Rita Uli Hutapea/Heather, Jakarta – East Timorese leader, Xanana Gusmao is unimpressed with the Indonesian government's handling of East Timor's transition to independence. He believes the donations have dried up due to the slow implementation of building projects in Timor Lorosae.
Gusmao announced this at a meeting with donor nations in East Timor. He reminded the nations not to be too unnerved wby the rate of development in Dili, East Timor's capital. He says the economic conditions of the population of that area have not much changed since the violent phase of 1999.
Gusmao's statement shocked the people of East Timor. He has resigned from his post as Chairman of the National Council on Wednesday and confirmed that his leadership in the East Timorese Resistance Movement (CNRT) will come to an end by the June 1 of this year. He has also withdrawn his candidacy from the East Timorese Presidential Election, planned for August 30.
He explained that the CNRT must end in order to allow more participation from the people and to make politics more competitive in the upcoming elections.
Gusmao made no attempt to hide his annoyance from the delegates of the 25 donor nations, "not all funds donated have been used well or appropriately," he added.
Despite this, however, Gusmao gave assurance on the political stability and maturity of the leadership in East Timor, but asked for more care in overcoming the social instability.
Gusmao also asked for aid programs to reach the Falintil guerillas – who were once lead by Gusmao but are now the armed forces of East Timor – who had been fighting the Indonesian government for the past quarter century. Representatives of both the World Bank and the IMF also attended the gathering as observers.