It's been five years since the referendum in East Timor which lead to its independence. On August 30 1999, the people voted overwhelmingly to break away from 25 years of repressive – even brutal rule by Indonesia. But the jubililation turned to terror as violence and bloodshed, organised by pro Jakarta militia left a trail of destruction during and after the ballot.

Presenter/Interviewer: Anita Barraud

Speakers: Rosario Martins, Head of Programs, RadioTimor Leste

Martins: I hope in the next five years East Timorese will initiate themselves to celebrate their independence day or the referendum. They have hope to realise for instance dancing or something but now maybe because of the economic situation or the security situation, so they can't realise it now.

Barraud: There are still many problems arising from the violence during that 1999 referendum, and also criticism that those responsible for the violence are yet to be held accountable?

Martins: Yeah that's the big news I think last week up to now about the establishment of the international tribunal. Maybe the governments of the two countries can work it out and it can be put in West Timor or on the border of Timor Leste and West Timor temporarily solution for the victims that still are waiting for justice, you know commits a crime against humanity in East Timor.

Barraud: So is that certain that some kind of international tribunal will operate on the border or near the border?

Martins: No the Indonesian government and East Timor maybe they can discuss by one commission from two countries.

Barraud: What about recovering from the violence from that ballot? I still remember those pictures of the black smoke that hung over Dili for days and days and other cities following the destruction. How is the rebuilding going on?

Martins: Yes you know that based on the national planning of the government the construction of infrastructure is also the main priority of the development now. From our side, our observation that you know the reconstruction is going on but as you know that East Timor now is depending on the international community contribution. It's going on slowly.

Barraud: Is there a sense that there's not enough international assistance and especially with a lot of efforts going on in Iraq and other countries has the sort of sights on East Timor faded as far as the international community's concerned?

Martins: Yeah it's true that after the war in Iraq I think the international attention to East Timor is going down.

Barraud: What about schools and hospitals, baby health centres, even technology? I know the phones as we're experiencing right now aren't the best in East Timor?

Martins: Yeah you know that another main period of the development of the national planning is also education. We only have four for the kindergarten, and the others is still using mixing curriculum. So it's also confusing from the kindergarten up to primary school we are using Portuguese. But for the secondary school we are still mixing it so sometimes the pupils are confused.

Barraud: So there's a bit of confusion over language whether it's Portuguese, Tetum, English, even Indonesian?

Martins: Yes it's true.

Barraud: And you do hear stories of a lot of children in the streets.

They're obviously not going to school, and unemployment, youth is also a problem, which of course can lead to disaffected youth, especially boys whipping up trouble?

Martins: Yeah it's true that based on the preliminary report from the UN Secretary Kofi Annan also stated about the rate, the high rate of unemployed people here in East Timor. I think the rate of unemployment, unemployment problem is also affected to the veterans.

Barraud: Despite the problems five years on is there still though that sense of hope and pride and a sense of future for East Timor?

Martins: I think yes, yes.

Barraud: Perhaps next year or when things get economically better perhaps it's time to dust off those dancing shoes and get out there in the streets and celebrate?

Martins: Yes, yes, I think so, I think so.