So, the provisional results are out and after much discussion on who would sleep with whom, the coalition has been formed and not all Timorese have been left happy in the process. There was a possibility of forming a unity government with no opposition but this would endanger the democratic process and transparency of decision so it seems that this will no longer be the case.
PD with 8 seats had all the power to decide the outcome of the new government, would it bed with Fretilin or would it be CNRT? It all depended on who would offer more rights, more power and in the end PD bedded with CNRT. As soon as this was announced, Fretilin supporters took to the streets in protest, burning and stoning cars. We started receiving messages from UN Security to stay at home and avoid going out at night...this was intended for Dili residents as the situation in most districts, other than Viqueque and Baucau remained calm. And today the situation looks to be under control after last night's live airing of the PNTL Commander asking the people to accept the results and accept democracy and to remain peaceful, although we have just received some reports of stoning happening today...
I'm due to leave on Saturday so for selfish reasons I do hope the situation remains under control so that I can depart, but for the Timorese I also hope that they can show the world that they are capable of accepting the coalition and the electoral results. Democracy is not infallible but it is the best of the worst system we have so far, not everyone can win but losing gracefully can be a win in itself, for future possibilities and future generations.
here are two articles regarding last night's violence in Dili following the coalition announcement:
Violence in East Timor after snub to party
Date
July 16, 2012
Michael Bachelard
Violence erupted in East Timor late last night, apparently prompted by political party Fretilin being excluded from a role in the new governing coalition.
Police confirmed that about 58 cars were burned and stones thrown at traffic in the capital Dili, as unrest also spread to the outer districts of Viqueque and Baucau. A number of cars were torched and early rumours were suggested that one person had died in the conflict in the Dili suburb of Comoro, outside the headquarters of the ruling CNRT party, but this now seems doubtful.
However, sources in Dili say most of the main roads are blocked as United Nations police patrol the poverty stricken city in an attempt to bring it under control.
Residents also reported the sound of either gunfire or gas canisters being shot around the western suburb of Comoro.
The fragile democracy had this year managed a presidential election and a run-off election for president, as well as parliamentary election without significant violence, but the announcement yesterday by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao that he would invite two minor parties into a coalition to form government for the next five years appears to have triggered an angry response from Fretilin supporters.
Until yesterday, hopes were high within Fretilin that they might also be invited to join a "government of national unity".
But Mr Gusmao dashed those hopes at a special meeting of his National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction in Comoro, Dili, by announcing he would govern with the Democratic Party and a new party which had broken away from Fretilin, Frenti-Mudanca.
Sources suggested that the violence had been triggered by one of the CNRT delegates at the meeting who strongly criticised the leaders and members of Fretilin, which has spent the past five years in opposition.
A source told Fairfax Media, the publisher of this report, that houses owned by CNRT figures in some of the outer districts may have been torched, but this remains unconfirmed.
East Timor was wracked by violence in 2006 and again in 2007, prompting Australian and United Nations forces to move into the country to help keep the peace.
The latest outbreak may jeopardise plans to leave at the end of this year, once the new government had been bedded down.
In last week's election, Mr Gusmao's party increased its vote from 24 per cent in 2007 to 36 per cent. Fretilin received 30 per of the vote and 25 seats, PD (Democratic Party) - backed by outgoing president Jose Ramos-Horta - gained 10 per cent and eight seats and Frenti-Mudanca 3 per cent and two seats.
The CNRT's general secretary said forming a coalition with PD and Frenti-Mudanca was in the best interest of stable government.
A Fretilin MP, Estanislau da Silva, said earlier he was not disappointed by yesterday's decision. ''We would have liked to contribute,'' he said. ''We have experience. But that is their decision.''
with Mouzinho Lopes and Joyce Morgan in Dili
Read more:
<http://www.smh.com.au/world/violence-in-east-timor-after-snub-to-party-20120715-2246k.html#ixzz20hWVuq7B>http://www.smh.com.au/world/violence-in-east-timor-after-snub-to-party-20120715-2246k.html#ixzz20hWVuq7B
---
Cars stoned in E. Timor as ruling party forms coalition
DILI, July 15 | Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:29pm IST
(Reuters) - East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's party, which won elections though not a decisive majority this month, will form a coalition that excludes main opposition group Fretilin, the prime minister said on Sunday.
Gusmao's National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT) party will join the Democratic Party and the Frente Reform party in government, he said.
Angry Fretilin supporters stoned cars in front of their party headquarters after the decision was announced, a Reuters witness said, but there were no reports of casualties and the situation appeared under control.
East Timor, which has offshore gas resources, gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 and is Asia's newest and one of its poorest nations.
"We have made our decision. CNRT believes that the next coalition government will be better than the coalition government five years ago," Gusmao told a conference of the ruling party, which had also discussed forming both a coalition with Fretilin and a grand coalition.
The Supreme Court will announce the official result on Tuesday but preliminary results show the CNRT won 36 percent in the July 7 election and Fretilin took 29 percent, with the Democratic Party third on 10 percent.
Gusmao's party has prepared a $10 billion strategic plan to build infrastructure and improve agriculture to address poverty and raise living standards.
Indonesia invaded East Timor, a former Portuguese colony occupying half an island at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago, in 1975.
It spent decades trying to crush opposition to its rule before the territory won independence following a referendum. A U.N. mission promoting stability remains to this day.
(Reporting by Tito Bello and Lirio Da Fonseca; Writing by Matthew Bigg; Editing by Daniel Magnowski)
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/15/timor-government-idINL4E8IF0F620120715>http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/15/timor-government-idINL4E8IF0F620120715
PD with 8 seats had all the power to decide the outcome of the new government, would it bed with Fretilin or would it be CNRT? It all depended on who would offer more rights, more power and in the end PD bedded with CNRT. As soon as this was announced, Fretilin supporters took to the streets in protest, burning and stoning cars. We started receiving messages from UN Security to stay at home and avoid going out at night...this was intended for Dili residents as the situation in most districts, other than Viqueque and Baucau remained calm. And today the situation looks to be under control after last night's live airing of the PNTL Commander asking the people to accept the results and accept democracy and to remain peaceful, although we have just received some reports of stoning happening today...
I'm due to leave on Saturday so for selfish reasons I do hope the situation remains under control so that I can depart, but for the Timorese I also hope that they can show the world that they are capable of accepting the coalition and the electoral results. Democracy is not infallible but it is the best of the worst system we have so far, not everyone can win but losing gracefully can be a win in itself, for future possibilities and future generations.
here are two articles regarding last night's violence in Dili following the coalition announcement:
Violence in East Timor after snub to party
Date
July 16, 2012
Michael Bachelard
Violence erupted in East Timor late last night, apparently prompted by political party Fretilin being excluded from a role in the new governing coalition.
Police confirmed that about 58 cars were burned and stones thrown at traffic in the capital Dili, as unrest also spread to the outer districts of Viqueque and Baucau. A number of cars were torched and early rumours were suggested that one person had died in the conflict in the Dili suburb of Comoro, outside the headquarters of the ruling CNRT party, but this now seems doubtful.
However, sources in Dili say most of the main roads are blocked as United Nations police patrol the poverty stricken city in an attempt to bring it under control.
Residents also reported the sound of either gunfire or gas canisters being shot around the western suburb of Comoro.
The fragile democracy had this year managed a presidential election and a run-off election for president, as well as parliamentary election without significant violence, but the announcement yesterday by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao that he would invite two minor parties into a coalition to form government for the next five years appears to have triggered an angry response from Fretilin supporters.
Until yesterday, hopes were high within Fretilin that they might also be invited to join a "government of national unity".
But Mr Gusmao dashed those hopes at a special meeting of his National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction in Comoro, Dili, by announcing he would govern with the Democratic Party and a new party which had broken away from Fretilin, Frenti-Mudanca.
Sources suggested that the violence had been triggered by one of the CNRT delegates at the meeting who strongly criticised the leaders and members of Fretilin, which has spent the past five years in opposition.
A source told Fairfax Media, the publisher of this report, that houses owned by CNRT figures in some of the outer districts may have been torched, but this remains unconfirmed.
East Timor was wracked by violence in 2006 and again in 2007, prompting Australian and United Nations forces to move into the country to help keep the peace.
The latest outbreak may jeopardise plans to leave at the end of this year, once the new government had been bedded down.
In last week's election, Mr Gusmao's party increased its vote from 24 per cent in 2007 to 36 per cent. Fretilin received 30 per of the vote and 25 seats, PD (Democratic Party) - backed by outgoing president Jose Ramos-Horta - gained 10 per cent and eight seats and Frenti-Mudanca 3 per cent and two seats.
The CNRT's general secretary said forming a coalition with PD and Frenti-Mudanca was in the best interest of stable government.
A Fretilin MP, Estanislau da Silva, said earlier he was not disappointed by yesterday's decision. ''We would have liked to contribute,'' he said. ''We have experience. But that is their decision.''
with Mouzinho Lopes and Joyce Morgan in Dili
Read more:
<http://www.smh.com.au/world/violence-in-east-timor-after-snub-to-party-20120715-2246k.html#ixzz20hWVuq7B>http://www.smh.com.au/world/violence-in-east-timor-after-snub-to-party-20120715-2246k.html#ixzz20hWVuq7B
---
Cars stoned in E. Timor as ruling party forms coalition
DILI, July 15 | Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:29pm IST
(Reuters) - East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's party, which won elections though not a decisive majority this month, will form a coalition that excludes main opposition group Fretilin, the prime minister said on Sunday.
Gusmao's National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT) party will join the Democratic Party and the Frente Reform party in government, he said.
Angry Fretilin supporters stoned cars in front of their party headquarters after the decision was announced, a Reuters witness said, but there were no reports of casualties and the situation appeared under control.
East Timor, which has offshore gas resources, gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 and is Asia's newest and one of its poorest nations.
"We have made our decision. CNRT believes that the next coalition government will be better than the coalition government five years ago," Gusmao told a conference of the ruling party, which had also discussed forming both a coalition with Fretilin and a grand coalition.
The Supreme Court will announce the official result on Tuesday but preliminary results show the CNRT won 36 percent in the July 7 election and Fretilin took 29 percent, with the Democratic Party third on 10 percent.
Gusmao's party has prepared a $10 billion strategic plan to build infrastructure and improve agriculture to address poverty and raise living standards.
Indonesia invaded East Timor, a former Portuguese colony occupying half an island at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago, in 1975.
It spent decades trying to crush opposition to its rule before the territory won independence following a referendum. A U.N. mission promoting stability remains to this day.
(Reporting by Tito Bello and Lirio Da Fonseca; Writing by Matthew Bigg; Editing by Daniel Magnowski)
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/15/timor-government-idINL4E8IF0F620120715>http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/15/timor-government-idINL4E8IF0F620120715
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