u deskontente ona tan ba doadores sira ne’ebe maka ko’alia beibeik ona atu ajuda ekonomia local, fo apoiu ba dezenvolvimentu setor privadu maka la ajuda fali ONG ida maka loloos halo srvisu kapas liu iha dezenvolve daudaun kapasidade bisnis nain sira husi empreza kiik sira. Ne’e hanesan halo hau hakfodak no deskontente boot tebes,” dehan Ramos Horta.
Maiske nune’e Senhora Ali Gillies responsabel Ausaid ninian iha Dili hateten katak sira sei foo apoiu nafatin ba projetu ne’e hodi halo deit bisnis directory nune'e hatudu duni katak AusAid la rona no foo apoiu loloos ba Prezidente Horta nia preokupasaun hanesan Matchmaking ne'ebe lori benefisiu direita ba kompania iha area rurais hodi hamenus kiak iha Timor Leste.
Nia hateten katak Ausaid iha tinan tolu liu nia laran Ausaid fo apoiu total Milaun A$2.63 ho promove oportunidade bisnis ba fornecedor local sira. “Ami kontente katak ho ami nia apoiu PDT hetan sucesu dezenvolvel ona bisnis local ninia directory no facilita ona transasaun bisnis barak nu’udar kontribuisaun ba dezenvolvimentu setor privadu iha Timor Leste,” dehan Sr. Ali ho diplomasia.
Bainhira husu karik tan bas a maka sira hamenus ninia ajuda ba parte seluk iha Projectu ne’e daloa ida tan ho Diplomasia Ali Gillies tenta atu konvense Tempo Semanal katak PDT sei bele hetan apoiu husi parte seluk nune’e sira anunsiu ona atu hamenus sira nia staff iha fulan Jullo. Karik Ausaid se apoiu fali PDT iha antes fulan Jullo tama ita hein de’it.
PDT serbisu iha Timor-Leste nia distritu 13 hotu, hodi fó asisténsia ba negósiu 2,700, Ministériu Turizmu Komérsiu no Indústria (MTCI) no parseiru nasionál sira seluk. Sira sei lakon servisu ida ne’ebé importante se bainhira projetu Merkadu nian ne’e taka iha fulan Jullu 2010.
Projetu Merkadu Peace Dividend Timor-Leste nian ne’e lanxa iha fulan Agostu 2007. Nia iha sukursál kampu nian iha Baucau, Covalima, no Viqueque no serbisu hamutuk ho negósiu lokál sira iha Timor-Leste nia distritu rurál 12 iha adisaun ba Dili.
PDT agradese tebes ba Ministériu Turizmu Komérsiu no Indústria nian (MTCI) ba ninia parseria to’o ohin loron, no mós ba ninia doadór sira, AusAID, Governu Norvega, Eni, Fundu Kanadá nian ba Inisiativa Lokál (the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives) no mós ba Fundasaun Familia Arsenault nian (the Arsenault Family Foundation).
Thursday, 3 June 2010
AusAID Fails to Deliver for Timorese.
In FY 2008/9 AusAID (Timor-Leste) had a budget of 93.9 million AUD. In FY 2009/10 AusAID had a budget of 117 million AUD. However, it was only able to execute 94.7 million AUD. This means that they did not execute 20% of the funds that had for development activities in Timor-Leste. This is 22.3 million AUD. In simplistic terms this is 1.7 million AUD per district. That is much money in Timor-Leste.
As a result of AusAID’s failure to deliver, the budget for 2010/11 has been cut from 117 million AUD to 102.7 million AUD. AusAID incompetence has cost Timorese poor people 14.3 million AUD. That is at least one Chinese patrol boat. Then again Timorese poor people have not lost the money. Australian consultants have lost the money.
What is the problem? Is Australia angry with Timor-Leste over the Timor Sea issue? Perhaps, but these budgets are determined before the current argument. Is the Australian aid budget decreasing because of the financial crisis? No, in fact they are doubling it globally from 4 billion AUD to 8 billion AUD over the coming years.
Is it because the AusAID does not know how to spend money in Timor-Leste? Seems so. This is not surprising as AusAID have no country strategy from 1999 to 2009. Although they have one now. 10 years after they arrived. The AusAID website told us 6 months ago that it would be translated in Tetun and Portuguese but the big Australian Government machine finds it hard to raise a few dollars for translation.
Public Opinion on Australian Government Sinks to 1989 Lows.
Gareth Evans and Ali Alatas drink to Timor Oil Deal 1989
Not since 1989 when Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans gulped down champagne with Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas over the Timor Sea have Timorese relations been so bad. In 1989 Timorese watched as the Australian and Indonesian Governments’ stole the future prosperity of Timorese by carving up the Timor Sea petroleum deposits between Canberra and Jakarta.
That was 21 years ago. Since then the Australian Government has come to the assistance, although unwillingly, of the Timorese people in 1999 and 2006. However, in 2010 relations between Canberra and Dili have sunk to the point where they can almost no longer to talk to each other. For example when Australian Foreign Minister Steven Smith proposed to visit Dili meet Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in Aileu on 14 May Xanana refused.
This is for many reasons. While the most obvious reason is the disagreement between the two over the Woodside – Greater Sunrise polemic there are many other causes.
From Left to Right Gareth Evans, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign Minister Steven Smith.
Since 1999 the AusAID has provided hundreds of millions of dollars of support for the development of Timor-Leste, but the people of Timor-lest are not sure that they have received much good for this help. Poverty rates increased, political stability declined (ie 2006), and aid programmes have often failed to provide much. Amazingly, given its “saviour” role in 1999, the Australian Defence Force has also been viewed with some suspicion by many Timorese for real and perceived political biases. The Opposition Party even contends that Canberra in many ways helped Prime Minister Gusmao unseat former Prime Minister Alkatiri in 2006. And now Gusmao is spending his days traveling the country telling the Timorese people, one sub district at a time, that Canberra and Woodside are stealing Timorese resources once again – over the Greater Sunrise issue.
Many Timorese argue that AusAID programmes are wasteful and they are achieving little if anything. Certainly the corruption, poverty, unemployment figures are all going in the wrong direction. What is remarkable is that AusAID uses taxpayers money to create accountability in Timor, but the projects are not accountable for their failures as accountability is getting worse not better. Some Australian efforts are worthwhile such as in the water and sanitation and private sector development areas. But these are rare examples. AusAID puts millions of dollars into projects in the finance, justice, infrastructure, and media sectors, which are more destructive and productive. What is wrong?
As the heat rises on Greater Sunrise Timorese and Australians should realize the people in the mountains are beginning to think its just like 1989 all over again. In those days Timor was a police state under the Suharto regime. The Australian Government was happy with that as they made oil and gas deals with Suharto. Since then the Australian Government has changed its face, but has it changed its spirit?
When Timorese see Australian Government programmes in Timor, they usually see high paid consultants on 1000-2500 dollars a day. Giving Timorese advice and not much more. Timorese need advice for some things to be sure. But Australians should know that the Government’s agencies in Dili do not take advice. They should concentrate on the projects that the Timorese, and not Government, feel are useful. And reconsider the rest. If this is not done there is a possibility that relations could get worse.
In 1942 Australian soldiers fought and died alongside Timorese in the war against Japan. Many more Timorese died that Australians. Those Australians that owed their lives to the Timorese that were their comrades in arms never forgot their debt to Timor. Timorese will never forget the debt of 1999 owed to Australia. But the last Timorese to fight alongside Australians in World War two died this year. In time memories of 1999 and the debt owed to Australian will fade. Good relations are based on history but also the present and the future.
Australia needs to know that the poor relations are not just about Woodside. There is history here. The history is mostly bad. If the history is to develop into a better one, pay attention, the time is now.
Friday, 16 April 2010
XANANA SPEAKS
SPEECH BY
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRIME MINISTER
KAY RALA XANANA GUSMÃO
AT THE CLOSING SESSION OF THE DÍLI INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE
“Peacebuilding and Statebuilding”
Díli
10 April 2010
Your Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is a historic day for Timor-Leste.
We have been writing the pages of Timor-Leste’s history since we began our struggle for self-determination and for freedom. We have recorded stories of massacres and heroic deeds, tales of hardship, suffering and conflict, but also tales of victory and achievement - and it is these chronicles that tell of how our People gained the right to Independence.
These are pages of history written with blood, but also with hope, courage and pride. These pages recount advances and setbacks, errors and lessons learned, conflict and recovery.
And today, ladies and gentlemen, we have joined our history with that of other countries with a common past, and we have realised that we are not alone in our Peacebuilding and Statebuilding endeavours.
We have joined together with a common voice with nations that have similar histories and situations of fragility, as well as with partner countries committed to assisting us in our great challenges. In the words of Minister Kamitatu, we have moved from a monologue to dialogue.
Hosting the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, which will forever be marked by the Díli Declaration, gives our country great pride and emotion.
I thank you all, ladies and gentlemen, for the honour we received in being chosen to host this first formal meeting.
Your Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have personally been inspired, moved and also encouraged by the contributions made at this dialogue. I am also humbled…
It can be easy to breathe a sigh of relief when you begin to show signs of progress, when you achieve a level of apparent stability, because in times of peace we can forget the hardships of conflict. This may be a reason for the resurgence of conflicts, with the human condition encouraging us to erase from our memory the difficult times of suffering and to move on quickly towards progress.
This can cause us to miss some important steps. In seeking to move ahead, we risk overlooking the roots of our problems. In seeking to hasten the healing process of deep wounds, that have not yet had time to properly heal, we start to believe that reconciliation can be possible in a mere five or six years.
That is why I am pleased with the common agreement, by both fragile States and development partners, on the need for a long term approach to Peacebuilding and Statebuilding. And this agreement has been properly reflected in the Díli Declaration.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We understand from the statements made at this Dialogue, that the deep complexity of issues that constrain conflict or post-conflict countries mean that it becomes impossible to deal with all problems at once. And we have also learnt that failure to acknowledge the true time it takes to resolve our difficulties may be fatal and lead to resurgence of conflict.
On the other hand, if donor countries cease providing ongoing assistance at the first signs of improvement, in stability and economic and social progress, this leaves a void in the processes and programs that have been started, ultimately leading to their failure.
It is absolutely necessary to respect the time frame and context of each society. This is our true challenge, as there are no two identical cultures or circumstances.
Nevertheless, each and every society, and each and every People, value Peace as precious. Humans, both individually and collectively, desire Peace. It is critical to us all.
Regrettably, as many of us know, starting conflict is so much easier than resolving it. It is easier to make war than to make Peace.
War focuses all our energy, and all our effort, on a single goal: to destroy the enemy. But Peace requires consensus building and reconciliation. It requires bringing together the aspirations of many to develop a common long term vision – and then to implement it.
Peace requires sacrifices in putting the interests of the whole ahead of the interests of the individual. It requires patience, forgiveness and trust, and most of all, compassionate and strong leadership.
Perhaps it is for these reasons that there are so few exceptional individuals that the world acknowledges as pioneers of Peace.
But as President Ramos-Horta said so eloquently to this Dialogue, Peacebuilding also requires leaders connected to their People. And, ladies and gentlemen, even being the most worldly of Presidents, Ramos-Horta is first and foremost close to our People, and to their fears and to their dreams and aspirations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Like some here, I can speak from personal experience that it is more difficult to lead in times of peace than in times of war. I have been there. I lived many years convinced that I would never have to endure difficulties as hard as when I led my People during struggle. But, when I was given the challenge to become the First President of a nation traumatised by war, I realised that the greater struggle would be to build Peace, and subsequently the nation.
To join an entire People, that have been scarred from conflict, in the struggle for Peace is more difficult than to achieve unity in times of conflict. As we know, there are so many legitimate expectations from People who have fought for so many years for the ideals of freedom, equality and development that we can say that achieving true peace also means freeing People from poverty.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is also the challenge of Statebuilding, a process that is inter-related with the building of peace. As two sides of the same coin, it is important that emergency international support does not withdraw when peace appears to have been reached, and that we understand that Peacebuilding is consolidated when Statebuilding is strong.
And so, we must ask how do you empower people who have never known what power is? How do you build a democratic State, with the participation of all, when People have never known what it means to be free from misery, hunger, ignorance and disease? In our poor societies, people still kill each other for survival, for simple access to water, food, land, schools and health care.
It is, therefore, perhaps easier for us to understand why people also kill for access to political power and control over national decision making, especially in countries with valuable natural resources.
One aim of this Dialogue is to find better solutions and to share best practices to address these problems. And if in this Dialogue we do not resolve all the problems affecting fragile States, at least we have taken one more step in this direction of concrete actions.
As we have discussed, Statebuilding means a transition not just for countries but for their People. It can mean transforming militias or guerrilla fighters into soldiers of conventional forces; youth without a childhood of joy and education into responsible adults; hardened resistance activists into professional journalists; and leaders of a struggle into mature political office holders.
And many cases presented at this Dialogue demonstrate that we cannot underestimate the challenges, especially when the edifices of the pillars of the State hide its inherent weakness.
An example that saddens us deeply in Timor-Leste is Guinea-Bissau. This country’s achievement of independence inspired our People in their struggle. The turmoil in this country upsets us greatly and we feel solidarity for our brothers and sisters in this African nation.
Guinea-Bissau has received huge quantities of international assistance in comparison to the size of its national economy and yet it continues to struggle. And so, we can conclude that this assistance must not have been appropriate to the circumstances.
Ladies and gentlemen
This is why all “g7+” countries have emphasised the importance of understanding the need of each country to have a transitional period of their own time and at their own pace.
As Ms Bella Bird wisely commented to this Dialogue, the transition from fragility to resilience requires a balanced and flexible approach. This balance requires fragile nations and donors to be nimble enough to respond to emerging situations that may threaten recovery, while continuing to address the ongoing root causes of conflict.
Life is a process of building knowledge, of learning from experiences, and following our dreams and our visions. The life lived by citizens in fragile countries is far from easy – not only is it a constant struggle for survival, it can be a challenge to come to terms with new concepts and values.
The road towards democracy and development knows no shortcuts. One must walk the hard road to transform mentalities and achieve social inclusion.
That is why the “g7+” countries have asked our friends, the development partners, to walk in our shoes and be aware of our conditions and our needs. We can then better walk together towards our shared goal of spreading peace and prosperity. And with our achievements the hopes and visions of donor countries can be fulfilled.
I draw hope and confidence from the Díli Declaration. The development partners and fragile States have recognised that we can both do things better while reinforcing our common shared goal. We are encouraged by the proposal to develop an action plan and by the determination to take immediate steps to address issues of concern in the delivery of development assistance.
The Díli Declaration has committed strong support to the “g7+” institutional grouping as a permanent forum to bring together fragile States in a spirit of solidarity and friendship and allow for better preparation in the international discussions with the development partners. And I would like to thank Australia for offering today to provide the funding to support this body and I hope that other countries will join with them in this effort.
I am also very pleased that following the inspiring leadership Mr Kamitatu that our own Minister Emilia Pires will take over as co-chair of the international dialogue. It is not only a matter of pride for Timor-Leste but also a symbol of the responsibility we wish to bring to this process.
This Dialogue is part of an ongoing process and I am pleased that the Díli Declaration will guide and inform the international community in its future work.
And, ladies and gentlemen, I hope that the suggestion made today, that Díli become a centre for international and United Nations´ conferences, becomes a reality.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We must all learn from the lessons of our past and remain vigilant and determined in our mission to prevent political violence and conflict.
Walking together gives us strength in this mission.
Walking together, fragile States and their development partners, can minimise the suffering that results from conflict and extreme poverty.
Let us all work together to bring hope and confidence and develop a long term vision for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding in our fragile nations.
Hopefully, we can make sure that no more tears of conflict fall on the snow of Nepal’s majestic Himalayas; that no more blood covers the sparkling diamonds of Sierra Leone; that the soul of the people of the DRC reflects the richness of their lands; that the People of Southern Sudan achieve self-realisation; that ‘bridges’ of peace can be built between the islands of the archipelago of the Solomon Islands; and that all our fragile nations can achieve peace and development.
Thank you very much.
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
10 April 2010
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRIME MINISTER
KAY RALA XANANA GUSMÃO
AT THE CLOSING SESSION OF THE DÍLI INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE
“Peacebuilding and Statebuilding”
Díli
10 April 2010
Your Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is a historic day for Timor-Leste.
We have been writing the pages of Timor-Leste’s history since we began our struggle for self-determination and for freedom. We have recorded stories of massacres and heroic deeds, tales of hardship, suffering and conflict, but also tales of victory and achievement - and it is these chronicles that tell of how our People gained the right to Independence.
These are pages of history written with blood, but also with hope, courage and pride. These pages recount advances and setbacks, errors and lessons learned, conflict and recovery.
And today, ladies and gentlemen, we have joined our history with that of other countries with a common past, and we have realised that we are not alone in our Peacebuilding and Statebuilding endeavours.
We have joined together with a common voice with nations that have similar histories and situations of fragility, as well as with partner countries committed to assisting us in our great challenges. In the words of Minister Kamitatu, we have moved from a monologue to dialogue.
Hosting the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, which will forever be marked by the Díli Declaration, gives our country great pride and emotion.
I thank you all, ladies and gentlemen, for the honour we received in being chosen to host this first formal meeting.
Your Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have personally been inspired, moved and also encouraged by the contributions made at this dialogue. I am also humbled…
It can be easy to breathe a sigh of relief when you begin to show signs of progress, when you achieve a level of apparent stability, because in times of peace we can forget the hardships of conflict. This may be a reason for the resurgence of conflicts, with the human condition encouraging us to erase from our memory the difficult times of suffering and to move on quickly towards progress.
This can cause us to miss some important steps. In seeking to move ahead, we risk overlooking the roots of our problems. In seeking to hasten the healing process of deep wounds, that have not yet had time to properly heal, we start to believe that reconciliation can be possible in a mere five or six years.
That is why I am pleased with the common agreement, by both fragile States and development partners, on the need for a long term approach to Peacebuilding and Statebuilding. And this agreement has been properly reflected in the Díli Declaration.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We understand from the statements made at this Dialogue, that the deep complexity of issues that constrain conflict or post-conflict countries mean that it becomes impossible to deal with all problems at once. And we have also learnt that failure to acknowledge the true time it takes to resolve our difficulties may be fatal and lead to resurgence of conflict.
On the other hand, if donor countries cease providing ongoing assistance at the first signs of improvement, in stability and economic and social progress, this leaves a void in the processes and programs that have been started, ultimately leading to their failure.
It is absolutely necessary to respect the time frame and context of each society. This is our true challenge, as there are no two identical cultures or circumstances.
Nevertheless, each and every society, and each and every People, value Peace as precious. Humans, both individually and collectively, desire Peace. It is critical to us all.
Regrettably, as many of us know, starting conflict is so much easier than resolving it. It is easier to make war than to make Peace.
War focuses all our energy, and all our effort, on a single goal: to destroy the enemy. But Peace requires consensus building and reconciliation. It requires bringing together the aspirations of many to develop a common long term vision – and then to implement it.
Peace requires sacrifices in putting the interests of the whole ahead of the interests of the individual. It requires patience, forgiveness and trust, and most of all, compassionate and strong leadership.
Perhaps it is for these reasons that there are so few exceptional individuals that the world acknowledges as pioneers of Peace.
But as President Ramos-Horta said so eloquently to this Dialogue, Peacebuilding also requires leaders connected to their People. And, ladies and gentlemen, even being the most worldly of Presidents, Ramos-Horta is first and foremost close to our People, and to their fears and to their dreams and aspirations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Like some here, I can speak from personal experience that it is more difficult to lead in times of peace than in times of war. I have been there. I lived many years convinced that I would never have to endure difficulties as hard as when I led my People during struggle. But, when I was given the challenge to become the First President of a nation traumatised by war, I realised that the greater struggle would be to build Peace, and subsequently the nation.
To join an entire People, that have been scarred from conflict, in the struggle for Peace is more difficult than to achieve unity in times of conflict. As we know, there are so many legitimate expectations from People who have fought for so many years for the ideals of freedom, equality and development that we can say that achieving true peace also means freeing People from poverty.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is also the challenge of Statebuilding, a process that is inter-related with the building of peace. As two sides of the same coin, it is important that emergency international support does not withdraw when peace appears to have been reached, and that we understand that Peacebuilding is consolidated when Statebuilding is strong.
And so, we must ask how do you empower people who have never known what power is? How do you build a democratic State, with the participation of all, when People have never known what it means to be free from misery, hunger, ignorance and disease? In our poor societies, people still kill each other for survival, for simple access to water, food, land, schools and health care.
It is, therefore, perhaps easier for us to understand why people also kill for access to political power and control over national decision making, especially in countries with valuable natural resources.
One aim of this Dialogue is to find better solutions and to share best practices to address these problems. And if in this Dialogue we do not resolve all the problems affecting fragile States, at least we have taken one more step in this direction of concrete actions.
As we have discussed, Statebuilding means a transition not just for countries but for their People. It can mean transforming militias or guerrilla fighters into soldiers of conventional forces; youth without a childhood of joy and education into responsible adults; hardened resistance activists into professional journalists; and leaders of a struggle into mature political office holders.
And many cases presented at this Dialogue demonstrate that we cannot underestimate the challenges, especially when the edifices of the pillars of the State hide its inherent weakness.
An example that saddens us deeply in Timor-Leste is Guinea-Bissau. This country’s achievement of independence inspired our People in their struggle. The turmoil in this country upsets us greatly and we feel solidarity for our brothers and sisters in this African nation.
Guinea-Bissau has received huge quantities of international assistance in comparison to the size of its national economy and yet it continues to struggle. And so, we can conclude that this assistance must not have been appropriate to the circumstances.
Ladies and gentlemen
This is why all “g7+” countries have emphasised the importance of understanding the need of each country to have a transitional period of their own time and at their own pace.
As Ms Bella Bird wisely commented to this Dialogue, the transition from fragility to resilience requires a balanced and flexible approach. This balance requires fragile nations and donors to be nimble enough to respond to emerging situations that may threaten recovery, while continuing to address the ongoing root causes of conflict.
Life is a process of building knowledge, of learning from experiences, and following our dreams and our visions. The life lived by citizens in fragile countries is far from easy – not only is it a constant struggle for survival, it can be a challenge to come to terms with new concepts and values.
The road towards democracy and development knows no shortcuts. One must walk the hard road to transform mentalities and achieve social inclusion.
That is why the “g7+” countries have asked our friends, the development partners, to walk in our shoes and be aware of our conditions and our needs. We can then better walk together towards our shared goal of spreading peace and prosperity. And with our achievements the hopes and visions of donor countries can be fulfilled.
I draw hope and confidence from the Díli Declaration. The development partners and fragile States have recognised that we can both do things better while reinforcing our common shared goal. We are encouraged by the proposal to develop an action plan and by the determination to take immediate steps to address issues of concern in the delivery of development assistance.
The Díli Declaration has committed strong support to the “g7+” institutional grouping as a permanent forum to bring together fragile States in a spirit of solidarity and friendship and allow for better preparation in the international discussions with the development partners. And I would like to thank Australia for offering today to provide the funding to support this body and I hope that other countries will join with them in this effort.
I am also very pleased that following the inspiring leadership Mr Kamitatu that our own Minister Emilia Pires will take over as co-chair of the international dialogue. It is not only a matter of pride for Timor-Leste but also a symbol of the responsibility we wish to bring to this process.
This Dialogue is part of an ongoing process and I am pleased that the Díli Declaration will guide and inform the international community in its future work.
And, ladies and gentlemen, I hope that the suggestion made today, that Díli become a centre for international and United Nations´ conferences, becomes a reality.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We must all learn from the lessons of our past and remain vigilant and determined in our mission to prevent political violence and conflict.
Walking together gives us strength in this mission.
Walking together, fragile States and their development partners, can minimise the suffering that results from conflict and extreme poverty.
Let us all work together to bring hope and confidence and develop a long term vision for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding in our fragile nations.
Hopefully, we can make sure that no more tears of conflict fall on the snow of Nepal’s majestic Himalayas; that no more blood covers the sparkling diamonds of Sierra Leone; that the soul of the people of the DRC reflects the richness of their lands; that the People of Southern Sudan achieve self-realisation; that ‘bridges’ of peace can be built between the islands of the archipelago of the Solomon Islands; and that all our fragile nations can achieve peace and development.
Thank you very much.
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
10 April 2010
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
General Taur Matan Ruak Questions Jeffrey Sachs on International Aid.
On Thursday 1 April 2010, Jeffrey Sachs, Economic Adviser to the Secretary General of the United Nations invited the leadership of Timor-Leste's defence force (FALINTIL-FDTL) and national police service (PNTL) to a meeting at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili Timor-Leste.
Jeff Sachs
During the discussion Major-General Taur Matan Ruak, Chief of the Defence Force asked about the use of donors funds in Timor-Leste over the past decade.
Major General Taur Matan Ruak
Major-General Ruak stated "I have participated in many discussions with Government and I want to know what you consider to be good and bad practise? He further stated that, "international aids to Timor-Leste in the last 10 years was more or less $12.7 billion but its result was an increase is poverty and unemployment. What are the main issues with international aid? I want an explanation to these questions."
Mr. Sachs answered, "I think this is difficult for me to give an answer but I think the international experts need to consider this question with seriousness and I myself will look at the implementation process closely in the future." The former guerrilla commander raised the same question to former SRSG Hasegawa years ago, but Hasegawa failed to respond in detail suggesting that it was donor funds as opposed to UN money.
On 7 September 2009 Associated Press reported in "East Timor Aid: Where did the Billions Go?" between 1999 and 2009 that the international community has spent 8.8 billion in aid for Timor but that "little of the money, perhaps no more than a dollar of every 10, appears to have made it into East Timor's economy. Instead, it goes toward foreign security forces, consultants and administration, among other things. In the meantime, data from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Food Program, U.N. Development Program and others show the money has done little to help the poor. In fact, poverty has increased. Roads are in disrepair, there is little access to clean water or health services, and the capital is littered with abandoned, burned-out buildings where the homeless squat."
There are some attempts at increasing the positive economic impact of the international presence in Timor-Leste. One international NGO the Peace Dividend Trust works closely with international agencies to increase their local procurement in Timor, but it remains a relatively small effort. Its Senior Adviser Edward Rees told Tempo Semanal "the international community is slowly coming around to the idea that the international presence can be an economic engine to create jobs build the domestic private sector." He further stated "Our Peace Dividend Marketplace project funded by AusAID Norway and others in partnership with the Ministry of Toursim Commerce and Industria while quite successful, remains limited in what it can do partially because it remains on 12 month funding cycles and because it is a relatively small actor in a larger Paris Declaration debate."
During the 2008 Timor-Leste Development partner meeting the Timorese NGO Forum called for "the Government to join our call on international partners to increase local spending, helping to stimulate job creation and build private sector capacity."
President Jose Ramos-Horta also has spoken out in an 2009 interview with Al Jazeera on the matter of how international aid for Timor-Leste has been spent in the past 10 years. President Horta states that if "international aid had been spent in Timor it would have transformed the country....but this is not the case."
In January 2010 the Secretary General reported to the Security Council on UNMIT, which still has a annual 2009-2010 budget of over $200 million, that "“UNMIT is not a negligible factor in the Timor-Leste economy. The Mission spends about $20 million annually in Timor-Leste (for local procurement and national staff salaries), compared with a Government budget volume of $650 million for 2010. The total economic footprint of the Mission is higher, as indirect spending (rent, local services) by the international staff should also be taken into account."
Respected local NGO Lao Hamutuk responded "We urge UNMIT to practice more transparency and local content in procurement and hiring to set a good example for Timor-Leste. In addition, efforts should be made to increase the 9.7% of the UNMIT budget (paras. 137 and 170) which enters the local economy.[11] During the past decade, many international consultants, advisors, “volunteers” and staff have advanced their careers and bank accounts while working “on” Timor-Leste; it is only fair that Timor-Leste’s people also benefit from this money.”
Starting today until 10 April the 2010 Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting will convene in Dili, Timor-Leste. The background paper for this meeting states that "progress has been made within the Ministry of Finance regarding the tracking of Development Partner spending, submitted to the National Directorate for Aid Effectiveness (NDAE) as part of the 2010 Combined State Budget." Timorese civil society will no doubt be interested to review the results of this tracking performed by the Ministry of Finance.
Minister of Finance Emilia Pires, appeared on TVTL national television news on the evening of 6 April 2009 and stated that international partners have not yet lived up to their obligations with regards to the Paris Declaration regarding how Government and donors cooperate on the allocation and spending of donor funds for Timor-Leste.
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