[Easttimorstudies] query re east-west conflict

[John Tony Hajek]

Just a note to be added: evidence of east-west tensions has been seen
previously before Indonesian times though I am not sure to what extent it
has been discussed (as opposed to more recent events). If I recall
correctly a rebellion in the 1950s in the west was suppressed very
effectively and brutally by soldiers drawn from the east and under
Portuguese command. More information on all of this would be extremely
useful.
John

> EAST TIMOR STUDIES MAILING LIST
> Dear Bob,
>
> There are certainly ethnic distinctions within East Timor and between East
> and
> West Timor, and oevrlaps between them (especially the Tetum Terik speakers
> who
> live in the middle and to the south). In 2000 I wrote on tyhis,
> identifying the
> splits in East Timor as east/center/west, north/center/south, between 18
> lanagyues and even more dialects, and then divided along party lines and
> village and family histories. It is, I think, quite a patchwork!
>
> In 2000 I noted that the sense of nation that East Timor has derived
> largely
> from opposing the Indonesians, and that they would have to work on
> building a
> new sense of national identity based on common principles, or what I have
> referred to elsewhere as 'civic nationalism'. There was no pre-existing
> sense
> of national identity under the Portuguese.
>
> However, the main problem is not just ethnic, but also to do with
> perceived
> political and criminal associations, especially in terms of western
> command
> F-FDTL who have links to former miltiia members, through family or
> villages,
> and to smuggling, again through family or in some cases direct
> involvement.
> Smuggling, as you'd appreciate, is run by the TNI from Atambua in WT. I
> have
> written two papers on this issue, one of which was published some time ago
> and
> the other of which Mike Leach has for the forthcoming edited book.
>
> I hope this helps clarify the 'ethnic' question. There is an element of
> that,
> but it is more to do with perceived loyalties.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Damien
>
>
> Quoting Bob Boughton <bob.boughton at une.edu.au>:
>
>> EAST TIMOR STUDIES MAILING LIST
>> Dear List members, can anyone help with academic research which
>> throws light on current assertion in media of ethnic divisions
>> between east and west, loromanu and lorosae, either in society in
>> general or within police and army? And of the underlying political
>> economy, if indeed such divisions do exist?
>>
>> Bob Boughton
>> --
>> Dr. Bob Boughton
>> Senior Lecturer
>> Adult Education & Training
>> School of Professional Development and Leadership
>> University of New England
>> Armidale NSW 2351, Australia
>>
>> On Study Leave, Semester 1, 2006
>> phone:	02 6649 2642 (While on Study Leave)
>> email: bob.boughton at une.edu.au
>> Homepage http://fehps.une.edu.au/PDal/People/boughton.html
>>
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>
>
> Associate Professor Damien Kingsbury
> Director, Masters of International and Community Development
> School of International and Political Studies
> Deakin University
> Ph: +61(0)439638834
> _______________________________________________
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