Security Probe After the 2012 Withdrawal of UNMIT

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Fundasaun Mahein, 20 Novembru 2012

Security Probe After the 2012 Withdrawal of UNMIT

Press Release

In the Voice of Fundasaun Mahein, No. 43, Fundasaun Mahein (FM) analyzes the national security situation after the withdrawal of UNMIT in late 2012. Fundasaun Mahein (FM) would like to address some of the complex but crucial issues with tremendous implications for national security following the withdrawal of UNMIT from Timor-Leste.

The problems of democratization, unemployment, gang clusters, and veteran issues have become public concerns and are likely to affect internal security after the withdrawal of UNMIT. Furthermore, these issues are likely to pose extreme challenges and enormous demands to the Timorese government in solving and implementing strategic long term plans in the area of security that are aimed to fortify peace and stability.

The issues considered a hindrance to the political process and democratization include the lack of civic education in the community and the raucous words of political leaders during political campaigns. These words may originate conflicts among militants and sympathizers in the coming times.

Another issue is the economic deprivation. The number of unemployment is rising every year. It undoubtedly hampers economic growth and development. In this area of economic vulnerability, organized crime groups are offering economic alternatives and a “safe haven”. Consequently, more problems are created in society.

Another intricate yet mixed social issue is the gang clusters, or martial arts groups (MAG). There are numerous martial arts groups that establish its “gang cluster influence” to the youth. Although government has shown great will to solve this problem, this issue still inexorably creaties social collusion and threatens public security.

Another issue is the existence of the CPD-RDTL group that, on multiple occasions, has occupied community land illegally. There has been strong resistance against this group from the community. Fundasaun Mahein (FM) suggests that the government find an immediate solution to avoid tensions in the community that could build to threaten internal security.

In the meantime, there is no obvious solution to the veteran’s ongoing fragile status. The veterans have complained about the technical difficulties of government in addressing their issue. Furthermore, the veterans have experienced discrimination in their pursuit to verify their participation during the struggle for independence.

Therefore, Fundasaun Mahein (FM) would like to recommend the solutions as follows:

1. Recommend to the government to create a long term plan through the inter-ministerial office to solve the problems of unemployment, MAG (martial arts groups), CPD-RDTL movement, land disputes, and violation of human rights to avoid conflict when the UNMIT mission concludes.

2. Recommend to the President of Republic, as the symbol of national unity, to carry out an adequate plan to resolve social problems affecting national security.

3. Recommend to the leaders of CPD-RDTL and GAM to embrace national unity and call the attention of its members to avoid conflict. In this way they can contribute to the peace and stability of Timor-Leste.

4. Recommend to the government to reevaluate the veteran problem and provide adequate solutions to the problems that they are currently facing, including fallacious documents and other mis-practices that do not contribute to the resolution of the veteran problem.

5. The UN Security Council recently congratulated Timor-Leste’s achievements in the establishment of democracy and security. But as the last of the UNMIT presence leaves by 31 December 2012, Fundasaun Mahein (FM) recommends that not just the government and leaders pay attention to our recommendations, but also the people of Timor-Leste, as individuals can also begin conflict. Fundasaun Mahein (FM) hopes that all people will embrace national unity and avoid conflict to continue the achievements of democracy and security.

More Information please contact :

Nélson Belo
Diretur Fundasaun Mahein
website: www.fundasaunmahein.org
E-mail : nelson@fundasaunmahein.org
Tlp : +670 7737 4222

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