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“We are not chasing instant independence. We will be fully independent next year. But what we want from the UN is to inherit a country which can govern and administer itself. That is our wish,” Xanana Gusmao, CNRT/CN President

Bahasa Indonesia Headlines ­ Tuesday 17 April 2001

Xanana Gusmao: No Need For Timor Lorosae To Have Instant Independence

CNRT/CN President Xanana Gusmao said yesterday Timor Lorosae did not need instant independence. What was important, he added, was the readiness of the people to prepare themselves to take over the full administration of the country from the UN.
In an interview with Kyodo news agency, Xanana reminded the people that the 30 August election was for the country’s first Constituent Assembly.

The Constituent Assembly then will prepare the country for its first general election.
“We are not chasing instant independence. We will be fully independent next year. But what we want from the UN is to inherit a country which can govern and administer itself. That is our wish,” said Xanana.


See also on Timorisation:

Apr 17 STL: Mario Carrascalao: UNTAET Does Not Have A Timorization Target  News from ETimor added Apr 19
“In order for Timor Lorosae to be fully independent, it is necessary [for the transitional administration] to have full capacity-building in order to create a definite level of Timorese administrators ­ till all the administrative positions in UNTAET are filled by Timorese people,” Mario Carrascalao, vice-president of CNRT/CN

Apr 17 Gusmao: No Need For Timor Lorosae To Have Instant Independence  News from ETimor added Apr 19
“We are not chasing instant independence. We will be fully independent next year. But what we want from the UN is to inherit a country which can govern and administer itself. That is our wish,” Xanana Gusmao, CNRT/CN President

Feb 19 STL: Timorisation  [Editorial from ETimor]
"Many Timorese are disappointed because the Timorisation process just appears to be on the surface, with numbers more important than having the power to make crucial decisions." Suara Timor Lorosae

Dec 5-6 2000 REDE: Women's Network statement to Brussels donor conference  [Speech]
"If the goal is a sustainable political and administrative transition than it must be capable of involving the people in the most informed and inclusive manner possible. The transition can not be of the elite, it must be of the people. Timorisation and capacity building have become catch phrases for the current administration, and with reason, as the administration has been almost fully staffed by internationals. However the mistaken perception that there is no Timorese capacity or that there is capacity only amongst a few, and the convenience of talking with a limited elite can not justify jumping over and undermining the institutions being created with such difficulty." Filomena Reis, REDE - Feto Timor Lorosae Timorese Women's Network

Dec 5-6 2000 CNRT/CNP: Brussels donor's meeting - opening speech by the CNRT's rep  [Speech]
"CNRT feels that the two pillars which should support the transition to independence are: preparation of the Timorese, or the so-called "timorization" in government structures and the entire political process leading up to the adoption a Constitution. ... As the process of Timorization moves ahead, time and space should be made for the Timorese to make decisions, otherwise, Timorese will increasingly feel as on-lookers, powerless and frustrated." Xanana Gusmao, CNRT/CNP - National Council of Timorese Resistance / National Congress Presidency

Nov 6 2000 ETO: Transition, half way to independence  [Report]

  • "Security Council (SC) Resolution 1272 of 25 October 1999 mandated UNTAET [UN Transitional Administration for East Timor] "to support capacity-building for self-government", and insisted on the "need for UNTAET to consult and cooperate closely with the East Timorese people in order to carry out its mandate effectively with a view to the development of local democratic institutions… and the transfer to these institutions of its administrative and public service functions"
  • "Xanana Gusmão accused the UN mission of failing to involve the Timorese in the process of transition to independence. "We are not interested in a legacy of cars and laws, nor are we interested in a legacy of development plans for the future designed by [people] other than East Timorese", said Xanana Gusmão in a reference to the hundreds of white UN four-wheel-drive vehicles seen around Dili and the succession of regulations being passed by the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor. "We are not interested in inheriting an economic rationale which leaves out the social and political complexity of East Timorese reality. Nor do we wish to inherit the heavy decision-making and project implementation mechanisms in which the role of the East Timorese is to give their consent as observers, rather than the active players we should start to be." (Sydney Morning Herald, 10-10-2000)."

    • ETO - East Timor Observatory

    Portuguese:
    Nov 6 2000 OTL: Transição, a meio caminho para a independência  [Report]
    "A resolução 1272 do Conselho de Segurança (CS), de 25 de Outubro 1999 sublinhava nas tarefas da UNTAET “o apoio à criação de capacidades para um governo próprio” e insistia na “necessidade da UNTAET consultar e cooperar estreitamente com o povo de Timor Leste afim de cumprir o seu mandato eficazmente tendo em vista o desenvolvimento de instituições democráticas locais... , e a transferência para estas instituições das suas funções administrativas e de serviço público”."
    "Xanana Gusmão acusou a missão das NU de ter falhado no envolvimento dos timorenses no processo transitório para a independência. “Não estamos interessados numa herança de carros e leis, nem estamos interessados numa herança de planos de desenvolvimento para um futuro concebido por outros que não os timorenses. Não estamos interessados em herdar uma racionalidade económica que coloca de lado a complexidade social e política da realidade timorense, nem desejamos herdar os pesados mecanismos de tomada de decisão e implementação de projectos nos quais o papel dos timorenses é o de dar o seu consentimento como observadores ao invés de agentes activos que deveríamos começar a ser.” (Sidney Morning Herald, 10-10-2000)." OTL - Observatório Timor Leste

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