The earthquake that struck Indonesia’s ancient royal capital of Yogyakarta early yesterday joins the disaster that has overtaken East Timor to add to human misery. The single difference is that the chaos in East Timor is man-made and therefore arguably avoidable.
While Indonesians in Java pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and the toll of dead and injured rises, many citizens of East Timor, who two years ago embarked upon independence from Indonesia full of hope, must be wondering how it is that once again an Australian-led UN force is taking up positions to stop the country from descending into civil strife. For their part, the international community should be asking itself why, despite one intervention, considerable technical and bureaucratic assistance and significant sums of aid, East Timor is still teetering on the brink of chaos.
Rivalry between President Xanana Gusmao, and his Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has led to confrontations between their supporters. The spark that ignited the long-standing tension came when some 1,500 soldiers from the east of the country went on strike, protesting that they were discriminated against by the people of the west. This was the signal for confrontation between rival gangs and resulted in butchery and chaos in and around the capital Dili. There is no doubt a level of hooliganism at work here. Youths from dirt-poor families welcome chaos that allows them to plunder and rob while fighting and killing each other in the name of some spurious cause. As far-richer societies know, not least the United States, gang culture provides a dangerous outlet for disaffected and socially excluded youth.
Australia is committing 1,300 of its own troops who will serve alongside Malaysians, New Zealanders and Portuguese in an effort to restore order to the tiny country. That the situation has deteriorated to this level must be particularly embarrassing for President Gusmao, the charismatic leader of the rebellion against Indonesian occupation. Of course, no one pretended that his job would be an easy one. There remain Indonesian loyalists in East Timor who would like to see the country become a failed state. There are also unsubstantiated allegations from the Gusmao camp that military elements in Jakarta are fomenting discontent.
The truth is likely to be simpler. East Timor has yet to find itself an independent identity. With the Indonesians gone, former rebels have no target around which to unite. The Gusmao insurrection was primarily a middle-class rebellion backed by middle classes around the world. When provoked, the Indonesian occupation forces could be ruthless but, by and large, ordinary East Timorese enjoyed stability and relative prosperity under Jakarta’s rule.
It will therefore not be enough for the new UN peacekeepers to restore order and withdraw. This intervention must not end until institutions and respect for them have been built into this new country because it seems — unfortunately — the citizens are unable to do this by themselves.
