A Vital Force - Xanana Gusmao

A Vital Force - Xanana Gusmao

When reflecting on the theme of civil society’s role in conflict prevention and peace building, I am again reminded that the struggle for Timor-Leste’s right to self-determination and independence was also fought by various components of civil society both inside and outside of the country.

During our struggle, the role of the Catholic Church in Timor-Leste was critical in providing a voice and a sanctuary for the many victims of the brutal military occupation. The clandestine network, consisting of students, lay people, public servants, women, teachers and youths, was the backbone of the resistance.
On the international scene, Timor-Leste at one stage had the largest worldwide solidarity movement, advocating for an end to the violence and for peace in the territory. These bands of dedicated, ordinary citizens of the world united their efforts to pressure their respective governments in support of an independent Timor-Leste.
Five years have gone by since the historical referendum in August 1999, and two years since independence was officially declared. Timor-Leste has gone through three critical phases in the space of five short years: emergency humanitarian period, transitional period and now reconstruction and development.
In each of these phases, the role of civil society can never be under-estimated. And in each of these phases, the crying need to build peace and prevent further conflict was foremost in the mind of every Timorese.
It is the desire of every Timorese to live in peace and to never again experience the pain and destruction that war brings. Indeed, it is only in situations of war that we feel the need for peace, for a tranquility of spirit.
During our 24 year-long difficult struggle, we learned to love peace and dialogue.
Peace, reconciliation, understanding and harmony between citizens are fundamental conditions for political stability and economic and social progress in our country.
Without stability and peace, there would not be democracy; there would not be progress.
Reconciliation has peace as its fundamental objective. Reconciliation entails breaking away with the environment of conflict.
The Timorese leadership, then under the umbrella organization, CNRT (National Council for Timorese Resistance), of which I was president, recognized from the very beginning that reconciliation was a fundamental need for a future independent Timor-Leste, to build peace in our society and thus avoid further conflict. Therefore, maximum attention was afforded to this process.
But reconciliation is more than just forgiving and moving away from the past. Reconciliation is a long process, demanding from each and every Timorese, the courage to admit our mistakes and to forgive. Reconciliation between ourselves and with our former enemies is instrumental in consolidating the peace that we Timorese fought so long and hard to achieve.
Very early on, I defended that no-one should hold bitterness towards their enemies; they too, were merely instruments of a system, which oppressed them as it did us.
A few years ago, not long after we achieved our freedom, I was touring around the country visiting all the villages as part of the promise I made upon my return to Timor-Leste.
Everywhere was destruction; everywhere the cries and pain of the victims could be heard. Village after village – men, women and children gathered together and told me their stories. On one particular, exhausting night, where I was overwhelmed with the grief the many widows; all demanding justice for their suffering, an old man approached me and asked if he could speak. He stood before his fellow villagers and in a clear, steady voice, devoid of any emotion, he raised his badly twisted arms and declared

“If putting my tormentor in jail means regaining the use of my hands, then I demand justice, here and now. But what use is there in seeking justice if it will not make any difference to my life?”

This poor, simple villager expressed the heart of the policy that the Timorese leadership had been advocating all along - that there could be no real everlasting peace, without reconciliation. And that our independence would mean nothing if we could not bring peace and tranquility to the daily lives of our people; if we could not promise them a future free of further conflict.
But the government alone could not transmit this policy into action on the ground. It needed the support of civil society.
It is the policy of the Timorese State to pursue the avenue of reconciliation and dialogue both in the domestic and international scene. With every effort made at the highest level, a complimentary one was made on the ground.
As President of the Republic, I am continuing this policy through two critical programs: Open Presidency and National Dialogue.
Open Presidency is where the president comes to the people, and listens to their concerns and provides information where possible. Its objective is to reduce tension, through the exchange of information on the current processes and difficulties the people are facing. It is a preventative measure of conflict.
National Dialogue is another means of conflict prevention as it provides a forum for bringing issues of national interest to public debate. It brings conflicting parties together and gathers feedback from the general public.
Both programs are conducted with the invaluable support of civil society groups.
The goodwill talks between the governments of Timor-Leste and Indonesia have been complimented on the ground with traditional methods of post-conflict resolution such as public confession and apology, led by civil society. A Commission on Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) was established to provide a platform for addressing past wrongs. CAVR, consisting of members of all segments of civil society, has conducted community based reconciliation nationwide and as a result, has succeeded in enabling ex-militias to reintegrate into their communities and for the most part, for those communities to continue with life in the normal way. Alongside these local dispute resolution initiatives is the need for national healing. Many Timorese want answers from those who caused their loss and suffering. With answers people can start the healing process and close the horrible chapter in their lives and finally be able to live in tranquility and with peace of mind.
As with its current role in peacebuilding, civil society will continue to be an important actor in ensuring peace and stability in Timorese society. Civil society should continue to play a role in helping to strengthen the democratic institutions, in helping the Timorese state lay the foundations of the rule of law, in helping to meet the social needs of the people. Civil society can be a vital force to check and balance the actions of the government by denouncing corruption, lack of transparency and other acts contrary to the interest of the people, to ensure that they are in line with the universal values and principles of freedom, democracy and prosperity.

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão led the East Timorese Resistance Movement from 1978 until he was captured and sentenced to seven years in a Jakarta prison, followed by house arrest. He was released in 1999 after the UN-sponsored referendum, in which Timor-Leste chose independence from Indonesia. On 14 April 2002, Xanana Gusmão was elected president of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.