EAST TIMOR: Fretilin conference plans for the future
From May 15 to 20, the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) held a conference in Dili, East Timor. It was the first Fretilin conference in East Timor since the end of the Indonesian occupation.
Some 1250 delegates discussed and debated issues of the past, as well as the future direction of Fretilin. "One of the main issues discussed was what Fretilin's relationship should be with CPD-RDTL [Council for the Popular Defence of the Proclamation of the Democratic Republic of East Timor], a new organisation here in Timor, as well as with Falintil and CNRT [National Council of Timorese Resistance]", Fretilin representative Harold Moucho told Green Left Weekly.
Moucho indicated that, for the time being, Fretilin sees itself remaining within the CNRT structure. "As Fretilin reorganises, from the grass roots all the way up to the leadership, this will strengthen both Fretilin's and CNRT's position during the transitional period", Moucho explained. "The delegates at the conference see Fretilin as playing the role of the first government in East Timor."
The CPD-RDTL, which formed last year, calls for the re-establishment of the Democratic Republic declared by Fretilin on November 28, 1975 (that declaration was aimed at gaining international recognition for East Timor as Indonesian military forces prepared to invade). This reflects a widespread public sentiment in East Timor, including among current and former Fretilin members, who were disheartened by Fretilin and other independence forces' decision in the mid-1980s to "de-recognise" the 1975 declaration.
The declaration of the republic was the theme of a speech to the Fretilin conference by Avelino da Silva, secretary-general of the Timorese Socialist Party (PST). Da Silva told Green Left Weekly: "The message the PST brought to the conference was, first, it is important for Fretilin to define its position on issues like the proclamation of independence and the establishment of the Democratic Republic. Secondly, Fretilin is faced with the decision of whether to remain a front or become a party."
Moucho said that a lot of the conference time was spent on reconciliation within Fretilin. "We haven't had a chance to have this type of meeting in East Timor before, so it was necessary to get all the cadres together, discuss different issues and problems, and try to resolve them."
The discussion about reconciliation included recognition by the Fretilin leadership that acts of retribution were carried out by Fretilin members against political opponents in the aftermath of the civil war in August 1975. The violence and pressure of the early years of the Indonesian occupation also resulted in "revolutionary justice" being meted out against those suspected of undermining the independence struggle or collaborating with the Indonesian military.
Another sensitive issue raised at the conference was language. "There was a lot of participation from young delegates who were very concerned about Portuguese being chosen as the official language", explained Moucho. "Fretilin's position at the moment is that Portuguese should be the official language, but we have also made it clear that programs should be established to modernise and develop Tetum, and that Indonesian should still be used in education and government departments."
Moucho stressed that the main perspective coming out of the conference was the reorganisation of Fretilin and its associated organisations. "From the village level up to the national level, we are going to develop our mass organisations, including women's and youth organisations. Political education programs will be organised in all areas of East Timor, involving the dissemination of the Fretilin political program."
Before the election of the new government, Moucho said, "Fretilin will be campaigning around the policies in the political program". He added that the 1998 program (a more moderate program than the one it replaced) will need new policies, "because when the program was finished in 1998, it was dealing with an East Timor that was still under Indonesian occupation. New policies are needed for youth and women's issues in particular."
The other key task that delegates discussed was preparing for the election of a new Fretilin leadership. "A special commission will be established to organise a congress, which will probably be held in the first three months of next year. A new central committee and national leadership will be elected at the congress", Moucho told Green Left Weekly. " The main concern for us is to be able to gather around all the cadres to make sure the structures are functioning, so that everyone can participate in the process of preparing for the congress."
BY JON LAND