An orientation on Temor-Leste and Oecusse

Why Timor:

A number of Sydney Rotary clubs have supported projects in East Timor over the years . When the possibility of visiting East Timor was floated five Rotarians went there to see what is happening and gain a first hand impression of the situation.

Our reasons for going were simple:

• Gain better understanding of the needs of the people.
• Give what the people want , not what we think they want (only then can we provide effective assistance)
• See what the funds previously raised had been used for
• Start a Friendships association between Rotary and peoples of a remote village.

Rotary Projects outside Australia:

Rotary Australia World Community Service Limited (RAWCS) is a limited company formed to support Australian Rotarians & Rotary Clubs assisting disadvantaged communities and individuals with humanitarian aid projects,

 It is not an emergency response organization, but rather looks to engage in sustainable, developmental or relief projects. Rotarians use RAWCS as the organisation to facilitate international projects wherever possible.

 Why Oecusse:

Rotary Clubs in District 9685 have made donations and given support to Oecusse in East Timor. This has been directed over there through Judy Charnaud and local team. Judy is program manager of a NGO called OzGREEN, which works closely with an affiliated NGO called Green TL (Green Timor Leste) and the local Director, Luis Armando.

Luis and Judy at a meeting in a village in Oecusse 

Judy, a Rotarian with the E-club of Sydney, has lived in Oecusse, and enclave in East Timor for many months each year since 2001. Whenever Judy gets back to Sydney, she has updated many of the Rotary Clubs on the work that Green TL has undertaken. 

East Timor & Oecusse

Oecusse is an enclave, surrounded by Indonesian territory on the East, West and South and the Savu Sea to the North

The magnificent 5

On Sunday July 17 we flew Dili via Darwin and stayed overnight, 

Sunset over Dili Harbour

David Boyce, Dili Rotary made us most welcome

Oecusse Onward:

The next morning we were off to Oecusse.. The rugged mountainous landscape with very thin coastal strip became very apparent.

Oecusse was the landing place of the Portuguese just over five hundred years ago. It is an area of 814 Square kilometers –about two -thirds the size of metropolitan Sydney and divided into four Sub districts. The main one,  Pante Macassar, is commonly referred to as Oecusse town. The whole of Oecusse has a population of just over 65 thousand people, however current population estates say it will be double that by the year 2025.

When we landed at Oecusse airport, the extent of the numerous projects being undertaken by Special Zones of Economic Management - pronounced ZEEMS in the local language, lead by the first elected Prime Minister, Dr. Mari Alkatiri was immediately apparent.

This huge undertaking and massive investment; and tremendous self-promotion with signage; 

includes:

New Runways for large jets.

Power station and transmission thought the region

4 lane roads with large stormwater drainage stretching well beyond city limits.

Irrigation and dam projects

-      

Duty free port and ocean resort

Sporting facilities and golf courses.

Even the one year old, seven million dollar plane is owned by ZEEMS - not leased. 

The whole economic zone covers a large area of Pante Macassar. 

The Petroleum Fund provides over 90% of Government revenue yet the oil will run out by 2025.

Much debate is occurring on whether the work ZEEMS is performing and planning is correct. The huge amount of expenditure, the level of development and how appropriate it is under much attack.

Lifau memorial - memorable for the wrong reasons

LIFAU MEMORIAL – Memorable for the wrong reasons.

This memorial is located in the area where the Portuguese first landed in 1515.

To commemorate the anniversary of 500 years of Portuguese influence in East Timor, work on building a large memorial and ceremonial place was undertaken by ZEEMS in 2015.

The area was never opened and work remains unfinished.

 A large partially completed set of sculptures inappropriately depicts the landing of a dominating Portuguese party and the subservient acceptance by the local East Timorese.

Even more disturbing was the entirely poor quality work and lack of professional finish throughout the area.

These grandstands were never ready and can never be used due to totally unsafe and possibly corrupt work and materials.  They demonstrate a disgraceful waste of public money and resources. 

ZEEMS, however have no culpability or answerability. 

 

--oOOo--

We then went back to Oecusse town and walked around some of the sporting facilities. 

Unfortunately all the sporting facilities we saw are positioned much too close together, the courts and far too close to the boundaries or the edges and there is no room for spectators.
We were also told that many of the local tradesmen and especially local contractors have yet to be paid and accounts are long overdue.

Throughout Oecusse, ZEEMS has exhibited poor disregards for the community,  lack of accountability and answerability and performed work that is inappropriate or goes unchallenged. 
Whilst many projects will no doubt deliver benefit and a higher standard of living down the track, the total lack of transparency and complete failure to consult the people whom the work directly affects is detracting from the merit of most of their undertakings.

Topu Honis - Mahata

TOPU HONIS  - MAHATA

The next day our spirits needed lifting, no better place than Topu Honis Refuge at Mahata, It was just a short walk down the road from our hotel.

Mahana is also managed by Father Richard Daschbach who we met at the Kutet a few days earlier, although he spends most of his time at Kutet.

Mahata provides board and accommodation for children of high school age, with the express purpose of allowing them to complete secondary education.

Veronica was our expert guide at Mahata- and our host at our hotel

Veronica showed us around.

Veronica was living at the Kutet refuge in 1999 during the militia attacks prior to the handover at independence.

Our Hotel - Oecussi Amasat  a beautiful setting 

Veronica and her husband Mark own the hotel/guesthouse, Oecusse Amasat that is close by and where we stayed.

The gardens occupy a large area and are beautifully laid out with a wide variety of healthy vegetables in well-maintained plots.

Together with the pigs, the highlight of animal husbandry in Oecusse.

Our last day - Around Oecusse

This was our final day in Oecusse:

Our final goodbye to Mark and Veronica at our hotel in Mahata 

"Oecussi Amasat"  (meaning Beautiful Oecussi.)

Top: L-R:  John Corney, Mark Heywood, Peter Garrard, Michael Mead, Judy Charnaud
Front: L-R: Diane Walker, Bruce Jacob, Veronica Heywood,  Luis Armando, Adown - Pradet Driver

We then travelled to the the East Timor/ Indonesian border post at Secato - only 10Km East from Pante Macassa. We walked around and look at this fairly new facility and naturally stayed on the Oecusse side.

The whole 10Km from Oecusse town to the border has a four-lane highway, which if the skeptics are to be believed is to carry all the heavy machinery to all the ZEEMS projects.

On the way back we saw the power station, which even the skeptics couldn’t say, wasn’t a benefit to Oecusse.

View from the hill top old colonial garrison that overlooks Pante Macassar (Oecusse township)
The airport runway along the coastline is in the middle of the picture

Mother nature is taking back the area



Then final goodbyes at the airport 

Meta and the Pradet team came to the airport to wish us bon voyage

--oOOo--

Reflecting on our visit we had gained a much better knowledge of the country and its situation, difficulties & struggles; thanks to meeting and travelling with people with many years of experience in assisting Timor - Leste improve and develop.

Our trip had seen some amazing things:

Ø The Sustainable Village project that focuses on clean water with bio-sand filters now extend into growing crops and related activities.

Ø The recognition that the locals really do know what is required and frequently outsiders don’t. They appreciate taking part in the planning as well as the execution

Ø A reliable water supply was critical wherever we visited

Ø The ever-increasing demand for better quality education and knowledge from people in what were once remote villages. And teachers who want to make it happen

Ø The compassion and dedication of the people running the shelters, orphanages and safe houses

Ø The multiple benefits of The Green games and how help they bring communities together in so many ways.

Ø The importance of having people 'on the ground' being the vital key factor for success in any international project, especially involving Governmental areas & sensitivities.

Judy and Dr Mari Alkatiri at the airport on our departure

Whilst the success of Judy & Luis’s efforts is most encouraging under what can only be described as very difficult circumstances, - more can be done and needs to be done. 

HOW CAN ROTARY HELP?