(Foto: Internet)
Dezde nasaun ne’e hetan ninia independensia, sosiadade Timor-Leste senti moris la seguru ho rumores sira ne’ebé nunka iha ninin no rohan. Esperensia konkretu ida iha krize 2006, wainhira funsionamentu komunikasaun (Timor Telkom) paradu kuaze públiku iha teritoriu Timor-Leste moris iha rumores nia laran. Rumores hirak ne’e fo biban ba Timor-Leste nia konflitu lori tempu naruk no halo povu barak sai vítima.
Liu tiha periodu krize, dadaun Timor-Leste tama ona iha faze konsolidasaun paz no seguransa públiku nian, sosiadade kontinua moris iha rumores nian laran. Pior liu tan instituisaun seguransa mos hetan rekruta husi rumores ne’ebé espalla iha nasaun ida ne’e. Liu-liu relasaun ho kazu operasaun hasoru grupu Konsellu Revolusionariu Maubere – KRM ne’ebé to’o ohin loron seidauk iha serteza ida ba públiku.
Faktus ida maka iha loron 14 Marsu 2015, Komandu FALINTIL-Forsa Defeza Timor-Leste – F-FDTL deside desloka militar barak atu halo operasaun iha area Postu Administrativu Remixio Munisipiu Aileu relasiona ho rumores katak elementu organizasaun Konsellu Revolusionariu Maubere – KRM liu ema atus ida avansa ona ba fatin refere atu dada bandeira. Maske realidade laiha seremonia dada bandeira. Hatudu katak rumores sira hahu ona estraga no ataka Instituisaun Defeza no Seguransa iha Timor-Leste.
Nune’e mos, hafoin lansa Operasaun HANITA iha semana balun nia laran rumores espalla iha media sosial katak lideransa KRM ho nia elementu balun iha area Postu Administrativu Uatukarbau, Munisipiu Viqueque. Informasaun ne’e sai diskusaun iha media sosial hanesan facebook no twitter. No, iha informasaun seluk katak lideransa Organizasaun KRM dadaun ne’e iha kapital Dili, sai asuntu diskusaun iha nivel komunidade loron ba loron.
Iha ne’ebé halo komunidade duvida ho situasaun seguransa iha rai-laran no senti ladun seguru iha sira nia bairu. Perguntas barak mai husi komunidade kona-bá pozisaun Instituisaun Defeza no Seguransa, partikularmente Komandu Operasaun Konjunta – KOK nian ba rumores hirak ne’e. Fundasaun Mahein (FM) rasik preoukupa ho laiha koriuzidade husi instituisaun kompetente atu halo deklarasaun ruma ba públiku kona-bá rumores hirak ne’e. Tanba rumores hirak ne’e bele hamosu pániku no trauma ba povu inosente sira iha teritoriu Timor-Leste.
Fiar ka lae povu Timor-Leste sei kontinua moris iha rumores nia laran enkuantu laiha asaun konkreta ida husi governu. Liu-liu deklarasaun ofisial ruma husi Instituisaun Defeza no Seguransa hodi ba hatan no klarifika ba rumores hirak ne’ebé dadaun ataka hela povu no soberania nasaun ida ne’e. Presiza iha mekanizmu adekuadu ida husi governu hodi fornese informasaun ne’ebé los no justu ba ninia povu.
Ho ida ne’e, FM hakarak rekomenda;
1. Rekomenda ba Gabinete Prezidensia Konsellu Ministru nu’udar porta voz ba VI Governu nia atu foti medida ruma hodi responde ba rumores ne’ebé dadaun espalla iha komunidade. Aumezmu tempu fo klarifikasaun ba públiku kona-bá rumores hirak ne’e.
2. Rekomenda ba Ministru Interior no Ministru Defeza atu kordena hamutuk hodi fo deklarasaun ofisial ruma ba públiku kona-bá rumores paradeiru lideransa KRM no progresu Operasaun HANITA atu nune’e povu informadu ba asuntu seguransa nian iha rai-laran.
Timor-Leste at the Mercy of Rumors
Since independence, the security of Timor-Leste has been threatened by the rapid spread of damaging rumors; most notably the crisis of 2006, where the communication network of Timor Telkom was shut off completely, and the general public was getting their information entirely by word of mouth. The prevalence of inflammatory rumors has only served to stir conflict in Timor-Leste—causing unnecessary damage and creating many victims.
After the crisis, Timor-Leste is now consolidating peace and public safety. However, Timorese society remains vulnerable to rumors. Unfortunately, the security institution is influenced by rumors as well. Of particular concern is are the rumors surrounding the operation against the Maubere Revolutionary Council (CMV), where there is a disturbing lack of accurate information available to the public.
As it happens, on 14th March 2015, the FALINTIL Defense Force of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) sent military units to operate in the area of Remexio Sub-district of Aileu District. This decision was based on rumors of more than a hundred members of CMV operating in the area. There were in fact no operations of CMV in Remexio. This incident demonstrates that rumors are starting to affect the defense and security apparatus of Timor-Leste.
After the launch of joint Operation HANITA, a few weeks later rumors spread on social media that the leader of CMV and some of his associates were staying in Uatukarbau Sub-district, Viqueque District. This issue received much attention in national media as well as Facebook and Twitter. Other contradictory information states that the leader of the CMV organization is now in Dili, is discussed by many residents.
The prevalence of harmful rumors has made many citizens concerned about the internal security situation and about the safety of their neighborhoods. Many questions were raised by the people regarding the position of the defense and security institutions, particularly the Conjoint Operation Command (COC), over the rumors. Fundasaun Mahein itself is concerned that there is no effort from the relevant institution to make any statement to public regarding the rumors. This means such rumors will continue to cause innocent people around the territory of Timor-Leste anxiety and trauma.
The people of Timor-Leste will continue be at the mercy of rumors if there is no concrete action taken by the government—particularly any official statement form the defense and security institutions—to respond to and clarify rumors that are now facing by the people and this sovereign state. There exists a pressing need for an adequate mechanism of the government to supply credible and fair information to its people.
Regarding the prevalence of rumors, FM recommends:
1. The Office of the President of the Council of Ministers as the spokesperson of the sixth (VI) government establishes a mechanism to respond to the spread of rumors in communities, in order to provide the public with accurate information in a timely manner.
2. The Interim Minister and Minister of Defense and Security should coordinate to supply official statements to the public over rumors of the CMV leader’s presence, and the progress of the operation HANITA, so that people are aware of internal security issues.
