East Timor and Sustainable Development

(As part of the project that I did with the United Nations Association of Singapore (UNAS), I wrote 7 essays concerning various aspects of the UN and the international system. This is essay 7 out of 7)

Section 7 (Field Activities)

Q64. Imagine you are a UN development expert assigned to Timor Leste. Make a list of recommendations with a view to rebuilding the country. Explain and provide justifications in support of the recommendations.

By Linus Wong, National Junior College

Timor Leste is one the newest and youngest independent states in existence. Having undergone a long period of Portuguese colonisation and colonial neglect followed by the dark period under Indonesian occupation, Timor Leste now faces the challenge of being a sustainable, stable and successful nation-state of the 21^st Century.

Map of East Timor/ Timor Leste

Coat of Arms of Timor Leste

Flag of Timor Leste

A key effort towards rebuilding the country would be to harness Timor Leste’s unique geographical location. It straddles the regions of Southeast Asia and Oceania. Therefore, it could possibly take advantage of this and work with supranational organisations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum to garner developmental aid and technological expertise from countries like Singapore, Australia and New Zealand to strengthen and advance its economy. By leveraging upon the support it could gain from its neighbours, neighbours who wish to see a stable and peaceful Timor Leste, it could restart its economy with the political and economic support of its regional states and neighbours.

Logo of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

Members of the Pacific Islands Forum

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) logo

Timor Leste's location vis a vis Indonesia and Australia

A key linchpin in this strategy would be close economic relations with Indonesia and Australia. Due to geographical proximity, these two nations are those that have the greatest immediate stake in Timor Leste and are Timor Leste’s two largest trading partners. Timor Leste has already undergone economic cooperation with Australia in the exploitation of shared oil resources. Revenue from the sale of oil, which already provides the government with revenues of USD 40 million a year, could be channelled into vital areas such as education to create more skilled workers to change the nation’s economy from that of a primarily producer based economy to one that is a mix of agricultural production and light and heavy industries.

Timor Leste Oil Rig in the Timor Sea

Timor Leste could also focus on eco as well as community based tourism as part of its development strategy. Tourism could be targeted as a key area of growth and revenue generation and job provision for the Timorese people and their government. Forming part of the Coral Triangle, the global epicentre of marine biodiversity, Timor Leste could leverage upon this and attract tourists interested in its rich marine life. Additionally, this is in line with sustainable development, providing local coastal communities with a source of income and the sufficient incentive to protect the nation’s marine biodiversity. Furthermore, Timor Leste has one of the world’s last lowland coastal rainforests, a region safeguarded by the Nino Kontis Santana National Park. Avid birdwatchers will be attracted to this area in light of the rare and endangered avifauna present here. By conserving species like the critically endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo, the endemic Timor Green-pigeon, the endangered Timor Imperial-pigeon, and the vulnerable Timor Sparrow, Timor Leste could present itself as a centre of bird conservation, attracting eco-tourists interested in avifauna. If this conservation program could be extended to other key areas such as the sandalwood forests and mountain forests, it would significantly raise the ecotourism appeal of the country.

Timor Sparrow

Yellow Crested Cockatoo

Timor Imperial Pigeon

Timor Green Pigeon

East Timorese man in traditional dress

Coral in the Timor Sea

The nation could also harness its position as the one of the few Portuguese colonial settlements in the Southeast Asian region and utilise the Portuguese historical presence, relics and structures as part of its second prong approach towards tourism. By attracting enthusiasts about colonialism and Portuguese history, Timor Leste could diversify its tourism industry. Lusophone enthusiasts (Portuguese speakers) would also find Timor Leste an alluring place to visit. The nation could even construct itself as a key centre in the study of the Portuguese language, developing the country culturally and revitalising a part of its heritage that could serve to promote the exotic appeal of the country. History buffs would also be interested in the Timorese resistance against Indonesian rule, how the Fatilini guerrilla forces waged the struggle for Timorese freedom and even traces of the Japanese occupation of the nation during the Second World War. Furthermore, being only one of two Christian majority nations in Southeast Asia (the other being the Philippines), Timor Leste could draw upon its religious heritage to promote itself as a centre of Catholic studies and hence develop the nation spiritually. In the reconstructing of any nation, although the main effort should be directed towards economic rebuilding, the cultural and spiritual side of a nation must not be forgotten for these are what truly defines a nation and gives the people strength to persevere on to achieve economic and political stability.  

Balide Church, Dili (the capital of Timor Leste)

As a nation at the lower end of the development scale, Timor Leste should first concentrate upon agricultural production as well as light industry such as manufacturing before moving on towards more technological and capital intensive industries. The Timorese government’s focus upon the exporting of cash crops such as coffee is certainly a laudable goal. However, the fixation upon a single dominant cash crop is detrimental to a nation as world prices for coffee may fluctuate. Rather, perhaps the government could consider developing other cash crops as well such as vanilla or nutmeg to reduce the reliance that the nation has upon a single export product. Furthermore, instead of merely exporting raw agricultural products, perhaps the Timorese government could consider building up a food processing industry so that the country could at least produce finished goods that usually fetch higher prices in the world market. The export of Tais (an expensive locally made fabric, akin in importance to the nation as Batik is to Indonesia), could also serve to develop the light industry sector and provide a diversification of the economy for Timor Leste. It would also serve to promote a unique Timor Leste identity that would have positive intangible effects for the nation as a whole.

Tais in the National Parliament

The introduction of aquaculture is also a viable means of developing the nation. As Timor Leste is well suited to fish breeding and raising due to its favourable climate and waters, commercial or community based aquaculture could also be used as a means of creating a new sector as a means to export fish alongside oil and other agricultural products.

Tilapia, a fish often used in aquaculture

Oil revenue must be managed in a responsible manner and channelled towards the nation’s development. Unemployment which currently stands at close to 50% of the population can only be reduced if the people are encouraged to take part in the key sectors of tourism, commercial fishing, clothing, manufacturing and commercial agriculture. The shift from subsistence living towards these sectors must be actively encouraged by the government through housing and educational benefits as well as educational drives. The Timor Leste government must also actively seek to integrate the nation into the regional and international economy so as to export more goods to bring in economic stability to this new nation.

Diplomacy and its Importance in Negotiations

(As part of the project that I did with the United Nations Association of Singapore (UNAS), I wrote 7 essays concerning various aspects of the UN and the international system. This is essay 6 out of 7)


Section 6 (Other Topics)

Q58. Why is diplomacy so important in multi-lateral and bi-lateral negotiations? Do you think diplomacy alone is sufficient to prevail in negotiations? What then is also important?

By Linus Wong, National Junior College

Diplomacy has been a crucial means that states have used for centuries to achieve their national goals and to satisfy and defend national interests. Diplomacy gives a state a new method to consider as an alternative means of achieving their goals, a recourse from the utilisation of armed force.

In addition, diplomacy serves as a means whereby states may communicate with one another, maintain channels of dialogue and serve as the first platform upon which eventual people to people relations can be built upon.

UN HQ in New York, the world's main diplomatic organisation

Furthermore in negotiations, diplomacy allows states a recognised and acceptable way in which they may achieve their goals. Diplomacy allows states to reach a compromise that would be best able to satisfy all concerned parties. Most importantly, diplomacy serves as the primary way upon which peace can be built, maintained and defended.

As important and crucial diplomacy is in order to prevail in negotiations, there are other aspects required in a successful negotiation. In this, I would like to clarify that prevailing in the negotiation means that one side is able to triumph over another in negotiations, the side that prevails would thus be the one that gains the greatest benefits from the negotiations. This could perhaps be seen as adopting the Bismarckian way of looking at diplomacy and negotiations.

These include but are not limited to:

1.  The country, state or organisation that one represents is very important. The strength of what one represents gives one an advantage in a negotiation. It could be political strength, economic strength or even military strength. Negotiating from a position of strength is lends the negotiator a strong hand and a firm backing which may make the course of the negotiations easier.

(For example the strength that a negotiator of the United States of America has as compared to a negotiator from Somalia)

2.  The possession of a moral high ground in certain situations is critical. When negotiating on issues of human rights, conflicts and especially crimes against humanity, the party that possess the moral high ground naturally is able to argue and negotiate from a position of strength and credibility.

(For example the US riposte at the Soviet Union at the United Nations Security Council during the Cuban Missile  Crisis)

3.  One’s position as part of the negotiation. If the negotiator is representing a victimised country, a country that has suffered injury, his place at the negotiating table would thus be strengthened due to the nature of the circumstances. If the negotiator represents the aggressor nation, the nation perceived by the international community to be in the wrong, his hand would be stifled and weakened at the negotiating table. The ability to take the offensive in a negotiation is at times largely predicated upon the party that one represents and the situation at hand. If one is representing a party in a compromising position, one might be forced to take a defensive position in the negotiations, resulting in a lower possibility of one succeeding.

(An example would be the USA having to take a defensive position in diplomacy after its invasion of Iraq)

4.  Lastly, negotiations are often predicated upon the ability of the negotiator and his personality. A negotiator able to establish a strong rapport with others, one that possesses strong interpersonal skills, a firm and resolute person that commands respect and trust would have a higher probability of prevailing in negotiations. A negotiator that is able to control and manipulate the situation at hand as  well as his fellow negotiations, one that is able to use his persuasive skills to alter opinions and to bring his opponent towards his stance is a successful negotiator. Experience also counts in the field of diplomacy. The art of turning white to black, to convince, to win over people is critical and absolute essential in order for a negotiation to succeed. 

(Professor Tommy Koh’s reputation as a powerful and successful negotiator, especially during the formulation of the UN Law of the Sea)

A 6th century Chinese painting of emissaries to China

However, if one were to take a different approach towards the idea of prevalence in a negotiation, if one were to accept that a negotiation prevails when all sides are able to agree upon a compromise, a compromise that benefits all parties and does not favour one more than the other, a different set of criteria and attributes must be brought up.

For that sort of success to occur, the negotiators must be able to find common ground, to seek balance and moderation, to look for similarities rather than differences and from there thus try to work out a moderated agreement.

Therefore, as the art of diplomacy is complex, multi-faceted and always contingent upon various factors and circumstances, the key attribute to succeed in a negotiation I would say is the ability to narrow the differences and heighten the similarities.

Regional Organisations and Their Role in Peacekeeping

(As part of the project that I did with the United Nations Association of Singapore (UNAS), I wrote 7 essays concerning various aspects of the UN and the international system. This is essay 5 out of 7)

Section 5 (Preventive Diplomacy, Peace Making and Peace Keeping)

Q43. Of late, regional organisations (e.g. ASEAN, NATO, and OAS) have become important in peace-making and peace-keeping. Give 2 examples of such regional efforts. What advantages do regional organisations have over the UN?

By Linus Wong, National Junior College

Peace is a universal goal of humanity. It must be the primary objective for all governments as a climate of peace and stability within a nation and with other states is often a fundamental prerequisite for economic development and the attainment of social stability and equity. The United Nations has long served as the preeminent and largest organisation capable of creating, preserving and creating peace on our planet. However, with the onset of the regionalisation of the world and the increased proliferation and pre-eminence of regional organisations, they too have begun to take up the mantle of fostering and safeguarding peace in our world.

UN Peacekeepers

It is perhaps best to begin by defining what exactly is peacemaking and peacekeeping. Peacemaking is essentially a process of conflict resolution and conflict resolution. It means creating a climate of peace by resolving pre-existing conflicts through compromise acceptable to all parties and to engender an environment that would sustain the peace achieved. Peacekeeping meanwhile is a process of recreating the climate of peace after there has been conflict or instability so as to facilitate the process of peacemaking in a more conducive environment.

The advantages of having the UN as an organisation that is capable of conducting peacekeeping and peacemaking operations globally certainly cannot be discounted. However, there are various advantages that regional organisations possess that the UN can never have.

These advantages are as follows:

1.    Being closer to the conflict, such organisations can react faster and have a better understanding of the conflict than the international community  as whole, as represented by the United Nations

2.    Countries in a regional organisation have a greater stake in peace and stability in their region and are thus more likely to be actively engaged and more devoted towards peacekeeping and peacemaking efforts

3.    Affected countries in question might be more willing to accept the mediation efforts and peacekeeping forces of regional states through regional organisations as compared to the United Nations which is occasionally seen as a vehicle to advance Western or democratic interests

4.    Regional organisations will have a better understanding of local conditions and at times even local cultures and traditions which make them more acceptable to the local population as they appear less foreign

5.    There is less factionalism and bureaucratic delays within regional organisations due to their smaller composition and the fact that states are unlikely to be as polarized or differring in viewpoints as in the United Nations due to its global representation

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) led peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo are a key example. NATO can also be credited with its efforts in intervening in Bosnia after the collapse of Yugoslavia and its peacemaking efforts resulting in the Dayton Accords which has created relative peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Balkan region as a whole. The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is tasked with maintaining a secure environment in Kosovo. At the beginning of its mandate in 1999, Kosovo was confronted with a pressing and urgent humanitarian crisis of the highest degree. Military and paramilitary forces from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Liberation Army, mainly composed of Orthodox Christian Serbs were in daily engagement with Kosovans who were largely Muslim Albanians. Ethnic tensions were at their highest and the death toll was astronomical. Nearly a million people were displaced as refugees. It was in this climate that the NATO led peacekeeping forces, comprised of a large European contingent, which eventually managed to restore peace amongst the ethnicities and a stable political environment. Perhaps the greatest testament to NATO’s success and its ongoing efforts in Kosovo is the fact that Kosovo, despite its declaration of independence from Serbia has not descended into ethnic conflict and has remained relatively peaceful.

NATO's Flag

German Panzer as part of the Kosovo Force

Distribution of forces in Kosovo

Following Somalia’s descent into chaos and the dissolution of political structures and peace with the onset of the civil war, the African Union has played a major role in creating, preserving and strengthening peace and stability efforts in the world’s first failed state. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) helps to support the transitional government, to train the Somali army, to assist in the implementation of a security plan to bring peace to Somalia and to effect the delivery of humanitarian aid. ANISOM faces a daunting challenge. With the transitional government unable to even control Mogadishu, the nation’s capital, with warlordism rife, with radical Islamic fundamentalism and a secessionist state of Somaliland in the north, ANISOM and the Somali transitional government have many pressing challenges. However, it is to AMISOM’s credit and perseverance that the transitional government has not been toppled by Harakat al-Shabab Mujahedeen.  It is an ongoing struggle for the soul of Somalia. With the transitional government’s control limited to certain border areas and a section of the capital, AMISOM’s efforts must be complemented with those of the international community in order to ensure that the Somali people once again see the light of peace in their nation.

Flag of the African Union

An open area in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital

ANISOM forces on patrol

Peace can thus only be attained when all parties see that conflict is detrimental and when all parties, internal and external, are committed towards achieving and maintaining peace.

Benefits that Small States Derive from the UN

(As part of the project that I did with the United Nations Association of Singapore (UNAS), I wrote 7 essays concerning various aspects of the UN and the international system. This is essay 4 out of 7)


Section 4 (Trade, Development and Poverty Eradication)

Q33. Do you think the UN has benefited small member states? If so, how and in what way? If not, why?

By Linus Wong, National Junior College

Membership in the United Nations is often seen as a prerequisite for a country or state to be considered fully sovereign. The United Nations has often been criticized for being a talk shop, a forum for world discussion that results in no tangible benefits. But critics have often been overly harsh in their assessment of this supranational organization. The UN has many tangible benefits for member nations. This is especially important for small states that often lack the capability to handle complex and destabilizing situations by themselves.

These benefits for small states include and are not limited to:

1.   The UN serves as a guarantor of a member state’s sovereignty. If a member state’s sovereignty is infringed, the UN has the ability to authorize other member states to act in the name of collective security and allow the use of armed force to defend or regain the sovereignty of an invaded member state.

(Key examples include the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and the invasion of the Republic of Korea by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)

2.   Even if armed action is not taken, the opinion of the UN, the voice of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly represent the voice and will of the international community. International condemnation for the aggressor and support for the attacked state lends legitimacy to the government in need and denies the invader of any credibility. This is essential for small states as they may be unable to defend themselves against an armed assault by a stronger and more powerful nation, and this level of support galvanizes the occupied people and gives hope to the afflicted government.

(A key example would be the UN’s condemnation of Vietnam after it invaded Cambodia on a yearly basis till Vietnam withdrew from Cambodia in the face of strong, sustained international condemnation.)

UN General Assembly

3.   In addition, due to the limited resources that small states have, it is not possible for them to have as wide a diplomatic outreach as the larger nations. (not as many embassies due to a smaller budget) Thus the UN serves as an invaluable platform for them to carry out state to state relations and to conduct diplomatic relations and trade agreements.

(Small island states like Nauru, the Maldives and Singapore use the UN as a key platform upon which they can conduct diplomacy and maintain diplomatic relations with other nations.)

Singapore's Permanent Representative, Mr Vanu Gopala Menon

4.   Furthermore, the UN is able to guarantee a state’s neutrality. This ensures that nations that wish to remain neutral to world events and world conflicts are able to do so.

(Key examples include Turkmenistan, whose neutrality was recognized by the UN in 1995 and other neutral states like Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria)

5.   In addition, the UN is able to assist small states economically through the various organs and programs it has like the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Small states often have limited resources and may be disadvantaged geographically. Those small landlocked states are helped by the UN Law of the Sea which ensures that these states too have access to the sea as a means of communication and trade. States that have limited natural resources or infrastructure are assisted by UN developmental experts as well as aid from fellow UN member states.

(A key example would be the UN developmental expert to Singapore, Dr Albert Winsemius, who played a major role in formulation Singapore’s economic development)

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

6.   In the past, the UN was also the main advocate for decolonization, using the UN Trusteeship Council to aid states on the path to independence by helping them build up their economic capabilities, by building up stable and functioning government and political structures and by providing long term development aid and assistance.

(Key examples would be the 7 African states and 4 states in Oceania, with Palau the last Trusteeship territory achieving independence in 1994)

UN Trusteeship Council

7.   Furthermore, the UN’s policy of the “one state, one vote system” gives small member states a large say in global events. As the number of small states far outweighs that of large and powerful states, the potential for small states to determine policy and resolutions in organs like the General Assembly is very large. Thus the fact that the UN allows small states to have this position to influence international events is perhaps one of the greatest benefits that small member states can gain.

8.   Most importantly however, the UN recognizes the equality of all states. States large or small, states rich or poor, states powerful or weak are all seen as having equal rights and equal say in the United Nations. This understanding that no sovereign state is legally more important or more powerful than another is a powerful principle that forms the bedrock of our understanding of international law and the conduct of diplomacy between nations.

As beneficial the UN has been to small states, there are still many limitations that the UN has that hampers its true potential and the additional benefits that the UN may give its member states. The domination of the UN by large states, powerful states is still a problem even though all nations are perceived to be equal. States that are not committed to the UN, states that are not committed to the organization’s goals will also not see the UN as beneficial but sometimes even redundant and restrictive.

Ultimately though the UN’s strength and the benefits that it can give are dependent upon each and every individual member state, dependent upon the strength of their support for the UN and their attitude towards the international community.