[TimorLesteStudies] ANU Seminar: Timor-Leste's 2006 crisis: the relationship between ethnic identity and conflict

[Bu Wilson]

 			 			Pre-fieldwork seminar: 'Timor Leste’s 2006 crisis: The relationship between ethnic identity and conflict 
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| Speaker/Host:  || Marianne Kearney |
| Venue:  || PSC Reading Room, 4.27 Level 4 Hedley Bull Building, ANU |
| Date:  || Tuesday, 10 May 2011 |
| Time:  || 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM |
| Enquiries:  ||  					Jessie Tang on 6125 4790 							 |
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Abstract 

In the early months of 2006, Asia’s newest  nation of Timor Leste began fracturing along ethnic lines pitching  Timorese from the east, or Firaku, against those from the west, known as  Kaladi. The communal violence was at first sparked by a group of  military petitioners who deserted the military citing bias against  western soldiers, by the mostly easterner military leaders.

Although  differences between easterners and westerners had never been a source  of major conflict in Timor, prior to 2006, the conflict quickly spread  across Timor, particularly after an inflammatory speech from Timor’s  President, and former guerrilla leader, Xanana Gusmao. In Dili, formally  harmonious Kaladi – Friaku neighborhoods became centres of violence:  the torching of houses, and fighting between youth gangs, many of whom  were initially grouped along ethnic lines. At the height of ‘the  crisis’, more than half of Dili had fled their homes for dozens of IDP  camps or the family homes in the districts. It took two years before  most residents felt safe enough to abandon the IDP camps. Some people  still have not returned home because of tensions with their former  neighbours.

At the time the conflict confounded both middle class  Timorese and foreigners alike, because Timor was considered to have a  strong sense of national identity forged after 24 years of fighting and  resisting the Indonesians. East-West identity had never been a source of  major conflict before 2006. In addition, many Timorese identified  firstly along clan or extended family lines, then as an ethno-linguistic  group, and lastly as Timorese. However the communal conflict quickly  morphed from being centred around ethnic identity, to support for  different political figures or military rebels, or being part of the  younger Indonesian educated generation vs part of the Portuguese  educated elite.

Her thesis examines these different forms of  division, how they evolved and contributed to the conflict, and how the  divisions manifest today. Her research will focus on two mixed ethnic  neighbourhoods of Dili: Becora and Bebonuk, both of which suffered  considerable violence and destruction during 2006, and afterwards.  Becora has long been a site of conflict, dating back to 1999, when  pro-Indonesian militia and pro-independence based gangs clashed. Today  however this neighbourhood is largely peaceful.  Bebonuk is also a mixed  Firaku- Kaladi neighbourhood, but it still suffers from sporadic  violence, mostly due to clashes between the different youth gangs.  Although originally, the gangs were either affiliated with different  political parties, or sometimes Firaku- Kaladi ethnic groups, today in  Benonuk, these gangs are multi-ethnic.

About the Speaker 

Marianne  Kearney is undertaking a Masters of Philosophy at the Department of  Political and Social Change, ANU. She has been living in Timor Leste for  almost three years, working as a communications expert for health  programmes covering sexual, maternal and infant health. She has also  been working as a journalism trainer, producing, and developing a youth  orientated programme for the UN’s radio programme in Timor Leste. Prior  to moving to Timor Leste, Marianne worked as a journalist based in  Indonesia. She reported on Timor’s independence referendum and the 2006  crisis.

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Dr Bu V.E. Wilson
T: Australia +61  0  407 087 086
T: Timor-Leste + 670 744 0011
E: buvewilson at gmail.com





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