by Jose M. Benedito Prieto

09 October 2001

This is not an essay but a history. It is not a history about the "Timorization" of UNTAET reports. It is about REAL and DEEP Timorization. It is about the Timorization of Local Staff, of a Local community and, even more important, of an International Staff. But why have they all needed to pass through a process of Timorization? For the Timorese because it is time for a Timorization on their own land after almost 500 years of Portuguese colonialism and another 24 years of Indonesian occupation. For the International Staff because in case Timorization fails, UN Mission in East Timor will just become the third 'One' after Portuguese and Indonesians, and before LIBERATION.

Our history starts before the International arrived to the Community; when they claimed the presence of UNTAET in their Sub-district. PKF left at the end of the last wet season and the DFO did not show up for work. Then, the Community itself make their first act of Timorization. They wrote a complaint requesting the removal of the DFO. Without knowing it, they forced the recruitment of the International of our history.

The first time the protagonists of our history met was an odd one. The previous DFO introduced the new one to the Community surrounded by PKF and CivPol. It was like in Indonesian times. But this time the International was different. Just after the meeting he came back alone to apologize. He was from the same country that the Local Patron Saint. He was able to communicate directly in PortuNOL. Moreover, he wanted to live in the Sub-district even thought there were no PKF neither CivPol. And he convinced his bosses to do so. And he did it.

Then, the New DFO started to ask questions about everything: from the name of the Clans to the reasons of burial rituals, from how was during Indonesian times to how did the Community felt when UNAMET left East Timor. He found a room on the family of the UNTAET Interpreter. He was eating the same they were eating. He was hearing the people, to ALL people. He was respectful to the Community and their costumes. All these was facilitated by the Interpreter as he was not only a professional but also respected member of the Community.

Step by step the Community was getting use tot the "Malay" who was all day going here and there. They started to openly talk about their problems: education, health, water, politics, UNTAET, etc. The International already knew about all internal problems of UNTAET: lack of support from Internationals to their communities, lack of professionalism, disinterestedness, mismanagement, etc. He knew the Community knew about all these problems and he requested their support. He told them: "A Good Administration needs the Involvement of a Good Civil Society. You have to become the Support and the Watchdog of your future Government".

The time passed with medical emergencies, visits to remote areas, distribution of cloths, traditional ceremonies, etc. Then Xanana come to visit the Sub-District and the Community requested from the new DFO support. He gave it. The Community wanted to prepare themselves for the future, to have a development plan. On a meeting with almost 100 sons and daughters of that Land, they all agree on the guidelines for the future of their Community. He was there with them. Then, the DFO convinced the District Administration to choose the Sub-District for a visit of the Cabinet Member responsible for Political Affairs. The Community talked him the problems that UNTAET approach to democratization was bringing to them. Later on, for rehabilitation of the Sub-District and CivPol Office, the Community chose what buildings were going to be used. The DFO defend their decision and, when he face the opposition of certain UNTAET officers, the Community was there to claim their right to decide.

Over the last weeks, the rewards have become clear to all our protagonists; so to the challenges. The Interpreter is the only Independent Candidate for the District. The Local Staff and the Community has been able to convince the District Administration of keeping the DFO in the Sub-District as long as possible, and against the desire of many of the Internationals with whom he has to deal to get things done. The International DFO has received the best compliment someone working for one country could get:

"You are Temorese". The main challenge is to overcome UNTAET narrow view of the process of Timorization. Of course there are still many other challenges: lack of support from other Internationals, lack of professionalism, disinterestedness, mismanagement, etc. Even so, THEY all know they will continue to work for the "Good Governance" of what now has become THEIR LAND. The place of our history is Laclo in Manatuto. The lesson to be learned by ALL in Timor Lorosae: TIMORISATION OF ALL.