Here
are some of the feature articles on PKF humanitarian and related stories which I
have written:
Chaplains
meet set on the 26th
Peacekeeping
Force chaplains will gather
together in Dili on the 26th of the month to discuss ways and means
primarily directed to uplift the morale and welfare of the troops, during a
whole day meet dubbed PKF Chaplains' Conference.
This
will be the first chaplains'
conference to be held at the Motael Church which will
start with a program at 10
a.m.
Deputy
Chief of Staff for Support said in a communiqué, "The aim of the
conference to assess the lessons
learnt on personnel, welfare and morale from PKF operations thus far."
He
advised all sector commanders to send their respective chaplains. "You are
strongly encouraged to release your chaplains to attend this Conference,"
he said.
Likewise,
the attendees are advised to check-in on the 25th where accommodation
shall be arranged through the NCC's or at the Headquarters PKF Kobe Camp.
The
persons to contact are Chaplain Barrie Yesberg on 0409735941 or Lieutenant Tania
Koberstein Ext 4759.
Accolades
and laurels are awaiting to
peacekeeping force personnel during a United Nations Medal Parade in
front of PKF headquarters on the 24th,
this month.
Lieutenant
General Boonsrang Niumpradit, PKF Force Commander will be the Reviewing Officer
after pinning the UN Medals to deserving personnel.
In
the main, the parade provides the proper venue for presenting UN Medals to PKF
Headquarters Staff who have served the mission for a period of 90 days.
PKF
Force Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One J. Ramafono from Fiji had sent
out the list of parade participants.
Among
them are Col. Stephen Jones, Col. Phil
Gibbons, Lt. Col Mark Webb, Lt Col. Dante Balao.
Schedules
of practice are posted on the board.
(25 May 01)
The PKF Force Commander, Lieutenant-General Boonsrang Niumpradit, opened a temporary bridge erected by the PKF sixteen kilometers North East of Ainaro yesterday. The PKF Bridge was erected by the Pakistan Engineers to replace an existing bridge that was damaged and unsafe. This will improve access on the main route between Dili and Suai.
The new structure is a temporary military bridge called a ‘Bailey Bridge’. It is 30 feet long and is rated to carry vehicles that weigh up to 70 tonnes. Work started on the bridge on 17 May, with final improvements to the approach and exit points completed on 23 May. A Pakistan Engineer unit based at Ainaro erected the bridge.
Representatives from the PKF and the local community attended the opening ceremony yesterday. The Force Commander met the local people and distributed gifts.
Major Inam, of Engineer Operations at the PKF Headquarters said, “the old bridge was passable but very dangerous. Heavy rain could have washed it away”, he said. “This new temporary bridge will allow heavy vehicles carrying trade and supplies to pass safely.”
The bridge will remain in place until a civilian contractor erects a new permanent bridge later this year.
The work of the PKF Pakistan Engineers continues to provide outstanding support to the people of East Timor. In the last twelve months 340 separate tasks have been completed and 29 more are currently underway. Tasks include work on roads, airfields, reconstruction of market sites and establishing clean water distribution points.
Philippines
Celebrates Independence Day in East
Timor
(11
June 01)
The
Philippine participation in East Timor comprising of
Peace Keeping Force (PKF)
Staff, Philippine Battalion (PHILBATT) and
Force Support Unit in coordination with Filipino members of
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) Staff,
United Nations Volunteers (UNVs)
and Civilian Police (CIVPOL) will celebrate its 103rd
Philippine Independence Day tomorrow
(Tuesday), June 12.
One
of the highlights of the celebration will be a
“Fun Run” in the morning
which is open for everyone without any registration fee. There will be three categories, namely, open, junior and
senior for 10-k and 5-k events. Fabulous
prizes are at stake for the first
10 finishers while other finishers will get
certificates of participation. The start and finishing lines will be in
front of UNTAET Building at 6:30 a.m.
Other
festivities of the Philippine Independence Day
Celebration in East Timor are simultaneous
ceremonies at Manatuto by the Philbatt and in Baucau by the Filipino Civpol.
Film showing and static display will be viewed at Kampo Filipino FSU
Headquarters and a Dinner/Cultural Presentation to be held later in the evening
featuring an Australian Filipino Dance troupe.
There
are a little over a thousand Filipinos who are presently working in this United
Nations mission East Timor
including Filipino
private contractors and workers, helping this once ravaged country
rebuild herself.
The
Philippines was one of the few countries who first responded to the humanitarian call of East Timor in September 1999 after
the failure of the independence referendum in August 30 that led to
widespread chaos and carnage.
Big
Smile Greets Jordanian Peacekeepers in Oecussi with School Bags and more
Humanitarian Assistance
(12 Jul 01)
Oecussi -
PKF (Peacekeeping Force) members belonging to the Jordanian Battalion (JORBATT),
maintaining security in Oecussi, provided 800 school bags to primary pupils at
three schools within the enclave yesterday.
JORBATT,
who have previously provided textbooks in the different schools, were greeted
happily by the school children and their teachers.
The children received free school bags of beautiful colors and good
quality. Mostly were “back pack” type bags.
At
least three schools were recipients of yesterday’s PKF humanitarian project
sponsored by JORBATT. They were,
Skola Primaria Bintueto de Agosto, Primero Skola Palaban and the UNTAET
Emergency School SD Massin who also received “meal-ready-to-eat” food packs.
All schools are located in Pante Makasa, Oecussi.
“We’ve
been doing this quite often,” said Colonel Ahmed Obaidat, JORBATT Commander.
Mr.
Francisco Marquez, Oecussi District
Administrator accompanied the PKF
humanitarian team and wished the JORBATT could do more. But “it depends on the
capability of JORBATT, “ he said. “They are happy if they can give all the
time,” he said.
“It
feels good,” said Mr. Tiago Mauno, Head Master of SD Massin.
Yesterday’s
assistance to Oecussi included 800 school bags, 100 chairs, 30 gallons of school
paint, and food packs worth US$5,000, said Lt. Col Mohammad Al-Sharman, JORBATT
National Contingent Commander.
JORBATT
also maintains a medical and dental clinic in that area which responds to the
peoples’ health needs in addition to the hospital in that area. Six year old
Dias Serliano, was treated yesterday by Dr. Khaled Alokour for second degree
burns which affected her legs caused by a burning candle a week ago. The JORBATT
doctors have provided extensive emergency medical assistance to East Timorese
saving the lives of more patients recently in Oecussi.
Philippine
Peacekeepers on Rotation
Philippine
Contingent in East Timor rotates for the 7th time with
fresh troops of about 600-strong arriving last week from the Philippines
in two ships. Safely docking in Dili harbor, one Landing Ship Tank (LST) and one
Destroyer- type, the Filipino troops were in high spirit after spending a 10-day
period at sea, to replace their
colleagues whose 6-month tour in the peacekeeping mission is completed.
Col.
Allan Bontuyan, the new Philippine Contingent Commander said, “the troops are
very optimistic to continue accomplishing their peacekeeping mandate as
they were earlier trained to do.”
Meanwhile,
Lt. Col. Richard Lagrana, the outgoing Contingent Commander said,
“it’s been a great experience for all of us who had been here assisting in
every way we can the United Nations in East Timor. We have helped somehow in
building confidence on the people and that smile on their faces in
the areas where our presence was more than felt.”
The
Philippine troops on rotation is composed
of the Force Headquarters Support
Unit (FHSU) which takes care
of the requirements of the
peacekeeping force headquarters,
and the biggest number of
the troops compose the Philippine Battalion (PHILBATT) with headquarters
located at Laleia in Manatuto whose
units are further located in Laclubar, Soibada, Manihate and Natarbura.
A
hand-over was held yesterday at PHILBATT with Lt. Col. Noel Coballes assuming
the command from Lt. Col. Nestor Annonuevo,
outgoing commander who said, “Our
achievements in security have been
evident by the high turn-out of
registration of voters in our area and
the absence of public disturbance, as well.”
A
send-off ceremony was held at 2:30 p.m. at Dili wharf with PKF Force Commander
Lt. General Boonsrang Niumpradit (Thailand)
and other PKF Officers and Staff bidding farewell to the 6th and 7th
batches who are sailing back to the
Philippines, one of the few countries who committed her troops for
peacekeeping operations at the earliest of the
INTERFET in September last year.
Slovaks
Medical Team Arrives in East Timor
(20
Jul 01)
Colonel Peter Daxner Commander of
Slovakia Medical Team, together with 34 others from Slovakia are in East Timor
as part of the medical component of
the Peace Keeping Force (PKF) in East Timor.
Arriving in two separate groups two
weeks ago, the Slovak Medical Team is composed of doctors and other medical
specialists. They will replace the
New Zealand Field Surgeon Team who has been
taking care of the medical and other emergency health needs of the peacekeeping troops
and the people of Suai for more than a year.
Capt. Stefan Ivanecky, a Slovak surgeon
said, they will formally take over the medical functions from the Kiwis on
August 1, this year after a new
field medical facility will be in
placed 50 meters away from Sector
West Headquarters in Suai.
Slovakia
is a small country in Central Europe with a population of about 5 million
people. She became an independent
republic in 1989 from the former Czechoslovakia.
Peacekeepers Make Life Easier in East Timor
Peacekeeping
mission in East Timor has been gaining headway not only in terms of security but doing great as well in its reconstruction assistance to
the people in East Timor.
Among
the 24-troop contributing nations in the transitional mission to
East Timor’s independence is Bangladesh’s
Engineering Battalion 1 (BANENGR 1).
This
proud unit of about 500-strong professional officers and men
are highly skilled and motivated
to perform any multi-role engineering works like building bridges,
maintenance of roads and waterways, and other
construction of vertical and
horizontal structures as are necessary in assuring mobility and survivability in
the mission area.
Colonel
Faruque, an equally vibrant and well-meaning
commander of BANENGR 1
speaks humbly of the loud achievements of his unit.
He
said, “about 400 and more small
and big projects have been successfully accomplished by
my unit effectively and efficiently meeting
every work schedule.”
Col.
Faruque came down to East Timor with his
officers and men on 14 February last year and are going home this week after
more than a year of purely sweat
and hardwork. They are presently
being replaced by an equal number of personnel during
an on-going troop rotation.
“It’s
paying back to my country and to my army, by bringing good name and recognition
of our good works in the foreign soil, and upholding the image of the United
Nations and the Peacekeeping Force,” Col. Faruque said why his people are
highly motivated in doing almost unrelenting menial jobs.
This
engineering unit has been really making life easier in the mission area paving the roadways as
passable as it should for other humanitarian projects to reach their intended
beneficiaries even in the remotest
areas.
Four
“Bailey Bridges” spanning about 300 meters were constructed, one of which
was named in honor of Corporal
Aziz who died of bomb explosion in August last year while
conducting material identification in one assigned projects.
Visiting
their headquarters at Comoro area is one unforgettable experience just as any
one could expect to a well scaled and properly laid
engineering camp and a warmth hospitality and professional greeting of
people from Bangladesh’s Engineering Battalion. They get almost
an exclusive achievement of all projects that were accomplished in
Central and West Sectors of the country including
Oecussi enclave with sufficient
support from the United Nations Transitional Administration.
As
Col. Faruque and his men will go back home, they bring with them the idea that
they have done well.
Col.
Faruque is leaving a resounding message: “East Timorese people should consider
the PKF as well-wishers, (and) work
closely and provide cooperation and support to PKF to accomplish their mission. As members of the peacekeeping force, I feel very proud to
stand beside East Timor in achieving independence through this transitional
period.”
We
see in them a strong commitment in their eyes as they say, “We can’t look on
our comfort but to look for the comfort of others.”
That’s how peacekeeping is all about.
Just
Kidding!
Time
and again, this story is told to
all and sundry especially those who may have knowledge of
its whereabouts.
It's
a funny thing that this kind of thing is happening in the age of modern IT and
what have you.
This
is the story and soon to become a
novel and hoping not to reach
any epical proportion for
being repetitive or never-ending for being recidivist,
of the quest for the return
of the MISSING MESSING UTENSILS ( it may also become a box office hit like the
MIB or the MI-3, mind you MMU may
even sound too funny to pit after
all).
With
MMU's hopeless of animo
revertendi, the Manager
of Kobe Mess has still all the reasons to have its spec recuperandi.
As
the story unfolds,
the Manager of Kobe Mess told
during a Kobe Meeting on 19 October 2000 in the best culinary tradition of the
Kings and Queens that a great number of messing utensils had been missing from
the Kobe Mess. There were
speculations that some unscrupulous
rodents may have eaten them up.
In
spite of numerous warnings which were posted on the board, the
literacy rate was found to be low because of
the inability of those concerned to
read and understand it and this
predicament has become notoriously
pervasive which may create serious situations like BYOG (Bring Your Own Glass) or BYOF (Bring Your Own Fork),
and worst though is CYOF (Cook Your
Own Food). If this happens, then it
was assessed that this may bring great outdoor activities like picnics or a
lunch at the beach or anywhere like eating under a big tree.
You see, how fun it would be when everyone
is eating without fork, spoon, glass, tray, etc.
to use.
As
this story is told from all corners of the Kingdom, it was said that the GPA is
not willing to issue extra utensils for Kobe mess.
The
climax of this funny story is
its anti-climax too, that Management
may not avoid applying a. PKF personnel utilizing the Kobe
mess will have to provide his own utensils; b. Plastic utensils will be used
during meals.
What
do you think folks?
The
funny ant crawling under the desk
has this one humble but loud
suggestion- Launch a massive search
and seizure operation without even applying for the proper warrant and if
someone is caught in flagrante
delicto then
he may not ask for a privilege communication under the nose of
his right to remain silent for believing
that his expectation of privacy has been violated, because
afterall, he has not been using his coconut shell.
If
this will not even work then
we can only help by cracking
our own coconut shell. Entonces, the story of the
MMU is being declassified
for those who may be doing
in-depth research on the mystery of the
Kobe utensils. Just
kidding….
Chapter V
“Pure Imaginings”
I
have written analytical articles which appeared in the Timor Post, one of the
two national papers in ET:
Nothing can be said to militate against the advocacy of freedom of speech and of the press in a democratic
environment except by the inherent power of the state to ensure and promote the
greatest happiness of all the
people. The exception to that
preceding is the Jeffersonian tradition . It suffices to remind us the
indispensability and ascendancy of
the "fourth estate" and its
immense power in all aspects of living come hell or high water.
Permeating
into the common sense and the
gifted alike, every bit of information is significant not only for its timely
dissemination but so with the
maintenance of communication linkages to
its target audience. Public Information now
as a process is the
purveyor which does not only
limit itself as a governmental mouthpiece but
in equal intensity readily accepts the role of alternative media.
Integral in the business of public
information is integrity and
credibility. Be that reposed in the source or in its substance, these values are
primordial in the establishment of communication linkages with the target
audience.
For it to adopt itself in an objective environment, public information
goes through and must survive the market place of capitalist ideas by harnessing
its ability to perceive the best interest that can fill up the emptiness of the
unthinking majority who are
oftentimes susceptible to misinformation. Concomitantly,
it equips itself with invulnerability as it subtly presents itself
as the source of
governmental parody. This strategic
perspective has its end in view of
becoming the primary transceiver of public opinion.
In ET environment, the
target audience is very much fragile that
any public information effort must
initially focus on apolitical concerns for instance the
basic delivery needs of the target audience and substantial assurances
for reconstruction and normalcy.
The thematic color that may add intensity to the polarization of the most
visible cleavages in the given environment must
be reserved under the rug if
not finally disposed of in time.
Public information therefore must
drive itself into the core of the given environment
to spin cohesion among those
who survived the holocaust of violence
by shunning itself from the orgies of war.
In fine, public information
must become the
active link of understanding
through the adoption of appropriate images
of reconstruction and development with the end in view of attaining the most
desirable public opinion that is conducive to the particular period in the
presently obtaining ET environment. It must not allow itself to be haunted by
the ghost of deconstruction but rather attune itself to the intervention of
reconstruction. This attitude becomes even more compelling
by its comixture with the traditional
lines of humanistic compassion and
understanding i.e., the Church.
The "tabula rasa" of public opinion openly fills itself with
parody and wishful thinking than serious
concerns especially in the post-troubled times.
The Socio-Cultural Dimension of
an Emerging Nation-State
The
political landscape of some nations
of the world has been clearly drawn towards almost similar
patterns of aspirations. It becomes
incipient basically with a normative conviction and becomes intensified with the "ought to be"
assumptions if and when
pre-conditions or prevailing ones
are not satisfied and unfavorable. Scantily
borrowing the analytical paradigm of Karl Marx of class struggle, although not
necessarily founded on economic conditions,
hostilities ripening into a full-blown struggle
have been known to lead through a reasonable certainty of synthesized
deconstruction i.e., reconstruction.
Conflicts
leading to a greater struggle provide
the means and cause of a revolutionary movement.
In our modern times, we have for instance the Middle East imbroglio, the
Kosovo pit,
the Mindanao fiasco and similar situations. The nations' struggles are
identifiably inured by
socio-cultural idiosyncrasies and derivatives other than the material economic
dimension of any Marxist analysis.
Although
East Timor situation does not fit in the seam of any tailored analysis,
it provides as though with abundant similarities
save with few
peculiarities of nations under
colonial rule. The colonial legacy
of various
imperial colonizers provides
a contrasting perspective which
either reinforces further the pre-conditions of struggle
or deflects any further
aspirations which may disturb any
obtaining hypnotic development.
Many years under Portuguese cloak as
against the sweeping boldness of
Indonesian dagger, the people of East Timor
had made an irreversible decision when they
affirmed for independence during last year's United Nations
ushered-in election. This point in
East Timor's history provides us now the compelling reasons for an area analysis
in terms of strategic benefits for various
clients or merely inherent necessity
for primary agents in the ongoing reconstruction efforts of this emerging
nation-state.
It
is in the combination of various analytical approaches like historical,
empirical, normative or prescriptive frameworks that
shall guide this paper in producing a paradigm which would represent
at least a workable
socio-cultural praxis of East
Timor.
Socio-cultural
praxis is an ontological usage which
is encompassing and diffuses into the basic points of life in a given
environment. It
is understood to mean the same when
it is mentioned as socio-cultural dimension.
What is then the breadth and width of
understanding socio-cultural
praxis? It is understood as
the general societal make-up that even transcends
any purposive existence of the given society. It includes inter alia
status, religion, race (ethnic), morality,
way of life, law and order, education, language, symbols,
thought or ideals, and similar societal customs and traditions or what
forms part of the unwritten law.
It
cannot be denied that an
overwhelming majority of East Timorese voted for independence last year before
the infamous chain of rampaging militia atrocities
leading to international military intervention that now continues as UN
Peacekeeping Force. This is a
material fact and an unimpeachable political reality.
What
remains unclear though is the substantial fact by which
the East Timorese can
reasonably hold or participate in the strategic
perspective in terms of leadership
and governance, law and order, security, economy and
all necessary aliquot of the emerging
nation-state. The microcosm of
Timorese struggle so far
is indisputably real. But the other
question now posits on the
thread that runs the mill of a
budding independent nation which is its socio-cultural dimension.
There
are verifiable factors that must be looked
into besides political or economic factors before we can stop being suspicious
on the compatibility and the ability of this
nation to take-off from her present state.
This we concern ourselves with literacy
level, religion, discipline, idiosyncrasy,
customs and traditions, colonial way of life, and other relevant
parameters. In a nutshell, the political sociology of the given environment that
has prevailed with more
particularity during the Portuguese colonial years.
Although the same people were under
the Indonesian rule, they had
expressed their strongest rejection by
voting independence from Indonesia which up to now
is being challenged by a small but not insignificant number of militia
that can still derail any gain of independence.
Even
the United Nations-led development scheme for this nation-state is now being
frown upon with suspicion by the charismatic leader and the now the symbol of
its struggle Xanana Gusmao when he reportedly
criticized a sort of
misguided picture of development that in the first place did not involve them in
the drawing table. He was
reportedly not happy at all with the display of "freewheeling"
culture which is obtaining in East
Timor.
In
the instant case, East Timor reels not only from the deconstruction but also with noticeable
impact of its colonial past putting
herself in similar situation from the rest of
nations with bitter
colonial past who were pampered with false hopes or ill-fit and regressive
development. This
can be a great concern of education but what system should it be.
What is appropriate as an
educational system in East Timor must be consistent with what development needs or national identity she wants to achieve.
"...with
an educated elite above them. In
the period between World War 2 and the 1975 Indonesian invasion, a number of
East Timorese managed to gain an education in the colony's few schools. Some
were mestizos, of Timorese and Portuguese parentage, others were Timorese from
traditional ruling families, but the majority were native Timorese who gained
their education through the Catholic minor seminary. The emergence of this small
educated elite in the 1960s and 1970s ensured that, when the Portuguese left
East Timor in 1975, these people with schooling, and nationalist aspirations,
became the territory's leaders." (Timor Today on line, http://easttimor.com/).
The
quest for national identity entails
a great deal of awareness of symbols
like national hope and aspiration by the people who are
inescapably identified by the same. Literacy
must at least be democratized to bring
up higher level of awareness.
"…mostly
farmers, living in isolated areas, under traditional kings...
For centuries the East Timorese had been farmers, living in scattered hamlets
and eating what they grew. Only a few coastal East Timorese were fishermen.
Trading and shop keeping had for generations been in the hands of the Chinese.
East Timor is extremely mountainous, so the majority of East Timorese had always
lived in isolation, far from towns and foreign influences, tied to their fields
and animistic practices. In spite of centuries of Catholic missionary work by
the Portuguese, in 1975 animists still numbered as much as 72 % of the
population. The local Timorese kings still played an important part in their
lives and allegiances, whilst interference from Portuguese administrators and
military was almost non-existent." (Ibid).
Language
is another factor that needs
wide attention. The same aliunde
captures almost the same observation: "...of diverse ethnic groups
and languages... There are 12 ethnic groups in East Timor each of
which has its own language: 9 Austronesian language groups - Tetum, Mambai,
Tokodede, Kemak, Galoli, Idate, Waima'a, Naueti; and 3 Papuan language groups -
Bunak, Makasae, Fatuluku. The Tetum live in two separate geographic areas within
East Timor. A simplified version of the Tetum language was utilised in Dili by
the Portuguese as a lingua franca. This language has spread throughout East
Timor so that Tetum, in its original or simplified form, came to be spoken by
about 60% of the population. Though widespread, it is not understood by
all."
The
vestiges of colonial rule provide a self-defeating contrast.
The dependency nature of colonial relationship
as in the present case softens the euphoria of independence.
It is a hardly reconcilable fact that
" The Portuguese colonialists provided the colony with
limited development. Portugal was itself a poor country, therefore could only
devote few funds to East Timor", as against Indonesian rule of
sweep infrastructure
development. This negates any
Marxist analysis of historical
materialism but rather safely points to the Western paradigm of freedom and all
its dire consequences.
The
socio-cultural praxis of East Timor is
one area of concern that must
become a basis for any preconceived system. But as it
is held as a gospel truth that a foot cannot be had to fit the shoes.
Mainstream modern perspectives almost agree that
any system would run berserk
if and when it disregards the socio-cultural dimension of the native environment
for the main plausible and simple reason of incompatibility.
The
Rising Expectation Syndrome: a conflict situation
Some
may say it a heaven sent, others may view it differently. One thing for sure,
the United Nations in East Timor:
United Nations Transitional Authority (UNTAET) or
East Timor Transitional Administration (ETTA) has been doing and will do
its role of putting into order this
once troubled nation. But how long does it take, I think that something matters.
Getting
all acts together after UN is another thing.
One way may lead to another is a rational conclusion.
The people of East Timor through the perseverance of the Falintil
and the momentum of world opinion have somehow pushed this nation to a
point that almost starts from the beginning. However, the point of no return
that apparently is ab initio can never be absolute. Because of the so-called Rising Expectation Syndrome (RES) is
very conducive and afflictive in the present environment.
With the rate of things are going, there are few indications which may
just be insignificant to have an overall impact on the present effort but likely
would create a dent on any UN
magnum opus in the long term.
Nicolo
Machiavelli once urged in his
immemorial adage "the end justifies the means" which exactly is the
height of survival. This is a politico-sociological
philosophy that binds extreme radicals
to violate their sanity when it dictates for a revolution.
A priori convictions and mesmerized by a posteriori
awareness provide the impetus for change. This
abstraction of change is in reality directly attacks
any form of civility but only countenances it when
such change has started to reap the benefits.
It
may be sooner or later after the election next year in East Timor
when RES will become
pervasive. This kind of affliction
has its incubation period in the first place.
We may not even be sure when this becomes strongly resistant because
everyone is eager yet to put this nation into order although sometimes affording
redundancy with only few things accomplished. There is vast reconstruction
concerns in the immediate to almost
drowning the pristine consciousness of the people.
This can be safely said with people who are still living witnesses of
various phases of nation's history specifically starting from the Portuguese
colonization, the Indonesian Leviathan up to UN intervention.
It is also good to consider the younger generation who has only seen
one side of the picture leading to the encapsulation.
Generally,
RES comes about when there is transition
especially when such change was intensely fought for by the people.
It all points to reason that
change is a suspensive condition that yields out a positive result.
Simply, it is by clear and convincing term, for the better.
In
its historical context, the syndrome is
concomitant with change. The
Bolshevik Revolution in the last century was a revulsion of people against the
threat of Industrial Revolution with the end in view of sharing with the wealth
of production, thus adopting Karl Marx's phenomenal concept of communism.
We saw for a fact the accomplishments of capitalism had brought down the
barriers of communism in our generation mainly because worsening living
conditions in the communist landscape had forced majority of
believers to trade off such consciousness because of the relevance of
economic affluence and the promises of freedom.
Among
developing countries, every change creates its own hero and its own villain.
The exasperation of people wanting of
a better life builds up almost naturally with the appearance of a leader
whom they can identify their wishes and aspirations with and
thus creates a reciprocal obligation to be performed by the leader as the
expectation syndrome is leaned on him. Adolf
Hitler adroitly manipulated such a consciousness in his time although he
foundered into unimaginable defeat. Conflicts in Sierra Leone have intensified
with a revolutionary cause. Miloshevik's
erstwhile Yugoslavia dumped him due to the rising expectation syndrome that
worked against his hegemony which was translated
by his failure to govern and gain his people's confidence.
It
may be groups formed which provide
the necessary physical force to carry on the struggle.
In the Philippines, there was the Hukbalahap an acronym that stood for a
cause against the Japanese invasion, and subsequently transformed itself as
another insurgent group even after their primary mission has become moot and
academic.
This
conflict scenario is propagated by
RES that feeds itself with not only
economic or political but also socio-cultural conditions.
East Timor was punctuated largely by a political urgency when it severed
itself from Indonesian dominion. Falintil,
its physical force gets the credit for having persisted towards the nation's
victory for independence. Xanana
Gusmao is the living symbol of that struggle and soon to be catapulted as the
nation's first president in an up-coming election next year
can never be doubted. And yet the RES of the people is slowly taking
notice.
The
blue print of the United Nations in East Timor provides for the transition for
self-governance. With the
necessary societal
infrastructures being revved-up, some indications show that some people are
becoming restless and even more impatient with results basically on labor and
employment and even morality. Of
course the primary stakeholders in
forthcoming are the people themselves who had bolted against
Indonesian dagger.
In
an article entitled "East Timor: Whose Future Is It Anyway?" by John
McBeth reporting for Far Eastern Economic Review(Issue cover-dated November 9,
2000), he writes:
"IT'S
BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR
since the United Nations descended on the ruins of East Timor in a brave
pioneering effort to rebuild a country from ground zero. By general agreement,
the UN has achieved a lot, restoring the former Portuguese colony to life in the
face of continuing violence and against a backdrop of years of neglect.
But
among East Timorese, there has been frustration over the failure of the UN
Transitional Authority in East Timor, or Untaet, to involve more local people in
drawing up a comprehensive blueprint of what they want their new nation to be.
"We
are not interested in inheriting an economic rationale that leaves out the
social and political complexity of East Timorese reality," said
independence leader Xanana Gusmao--East Timor's probable future president--in a
rare broadside in early October. "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."
Precisely,
that is what is being thought of as a very sensitive area which may bring about the conflict situation through finger-pointing for any
brouhaha after UN had long left the operation table.
Another
is the pristine culture that some people would like to preserve as against the
"freewheeling" culture and its vices.
"DILI, East Timor (AP)--Angry youths pelted U.N. riot police with
stones Friday after a mob of 3,000 people chased four alleged prostitutes
through the capital's market and
streets." This was a headline that came about a day before a UN Security
Council Team was scheduled to arrive
in East Timor. (November 10, 2000).
It
would likely be that a generation gap is another factor that is fostered by
educated people who are in a better position to view the real world
comparatively. The expectation
would be very high from people who are already awakened by the lure of
development.
On
the one hand, let's not forget the vehicle of physical force that won the
people's freedom. It is initially a
predictable force at the start of
the integration. The integration
may come so easily because basically they will form part as the nation's armed
force and defense force. But what
is difficult though is the post-struggle consciousness of
the people who really took part in the
armed struggle because as of yet, they are still wearing the armor of
invincibility for being heroic and by all necessity may act as the catalyst when
the civilian government (to be created) founders at the take-off.
This is true not only to young nations but equally convincing
with developing nations afflicted with the same intensity of RES. By that time, the military becomes a part of the power
struggle if and only when governance
falls short than expected.
Such
an inverse equation between RES over the actual delivery of
government translates into the amount of willingness of people to be
governed. This situation breeds
power struggle so much so that a
group not necessarily growing from the residue of the past struggle may blow the
wind of insurgency and gradually repeating the same cycle of struggle which may
now be tainted not only by the conviction
of being independent but indispensably founded on ideological imperatives. Power
begets power. The might wields that power and unleashes it when it is soon
needed.
This
serves as a warning though. The
Rising Expectation Syndrome can not be faulted but must serve as a constructive
indicator for governance to do its best for its people abstractly
the common good.
The “Pinoy X-Factor” in East Timor
Jogging
or just walking along the streets or seaside of Dili ( capital of East Timor)
especially after sundown, just when the moon is the only dependable source of
light because there is not enough street lights yet,
it seems incredibly funny for Timorese
kids and oldies alike are surprisingly keen on easily identifying whose that
incognito approaching or
being swallowed in the dark and yet they would call out and shout “Filipino…Mabuhay!”
(Filipino…Long Live! Or sort of)
Oh heavens! Anywhere, in the market, at work and almost in just anywhere, Filipinos in East Timor can’t hide from anyone especially from the locals without being known as Filipinos even beyond a recognizable distance. It fascinates my imagination therefore to investigate further their keen sense on Filipinos in my first few days after arriving for a mission in East Timor.
What exactly and instantly makes them recognize Filipinos even in the dark, is my “mission impossible.”
This
kind of impression is shared by all
Filipinos serving as peacekeepers in this part of the world.
Although there are other Filipinos serving as
civilian volunteers among the various United Nations agencies in East
Timor, the same can be said to just
everyone of them.
I’m
a UN peacekeeper myself. Like
anyone else, I have all the good reasons for serving the United
Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor-Peacekeeping Force (UNTAET-PKF).
Aside from having a chance to be working side by side with various
nationalities (there are 24 nations working under the United Nations
mission excluding some other nations doing independent missions like the United
States), thus sharing or gaining some techniques in doing things but
greater as well is the reasonable
remuneration for risk and danger
of sickness
or death. Well,
nothing is more real than money taking precedence over all other intentions
especially for us who have it less. It
gives us the better choice, naturally.
Whichever
way you put it, there is some
strange wind that brought everyone in
East Timor.
There
are three vital components of Philippines’ participation in the
East Timor campaign. The major bulk is the Philippine Battalion (Philbatt),
followed by the Force Support Unit
(FSU) and Peacekeeping Force staff
positions at the Headquarters (PKF Staff Hqs).
Philbatt’s
main mission of about 500 strong is
to secure and protect the transitional administration’s
main objective of
reconstruction as well as other motives of the various United Nations agencies, mainly in Manatuto at the eastern part of the island. The FSU
of about 70 personnel provides security at PKF Headquarters but more
importantly providing catering
needs to 400 strong PKF personnel
in Dili. PKF staff is composed of 8 Officers working in various sensitive
areas at the headquarters in terms of planning,
operations and public information.
My group is aptly called the “Magic 7” since we came here altogether with
that number. Magic 7 could also
mean invincible power (just something to keep us in high spirits).
Everyone
here at the peacekeeping mission has
their own interesting stories to
tell. But unlike anyone else, the Filipino
peacekeepers are doing a great job and have all the reasons to stand up and be
proud of prominently among the
different nationalities. What
makes this so is
the closeness of the Filipinos not only with the local populace but
also with the international participants as well.
The
accomplishment of the peacekeeping operations is a given constant to speak of.
With its civil military operations aspect as a way in getting closer to
the populace in terms of the number of beneficiaries of all sorts of civic
action programs like medical and
dental missions cannot not be overemphasized.
But of course, it is just part of what I call the x-factor thing.
If
the shortest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach then that is one
thing. If music brings up the soul in high
spirits and conquers it then that
is another thing.
All
the nations’ forces at the headquarters will hardly forget that once in their
peacekeeping mission they have been served by Filipino cooks (or chef may sound more refined) at the Kobe Camp.(The Kobe Camp has a Kobe
kitchen that caters to all peacekeepers in Dili which is proudly Filipino).
It is amazing that soldiers from the Philippines who got into the mission for
whatever reasons that brought them here, are cooking for the international community.
You just can imagine how a multi-national force of
400 strong would
eat in
one roof with a universal recipe that must fit for everyone, and without
a hint of complaining.
They
cook very well and with a little salt and delectable too!
But what is fascinating is that
these Filipino cooks were able to learn so much in
the recipe book that is
equally comparable with a 5-star hotel standard in terms of variety and
presentation. Beef steak is not
uncommon. Chicken cooks in a
variety of recipe like a la russe, afritada, tandori, curry, etc.
Vegetables get one interesting look with cauliflower hollandaise, glazed
potato, coleslaw, buttered broccoli. Eggs
too in different presentations like scrambled, pouch, spicy, sunny side up and
automatic (this sounds like a new recipe that refers to a boiled egg). And you
know curry and lots of curry. They
make good pizza pie too!
What
brings these Filipinos inside the kitchen is
one interesting note. When the
first batch of multi-national force called the Interfet came down to Dili, the
food was taken cared of by
other nations. But not so long
after, it was drowned by a heap of complaints. Thus, the
whole peacekeeping force who by then under the overall Command of
Lt. Gen. Jaime Delos Santos, the Force Commander (now the Deputy Chief of
Staff, AFP) took the cudgel in providing
the services of the Filipino soldiers and later on were left all by
themselves doing the agony and
lengthy ritual of food preparation,
and until a decisive taker would eventually take the risk.
But more than 6- long months
had passed with no taker yet.
It was said though that no
private business would take the risk because of its low profitability.
In fact, the cooks who are only supposed to be on 6-month tour have often
been extended due to that. At
least, no one could complain but everyone seems to be even thankful of this type
of peacekeeping role. From an
original of something like $16 per head/day, when it was time for the Filipinos, it was
reduced to around $4.50 per capita and yet it is workable and sufficient with
everybody their best meal.
This looks like saving the United Nations with almost ¾ of the original
allocation.
Another
thing worthy of note is the impact
of a “ragtag band” of Filipino
soldiers not at the battlefront but at the
beachhead.
Everyone
else in East Timor mission cannot deny or fail to notice the live music they had fun
with dancing and singing either at the beach
or during day and night
parties of their respective contingents with the Filipino
“makeshift” combo.
The Filipino combo at the peacekeeping
has gained so much popularity and mind you, it
even conquered an international audience (for lack of choice?).
“It
started with the 2nd Batch and carried through the 4th
Batch ( batch is a rotation or overlapping of 6 months duty since September
1999),” said Airman 1st Class Johnny Nacar of Basa Air Base,
Pampanga who is doing the lead guitar. “We had to organize among ourselves
just as when we arrived in the mission since that was not our primary
duty. We
ask among ourselves who can play any music instrument or sing. It’s
good we were able to fill in for the complete set.”
Sgt
Christian, another air force guy does the lead singing and was able to master
the “Tetum Song” which is apparently becoming the “national hymn” of the
locals. He said, “everytime he
sings the tune, all the locals gather around in jubilation because they can
relate not only with the music but with its essence.
This is in one way which
made us closer to the people. And they love the Filipinos.”
Other
members of the so-called “Beach
Boys in East Timor” are Sgts
Fontanilla for drums and Graneta for base guitar.
The
group has barely missed any moment without being invited by the
international community to perform either during official celebrations
or just simply during national rejoicing of
the respective participating nations.
They are selling like hot cakes to speak of despite the
“low-tech” Karaoke type speakers as their main equipment but still
they come out with a boom and all the while, everybody goes crazy with their
primetime beat.
Well,
everyone goes to the beach during weekends. The Europeans, Latin Americans ,
Australians and other nationalities
decorate the waterline from sun up to sun down. The Filipinos we are
don’t miss joining the party too!
But we have better reasons in going there because the Filipinos can just
instantly transform the beach into one big holiday treat to all with the
“Beach Boys” on the scene.
It’s like what you’re seeing on TV where
there is this one makeshift stage in
the open beach with a live band while
others gather around or just simply enjoying the music in the water.
It’s one big joint where all colors congregate and
not a point of any disagreement.
Now,
I no longer wonder why Filipinos
are well-liked and are easily
recognized by anyone in the street especially the small kids. It’s just
incredible! The presence of Filipinos in this
global humanitarian concern is
omnipresent. Despite
the contradictions obtaining back home,
your Filipino peacekeepers
deployed in East Timor are doing one great of a job relieving the pain ,
stereotype or impression cast
daily on international media through
an alternative
sampling of people the world
calls as Filipinos in East Timor.
With
the upcoming rotation of troops next
week by fresh troops from the Philippines (via a Navy ship
to depart before the end of
the month and to arrive about 9
days after in Dili), with the
Filipino troops who are completing their mission here
are surely bringing home with them beautiful memories in this mission
particularly the feeling that the Filipinos permeated the landscape and
culture not only with the local community but
providing as well a balancing act to rectify
the misimpressions of the
international community.
And we will continue achieving as ambassadors of goodwill in this part of
the world.
The
author is a professor in Political and Social Sciences at the University of the
Philippines (Clark Field) and is serving as Public Information Officer of
the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in East Timor Headquarters and the
web master of UN Peacekeeper on
line www.geocities.com/snake1ph/peacekeeper.html.
Peacekeeping
at its best in East Timor: in retrospect
Introduction
What
I know little of East Timor brings me back to my college years at
the University of the Philippines. It
was in the early 80's that the idea started to badger my curiosity when it
gained few articles in the Philippine Collegian trying to find any relationship
between what was gaining as human rights debacle in the
Philippines and the reports of in-country
atrocities and sufferings of
the people of East Timor. I've been
hearing the name "Ramos-Horta" during those pristine years at the
University where there was too much of idealism and radicalism.
But little that I knew that East Timor would endure anything under the
Indonesian rule just to break free from the
cloak of the "red and white" even it were to take them
almost 25 years though the toll was heavy.
It
wasn't long enough when I found myself involved
in the peacekeeping mission in East Timor.
Almost jumping to be successfully recommended and eventually selected by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, my chosen profession
five years after I graduated from the University,
I had mixed feelings of
what was lying ahead especially in the
same place that had given me sharply
associated contradictions and memories
. It easily subsided by the mere thought of
receiving an ample allowance which others would then consider as a
windfall. I didn’t passed on any scruple of leaving my
part-time teaching at the University of the Philippines in Clark. And
even much that I care of my family of three
beautiful kids and one loving wife. It
has not been this way since we had each other that
daddy would be among the
9,000 strong multi-national force of 24
nations in East Timor.
It
takes awhile for me just as anybody else in this mission to adopt.
I came in with six other Filipino officers
also known as the "magic seven" to work at the peacekeeping
headquarters. The
name itself has gained an audible ring but would be a playful wish to associate it to anything of sci-fi
strategic force. They, too had one way or another specific reasons in joining
this mission. What is clear though
is we are all here for a mission and
not just an ordinary mission because peacekeeping operations isn't
like going to the beach or any kind of party. At least for us…for
everyone.
Point of Departure
It
brings us therefore to view
in retrospect the whole peacekeeping operations in terms of its
operational sustainability and its impact in the immediate
environment from
Interfet's transition in early February this year up to
year-end.
There
had been many changes happening
throughout the year. The sharp
decline to nearly nil of militia activity towards the end of the year is a
significant development that should interest an in-ward confession. The
peacekeeping operations may just be near to its completion.
This kind of perception does not have an uncommon support. In one way, it
might be shortsighted. But has it
really achieved its mandate is a point of departure towards a deeper analysis of
things obtaining in the immediate environment. The need therefore of an
objective understanding without any intention to intimidate the sensibilities of national peculiarities or interests is in order.
The reader has all the right to disagree with the findings but must be
reserved within the scope of
academic discipline.
There
are other peacekeeping missions the United Nations is presently preoccupied
with. But this is just one of the
missions the Philippines is involved at present.
After
almost 25 years of Indonesian Rule, the East
Timorese opted to untangle the bondage that was keeping them
from deciding things on
their own. Of course, the sweeping independence vote was
almost engulfed by an
equally ferocious pro-integration gang.
This divisive consciousness had left this country in ruins that prompted a multi-national force under the leadership of
Australia, an adjacent neighbor through INTERFET (International Forces in
East Timor) and later metamorphosed into a UN led peacekeeping mission now
called Peacekeeping Force-United Nations Transitional Administration in East
Timor (PKF-UNTAET).
The
year-end is approaching and
it has been more than a year of peacekeeping operations since the
multi-national forces " descended on the ruins of East Timor in a brave
pioneering effort to rebuild a country from ground zero. By general agreement,
the UN has achieved a lot, restoring the former Portuguese colony to life in the
face of continuing violence and against a backdrop of years of
neglect".(FEER: Nov 2000).
Particularly,
the peacekeeping force of the United Nations
has its rightful claim in taking possession of some medals
of achievement. As the year
ends, it is a worthy concern
that might be of interest to policy and decision making of any peacekeeping
assessments that could serve not only as a guidepost but
also as a living proof
of the multi-national action
in this part of the world.
The border and its limits
It
is highly in order then to consider the yearlong ebb and flow of peacekeeping
operations from the point of view of a real player in the so-called AO's (areas
of operations). Caveat though, this
relationship must not be viewed as highly distasteful of the trust and
confidence but presumptively the most objective analysis should be expected in
defense of intellectual
theorizing or reasonably
intelligent authentication.
There
is much to be written about East
Timor in the first place. Like any
other nations who came under a
colonial past, the historical development that led to the decision point is
significant to serve as the preliminary
platform of discovery.
The
transition from the Australian led Interfet (International Force in East Timor)
who came down to Dili (capital of East Timor) just after the
post-referendum troubles in September last year, to the United Nations
led Peacekeeping Force in East Timor (PKF) in February this year, from its
inception towards the end of 2000 makes peacekeeping operations
undoubtedly attesting a year
full of significance and inevitable
challenges.
The
leadership of this 24-nation multinational PKF took a transition just at the
start of the 3rd Quarter. It
must be honestly admitted that Lt.
Gen. Boonsrang Niumpradit of Thailand had inherited from his predecessor
Lieutenant General Jaime de Los Santos of the Philippines (now Deputy Chief of
Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines) a knit
and orderly organization and a seemingly tranquil security environment.
More so, with all candidness
that during the rest
part of the year prior to leading the PKF, there was absolutely no
visible violent clashes between the peacekeeping forces and the militia elements
in the areas of operations even at the most volatile areas near the border with
West Timor (NTT), but only perceived tension or hostilities and
a more or less predictable security threat
of few confirmed reports of militia sightings inside East Timor (ET).
But
just as we learn from the force of
nature that a lull is a foreboding
of an incoming storm, it didn’t
surprise us at all when militia elements had to test their first mission which
claimed the death of Pvt. Manning
a New Zealand peacekeeper while conducting a clearing patrol
few clicks west of Suai and near the border
in July 24. This incident
initiated a serious consideration of our established
game plan in peacekeeping operations. Our
Rules of Engagement (ROE) had to be revisited and retailored
to fit the new challenge of any present and clear danger,
short of becoming offensive
but always maintaining a flexible reconciliatory stance against any
militia blackmail. Others believe that such could not have been avoided
whatsoever. But I strongly
regretted that incident had to happen. Thus,
our recommendation to UN New York to give more teeth to our ROE was very
well considered and its immediate
application yielded uncompromising and positive results expressive of our
strong resolve to fulfill our mandate.
The
mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force takes
its form from the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1272 (UNSCR) which
was devised in October 1999 to respond to the post-referendum disorder in East
Timor. Our mission is to help
maintain a secure environment in ET in accordance with UNSCR 1272, to assist ETTA (East
Timor Transitional Authority) as required in the conduct of safe and democratic
elections, and to assist ETTA within its capabilities, in the development of
sustainable ET organizations and infrastructure.
With changes taking place towards the end of the year
as a necessary consequences of the September
cruel killing of three UN
High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) volunteers by militia instigated violence in
Atambua, the United Nations Security Council called to end the militia
rampage by giving PKF a more robust
role in the maintenance of security and importantly calling on the government of
Indonesia (GOID) to take necessary steps to disarm the militias and bring to
justice those responsible in the same incident. This was contained in the instructions of
UNSCR 1319.
The maintenance of security within ET continues
therefore to be the highest priority and the most important task for the PKF.
However, its incidental assistance to
development and humanitarian undertakings is
a concomitant challenge in the present
whole government strategy in the present
environment.
Underlining
the need of a robust security role towards the end of the year
is one primary task the PKF has to achieve.
Statistics show that at the
2nd half of the year a
number of violent clashes had occurred. The
implementation of various operation orders in the areas of operations (AO’s)
had proved successful in decapitating the militias line of defense
inside ET and thus flashing them towards
NTT. The New Zealand peacekeepers at Suai maintained its momentum
that yielded four militia dead. The
Portuguese peacekeepers in charge
of Sector Central close to the
capital killed one militia and
caused the surrender of seven others in separate operations during Operation
Cobra. The Australians responded by
fatally hitting one militia dead in
a recent clash Saturday December 2.
The
lives, however, of two peacekeepers were wasted during operations in the second
and third Quarters while an Australian peacekeeper
was lucky enough to escape death when he was ambushed by suspected
militia remnants in Balibo where he was shot in the left leg
first day of December. Meanwhile,
a total of 11 accident related deaths have
afflicted the whole
peacekeeping effort which were mostly vehicular accidents due to the treacherous
route that spans the roadnet in ET.
The whole peacekeeping effort has a total number of committed troops
numbering about 7,700.
By
all indications, the level of security threat
caused by either infiltrating or ex-filtrating militia elements
has gone down to a
manageable level of lesser
security concern but would require a sustained security presence in areas
where civilian authority has not been yet established. The militias sometimes
referred to as the pro-integrationist gangs have dwindled in number from a more
or less 150 hardcore to the present extravagant assumption of about 50 or so.
The
decrease of militia activity is worthy of note at the close of the year and is
widely recognized as an encouraging
fact. This is definitely the result of our whole government approach with the
center of gravity that of the local populace of East Timor per se. In doing so, the
possible breeding areas of militias in the
AO’s either identified as support
bases or transit grounds have been neutralized by winning the hearts
and minds of the populace through bringing primary government services and
reinforced by PKF security
thus insulating them from
the reach of the militias protected by a formidable military strategic advantage.
Thus,
the PKF over the last six months has made possible significant leaps that
provided a secure environment for UNTAET to further map out its reconstruction efforts
especially to remote areas in ET. If
this situation is to be maintained, then we must continue to deny the militia
the opportunity to achieve their objectives and to be able to assist the
Civilian Police (Civpol) when required in the maintenance of law and order.
General Boonsrang has ordered all commanders to ensure that we continue to
enhance our force protection measures, maximize our information gathering
processes and other areas that
would gain us strategic advantage.
As
we enter the political phase of our mission, the importance of understanding the
ET populace and retaining their confidence is becoming more important.
The
fundamentals of a stable environment have
been established by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
(UNTAET). The emergency relief phase has been replaced by efforts to
rehabilitate and rebuilt East Timor and for the repatriation and reconciliation
of refugees who are still in NTT. Sooner or later the electoral process will
begin which will lead to democratic election and finally independence of the new
ET. (CMA)
While
remnants of militia groups continue to be a latent threat, there is also the
ethnic diversity, complex social differences, the fragile economy and different
political affiliations among the local population.
This can be exploited to ferment unrest to destabilize the country.
These differences are likely to be exacerbated through political
posturing for the election in year 2001.
The
local population of ET is the center of gravity of PKF operations
notwithstanding the differences. The
PKF mission is to maintain a secure environment and it can only be achieve with
the support and cooperation of the East Timor population.
Support from the local populace
provides better and timely information that enhances PKF operations.
Towards
this end, one of the vital
components of our peacekeeping efforts is therefore through the
Civil Military Affairs that provides an effective coordination of
various humanitarian activities by the Non-Government Organizations
(NGO’s), other Humanitarian Support Agencies, local support groups, ETTA
and the Humanitarian Office of the SRSG office (Special Representative of
the Secretary General), to ensure a whole government
approach.
Whole
Government Approach
Meanwhile,
a total of 410 demobilised East Timorese soldiers (Milsas) and their families
returned home in late November in the first large repatriation of refugees by
the UN since three of its staff were murdered by militia members on September 6
in Atambua, NTT.
These
are positive indications towards
attaining a fully stable living
environment in ET.