Jon Land – United Nations officials have come under heavy criticism from leaders of the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT). In a move to reduce tension between CNRT and the United Nations Administration in East Timor, the head of UNTAET, Sergio Vieira de Mello, held "informal" talks with CNRT leader Xanana Gusmao in the town of Aileu on November 17.

On his arrival in Dili the previous day, de Mello played down the rift, telling reporters that he will be working in "very, very close coordination and consultation with the East Timorese leadership". He stressed that he considered relations with the CNRT "not strained at all".

In recent weeks, several CNRT leaders have charged UN representatives with sidelining them and other Timorese community leaders during this crucial stage of reconstruction and transition to independence. They accused UNTAET of acting in a "neo-colonial" fashion and relating to East Timorese in a patronising way.

CNRT leaders Leandro Isaac and Mario Carrascalao have spoken out angrily about the UN. Isaac told reporters on November 15 that the UN was "putting up obstacles to the existence of the CNRT ".

In an interview with ABC radio aired on the same day, CNRT representative David Ximenes spoke bitterly of the neo-colonial actions and attitudes of the big aid agencies.

Gusmao also stated that non-government organisations were operating in a "clandestine way". "This is not the way to treat our people. If they don't want to coordinate with us, because we know very well what our people need, they can leave", he said.

Representatives of the Catholic Church and humanitarian agencies responded by alleging that the CNRT is "uncoordinated" and "uninterested" in attending project coordination meetings and is experiencing internal divisions.

Further talks between CNRT and UNTAET have been planned over the next few weeks. Ross Mountain, the coordinator of UN humanitarian operations in East Timor, claimed that the criticism of the UN was due mainly to "communication problems".

Mountain told the Portuguese news service Lusa on November 17, "I think there were failures in communications, and we want to resolve this quickly. This is East Timor – it belongs to the Timorese, and we will continue to do whatever possible to involve them to the maximum."

Bishop Belo has entered the fray, condemning the UN over the delay in investigations into atrocities conducted by the Indonesian military and the militia gangs. He fears (along with many others, including UNTAET personnel) that the UN team investigating human rights abuses will arrive too late.

Belo told Reuters on November 15, "It is too late already. We still don't have this team present in East Timor ... some of the bodies have already disappeared and some of the places where the crimes were committed have already been cleaned up."

Approval for a commission to begin investigations in East Timor was finally granted by the UN Economic and Social Council on November 15, more than six weeks after the special session of the UN Commission for Human Rights called for such an investigation. The investigative team is to report to the secretary-general by December 31, after which a decision will be made whether to establish a war crimes tribunal.

Belo believes that the delay is a concession to the Indonesian government, stating, "This diplomacy ... is giving Indonesia the opportunity to avoid the institution or establishment of this tribunal".

The transition in East Timor

Avelino da Silva – Before the August 30 referendum, the Socialist Party of Timor (PST) had called for the formation of a transitional Democratic Collective Government to represent all the existing political forces in East Timor under the slogan: "Victory is for all the oppressed people of East Timor!"

The function and goals of the transitional government were envisaged as follows.

Firstly, to achieve reconciliation among all the people of East Timor as a logical consequence of the victory of the national liberation struggle. Secondly, to prepare a political environment for a just, peaceful, secure and democratic move to establishing effective government. Thirdly, to hold general elections to form such a government. Fourthly, to open up the political space for all components of the people to implement their political rights.

The concept later put forward by comrade Xanana Gusmao for a Government of National Reconciliation is somewhat similar in spirit to the PST's proposal.

Comrade Xanana has moved to bring this concept closer to reality with the recent announcement of the formation of a seven-person Transitional or Consultative Council.

The Transitional Council is conceived as a partner to the UN Transitional Administration (UNTAET). The council is meant to contribute to the effective functioning of the administration in areas within its competence. The council must represent all political forces and the people in general in order to be able to voice the interests and desires of the East Timorese people. The council must have the function of control, both providing input to UNTAET and also able to reject any UNTAET policies.

The question is what must be done to ensure that this works and does not remain just political rhetoric.

In the view of the PST, the crucial need is for the mass support of the organised people. Mass strength is the best bargaining power. To achieve this, mass political education is essential, and the organisation of the people cannot be further delayed.

Do all the existing political forces in East Timor agree with this? We must observe closely the development of conditions in East Timor and especially the activities of opportunist and capitalist elements who are now spreading their wings.

The whole world knows of the total destruction of the infrastructure that was carried out by the brutal militia commanded by the Indonesian army. This has caused an economic crisis and a humanitarian tragedy. This situation demands assistance from many institutions from around the world.

Many government and non-government organisations have already arrived and are carrying out their programs. Are all these institutions here to genuinely help or do they have other agendas? The answer can be either way. But the PST is sure that the agents of big business operating in East Timor will still be governed by their own logic: a never-ending search for profits. The primary task therefore is to organise the people to confront the comprador capitalists who will be launching neo-colonialism in East Timor.

[Avelino da Silva is secretary general of the Socialist Party of Timor and a member of the East Timor Transitional Council.]