TIMOR-LESTE: learning or unlearning: comments on a reshuffle or not to reshuffle?‏

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Mari Alkatiri, Via his Facebook page - 7 August 2013 - Translation from Portuguese

Politics in EAST TIMOR is increasingly equated with the function of the immunity of its governors. Politicians use and abuse their power because they believe in their impunity. Those with political power create institutions today and discredit them tomorrow. And so it goes on.

The issue of quality of the governance, the delivery of services, improvement of performance and in the implementation of the plans are confused with the permanent facade that has been the practice of the members of the government to engage in promotion their own images through the television screens, newspapers and large posters posted in strategic locations around the cities and towns, with their faces retouched and increasing body weights almost bursting the buttons of their coats.

Other more demagogic ones continue to cover up with the dress of activists because they say they are not accustomed to suits and ties, but who quickly became accustomed to large vehicles, preferably with their windows very darkly tinted.

From 2007 to 2012 the Povo (People of Timor-Leste) became accustomed to a government whose legitimacy had nothing to do with respect for the significance of the vote. In fact, they represented simply the sum of votes earned. But they affirmed they were legitimate. Even I am prepared to admit, had they in practice, eventually converting the sum of their illegitimacy into legitimacy, if after five years they had been able to show a positive results in the service of the people. In fact, not only were they not able to prove it, as eventually to do just the opposite – they disaggregated the government in the name of a purported reform legacy, squandered public funds through a uncontrolled finance and budget management, reduced the procurement system to a mechanism of social support and patronage, acquired overpriced goods and services, thus transforming the state into a large form of the small retail shops known locally as “kiosks.”

Based on the election results of 2012 and accepting as valid these same results, XG’s candidature for Prime Minister was unquestioned. For his Party, that adopted its zoomed in Comandante of F in uniform and red berets, gained the highest number of votes and seats in the National Parliament. 

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Therefore, correctly interpreting the Constitution, without the intervention of dubious constitutionalists from other places, Xanana and his Party had the legitimacy to take initiative to form government. 

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Technically, all those who joined them cannot enjoy the same legitimacy. For them, the legitimacy must be achieved with the implementation of the government program, the provision of services in order to meet the commitments of this same program.

In truth here is the question. Did they really? Or did they place themselves under XG’s shadow to claim the legitimacy they in fact do not have?

The people are the source of all legitimacy. Today it can be conferred, tomorrow it can withdraw. It may be conceded today, with the right to refuse tomorrow.

To hide behind a dysfunctional alliance to assert that society has nothing to do with the poor health situation of the people under the same alliance, only demonstrates the arrogance by one who does not want to learn, even after six consecutive years of failure, of one who cares more about one’s own impunity status than the life of the people.

Whether there is to be a reshuffle or not is the prerogative of the PM. But there is no doubt that we need a government that can best serve the people, a government organized around the PM and with the capacity and competence to adopt and implement the Annual Plan and Five Year Plan towards a coherent programmatic policy for sustainable development in the medium and long term.

The Fifth Government, continuing the IV, became exhausted from their very own model, creating a handcuffed system, overtaken in their methods, betrayed by their own great ambitions.

It is time to fix this to better serve. There is no room for a government with all these weaknesses. We need a new government - the Sixth Government. It may even be a minority CNRT government. IF IT IS BETTER, FRETILIN WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE SUPPORT IN THE PARLIAMENT.

That said, I can say that I do not believe a reshuffle will occur. The most that will occur, will be the continuity or evolution of what is. I hope I'm wrong. Hugs.

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