by Tracy Gordon

While churches have done much good in terms of education and health, they could do much more, claims East Timor’s Foreign Minister Dr Jose Ramos Horta.
“For the poorest of the poor it is not enough to promise heaven, but more important to get some food in their stomach.”
Dr Ramos Horta, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his years of struggle for East Timorese independence, was in Sydney recently to commemorate the second anniversary of East Timor’s independence. While many changes have taken place over the past two years for the good of the country, the country’s much lauded Foreign Minister says there is still much to be done.
“East Timor has done tremendously in the past two years,” Dr Ramos told Southern Cross. “Despite the tremendous support from the international community in addressing some of the early emergency situations which averted humanitarian disaster, a lot was left undone by the time East Timor achieved independence in May 2002.”
The challenges for East Timor going forward are numerous and enormous.”
Economically, East Timor’s agricultural sector has improved as has coffee and rice production. Yet there is still severe malnutrition in much of the country, compounded by two years of drought. There is still much to be done in rebuilding infrastructure, increasing access to education and reducing disease and malnutrition.
“I am cautious but optimistic about the future of East Timor,” said Dr Ramos Horta. “If we are able to pursue a similar pace of development, peace and security, then we will be able to achieve modest prosperity in the next 5-10 years.”
For a people who have been through much trauma and grief, very little work has been done in the healing process. There is only one post-traumatic program, which is operated by a non-government organisation, and this program may have to close due to insufficient funding.
Speaking about the current discussions with Australia regarding the under sea oil fields, Dr Ramos Horta said that whatever the outcome of the negotiations, no Timorese government should pursue a policy of dependence on these natural resources.
“East Timor must develop the skills of its people,” he said. However, money gained through oil revenue would be able to be used in providing basic services for the country.
Over 30 per cent of the East Timorese budget is spent on education and health. Dr Ramos Horta expressed dismay that the richest and most powerful country in the region was quarrelling with the poorest.
“Oil is extremely important for East Timor, but it is peanuts for Australia.” He said there is “a cost in human terms of delaying the decision on oil and gas rights in the larger fields of the Timor Gap. Australia is putting self-interest before justice.”