Results of the 2023 Open Budget Survey

Press Release

Progress is Possible with Better Transparency and Public Participation in the Budget Process

 Liga ba blog ida ne'e iha Tetum.  Link to PDF of this press release 

From 2020 to 2022, Timor-Leste did not improve its transparency score, primarily due to the Government's budgeting decisions – collecting revenue, providing essential services, repaying loans. These concerns have important consequences for everyone in society. When the government provides and disseminates timely information through accessible channels in language that everyone can understand, it encourages policies to spend public money in the public interest.

The commitment to improving transparency remains weak

The Open Budget Survey (OBS) 2023 is an independent survey conducted every two years using the same indicators to evaluate 125 countries worldwide, including Timor-Leste. On 29 May 2024, the International Budget Partnership (IBP) launched the results of the 2023 OBS, which examined events in 2021 and 2022 related to preparation of the 2023 State Budget by the VIII Constitutional Government, and the implementation and oversight of earlier budgets.

Overall, the worldwide average transparency score increased by 24% since the previous OBS two years ago, but Timor-Leste's transparency score dropped by 15 points, almost as low as it was a decade ago. This situation demands close attention from the Government of Timor-Leste. For many years, the Government has repeatedly promised to improve the effectiveness of transparency system, from budget planning to implementation, to ensure that all information related to public spending is accessible to everyone.

Nevertheless, there have been some improvements in the oversight score, which increased by 12 points compared to two years ago, reaching 68 out of 100. This score is better than those of Indonesia and Malaysia. Additionally, the participation score increased by four points from the previous period, now standing at 11 out of 100. This indicates that the Government has begun to improve and provide space for the public in some budgetary processes, but this score remains very low compared to other countries in Asia.

Although the Government has taken initiatives to promote better transparency, it still lacks a strong commitment to significantly improve it. This has been noted since 2022, when the VIII Government made inconsistent changes to legal frameworks by proposing the Budget Framework Law, which was later amended by the IX Government, eliminating the Major Planning Options Law in 2023. This removes a chance for the public and National Parliament to discuss priorities and programs which could help the Government prepare its budget proposal, and the Government no longer discusses long-term plans.

OBS 2023 Indicators for Timor-Leste

Transparency

The transparency score measures public accessibility to information on how the Government raises and spends public resources. The investigation of these processes mainly focuses on the availability of online access, timeliness, and the provision of detailed and comprehensive information in the eight key documents of the State Budget books.

In 2022, although the Timor-Leste Government managed to publish the 2023 Pre-Budget Statement and the 2022 Mid-Year Review online and in a timely manner, these publications did not provide the same level of detail and completeness as other documents such as the Year-End Report, In-Year reports, Citizens’ Budget, and Executive Budget Proposal. Therefore, Timor-Leste only scored 37 out of 100.

Public Participation

The score for public participation measures the opportunities for public involvement in various stages of the budgetary process: formulation, enactment, execution and oversight. Timor-Leste's public participation score is 11 out of 100, and still lower than countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Budget Oversight

Budget oversight is measured by the functions of legislatures and audit institutions, which also play a significant role in the budgetary process by conducting control and oversight to ensure accountability throughout the process.

Timor-Leste scored 67 out of 100, six points better than two years ago. This score is considered adequate or satisfactory.

Recommendations that the State of Timor-Leste Should Put into Practice

Government needs to ensure that budgetary information is detailed, aligned completely with the program-based budget, and also to ensure that all information is timely and easily accessible. This includes publication of the budget books, especially the In-year Reports, Mid-year Report, and Year-end Report, as well as the information shared via the Transparency Portal.

Based on the public participation score, we recommend that Government expand mechanisms in the budgetary process from formulation through execution to involve civil society organizations, media, and the public. This involves inclusive ways to encourage participation and ensure that all citizens can have input to and follow all processes.

We also recommend that the National Parliament provide mechanisms for the public and civil society organizations to present their analyses and perspectives prior to Parliamentary approval of Government proposals, including ensuring that hearings are open to media. Furthermore, opportunities should be provided for the public and civil society organizations to accompany discussions of audit reports.

We also encourage oversight bodies to examine the budget execution and audit reports, and to publish information obtained during the process. When Government takes steps to improve transparency, it can help all citizens support Government's overall efforts to prevent or avoid Timor-Leste from falling over a fiscal cliff.

Finally, we urge the Government to consider the challenges that Timor-Leste faces -- reducing unnecessary expenditures and curtailing the growth of state spending, in order to address issues that truly affect people's lives and the domestic economy. 

More specific recommendations are in La’o Hamutuk’s open letter to Government officials. More detailed information on OBS 2023 is in the IBP website, the OBS 2023 report for Timor-Leste, and the questionnaire.

Rezultadu Open Budget Survey 2023

Komunikadu Imprensa / Press Release

Progresu Sei Posivel Bainhira Hadi’ak Transparénsia no Partisipasaun Públiku iha Prosesu Orsamentál

 Link to this blog in English.   Liga ba komunikadu ida ne'e hanesan PDF 

Dezde 2020 ba 2022, Timor-Leste la konsege hatudu mudansa signifikativu iha valór transparénsia – hirak ne’e hotu relasiona ho desizaun Governu nian kona ba orsamentál – Taxa ne’ebé presiza rekolla, servisu saida mak tenke fornese, empréstimu hirak mak sai hanesan obrigasaun atu selu. Preokupasaun hirak ne’e iha konsekuénsia importante ba ema hotu iha sosiedade. Bainhira governu fornese informasaun no fó sai liu husi kanál ne’ebé hakerek iha lian ne’ebé ema hotu bele komprende no asesu hodi atualiza ba polítika sira ne’ebé governu estabelese hodi asegura katak osan povu nian gasta duni ba interese povu nian.

Seidauk hatudu kometimentu forte atu hadi’ak transparénsia

Open Budget Survey – OBS 2023 – nudár survey independente ne’ebé realiza kada periodu tinan rua liu husi sasukat komparativu iha nivel mundiál ba nasaun 125 inklui Timor-Leste. Iha 29 Maiu 2024, Organizasaun Internasionál Parseiru Orsamentál (International Budget Partnership – IBP) realiza lansamentu rezultadu husi Survey Orsamentu Nakloke (Open Budget Survey - OBS) tinan 2023 nian ne’ebé avalia husi prosesu preparasaun OJE 2023 ne’ebé iha jestaun Governu VIII nian to’o iha implementasaun no fiskalizasaun.

Jerálmente, valór transparénsia aumenta ba 24% iha nivel mundiál, enkuantu pozisaun transparénsia Timor-Leste nian tun pontu 15 kompara ho OBS ikus (kona-ba tinan 2020) no kuaze hanesan ho valór iha dékada ida liu ba iha tinan 2012. Situasaun ne’e, presiza hetan atensaun aas husi Governu Timor-Leste, tanba iha tinan barak nia laran ona mak Governu repete atu hadi’ak sistema transparénsia ho efetivu liu husi planeamentu orsamentál to’o iha implementasaun sira hodi asegura katak informasaun sira hotu ne’ebé liga ba gastu osan públiku nian sei nakloke ba ema hotu.

Mezmu nune’e, iha mudansa balu ba valór fiskalizasaun ne’ebé aumenta pontu 12 kompara tinan rua liu ba ho valór 68 husi 100, valór ne’e ita bele konsidera di’ak liu kompara ho nasaun Indonézia no Malázia. Aleinde ne’e, ba valór partisipasaun aumenta pontu haat kompara husi periodu antes ho valór 11 husi 100, signifika katak Governu hahú hadi’ak no fó espasu públiku iha prosesu orsamentál balu, maibé valór ida ne’e nafatin ki’ik liu kompara ho nasaun sira balu iha Ásia. 

Maske iha Governu hola inisiativa balu atu promove di’ak liu transparénsia, Governu rasik seidauk iha kometimentu forte ba hadi’ak transparénsia, hirak ne’e ita nota dezde tinan 2022 bainhira Governu nia inkonsisténsia ba mudansa iha enkuadramentu legal sira hodi propoin lei Enkuadramentu Orsamentál ne’ebé ikus mai halo alterasaun fila fali ba Lei Orsamentu no Jestaun Finanseira Nu. 15/2023 ne’ebé elimina Lei Grande Opsaun Planeamentu. Ida ne’e taka oportunidade ba diskusaun iha públiku no Parlamentu Nasional kona-ba prioridade no programa sira, ne'ebé bele ajuda Governu atu prepara proposta OJE iha kada tinan no Governu rasik la konsege diskute kona ba planu ba longu prazu nian. 

Indikadór iha OBS 2023 ba Timor-Leste

Transparénsia

Valór Transparénsia sukat husi asesibilidade públiku ba iha informasaun sira kona ba oinsá Governu hasa’e no gasta rekursu públiku. Investigasaun ba prosesu hirak ne’e haree liu husi disponibilidade asesu online, haktuir ba tempu no informasaun detallu no komprensivu iha dokumentu importante ualu husi livru Orsamentu Estadu. 

Tinan ida ne’e, maske Governu Timor-Leste konsege públika dokumentu Esteitmentu molok proposta OGE (Pre-Budget Statement) ba OJE 2023 nian no Relatóriu Tinan Klaran (Mid-Year Review) ba OJE 2022 nian iha online no tuir tempu, livru hirak ne’e la konsege fornese informasaun sira ho detallu no kompletu hanesan inklui mós livru sira seluk hanesan Relatóriu Anuál (Year-End Report), Relatóriu Trimestral (In-Year Reports), Orsamentu ba Sidadaun (Citizens Budget), no Livru Proposta OJE (Executive’s Budget Proposal). Nune’e, Timor-Leste hetan de’it pontu 37 husi 100.

Partisipasaun Públiku

Sasukat valór partisipasaun públiku nian avalia husi oportunidade ba partisipasaun públiku iha etapa iha prosesu orsamentál sira hahú husi formulasaun, aprovasaun, implementasaun no fiskalizasaun. Valór ba partisipasaun públiku Timor-Leste nian mak 11 husi 100, no Timor-Leste nafatin ki’ik kompara ho nasaun Filipina, Malázia, Tailándia, Indonézia no Vietname. 

Fiskalizasaun Orsamentál

Prosesu sasukat ba fiskalizasaun avalia liu husi funsaun lejisladór sira no instituisaun auditór sira ne’ebé iha knaar atu akompaña prosesu orsamentál tanba sira halo kontrolu no fiskalizasaun no asegura akontabilidade. 

Timor-Leste hetan pontu 67 husi 100, valor ida ne’e hatudu aumenta pontu 6 kompara ho relatóriu OBS 2021 no konsidera adekuadu ka nato’on

Rekomendasaun ne’ebé Estadu Timor-Leste Presiza Tau iha Pratika

Governu presiza asegura katak informasaun orsamentál sira detallu, kompletu aliña ho orsamentu bazeia programa no mós asegura katak informasaun sira ne’e hotu fasil atu asesu no publika haktuir ba tempu ba livru OJE sira liu-liu ba livru Relatóriu Trimestral (In-year Reports), Relatóriu Tinan Klaran (Mid-year Report), no Relatóriu Tinan Ikus (Year-End Report) no informasaun sira hotu ne’ebé públika iha portál transparénsia.

Bazeia ba rezultadu husi valór partisipasaun públiku nian, rekomenda ba Governu tomak atu haboot mekanizmu sira iha prosesu formulasaun to’o iha implementasaun iha prosesu orsamentál sira hodi involve mós organizasaun sosiedade sivíl, média no públiku inklui konsidera asuntu inkluzaun atu partisipa no asegura katak sidadaun sira hotu bele atualizadu no akompaña prosesu sira hotu.

Rekomenda mós ba Parlamentu Nasionál sira atu fó biban ba públiku no organizasaun sosiedade sivíl sira atu hato’o sira nia analiza, no perspetiva molok halo aprovasaun ba proposta husi Governu, inklui asegura katak audiénsia hirak ne’e nakloke ba média sira. Aleinde ne’e, fó mós biban ba públiku no organizasaun sosiedade sivíl atu akompaña durante prosesu diskusaun ba relatóriu audit nian. 

Ami enkoraja órgaun fiskalizadór sira atu halo ezamina mós ba implementasaun orsamentál no relatóriu audit sira no publika informasaun sira ne’ebé konsege identifika iha prosesu ezaminasaun. Tanba bainhira Governu halo esforsu atu hadi’ak valór transparénsia iha OBS bele ajuda sidadaun sira hotu suporta ba Governu nia esforsu tomak atu prevene ka hasees Timor-Leste husi rai-naruk fiskál, haktuir ba informasaun detallu sira iha ami nia karta aberta iha ne'e. 

Ikus liu, ami Governu atu konsidera défise ne’ebé Timor-Leste hasoru, atu redús despeza sira la nesesáriu no proporsaun ba despeza estadu ne’ebé kontinua aas ba bei-beik hodi foka asuntu ne’ebé realistíku ba povu nia moris no ekonomia rai-laran. Bele asesu informasaun kle’an liu kona ba OBS 2023, relatóriu kona-ba TL, no questionnaire.

Bele asesu dokumentu sira kona-ba Orsamentu Jeral Estadu 2024 RDTL nian iha ne'e.

Rejeita Adezaun ba WTO: Presiza Proteje no Promove Ekonomia Rai Laran

Iha loron 27 Fevereiru 2024, La'o Hamutuk organiza konferénsia imprensa no fó sai esteitmentu tuir mai (mós PDF, also English and Portuguese translations):

Loron 26 Fevereiru 2024 reprezentante husi IX Governu, Membru Parlamentu balun no Prezidente Repúblika iha Abu Dhabi, EAU, hodi partisipa simeira Organizasaun Mundial Komérsiu (WTO, sigla Inglés) ba dala-13 no asina protokolu adezaun nian. Ho nune’e La’o Hamutuk hakarak hato’o ami nia pozisaun liu husi konferénsia imprensa ida ne’e ba preokupasaun sira hanesan tuir mai. 

Dezde 1995, estabelesimentu husi WTO hanesan konkordánsia global ida atu regula komérsiu iha nivel internasionál, hafoin krize mina-rai iha dékada 1970 no intensifikasaun kompetisaun entre nasaun Europeia sira, Japaun no Estadus Unidos da América (EUA). WTO sai hanesan organizasaun hodi habelar tan relasaun komérsiu livre iha nasaun hirak ne’ebé hola parte, no servisu hamutuk ho instituisaun finansiál internasionál sira hanesan IMF no Banku Mundiál atu asegura nasaun sira sei tuir akordu ne’e. Objetivu prinsipál mak atu regula no fasilita komérsiu internasionál entre nasaun membru sira liu husi atividade esportasaun no importasaun no define polítika hodi redús no halakon tarefa sira ne’ebé tendénsia impede komérsiu livre. 

Dezde 2016, Governu Timor-Leste iha intensaun atu hola parte iha WTO. Maibé La’o Hamutuk la konkorda ho adezaun tanba WTO sei lori risku boot ba Timor-Leste nia soberania, no ita hatene Timor-Leste sei menus liu kontrolu atu regula rasik nia polítika ekonomia. Membru WTO hotu tenke konkorda ba regulamentu sira liga ba komérsiu no investimentu, no ita nia lei doméstiku sira mós tenke aliña ho regulamentu WTO nian. 

Mezmu WTO dehan promove merkadu livre ne’ebé sei fó benefísiu ba nasaun membru hotu, realidade dominasaun ba iha komérsiu livre sei favoravel de’it ba ema riku sira, nasaun boot no kompañia boot sira ne’ebé durante ne’e regula no domina komérsiu no investimentu mundiál. Ida ne’e sei haterus interese ba ema hotu, negósiu sira no governasaun sira iha parte Sul Global liu-liu negósiu ki’ik sira sei susar liu atu kompete ho kompañia husi nasaun riku sira, no limita abilidade ba nasaun kiak sira atu haforsa sira nia ekonomia rai laran no setór produtivu sira hanesan agrikultura, manufatura no mós turizmu. 

Maske governu Timor-Leste hatete nafatin katak sei fó prioridade no asegura komersiante ki’ik iha rai laran, realidade husi nasaun membru sira seluk hatudu katak wainhira Estadu tuir komérsiu livre no adere ba WTO ninia regulasaun, komunidade, liu-liu ba agrikultór sira, hetan prejuizu boot. Ezemplu ida mai husi nasaun India iha fulan Fevereiru 2024. Agrikultór sira halo protestu ba nia estadu tanba Governu India a favór liu ba regulamentu husi WTO hodi la konsidera dezafiu ne’ebé sira enfrenta no la aplika subsídiu ne’ebé relevante ho sira nia realidade. Aleinde India, organizasaun ne’ebé halibur an iha agrikultór sira husi mundu tomak, La Via Campesina, protesta kontra WTO ninia polítika ne’ebé sei akontese durante loron 4 (26 to 29 Fevereiru) tanba dezde momentu hahú, akordu ne’e halo agrikultór sira hetan moris terus no pobreza sistemátiku.

Iha razaun barak tanba sá WTO la susesu atu obriga nasaun Estadus Unidus Amerika, Uniaun Europa, inklui nasaun riku sira, atu hapara protesaun ba sira. Tanba realidade hatudu katak maske WTO deklara ‘ultra-demokrátika’, tanba regulamentu sira deside liu-husi konsensu husi nasaun membru sira presiza iha aprovasaun hamutuk, maibé nasaun boot sira nafatin iha kapasidade no influensia boot liu hodi impoin sira nia interesse iha diskusaun WTO nian, tanba iha delegasaun sira ne’ebé ho esperiénsia negosiasaun boot mak tuir iha konferénsia, enkuantu nasaun ki’ik sira sei haruka de’it grupu ki’ik ne’ebé ho esperiénsia no koñesimentu uitoan mak partisipa. 

Benefísiu husi WTO sei maioria ba nasaun esportadór sira ne’ebé ekonomikamente forsa ona no avansadu, no mós ba ema riku husi nasaun sira ne’e, tanba sira iha ona forsa no rekursu barak hodi garantia estabilidade merkadu no komérsiu internasionál. Nasaun ki’ik no kiak sira bele esporta ho kuantidade ba sasán sira ka matéria prima sira ne’ebé bele kompete iha nivel merkadu internasionál. Nune’e, nasaun hirak ne’ebé seidauk bele atu kompete sei la hetan benefísiu husi merkadu nakloke ida ne’e, sira sofre liu fali husi implikasaun sira iha merkadu livre ida ne’e, tanba kompetisaun iha folin baratu no kualidade aas ne’ebé sei destroi produsaun lokál no tendénsia la a favór ba agrikultór ho eskalaun ki’ik sira hodi kompete. 

Liu husi relasaun públiku internasionál ne’ebé Governu Timor-Leste trasa ona hodi fiar an katak ida ne’e sei reforsa ba ekonomia reziliente, kompetitivu no sustentável. Ami hanoin katak presiza realistíku uitoan bainhira foti desizaun boot ne’ebé bele sakrifika nasaun no povu ida ne’e. Realidade maioria husi kreximentu GDP la’ós-mina dezde independénsia aas tanba gastu Estadu nian ne’ebé boot iha konstrusaun no administrasaun públiku sira. Setór seluk, hanesan telekomunikasaun, retallu, ospitalidade, propriedade no transporte sira tun sa’e de’it, maibé setór produtivu sira, liu-liu agrikultura ne’ebé kontinua la hatudu mudansa signifikante dezde 2002. Hanesan rezultadu mak menus produtividade doméstika nian, Timor-Leste kontinua dependénsia maka’as ba importasaun ai-han no sasán sira ho kuaze tokon $900, kompara ho ita nia esportasaun sasán naun-petróleu tokon $30 de’it kada tinan. Kondisaun ida ne’e, hatudu defisiénsia boot tebes atu Timor-Leste bele sai nasaun kompetitivu iha nivel merkadu livre. 

Tanba ne’e, duke adezaun ba WTO ho esperansa atu esporta produtu ne’ebé realidade sei mínimu tebes, Timor-Leste presiza dezenvolve mak oinsá atu hakbiit kapasidade produtivu sira liu husi redús dependénsia sira ba importasaun no hanoin ona oinsá investe ba produsaun lokál ne’ebé responde ba nesesidade povu nian. Liu-liu iha agrikultura ne’ebé esensiál tebes ba moris loron-loron ba komunidade sira iha area rural, aleinde resolve seguransa ai-han, rendimentu uma-kain no hadi’ak mós nutrisaun uma-kain ida-idak. Seluk mak bele aproveita investimentu estratéjiku sira, hanesan uza teknolojia importadu sira ne’ebé amigu ambiente no estadu rasik fó asisténsia insentiva oinsá dezenvolve indústria ki’ik sira, proteje no haforsa indústria ki’ik sira. Ho nune’e, neineik ita bele hakbiit ona abilidade iha ita nia joven sira, fornese oportunidade servisu, redús dependénsia sira no asegura duni povu Timor-Leste ba futuru ida ne’ebé sustentável liu. 

Ami rekomenda ba IX Governu no Parlamentu Nasional atu:

• Fó prioridade no apoia rekursu finanseiru hodi reforsa setór edukasaun, atu prodús rekursu umanu ne’ebé di’ak no preparadu atu tama iha kampu de servisu, iha rai laran;
• Fó prioridade no rekursu finanseiru hodi reforsa sistema saúde iha rai laran no hadi’ak problema malnutrisaun (stunting) ne’ebé sei as iha rai laran;
• Fó prioridade ba hadi’ak rekursu bee mós, saneamentu ho infrastrutura báziku ne’ebé di’ak no sustentável ba povu;
• Fó prioridade ba hadi’ak merkadu sira iha Dili no Munisipiu hotu ho standar ne’ebé di’ak no ajuda vendedór ki’ik sira atu iha fatin seguru no dignu hodi hala’o ekonomia loron-loron;
• Kontinua investe ba setór produtivu sira, atu iha produsaun ai-han di’ak no sustentável ba konsumu no mós ba merkadu;
• Realiza diskusaun kle’an no nakloke ho entidade hotu, Sosiedade Sivil no públiku antes foti asaun ida ne’ebé ikus liu sei hatodan mós ba povu ki’ik sira, atu la sakrifika ba futuru nasaun Timor-Leste.

Government should be realistic and invest in sustainable sectors, not continue to fantasize

 Liga ba blog ida ne’e iha lian Tetum 

The Government proposed its 2024 State Budget Law to the National Parliament on 23 November. The overall objective of the budget proposal is to describe the Government’s priority to empower the country’s future by investing in the most productive sectors, but none of them are in the proposed appropriations, so how is the Government seriously investing in sustainable sectors?

The proposed 2024 fiscal envelope is larger than the highest scenario the Government presented at the Budget Day meeting in September. Financing for the 2024 State Budget continues to be highly dependent on the Petroleum Fund (PF), which covers about 84% of expenditures (including most of the money carried over from balances, which were transferred from the PF in previous years).

Government officials often speak of the need to seek sustainable and diverse alternative investments. However, notwithstanding the stated intention of the 2024 State Budget, they allocate still more money to the Tasi Mane Project and Greater Sunrise, whose total costs have never been made clear. We still do not know how much these projects will benefit our people and our nation, or what their environmental, land and human rights costs and risks will be.

Up to now, our economy depends on state expenditure, mainly from the PF, and we will struggle when Timor-Leste no longer has the Petroleum Fund. Its upcoming emptiness will severely impact the whole economy, including public- and private-sector employment as well as GDP, and we are very worried.

Tasi Mane wins, essential sectors lose

Timor-Leste has already spent $650 million (plus $130 million in interest to date) from the PF to purchase participation in the Greater Sunrise joint venture, and has spent $1.3 billion more on components of the Tasi Mane Project, which the Government says is needed to develop Greater Sunrise. According to the proposed budget, the Government will spend $13 million on the Tasi Mane Project and another $13 million on Greater Sunrise in 2024.

In view of the allocations in the proposed 2024 State Budget, the Government still does not prioritize essential areas, and we are concerned that the Government’s promises to improve peoples’ living conditions, which remain a major concern, will not be kept. Allocations to the critically important functions of health, education, clean water and sanitation comprise only about 17% of the total budget.

The Government has created a Unit to Combat Stunting, which will get $300,000 to provide food for pregnant mothers and small children. We think that a stronger way to combat malnutrition would be through strategic and long-term programs to promote and uplift local food, reducing domestic consumption dominated by imported food.

Human resources are important pillars for the country’s development, ensuring the sustainability of the state and helping people escape from poverty and hardship. Although the Government says it prioritizes human capital investment, there is little allocation to sectors which would improve human quality. How can the state respond to this situation when the state itself does not prioritize and value its people?

Agriculture or ASEAN?

The proposed 2024 State Budget still has no concrete policy to identify pathways for diversification to create a resilient and sustainable economy. As in past years, the agricultural sector continues to be neglected, receiving only 2.2% of the total 2024 budget. It is important to prioritize productive sectors such as agriculture and fisheries because, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification 2023, Timor-Leste is “one of the most vulnerable countries in the world in terms of its susceptibility to climatic shocks, such as La Niña, El Niño, and tropical cyclones.”

According to the 2019 Timor-Leste Agriculture Census, we have the potential to grow many types of food, but production is not yet able to meet domestic demand, and potential products are not being developed properly. Therefore, the policy of economic diversification should be realistic, not only an election campaign slogan.

Many people expect that joining ASEAN will benefit Timor-Leste, but we have not yet prepared our economy and important sectors such as agriculture.ASEAN will endanger Timor-Leste, as other countries can dominate our economy and we will continue to rely on products from abroad. It may also threaten our sovereignty and replace Timorese workers with people from ASEAN member countries. Although the Government considers the $4.3 million allocated for ASEAN in this budget to be a small amount, we think that ASEAN is not urgent, and that food sovereignty is more important.

Politically, the Government is very interested in joining ASEAN and hopes that integrating our economy and trade into regional and international markets will provide opportunities for foreign investment and improve our economy through job creation. On the other hand, there is still no in-depth explanation of what disadvantages Timor-Leste will face when it integrates into ASEAN, such as complying with the ASEAN free trade agreements and the responsibilities of membership.

It would be better if the budget helped farmers improve production, strengthened small processing industries and supported young people to produce livestock, fish and other products, which will be more valuable than the uncertain benefits of ASEAN.

These and other ideas are explained more fully in La’o Hamutuk’s 6 December submission (Tetum) to the National Parliament. You can find more information on the 2024 State Budget here.

Governu Tenke Realistíku ba Investe iha Setór Sustentável, La’ós Kontinua Mehi Fantazia

 Link to this blog in English 

Foin lalais ne’e iha 23 Novembru 2023, Governu hato’o sira nia proposta Lei OJE 2024 ba uma fukun Parlamentu Nasionál. Objetivu jerál husi proposta OJE 2024 nian deskreve ho di’ak tebes kona ba Governu nia prioridade atu hakbiit futuru nasaun nian liu husi investe iha setór ne’ebé produtivu liu, maibé hirak ne’e hotu la hatudu iha apropriasaun proposta OJE, oinsá Governu bele duni investe sériu iha setór sustentável sira. 

Proposta tetu fiskál ba tinan 2024 aas liu ho senáriu dahaat ne’ebé Governu aprezenta ona iha sorumutu Jornada Orsamentál. Detallu husi finansiamentu totál ba OJE 2024 kontinua depende maka’as ba Fundu Petrolíferu (FP) ho kuaze 84% inklui carryover ne’ebé maioria transfere ona husi FP iha pasadu. 

Governu no inklui entidade sira dala barak hato’o diskursu kona ba urjénsia atu buka investimentu alternativu ne’ebé sustentável no diversifikadu. Maibé haree intensaun husi proposta OJE 2024 kontinua la sai atensaun prioridade, sira nafatin aloka osan boot liu ba Projetu Tasi Mane no Greater Sunrise ne’ebé too ohin loron seidauk klaru ba previzaun orsamentál ba kustu totál husi projetu rua ne’e, benefísiu reál ba povu no nasaun inklui risku husi aspetu ambientál, rai no direitus umanus.

Realidade durante ne’e dependénsia ekonomia ba despeza estadu nian maioria husi FP, no sei susar liu bainhira Timor-Leste laiha ona Fundu Petrolíferu, sei fó impaktu maka’as ba ekonomia tomak inklui pagamentu ba empregu públiku sira, iha setór privadu no mós PIB hatudu ba ita oinsá preokupasaun ne’ebé kuaze daudaun ne’e ita hasoru. 

Tasi Mane manan, setór esensiál sira lakon

Timor-Leste foti ona osan tokon $650 (no mós tokon $130 iha funan até agora) husi FP hodi sosa partisipasaun iha konsorsiu Greater Sunrise, no gasta tiha ona biliaun $1,3 resin tan ba komponente balun iha Projetu Tasi Mane, ne’ebé Governu define nudár kondisaun ba dezenvolvimentu kampu Greater Sunrise. Haktuir ba proposta ne’e, Governu propoin atu gasta tokon $13 ba Projetu Tasi Mane no tokon $13 tan ba Greater Sunrise, no setór produtivu sira kuaze la hetan oportunidade iha polítika finansiál ba OJE tinan 2024. 

Haree ba alokasaun sira iha proposta OJE 2024, Governu nafatin la fó prioridade másimu ba setór esensiál sira, no ami preokupa ho promesa Governu nian atu hadi’ak kondisaun moris povu nian ne’ebé nafatin sai preokupasaun boot. Alokasaun ba setór esensiál sira hanesan saúde, edukasaun, bee moos no saneamentu kuaze 17% de’it husi total OJE 2024.

Inisiativa husi Governu atu kria Unidade Kombate Stunting hodi prevee rihun $300, atu fó merenda ba inan isin rua no labarik ki'ik sira. Ami hanoin katak, maneira kombate nutrisaun presiza reforsa liu tan liu husi programa ne’ebé estratéjiku no longu prazu liu atu promove elevasaun ai-han lokál hodi minimiza ba konsumu doméstika ne’ebé domina ho ai-han importadu.

Rekursu umanu nudár pilár importante ba dezenvolvimentu nasaun nian, hodi garante sustentabilidade estadu no hasai povu husi kiak no mukit. Ita haree iha polítika Governu fó prioridade ba investimentu kapitál umanu, maibé iha alokasaun setór importante hodi hadi’ak kualidade umanu nafatin la hetan atensaun sériu. Oinsá estadu bele responde situasaun ne’e bainhira estadu rasik la prioritiza no valoriza nia povu?

Agrikultura ka ASEAN?

Proposta OJE tinan 2024 kontinua la hatudu polítika konkretu oinsá buka dalan alternativu hodi diversifika iha ekonomia ida ne’ebé reziliente no sustentável. Setór agrikultura iha kada tinan kontinua laiha mudansa iha nia alokasaun ho de’it 2,2% husi total OJE 2024. Importante atu fó prioridade ba setór produtivu hanesan agrikultura no peska, tanba bazeia ba Integrated Food Security Phase Classification 2023, Timor-Leste nasaun ida ne’ebé vulneravel no falta kapasidade bainhira hasoru La Niña, El Niño, no udan-anin tropikál.

Tuir Sensus Agríkola 2019, ita iha poténsia ba variedade ai-han oin-oin maibé rezultadu produsaun seidauk bele responde demanda doméstika, inklui produtu potensiál sira seluk la dezenvolve ho adekuadu. Nune’e polítika diversifikasaun ekonomia tenke realistíku la’ós kontinua sai slogan ba periodu eleitorál de’it. 

Maske iha espektasaun oin-oin katak hola parte iha ASEAN sei lori benefísiu ba Timor-Leste, maibé bainhira ita seidauk prepara ita nia ekonomia no setór importante sira hanesan agrikultura, ASEAN sei lori risku ba Timor-Leste, tanba nasaun seluk bele domina ita nia ekonomia no kontinua dependénsia ba produtu sira husi rai seluk no bele mós sai ameasa ba ita nia soberania no iha tendénsia boot atu traballadór Timoroan lakon partisipasaun iha empregu ho traballadór sira husi membru ASEAN. Maske Governu konsidera OJE adere ba ASEAN tokon $4,3 montante ki’ik, ami hanoin katak ASEAN la’ós urjente, soberania ai-han mak importante.

Politikamente, Governu iha interese boot hakarak adere ba ASEAN ho esperansa kona-ba benefísiu oi-oin husi ASEAN katak integrasaun ekonomia no komérsiu ba merkadu rejionál no internasionál, fó oportunidade ba investimentu husi rai li’ur no sai poténsia foun ba hadi’ak ekonomia ba kria servisu (empregu). Iha tempu hanesan, seidauk iha esplikasaun kle’an kona-ba saida mak dezvantajen ne’ebé Timor-Leste sei enfrenta bainhira integra ona ba ASEAN, hanesan tenke halo tuir akordu komérsiu livre ASEAN nian no tenke kumpre devér nudár membru.

Di’ak liu orsamentu ne’e ajuda ba toos na’in sira hadi’ak produsaun, haforsa indústria ki’ik prosesamentu, apoiu ba joven sira prodús no hakiak animál, ikan no atividade produtivu sira seluk sei iha valor boot liu kompara ho ASEAN ne’ebé mak inserteza.

Iha mós preokupasaun seluk ho versaun kompletu liu ne’ebé ami hato’o ona ba Parlamentu Nasionál liu husi submisaun iha loron 6 Dezembru 2023. Bele hetan informasaun tan kona-ba Orsamentu Jeral Estadu ba 2024 iha ne'e.

Timor-Leste Preparadu Integra ba ASEAN?

Bainhira Timor-Leste adere ba ASEAN sei redús soberania atu proteje povu Timor-Leste husi dominasaun ekonómiku komunidade ASEAN. La’o Hamutuk sujere atu kuidadu no konsidera aspetu importante sira antes deside adezaun ba prosesu kompleksu ida ne’e.

ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) nu’udar asosiasaun rejionál ba nasaun sira iha Sudeste Aziátiku, ne’ebé funda iha 1967, nasaun fundadór sira mak hanesan Indonézia, Malázia, Filipina, Singapura no Tailándia, no nasaun sira ne’ebé integra tiha ona hanesan membru permanente maka Kamboja, Vietnam, Laos, Mianmar, no Brunei Darussalam, agora daudaun membru ASEAN hamutuk nasaun sanulu. Timor-Leste aplika atu sai membru ASEAN hahú iha 4 de Marsu 2011, maibé seidauk admitidu nudár membru tanba, seidauk prienxe rekezitu hotu. Bazeia ba rezultadu peskiza husi misaun fact-finding, hatudu mós katak Timor-Leste presiza kompleta polítika no lei sira tuir pilár tolu ASEAN nian hanesan sosiu-kulturàl, polítika seguransa no ekonomia. Iha simeira ba dala 40 no 41 iha sidade Phnom Penh Kamboja tinan 2022, membru ASEAN sei diskute Timor-Leste nia aplikasaun, maibé deside adia tan prosesu ne’e ba oin. Timor-Leste simu estatutu hanesan nasaun observadór tanba sei presiza kompleta rekezitu no lejizlasaun sira.

Tanba sá Timor-Leste hakarak sai membru ASEAN?

Promove dezenvolvimentu ekonomia, komérsiu no agrikultura sai nudár objetivu prinsipál balu husi ASEAN. Governu hato’o katak ho adezaun ba ASEAN sei reforsa integrasaun regional no fó impaktu polítika, ekonomia no sosiál ne’ebé di’ak liu ba Timor-Leste. Governu hato’o katak sira halo tiha ona preparasaun balun hanesan sensibilizasaun ba instituisaun sira iha nivel nasionál, ba sosiedade sivíl inklui komunidade kona-ba adezaun ba ASEAN. Aleinde ne’e, Governu mós reforsa tan kompeténsia liu husi formasaun no diálogu, partisipasaun iha Forum Regional no global inklui kontinua komplementa embaixada Timor-Leste iha nasaun membru ASEAN sira. Hodi reforsa liu tan, Timor-Leste mós konkorda no introdús modelu dezenvolvimentu ekonomia ne’ebé ASEAN hili, (“ASEAN Blueprints”). Modelu ne’e, nudár prosesu hodi integra dezenvolvimentu polítika ekonomia nasionál atu garante katak, polítika no kuadru regulamentu foun sira integra ho modelu sira ASEAN hatuur ona.

Saida mak vantajen no Timor-Leste tenke kuidadu?

Durante ne’e deklarasaun ba públiku ne’ebé hala’o husi membru Governu no Prezidente da Repúblika hatudu katak, sira hotu iha esperansa kona-ba benefísiu oi-oin husi ASEAN. Iha tempu hanesan, laiha esplikasaun kle’an husi parte hirak ne’e kona-ba saida mak dezvantajen ne’ebé Timor-Leste sei enfrenta bainhira integra ona ba ASEAN. Bazeia ba deklarasaun iha leten, mosu pro kontra no esperansa husi sosiedade civil, komunidade, setór privadu, akadémiku inklui entidade sira katak, tama ASEAN sei fó vantajen ka sei sakrifiika podér no soberania estadu atu protégé povu iha komplesidade ASEAN nian.

Husi pilár sosiu-kulturál, vantajen ne’ebé nasaun membru ASEAN sira bele hetan ezemplu haforsa no promove identidade kulturál nasaun membru ida-ida nian, iha parte seluk hametin mós relasaun entre povu ba povu husi nasaun sira ne’ebé iha rejiaun ne’e. Iha parte seguransa, Timor-Leste bele hetan oportunidade atu servisu hamutuk liu husi dalan kooperasaun atu hametin liu tan seguransa hodi hatán ba krime-transnasionál sira iha rejiaun ASEAN, no país membru ASEAN bele haforsa relasaun diplomátika metin liu-tan.

Parte ekonomia, integrasaun ekonomia no komérsiu Timor-Leste nian ba merkadu rejionál no internasionál fó oportunidade ba investimentu husi rai li’ur ne’ebé bainhira regula didi’ak bele sai poténsia foun ba hadi’ak ekonomia ba kria servisu (empregu). Mezmu nune’e, bainhira Timor-Leste integra ba ASEAN, Timor-Leste tenke halo tuir akordu komérsiu livre ASEAN nian ne’ebé iha ona inklui tenke kumpre devér nudár membru no prontu assume sansaun ruma bainhira ita viola. Timor-Leste, tanba kategoria nudár País Menus Dezenvolvimentu (Least Developed Country - LDC), karik iha esepsaun balun bainhira foin sai membru, maibé esepsaun hirak ne’e ba tinan balun de’it, depois ita tenke obedese no halo tuir regulamentu hotu ASEAN nian hanesan ho membru sira seluk. Sistema komérsiu livre sei fó benefísiu boot liu ba kompañia no nasaun boot sira tanba sira iha rekursu boot liu. Akordu komérsiu livre, sei sakrifiika estadu nia podér hodi dezenvolve polítika ne’ebé fó benefisia ba nia sidadaun sira.

Simeira ASEAN dala 42 iha Indonézia, fulan Maiu 2023, ASEAN entrega tan akordu tolu ba Timor-Leste tenke diskute no aprova. Akordu komérsiu tolu ne’e fundamental ba Timor-Leste nia adezaun nudár membru permanente. Tanba ne’e, tenke hatene didi’ak kona ba ámbitu, estrutura no implikasaun husi akordu hirak ne’e:

• Akordu Komérsiu ba Sasán (ASEAN Trade In Goods Agreement - ATIGA)
• Akordu Komérsiu ba Atendimentu no Servisu (ASEAN Trade In Services Agreement - ATISA)
• Akordu Investimentu Komprensivu (ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement - ACIA)

Timor-Leste tenke halo ajustamentu nia-nia polítika no lei balun, hodi alínea ho ASEAN nian akordu tolu ne’e. Prosesu hotu, sei implika ba polítika no lei sira, hanesan lei investimentu, lei tributària (taxa) no lei sira seluk ne’ebé iha ligasaun ba komérsiu no investimentu. Ajustamentu tuir akordu hirak ne’e, nudár kritéria xave ba Timor-Leste tenke kumpre nudár membru ASEAN. Timor-Leste laiha opsaun atu rejeita ka la halo tuir parte sira husi akordu hirak ne’e.

Oinsá Timor-Leste bele maximiza benefísiu husi ASEAN no minimiza impaktu?

Ekonomia Timor-Leste iha kontextu ohin loron, sei depende maka’as ba rendimentu husi fundu petroleum, ne’ebé la renovavel. Fundu petroleum de’it la reprezenta ekonomia tomak povu no nasaun nian. Ekonomia naun petrolíferu seidauk dezenvolve ho loloos nudár fonte alternativu ba estadu. Atu minimiza impaktu husi ASEAN, Timor-Leste bele kompete iha merkadu formal no komérsiu livre, Governu tenke prioritiza polítika diversifikasaun ekonomia, haforsa koordenasaun servisu interministeriál no entidade relevante hotu inklui setór privadu no kooperativa sira. Setór ekonomia produtivu tenke dezenvolve nudár prioridade, inklui setór turizmu, indústria prosesamentu, manufatura, no setór relevante sira seluk.

Timor-Leste nia dadus komérsiu external iha tinan 2022, ita importa sasán ho valor osan tokon $786, no esporta de'it tokon $29, la inklui mina no gas. Husi importasaun t$786, hamutuk t$429 mai husi membru ASEAN sira, no t$181 mai husi nasaun sira ne’ebé iha akordu komérsiu livre ho ASEAN (hanesan Austrália, Xina, Japaun, Índia). Refere ba dadus komérsiu externa hatudu katak, Timor-Leste importa barak husi ASEAN, maibé la hetan benefísiu husi ASEAN. Situasaun ne’e hatudu katak, ita seidauk sai membru ASEAN ho akordu komérsiu sira, maibé ASEAN no aliadu sira domina ona ita nian ekonomia. Ukun na’in sira hatene hela ita nian ekonomia hasoru hela ameasa no ba futuru bele mós ameasa ita nia soberania nasaun. Timor-Leste tenke hanoin ho sériu oinsá bele haforsa uluk ekonomia lokál no povu nia moris nudár prioridade liu, hafoin deside adere ba ASEAN ho akordu sira komérsiu livre nian.

La’o Hamutuk nian hanoin

Atu minimiza impaktu husi ASEAN ba Timor-Leste, tenke buka hatene didi’ak kona-ba saida de’it mak ASEAN sei rekere ba Timor-Leste bainhira sai ona membru permanente. Bainhira ita hatene no komprende didi’ak kona-ba saida de’it mak ASEAN sei rekere ba membru sira, entaun Timor-Leste tenke halo preparasaun didi’ak bazeia ba nesesidade rai laran atu integra no kompete. Tanba ne’e, obriga ita, tenke sériu iha aspetu hotu, liu-liu ba setór ekonomia no komérsiu. Timor-Leste sei enfrenta dezafiu boot liu kuandu ita la halo preparasaun forte.

Dezde inísiu, La’o Hamutuk observa katak, Timor-Leste nian preparasaun sei foka liu de’it ba oinsá prienxe kritéria atu tama ba ASEAN hanesan partisipa iha enkontru, tuir eventu sira, sosializasaun, sensibilizasaun nsst, maibé, seidauk prepara didi’ak Timor-Leste nian kondisaun ekonomia no setór produtivu sira atu kompete en termus dé merkadu no komérsiu hodi maximiza benefísiu sira bainhira tama membru ba organizasaun regional ne’e.

Konkluzaun

Timor-Leste aplika atu sai membru ASEAN dezde Marsu 2011, maibé seidauk admitidu nudár membru tanba seidauk prienxe rekezitu hotu ASEAN nian. Governu hanoin katak ho adezaun ne’e sei reforsa integrasaun rejionál no iha impaktu polítiku, ekonómiku no sosiál ba Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste presiza prepara an másimu liu tan tuir pilár importante tolu ASEAN nian, liu-liu iha pilár ekonomia no akordu sira komérsiu livre nian. Ekonomia Timor-Leste ne’ebé depende maka’as ba Fundu Petrolíferu ne’e la sustentável, tenke servisu maka’as hodi utiliza Fundu Petrolíferu atu diversifika ekonomia rai laran, liu-liu dezenvolve setór produtivu nudár alternativa ba futuru hodi substitui dependénsia ba mina no gas.

Bainhira ita hatene no komprende didi’ak kona-ba saida de’it mak ASEAN sei rekere ba nia membru sira, entaun Timor-Leste tenke halo preparasaun didi’ak bazeia ba nesesidade rai laran atu adere no kompete. Tanba ne’e, obriga ita, tenke sériu iha aspetu hotu, liu-liu ba setór agrikultura, ekonomia no komérsiu.

Bele hetan informasaun tan husi La'o Hamutuk nia programa Radio Igualdade.

Congratulations to the State of Timor-Leste for defending the people of Burma

Liga ba blog ida ne’e iha lingua Tetum

On 31 August 2023, La’o Hamutuk sent a letter of appreciation to His Excellency Prime Minister Kayrala Xanana Gusmão for the firm position the State of Timor-Leste has taken to defend and value human rights and democratic principles for the people of Burma (Myanmar) who have been oppressed by the military junta for years.

This solidarity action makes Timor-Leste proud, as we continue to show the world our consistency, how a small nation can hold its principles high, with human values which have not yet resolved the long suffering of Myanmar’s people.

La’o Hamutuk strongly supports Timor-Leste’s Government in protesting the position of the Myanmar military regime which expelled the Chargé d’Affaires who headed Timor-Leste’s diplomatic presence in Myanmar. This also shows that the dictatorial regime there remains strong, and operates with impunity. We continue to ask the military dictatorship to end the suffering and torture it is inflicting on innocent people there.

Dictatorial systems always use power and force and rarely show good will, therefore to end this suffering takes courage to follow a democratic path. We ask the leaders of all ASEAN nations not to close their eyes to the massive suffering the people of Myanmar, regardless of ASEAN’s commercial or political interests.