Arrival
So last week, I finally came back to Timor-Leste, albeit for a short visit. I have been living in the UK for 12 years. But before this, I was in Portugal where I lived for 2 years, studying engineering. It didn't work out and I had to migrate to find a job to support my family back home. And worked I did, while attending evening schools for a few years. I have never found the right opportunity to return home, specially after starting a family with a local English woman. Then my father died and I had to come home; I must come home, to see him off. It's a terrible time to come home.
Apparently I arrived in Dili amid political turbulence. Last Friday the President of the Republic dissolved the parliament and called fresh elections. His decision came after the parliamentary elections in July last year, which I voted from a far for the first time since the 2001 general elections. That election failed to produce a stable government. Holding an early election to end political deadlock, it's a first for Timor-Leste. But why the need to call an early election at all? Why did Timor-Leste's leaders fail to work together for the good of the people and the country?
After the crisis in 2006, I watched Timor-Leste recover with a lot of angst and pessimism. The violence that took place was avoidable if the leaders had been more considerate of the consequences of their actions upon ordinary people. I didn't want to blame anyone in particular, but I was disappointed with the leadership community, a number of impatient men at the top whose influence could have steered the country towards the right path, of dialogue, of understanding, of cooperation and collaboration. I had no more hope and worked extra hard to get my family out of Timor-Leste.
In hindsight, I was quite unreasonable then to have written Timor-Leste off. The country quickly recovered, the leaders made peace, petrodollars flowed in and the people prospered. I regained my hope, reconnected and began sending my savings home for my parents to secure a property for me back home. I want to go home one day.
And here I am. Here is Timor Plaza, with its shops, restaurants, and its food court. There is even Burger King and Gloria Jeans, franchises so symbolic of big, modern cities. MacDonald's? Walmart or Tesco soon? It's possible.
The high risers! Ministry of Finance building, the Timor Plaza complex, cranes going up, more in the pipeline. Except for the decrepit airport, Dili is transformed. Where UNTAET vehicles once roamed the streets, today they are replaced by Kareta Estado. Yellow cabs beeping at me when they see me walking down the street. There are lots of motorbikes and private cars and they jam many intersections in Dili.
This is progress and it could only have been possible if there is stability. The elections in March and July last year, organized by the Timorese themselves, had been the best indication yet of how far Timor-Leste has transitioned from a post-conflict country to a modern liberal democracy. Seven candidates competed for the presidency while 21 political parties competed for seats in the parliament. The elections were certified by reputable international observers as free and fair and highly successful. There were no incidence of violence or intimidation, or any act that would have compromised the results of the elections. It was a good sign for me and I renewed my confidence in the country with the hope of finally relocating after my oldest son turned 18 and started university.
But when the President announced his decision to call fresh elections, I was dismayed. I was dismayed not at the President's decision but at the way our leaders have failed to work together and find a way out other than an early election. An early election is perfectly justifiable in the specific circumstances, but in this instance, it revealed the weaknesses of our leaders. How can they not find a common ground when they all have the same visions for this country? What could be so controversial about bringing piped water to homes, better education and health, and better roads? If we all worked together, would it not have been much easier to achieve these goals? What could have come between our leaders to turn them against each other instead of working together for these basic needs?
I have been thinking about all these since I arrived in between my grief over the loss of my father. I lament of not coming home earlier to spend time with him. Now I have to contend with political uncertainty, a situation that disappoints me a lot. I am trying to understand what is going on, why the country came to this point, where it is heading after this, what awaits in the 5 years, 10, 20 or more years to come.
So I decided to start this blog to share my reflections, thoughts, and views and would like to invite you all to share yours. I am not much of a writer but this situation is forcing me to do so and communicate in the expectation of finding some answers and renew my hope in this country and its people. I still believe that not all is lost and we, Timor-Leste, will come out of this stronger than before.
Until next time.
Serakey
Apparently I arrived in Dili amid political turbulence. Last Friday the President of the Republic dissolved the parliament and called fresh elections. His decision came after the parliamentary elections in July last year, which I voted from a far for the first time since the 2001 general elections. That election failed to produce a stable government. Holding an early election to end political deadlock, it's a first for Timor-Leste. But why the need to call an early election at all? Why did Timor-Leste's leaders fail to work together for the good of the people and the country?
After the crisis in 2006, I watched Timor-Leste recover with a lot of angst and pessimism. The violence that took place was avoidable if the leaders had been more considerate of the consequences of their actions upon ordinary people. I didn't want to blame anyone in particular, but I was disappointed with the leadership community, a number of impatient men at the top whose influence could have steered the country towards the right path, of dialogue, of understanding, of cooperation and collaboration. I had no more hope and worked extra hard to get my family out of Timor-Leste.
In hindsight, I was quite unreasonable then to have written Timor-Leste off. The country quickly recovered, the leaders made peace, petrodollars flowed in and the people prospered. I regained my hope, reconnected and began sending my savings home for my parents to secure a property for me back home. I want to go home one day.
And here I am. Here is Timor Plaza, with its shops, restaurants, and its food court. There is even Burger King and Gloria Jeans, franchises so symbolic of big, modern cities. MacDonald's? Walmart or Tesco soon? It's possible.
The high risers! Ministry of Finance building, the Timor Plaza complex, cranes going up, more in the pipeline. Except for the decrepit airport, Dili is transformed. Where UNTAET vehicles once roamed the streets, today they are replaced by Kareta Estado. Yellow cabs beeping at me when they see me walking down the street. There are lots of motorbikes and private cars and they jam many intersections in Dili.
This is progress and it could only have been possible if there is stability. The elections in March and July last year, organized by the Timorese themselves, had been the best indication yet of how far Timor-Leste has transitioned from a post-conflict country to a modern liberal democracy. Seven candidates competed for the presidency while 21 political parties competed for seats in the parliament. The elections were certified by reputable international observers as free and fair and highly successful. There were no incidence of violence or intimidation, or any act that would have compromised the results of the elections. It was a good sign for me and I renewed my confidence in the country with the hope of finally relocating after my oldest son turned 18 and started university.
But when the President announced his decision to call fresh elections, I was dismayed. I was dismayed not at the President's decision but at the way our leaders have failed to work together and find a way out other than an early election. An early election is perfectly justifiable in the specific circumstances, but in this instance, it revealed the weaknesses of our leaders. How can they not find a common ground when they all have the same visions for this country? What could be so controversial about bringing piped water to homes, better education and health, and better roads? If we all worked together, would it not have been much easier to achieve these goals? What could have come between our leaders to turn them against each other instead of working together for these basic needs?
I have been thinking about all these since I arrived in between my grief over the loss of my father. I lament of not coming home earlier to spend time with him. Now I have to contend with political uncertainty, a situation that disappoints me a lot. I am trying to understand what is going on, why the country came to this point, where it is heading after this, what awaits in the 5 years, 10, 20 or more years to come.
So I decided to start this blog to share my reflections, thoughts, and views and would like to invite you all to share yours. I am not much of a writer but this situation is forcing me to do so and communicate in the expectation of finding some answers and renew my hope in this country and its people. I still believe that not all is lost and we, Timor-Leste, will come out of this stronger than before.
Until next time.
Serakey
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