 Building peace in Timor-Leste |
Issue 154 |
The long and winding road to peace and security
“Peace is not just the absence of war, like a cathedral, peace must be constructed patiently and with unshakable faith.” Pope John Paul II
Timor–Leste, officially known as The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a small country situated in the eastern half of the island of Timor, located in South East Asia. The country is placed about 640 km northwest of Darwin, and is Australia’s closest neighbour.
Timor-Leste is a country with a variety of names. The Indonesian name for East Timor was Timor Timur meaning east. During the Portuguese colonisation it was known as Timor-Leste, the word Leste meaning east in Portuguese. Timor Lorosa’e which literarily translates into ‘rising sun’ is the Tetum name.
Several languages are spoken in Timor-Leste. Tetum is the most widely used language and the country’s first national and official language. Portuguese is the other official language, while English and Indonesian (Bahasa) are considered as the working languages.
The use of various languages creates difficulties. Not many of the East Timorese have a sound knowledge in Portuguese. Bahasa is known only by people under the age of 30 and it can be associated with terrible feelings as it is seen as the language belonging to the Indonesians. Tetum on the other hand, is not a written language; it is primarily a spoken one (however written format is gradually developing due to the efforts of of Mary MacKillop East Timor - the Josephite Sisters). There are not many who are fluent in English in Timor–Leste but the desire is there to learn. As a result, difficulties are experienced in translating and communicating from one language to another written or verbal.
Timor-Leste is a nation with a long history of turmoil and many human rights abuses. The Portuguese colonised the country from 1556 to 1975. With the departure of the Portuguese, the Indonesian armed forces invaded on December 7, 1975 and ended in 1999. Throughout the invasion, much of the culture of East Timor was destroyed along with the people and nature.
Timor-Leste became the first new country of the 21st Century on May 20, 2002. It is therefore a relatively young country and is still seeking to find the peace and security it has sought for so many years.
Since gaining their independence, the East Timorese have continued to show tremendous strength, courage and determination to persist in rebuilding their country and accomplish long-lasting peace, autonomy and an enhanced quality of life. In order to sustain such progress, the people of Timor-Leste need to continue embracing a culture of peace and recognise and come to terms with the events that occurred both in the past and present.
The consequences of poverty, illiteracy, separation of families, health, and various forms of violence need to be closely observed and addressed accordingly. Peace can only be built if the people feel safe and secure.
Every person in Timor-Leste has a role to play in building peace and empowering themselves, not only as individuals, but also as a nation. It is the collective responsibility of everyone to encourage and support all areas of the society to help mend broken ties and start the process of re-establishing trust, dignity and unity.
The Non Government Organisations (NGOs) working in Timor-Leste also have responsibilities to ensure aid is accessible. Caritas Australia is one of the NGOs actively involved with various projects and is committed to helping build peace in Timor-Leste.
Luisa, an East Timorese woman who works with a local organisation as a counsellor, approached Caritas Australia to assist in building a safe house for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She herself lived through the violence of occupation; generally it is women and children that suffer the most in times of war and conflict. A good way of recognising the plight of women is to be in solidarity with them especially during International Women’s day which is held on March 8.
As well as completion of the safe house, Caritas Australia assisted in developing and printing pamphlets about the facility in the local language which have been distributed to organisations, police stations, health clinics and hospitals throughout Timor-Leste as a way of promoting the service.
The building of peace in Timor-Leste will be a long-term process. It is like building a house. If it is built quickly and carelessly, then the foundation will not be solid and the structure will not be sturdy. Time, effort and further endurance are required to rebuild the nation step by step to ensure all will benefit from the results. As stated by Pope John Paul II, peace needs to be constructed patiently and with much faith. It is vital that appropriate conditions are created in order for peace to flourish.
In the year 2000, world leaders met and agreed we should all work together to achieve eight global objectives, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Timor-Leste formally signed onto the MDGs when it became independent in 2002. By working towards achieving these goals we are helping to build peace.
In April 2006, further violence broke out in Timor-Leste. You can read further at: http://www.caritas.org.au/ Once more people experienced losing loved ones and being displaced.
The people of Timor-Leste dream of peace. In order to obtain it many political, economic, social and cultural issues need to be resolved. The road to peace is long and winding but if everyone works together in nurturing the new nation then perhaps the people can be at peace and finally achieve peace.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is March 8.
The theme for IWD this year is “Ending impunity for violence against women and girls.” Caritas Australia has produced a PowerPoint to recognise International Women’s Day. Go to: http://www.caritas.org.au/
events/IWD_2007.htm
ACROSS THE CURRICULUM
1. Go to the following site and read the speech by Timor–Leste Prime Minister: http://www.primeministerandcabinet.gov.tp/
welcome.htm
a) Who is the current Prime Minister of Timor–Leste?
b) What is the one issue the Prime Minister claims consumes him and the people?
c) According to the Prime Minister Timor-Leste cannot move forward without peace. What does he state will happen if peace does not occur?
2. Visit the following site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-
pacific/5029794.stm
a) What factors does the article suggest triggered the recent violence in May 2006?
3. At the 2000 United Nations Millennium Summit a set of 8 goals known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed upon by the world leaders. To find relevant information visit the site: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
a) State the purpose as to why the MDGS were established?
b) List the eight MDGs.
c) Who is involved?
d) Why is it necessary to have the MDGs?
e) The eight goals are inter-connected. For example access to clean water (Goal 7) would reduce the number of children who die from diseases related to water (Goal 4 & 6), which in turn would allow more girls to go to school (Goals 2 & 3); this would improve maternal health (Goal 5). Using the information provided on the site, with a partner find two other examples? You may want to illustrate your answer.
f) Which of the MDGs do you feel are relevant to Timor–Leste? Why?
4. Every country is proud of its flag; Timor–Leste is no different. As a new nation the flag has a very deep significance. Visit the following site which shows the flag for Timor–Leste. http://worldatlas.com/
webimage/
flags/countrys/asia/etimor.htm
a) What are the colours of the flag and their significance?
b) Draw the flag and name the triangles you find in the design?
c) Why do you think the flag is so important for Timor-Leste?
d) State when the flag in Timor–Leste was officially adopted?
HISI/SOSE
1. Visit the following site showing a detail map of Timor–Leste and answer the questions. http://www.un.org/Depts/
Cartographic/map/profile/timor.pdf
a) How many districts are there in Timor–Leste? (Hint they are written in capital letters in red)
b) Using the legend to help you what is the National capital of Timor-Leste?
c) Name the two districts that border with Indonesia.
2. Discuss the following topics in small and/or class groups:
a) Caritas Australia works with communities before during and after the headlines.” What do you think this means? How do you think this has happened in Timor-Leste? For more information about Timor-Leste see: http://www.ozspirit.info/archives.
html#easb) Discuss how some problems in school, community, family, cultures can lead to unrest and violence.
c) In your opinion is it right to use force? Explain your answer.
d) What do you do and how would you feel if you or others you know are being bullied?
e) If the people involved can’t sort things out where or who can they turn to?
f) What kind of a life do you believe people in Timor-Leste lived, under the oppressive rule of Indonesia and also the unrest that has occurred in recent times?
g) Each student is to form a list of at least three ways people can solve problems without resorting to violence. When you have completed your list compare and discuss with other members in the class.
h) Have a class debate on the following topic: Timor–Leste as a nation should be left to take care of itself without any assistance from other countries or NGOs.
3. Work Sheet: Timor–Leste. Print the following page; find the words in the puzzle from the list be low.
| E | Z | V | I | V | W | O | V | W | M | B | T | D | T | N | T | V | R |
| C | O | J | Y | U | C | S | F | J | D | I | E | H | M | I | W | N | X |
| I | R | A | N | G | L | P | K | F | M | T | T | J | I | C | I | N | J |
| T | A | U | A | O | S | O | H | O | I | N | U | C | A | R | Z | A | L |
| A | K | K | O | W | I | R | R | N | L | C | M | R | I | O | D | T | Q |
| R | G | X | X | B | Y | T | U | O | N | O | I | S | A | V | N | I | M |
| C | W | C | Y | C | H | U | A | U | S | T | R | A | L | I | A | O | E |
| O | R | M | J | T | N | G | S | S | A | A | G | Q | L | V | L | N | L |
| M | R | T | O | L | R | U | I | S | I | M | E | I | S | R | S | A | K |
| E | C | N | E | D | N | E | P | E | D | N | I | C | H | U | I | S | T |
| D | K | S | E | T | E | S | V | I | N | D | O | N | E | S | I | A | O |
| N | T | P | E | A | C | E | L | O | V | T | F | L | V | D | H | H | E |
| E | K | G | N | I | S | I | R | F | P | V | R | W | O | J | A | A | H |
| R | F | A | F | R | G | T | X | F | O | R | E | P | H | C | J | B | A |
| AUSTRALIA BAHASA CARITAS COLONISATION DEMOCRATIC DILI EAST FREEDOM INDEPENDENCE PORTUGESE POVERTY RISING SUN |
INDONESIA INVASION ISLAND LESTE LOROSAE NATION NEIGHBOUR OFFICIAL PEACE TETUM TIMOR UNITED VICTIM SURVIVOR |
ENGLISH
1. Caritas Australia is an NGO which provides support for the people of Timor-Leste as they rebuild their lives. Read the story of Luisa: Building Peace in Timor–Leste. You will find this at:http://www.caritas.org.au/project_compassion_
07/pdf/Sec3.pdf
We often hear about victims. Individuals or groups become victims as a result of sexual assault, domestic violence, war, conflict, bullying and many other situations. Most people have been victimised in one form or another. In recent times the word survivor is more commonly used for example ‘sexual abuse survivor’.
a) Why do you think this term is used? (Consider connotations associated with the words “victim” and “survivor”).
b) How does Caritas Australia through Luisa help women in Timor–Leste?
c) In the fourth paragraph Luisa is quoted saying “Independence meant we had to rebuild our own country but first we needed to rebuild our broken hearts.” What do you think she means by this?
2. Go to:
http://www.cavrtimorleste.org/chegaFiles/
introducingChegaEng.pdf Scroll down to Introduction Chega at a Glance (page 3)
a) What does (CAVR) stand for? (You will find this in the Introduction).
b) What language does the word ‘Chega’ belong to and what does it mean?
c) In your own words write why the word Chega was chosen.
d) Scroll down and look at the picture under the heading of Death Toll. Describe in a paragraph your feelings and interpretation of the picture.
e) The word displacement is another heading used in the report. Use the following site dictionary.reference.com or Google search engine to find the meaning of displacement.
f) Imagine you are a displaced person how would you feel? What do you think might happen? Who would you turn to? Where would you go? Discuss these with a friend or your family.
3. Find the terms for the following abbreviations:
visit http://etan.org/timor/terms.htm
CAVR, Fretilin, Tetum, Timor Lorosae, Timor Timur, UNMAET, UNHCHR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNMISET, UNTAET.
COMMUNITY AND PARISH GROUPS
1) Luisa is from Timor-Leste and is featured as the second Project Compassion story. To read about her story and the work of Caritas Australia through Project Compassion go to: http://www.caritas.org.au/
project_
compassion_07/lenten/lentent_w2.html
2) Check out Caritas Australia’s PowerPoint presentation to mark International Women’s Day. Visit: http://www.caritas.org.au/events/IWD_2007.htm
3) Visit: http://www.laohamutuk.org/reports/06Self
DeterminationSahara.htm and read the article “Self-determination means more than political independence: Recent developments in Timor–Leste.” Discuss the following:
- What are some of the key factors outlined in the article?
- What other factors besides political independence are discussed in order for Timor-Leste to achieve self–determination?
- Should Australia play a role to ensure Timor–Leste is assisted in developing and building peace?
OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES
http://www.usip.org/pubs/unipeace_briefings/
2006/0717_timor_leste.html
http://www.womenwarpeace.org/timor_leste/
timor_leste.htm