Dili; example of International failure

East Timor's rebel commander, Major Alfredo Reinado

East Timor's rebel commander, Major Alfredo Reinado, says he will not surrender his weapons unless Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri resigns and is charged over the killing of five unarmed protesters last month.

Speaking near his remote mountain headquarters in the coffee-growing town of Maubisse, about 80km south of the capital of Dili, the 39-year-old renegade army officer blamed East Timor's political and security crisis on Dr Alkatiri, accusing him of preparing to wage civil war.

In an interview with The Australian, he said Dr Alkatiri remained dangerous while he continued in the job, despite President Xanana Gusmao declaring a state of siege on Monday and assuming sole responsibility for defence and national security from Dr Alkatiri.

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri insists he remains in control of the army and police, threatening to bring 100,000 supporters into the streets in defiance of President Xanana Gusmao and the UN.

As Dr Alkatiri dug in against MrGusmao, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer yesterday urged the Timorese leadership to act in the best interests of the nation.

But East Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta reaffirmed that Gusmao was in charge of defence and security.

So, while the country remains severely dislocated, Alkatiri is surely revealing himself key instigator of the tiny country’s divisions. Lust for power is a strange beast, and obviously Alkatiri is willing to destroy his country to in his misguided quest.

Xanana Gusmao and Jose Ramos Horta would obviously prefer to work through this crisis with an eye to the constitution laying a proper foundation for the future. Alkatiri has his own agenda, but the resolution will not rest with any of these key players, it will be imposed from the outside.

Despite Gusmao and Ramos Horta’s lofty ideals, the UN, Australia and other key players will introduce the country to ‘real politics’.

This is an issue which should never have seen the light of day. If the UN mission had been left in place, as many East Timorese requested, Alkatiri would never have had the opportunity and freedom to launch his little adventure.

Former colonial powers, the UN and Australia have presided over a string of similar disasters across the Asia Pacific region. Consider just a few:

Solomon Islands; still simmering after their election crisis.

West Papua; the powers are stubbornly turning their backs on the population’s calls for independence from Indonesia.

Fiji; simmering conflict between native Fijians and the Indian population introduced by English plantation owners is a constant threat to this island nation.

New Guinea; under Australian guidance has yet to achieve real stability.

These and other micro-nations in the region undoubtedly need outside help, but not the kind they have been receiving to date.

They don’t need an imposed ‘one size fits all’ solution. They don’t need ‘global economy’ solutions or aid tied to trade, benefitting the benefactor nations. They need to be listened to and responses tailored to their unique problems.

Of course in a world where the powers can’t even manage their own societies there is little hope of proper responses to these relatively minor countries.