Comments on: “When I say I aspire for Timor-Leste to be like Singapore or Dubai…” http://sluggerotoole.com/2010/03/09/when-i-say-i-aspire-for-timor-leste-to-be-like-singapore-or-dubai/ Conversation, politics and stray insights Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:10:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Marcionite http://sluggerotoole.com/2010/03/09/when-i-say-i-aspire-for-timor-leste-to-be-like-singapore-or-dubai/comment-page-1/#comment-390739 Marcionite Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:28:48 +0000 #comment-390739 Tracy Chapman and Sting should hold a benefit gig. Those always crack intractable problems in the world. Tracy Chapman and Sting should hold a benefit gig. Those always crack intractable problems in the world.

]]> By: Framer http://sluggerotoole.com/2010/03/09/when-i-say-i-aspire-for-timor-leste-to-be-like-singapore-or-dubai/comment-page-1/#comment-390490 Framer Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:09:58 +0000 #comment-390490 Who is this nobody dissing Baroness O'Loan and Monica McWilliams, the Irish government's peace and reconciliation envoys to Timor Leste (East Timor to you)? Who is this nobody dissing Baroness O’Loan and Monica McWilliams, the Irish government’s peace and reconciliation envoys to Timor Leste (East Timor to you)?

]]> By: pippakin http://sluggerotoole.com/2010/03/09/when-i-say-i-aspire-for-timor-leste-to-be-like-singapore-or-dubai/comment-page-1/#comment-390455 pippakin Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:16:10 +0000 #comment-390455 At last a politician who makes sense. Peace and Reconciliation are fine ideals but all the quangos in the world will not bring them about. It will take time, jobs, mutual prosperity and quite possibly the next generation growing up in peace, before the differing sides begin to develop a sense of trust. At last a politician who makes sense.

Peace and Reconciliation are fine ideals but all the quangos in the world will not bring them about.

It will take time, jobs, mutual prosperity and quite possibly the next generation growing up in peace, before the differing sides begin to develop a sense of trust.

]]> By: Marcionite http://sluggerotoole.com/2010/03/09/when-i-say-i-aspire-for-timor-leste-to-be-like-singapore-or-dubai/comment-page-1/#comment-390439 Marcionite Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:13:48 +0000 #comment-390439 as a matter of curiousity, when a territory becomes independant/sovereign, where does its monetary reserves come from, currency etc? I mean, say if I declared Tyrone to be independnant and assume it be recognised, who gives me the dosh to fund the Bank of Tyrone? How would my new currency be traded and why? Independance seems rather mysterious and never fully explained in details. As for Dr Horta, I couldn't agree more with him. as a matter of curiousity, when a territory becomes independant/sovereign, where does its monetary reserves come from, currency etc?

I mean, say if I declared Tyrone to be independnant and assume it be recognised, who gives me the dosh to fund the Bank of Tyrone? How would my new currency be traded and why?

Independance seems rather mysterious and never fully explained in details.

As for Dr Horta, I couldn’t agree more with him.

]]> By: Jimmy McGurk http://sluggerotoole.com/2010/03/09/when-i-say-i-aspire-for-timor-leste-to-be-like-singapore-or-dubai/comment-page-1/#comment-390432 Jimmy McGurk Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:47:53 +0000 #comment-390432 Horta is spot on regarding the money wasted by international organisations and the need for face to face peace making at a local level, a job which the CAVR (Truth and Reconciliation) did admirably if somewhat incompletely. However regarding moving on without justice... The Timorese leaders are very aware of the precarious situation they are in regarding Indonesia. East Timor's independence is still a very sensitive subject to the Indonesian military and with many of the former militia leaders enjoying support across the border in western Timor, Horta and Gusmao are only too aware of how the situation could rapidly destabilise. Not to mention the fact that their economy is ultra dependent on trade with Indonesia. With this in mind, and observing the lack of will from the international community to pressure Indonesia to hand over war crimes suspects to an international tribunal the Timorese leadership are playing real politik by trying to counter moves to highlight atrocities carried out by Indonesia or on behalf of Indonesia. That being said, the continuing lack of justice prevalent across East Timor by the absence of an effective court system and an inept police force only adds to instability. Horta is spot on regarding the money wasted by international organisations and the need for face to face peace making at a local level, a job which the CAVR (Truth and Reconciliation) did admirably if somewhat incompletely.

However regarding moving on without justice…

The Timorese leaders are very aware of the precarious situation they are in regarding Indonesia. East Timor’s independence is still a very sensitive subject to the Indonesian military and with many of the former militia leaders enjoying support across the border in western Timor, Horta and Gusmao are only too aware of how the situation could rapidly destabilise. Not to mention the fact that their economy is ultra dependent on trade with Indonesia. With this in mind, and observing the lack of will from the international community to pressure Indonesia to hand over war crimes suspects to an international tribunal the Timorese leadership are playing real politik by trying to counter moves to highlight atrocities carried out by Indonesia or on behalf of Indonesia.

That being said, the continuing lack of justice prevalent across East Timor by the absence of an effective court system and an inept police force only adds to instability.

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