The IRC in East Timor
Summary
East Timor became an independent nation in May 2002 after enduring decades of oppression and violence. In 1999, the East Timorese people voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from Indonesia in a referendum that triggered a sudden and brutal outbreak of violence by pro-Indonesian militias. In the ensuing chaos, masses of people fled their towns and villages, while militias systematically attacked civilians, destroyed homes, businesses, and crops and killed livestock. The IRC launched emergency health services and provided food and shelter supplies. Emergency programs phased into home and infrastructure reconstruction, family tracing and reunification, education, and income-generation programs. Today, the IRC continues to assist communities in rehabilitating water systems and sanitation services at schools, identifying separated children and reunifying them with their families, raising awareness on gender based violence and running recreational and vocational centers for youth.
Background
In 1975, following Portuguese colonial rule, the Indonesian Army, supported by local militias, invaded East Timor and annexed it. Between 1975 and 1999 an estimated 200,000 East Timorese, a quarter of the population, were either killed or starved to death. Indonesia’s rule lasted 24 years and during that time a strong pro-Jakarta militia formed as well as an armed independence movement called Fretilin. Fretilin stayed mainly in the mountains where they conducted educational classes, provided health care, and tilled the land along with organizing the nation for freedom. One of the leading figures was Xanana Alexander Gusmao, the man who in May, 2002, would become independent East Timor’s first head of state.
In August 1999, East Timor held a referendum on independence. With an overwhelming voter turnout, the East Timorese chose independence. The announcement of the results sparked an explosion of systematic violence and killings that lasted until UN peacekeeping forces arrived in late September. In 21 days nearly the entire population was uprooted and displaced. Some fled to the mountain areas of East Timor, some 250,000 others were taken to camps in West Timor. Over 1,000 were killed during this short period and hundreds if not thousands of people disappeared. Some 90% of homes, public buildings and infrastructure in East Timor were systematically destroyed.
East Timor experienced the first free and fair election for the Constituent Assembly in August 2001 and Gusmao was elected president in April 2002. East Timor finally became an independent nation on May 20, 2002, in a midnight ceremony attended by UN secretary general Kofi Annan, Indonesian president Megawati Sukarnoputri, and former U.S. president Bill Clinton.
The Role of The IRC
The IRC arrived in Indonesia in January 1999 as the political crisis was mounting. Expecting conditions to deteriorate, the IRC began assessing the region’s aid needs, and eventually brought in an emergency coordinator. When the Indonesian army and allied militias unleashed their terror after the August referendum, the IRC was already on the scene to begin emergency relief work. The IRC distributed food and non-food supplies, provided medical care, and emergency shelter assistance.
Today the IRC is helping the Timorese rebuild through programs focusing on material needs and self-reliance. We work with local partners on sustainable projects that benefit the community and promote self-reliance. IRC works nationwide and also in West Timor tracing separated children who remain in refugee camps. Our program, as of July 2002 reunified over 1,100 children with their parents.
Programs
Child and Youth Development: An estimated 60 percent of the population is under 25 and has limited opportunities for employment. To help young people build a stable future for themselves, the IRC runs youth centers in Suai, Maliana, and Oecussi, which provide language and computer classes and recreational activities. Each center has an IRC-trained youth administrator and a youth center committee to run the activities.
Program for Victims of Gender-based Violence: The IRC works with community groups in five districts to provide support for women and girls who have been victims of gender-based violence. These groups counsel victims, carry out community-wide awareness campaigns and identify strategies to prevent and respond to acts of violence in their district. The IRC is also conducting a nationwide research study on the prevalence of gender based violence in East Timorese society.
Child Tracing and Family Reunification: IRC has been involved with identifying children and parents who were separated during the 1999 conflict. Most of the children remain in W. Timor, however some relocated elsewhere in Indonesia. IRC identifies and registers separated children and parents or relatives looking for children, traces the missing family members and then works to reunify them. The IRC also follows-up on reunified families to ensure a smooth reintegration process. Over 1,100 children have been reunified with their parents since the inception of the program in November 1999. IRC is in the process of handing over the tracing responsibilities to local partners on both sides of the border.
Water and Sanitation: The IRC is rehabilitating water and sanitation services at 85 primary schools in the Baucau and Viqueque districts, ensuring a safe water supply and adequate latrines and waste disposal. The IRC also has also provided health education training to teachers at the school, who now include health and hygiene as part of their curriculum. In addition, community water supply in Oecussi district has been initiated.
