...I'm probably one of the biggest employer in the private sector here in timor-leste. The recent descent into chaos is beyond comprehension. I was fortunate to have left in '75 to Australia but on my returnn to TL since 2000, I have never been more confused about the 'state of play' here. One thing is for certain and that is the many layers of 'complex' emotions hidden under the maubere people whilst on the surface, they can mislead you with the most beautiful of smiles. I have learnt alot in venturing out to this neck of the woods. I now admire the efforts of the leaders in Indonesia to try and 'gel' a country with so many different ethnicities. If only Timor-Leste can export rumours here...we'll make more money than our oil and gas projects. One thing is for certain, I have never felt a sense of embarrassment with recent events. I know there are many people out there now saying...I told you so! The way forward is now more complex and difficult. I really don't know how Timor-Leste can resolve another crisis of late given that there are previous crisis still unresolved. With over 98% of the population catholic...why has God forsaken the people of Timor-Leste. Lagaman

I refer to the comment;

"West Papua and Aceh is an integral part of the Indonesian motherland as they are part of the old Netherlands Indies, our original claimed in 1945 consists of all territories within Netherlands Indies' borders."

In other words, Dutch colonialism was replaced by an Indonesian colonialism. Genuine claims self-determination are annulled as the notorious "Act of Free Choice" in West Papua clearly showed; and if a neighbour has the "wrong politics" that is simply and opportunity for invasion.

Of course, Indonesia's political structure - a unitary state claiming an area of 13,000 islands and 300 languages inevitably meant that the armed forces were going to spend most of their time killing their own people rather than defending their borders. Indonesia would have been a lot better off if they actually followed their original idea and used a federal rather than unitary constitution.

And, to bring this back on-topic, perhaps the same may be appropriate for Timor Leste.

@Lev:

There is no such thing as "Indonesian colonialism" as every region and ethnicity in Indonesia is put in equal level with equal rights and obligations.

Meanwhile, evil Dutch colonialism was openly meant to leech Indonesian resources for the benefit of Netherlands (30% of Dutch national budget came from Indonesia) with the 500,000 white settlers legally considered as ruling race with status of first-class citizens on top of an apartheid legal system. Natives were put as third-class citizens with basically no rights at all yet were burdened with paralysing taxes and corvee labour obligations.

And Indonesian military killed 4000 Dutch soldiers and 1500 British soldiers during war of independence, and also killed 250 British, Malaysian, and Commonwealth soldiers during the border war with Malaysia (1964-1966). Indonesians soldiers are so effective in fighting external enemies, so no foreign country dare to bother Indonesian territory.

About East Timor, the best solution is to divide the country into two separate states: Timor Loromonu (west) and Timor Lorosae (east). Otherwise, you'll always have civil war situation between the two ethnic-groups if a united East Timor "state" is maintained.

If there was no such thing as Indonesian colonialism then there would be no independence movements, regardless of the 'in principle' equal rights which you claim.

You also appear to be quite unaware of ethnic divisions in Timor Leste; there are actually fifteen indigenous ethnic groups, and three language families, in the country along with a small number of Hakka Chinese.

The best way to prevent warfare there is to have a democratic and decentralised political system. Providing the thirteen regional governments some constitutional authority would be the best way to diffuse the centralisation of power and resources that currently exists in Dili.

The same applies to Indonesia as well. A unitary state simply doesn't work in such a diverse place. That's why the Indonesian government has such a history of killing its own people.

People don't go to war with the government when they have the right and ability to manage their own affairs.

I look forward to the today when the Malay archipelago is part of one federal, secular and democratic nation with far reaching civil liberties. Then, and only then, can the existing nations sustain any claim to being modern.

I don't agree with the way Indonesia governed East Timor and the way its military like Prabowo used the place as a miltary training ground. However, having said that, I find myself largely in agreement with PTBI. Sad analysis, sad country. Perhaps the Portuguese had the right idea all along by not wasting too much money there.

People seem to have forgotten that East Timor only came into existence because the Dutch and Portuguese decided to stop squabbling by dividing Timor into two, the east catholic and the west protestant. The enclave of Oecussi is still there, completely disconnected from the rest of East Timor, because it was the first place the Portuguese had set up camp.