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.

Kongratula Estadu Timor-Leste nia Pozisaun Ba Defende Povu Birmánia

Spanduk dehan “Ami nunka hetan tauk"
hafoin junta oho prisioneiru politiku nain haat.

Link to this blog in English.

Foin lalais ne’e, 31 Agostu 2023, La’o Hamutuk hato'o karta apresiasaun ida ba Sua Exelénsia Primeiru Ministru Sr. Kayrala Xanana Gusmão ba pozisaun firme ne’ebé Estadu Timor-Leste foti hodi defende no tau valór ba Direitus Umanus no prinsípiu demokrasia ba komunidade iha Birmánia ne’ebé hetan opresaun ba tempu naruk husi junta militár Mianmar. 

Asaun solidariedade ida ne’e, bele sai hanesan orgullu boot ba Timor-Leste hodi nafatin hatudu konsisténsia ita nian ba mundu kona ba oinsá nasaun ki’ik ida ne’e tane aas prinsípiu no valór umanu ne’ebé seidauk resolve hodi husik hela sofrimentu naruk ba povu Mianmar. 

La’o Hamutuk apoiu tebes Governu TL lamenta ho pozisaun husi governu rejime militár Mianmar nian ne’ebé espulse misaun diplomata liu husi reprezenta enkarregadu negósiu Timor-Leste iha Mianmar. Ne’e hatudu momoos rejime ditadura militár sei maka’as tebes iha Mianmar no impunidade kontinua buras. Ami kontinua husu ba ditadura militár iha Mianmar atu hapara forsa ne’ebé haterus no tortura povu ne’ebé inosente. 

Sistema ditadura sempre uza podér no forsa no nunka hatudu vontade di’ak, nune’e atu halakon sofrimentu hirak ne’e, tenke brani troka ba dalan ida demokrátiku. Husu ba lider nasaun ASEAN tomak atu labele taka matan no ignora sofrimentu barak ne’ebé Povu Mianmar hasoru tanba de'it interese komérsiu no polítiku.

Sa polítika ida di’ak no oportunidade inklui mós dezafiu sira ne’ebé IX Governu sei hasoru

IX Governu Konstituisional ba Periodu 2023-2028, forma husi Partidu CNRT no Partidu Demokrátiku (PD). IX Governu rasik ho nia estrutura hamutuk 47, no públiku kestiona. Liu-liu NGO tanba ho estrutura boot, sei implika ba Orsamentu Estadu no iha esperiénsia estrutura boot sei halo mós burokrasia naruk. CNRT no PD iha ona esperiénsia ukun iha periodu tolu liu ba (IV, V no VI Governu). No iha tinan ida ne’e CNRT no PD halo koligasaun dala ida tan ho mehi hodi lori rai no povu ba moris di’ak. 

Iha kuaze periodu barak nia laran ho governasaun ne’ebé sempre troka ba malu, maibé seidauk iha serteza ruma ba estadu no nasaun ne’e nia vida ba tempu naruk, ita bele haree husi investimentu barak durante ne’e liu husi levantamentu Fundu Petrólifeiru hamutuk biliaun $15 ona ba Orsamentu Jerál Estadu, maibé kada tinan investimentu sira liu husi OJE bele hetan de’it reseita entre 10%-14% husi despeza orsamentu.

Nune’e iha governasaun foun ida ne’e, La’o Hamutuk organiza debate publiku (Meza Redonda) hodi konvida reprezentante Governu, Parlamentu Nasional, Akademia no La’o Hamutuk rasik, atu diskute Sa polítika ida di’ak no oportunidade inklui mós dezafiu sira ne’ebé IX Governu sei hasoru, hodi lori rai no povu ne’e iha serteza nia laran. Iha diskusaun naruk entre oradór sira ho partisipante sira. No partisipante sira husu mak oinsá atu governu tenke iha ona seriadade no kometimentu atu halo investimentu ba setór produtivu sira. 

Oradór sira iha Enkontru Meza Redonda mak hanesan:

• Exelénsia Vise Ministru Asuntu Parlamentár, Sr. Adérito Hugo da Costa
• Magnifico Reitor IOB, Sr. Pedro Ximenes
• Peskizadóra La’o Hamutuk, Sra. Eliziaria Febe Gomes.

Husi Membru Parlamentu Nasional, ami konvida Bankada FRETILIN hanesan opozisaun, maibé la hola parte tanba iha tempu hanesan halo hela diskusaun ba proposta Orsamentu Retifikativu 2023.

The potential, challenges and risks of developing the blue economy in Timor-Leste

Liga ba artigu ida ne'e iha Tetum

On 2 March 2023, the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry (MTCI), together with the development partner UNDP, organized a round-table discussion on entrepreneurship linked to the blue economy in Timor-Leste. For almost 20 years, the country's economy has depended on money from oil and gas, and Timor-Leste will face a fiscal cliff as a result of this dependency. Therefore, we must plan well to diversify the economy to create new sources of income to replace the dependence on oil and gas revenue.

In many coastal countries, the concept of a blue economy has become a focus of intervention by development partners, international agencies, and the government itself. "Blue economy" refers to using or taking advantage of marine resources, and at the same time ensuring the sustainability of the resources. La'o Hamutuk believes that it is important to provide an introduction to this idea, including its relevance for Timor-Leste, opportunities and risks, to help Timor-Leste decide on the fairest and most sustainable way to develop our blue economy.

Potential, Risks and Challenges

International agencies have identified activities that could be the base of a future blue economy. According to UNDP, fishing, maritime transport and tourism are activities that are already happening, but are not yet optimal. The blue economy brings opportunities to strengthen and diversify our economy, but we must be careful and take into account the possibilities and weaknesses in implementation, including all obstacles to ensuring environmental sustainability, and the empowerment of local communities.

In 2017 the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAP) and with support from development partners, developed the National Ocean Policy, but it has not yet been passed. Timor-Leste needs a legal framework to protect all of our resources in the sea and the Ocean, including communities that depend on the sea to sustain their lives. Recently, La'o Hamutuk observed that the implementation of new policies and initiatives in Timor-Leste will face major challenges due to lack of coordination of services; if efforts are made to develop the blue economy, but the Ocean Policy has not been implemented well, we will confront problems in the future. Therefore, a strong legal and policy regime must be established before the blue economy is developed. 

We should be careful to avoid high-risk activities that a blue economy could bring to Timor-Leste. For example, in India, the Government promotes deep seabed mining as an aspect of their plan to strengthen the blue economy. Therefore, we must be cautious about exploiting undersea minerals, an activity that could pose a great risk to the marine environment if it is done without thorough understanding of the risks and impacts. There is no evidence that Timor-Leste's maritime territory has the potential for such activities, but we can learn from India’s experience that developing a blue economy can also open the way to unsustainable activities, posing serious risks to the environment and to marine ecology.

In other places, observers have noted that the potential and efforts to promote the blue economy which prioritizes a "market solution" could reduce the role and rights of communities who have long used the sea for their lives (such as small-scale fishers). The UNDP study mentioned above also discussed the possibility of selling carbon credits from Timor-Leste’s sea. Such activities, when incorporating natural resources into the private market, must consider the perspectives of climate justice, community rights, and sustainability. Therefore, Timor-Leste needs to carefully evaluate any proposal for these activities. We should not simply believe and accept that the beautiful term "blue economy" automatically means that everything is good and positive, but we must be careful and learn from the experiences of other nations.

How can we avoid risk and use our potential effectively?

The development of a blue economy should be in line with principles of sustainability and blue justice. The sea is common property, in that everyone can access it freely, and it is different from dry land. The sea has a large potential and has a variety of resources and biodiversity that can be developed to be economically productive. It should be developed in the context of the nation in a way that respects cultural, social and inclusive economic aspects, including integrating community participation in maritime governance.

The concept of blue justice arose in response to the concept of the blue economy itself. We have observed that efforts to develop a blue economy often give priority to the private sector and large fishing companies, rather than prioritizing communities which have long used, managed and depended on coastal and maritime resources for their lives and livelihoods. In addressing the blue economy, a perspective of blue justice can help the Government and the community make wise, fair, and sustainable decisions.

Conclusion

For Timor-Leste to plan well to develop the blue economy, fairly and sustainably, we need deep understanding of the various proposals and interests, when performing these activities. We should not just believe that the pretty name "blue economy" means everything is good and positive, but we must learn from the experiences of other countries. In the future, Timor-Leste should have a national maritime legal and policy regime (Ocean Policy) to ensure, protect, maintain, and restore coastal and ocean resources to support a sustainable economy according to our people’s social and cultural values, in a fair and equitable way.

The State must strengthen its management of ongoing activities, such as the maritime transport system, fishing (which is not yet going well), in order to improve and strengthen communities that have already undertaken small activities, such as producing edible seaweed, harvesting fish, shellfish, crabs and so on, before the start of new activities called the Blue Economy.

Poténsia, dezafiu no risku dezenvolvimentu Ekonomia Azúl iha Timor-Leste

 Link to this blog in English

Iha dia 2 de Marsu 2023, Ministériu do Turizmu, Komérsiu e Indústria (MTCI) hamutuk ho parseiru dezenvolvimentu UNDP organiza diskusaun mesa redonda kona ba emprendedorismu liga ho ekonomia azúl iha Timor-Leste. Besik tinan 20 ona ekonomia nasaun nian depende maka’as ba fundu husi mina no gas, no Timor-Leste sei hasoru rai naruk fiskál nudár rezultadu husi dependénsia ne’e. Tanba ne’e, tenke iha planu didi’ak kona ba diversifikasaun ekonomia atu hamosu fontes rendimentu foun hodi substitui dependénsia ba fundu mina no gas. 

Iha nasaun kosteiru barak, konseitu ekonomia azúl sai ona fokus intervensaun husi parseiru dezenvolvimentu, ajénsia internasionál, no Governu rasik. Konseitu ekonomia azúl refere ba prosesu atu uza ka aproveita rekursu tasi nian, no iha tempu hanesan asegura sustentabilidade rekursu refere. La’o Hamutuk konsidera importante atu fornese introdusaun ba ideia ida ne’e, inklui relevánsia ba Timor-Leste, oportunidade inklui risku sira, hodi ajuda Timor-Leste atu deside oinsá mak meius justu no sustentavel liu atu dezenvolve ekonomia azúl.

Potensiál, risku no dezafiu

Ajénsia internasionál identifika ona atividade balun ne’ebé iha posibilidade atu sai baze ekonomia azúl iha futuru. Tuir UNDP, peska, transportasaun maritima, no turizmu, nudár atividade ne’ebé la’o ona maibé seidauk la’o ho optimál.  Ekonomia azúl hatudu oportunidade atu hametin no diversifika ita nia ekonomia, maibé ita tenke kuidadu no konsidera mós poténsia no frakeza iha implementasaun, inklui obstákulu hotu atu asegura sustentabilidade ambientál no empoderamentu komunidade lokál sira.

Iha tinan 2017 Governu liu husi MAP (Ministériu Agrikultura no Peska) no apoiu husi parseiru dezenvolvimentu sira, elabora ona Polítika Nasional Oseanu maibé to’o agora seidauk konsege pasa. Timor-Leste tenke iha Rejime legál atu proteje ita nia rekursu hotu iha tasi no oseanu inklui protégé komunidade sira ne’ebé depende maka’as ba tasi hodi sustenta sira nia moris. Kleur ona, La’o Hamutuk observa katak, implementasaun polítika no inisiativu foun iha Timor-Leste sei hasoru dezafiu boot tanba koordenasaun servisu menus; se esforsu duni atu dezenvolve ekonomia azúl, maibé Polítika Oseanu seidauk konsege implementa ho di’ak, ita sei hasoru dezafiu boot ba oin. Tanba ne’e tenke iha rejime legal no polítika ne’ebé forte antes hahú dezenvolve ekonomia azúl.

Ita tenke kuidadu no presiza prevene atividade sira ho risku maka’as ne’ebé sei tama iha Timor-Leste ho razaun ekonomia azúl. Ezemplu iha India, governu promove atividade minerais iha tasi nia okos (deep seabed mining) nudár aspetu ida husi planu hametin ekonomia azúl. Entaun, esplorasaun minerais iha tasi nia okos, nudár atividade ne’ebé bele fó risku boot ba ambiente tasi nian, maske seidauk iha evidénsia kle’an kona ba risku no impaktu sira, maibé tenke kuidadu. Seidauk iha evidénsia katak territóriu maritima Timor-Leste nian iha potensiál atu realiza atividade hanesan ne’e, maibé ita bele aprende husi esperiénsia India nian katak, dezenvolve konseitu ekonomia azúl bele mós loke dalan ba atividade ne’ebé la sustentavel, no bele mós fó risku maka’as ba ambiente no ekolojia iha tasi.

Iha fatin seluk, observadór balun nota ona katak iha poténsia no esforsu atu promove ekonomia azúl ho prioridade ba “solusaun merkadu nian” ida ne’e, bele hamenus knaar no direitu komunidade ne’ebé kleur ona uza tasi ba sira nia moris (hanesan peskadór skala ki’ik nsst).  Iha estudu husi UNDP ne’ebé temi iha leten, diskute mós posibilidade atu fa’an karbonu kréditu husi Timor-Leste nia tasi. Atividade hanesan ne’e, bainhira hatama rekursu naturais iha merkadu privadu, tenke konsidera kle’an husi perspetiva justisa klimátika, direitu komunidade, no sustentabilidade.  Tanba ne’e, Timor-Leste presiza konsidera ho kle’an proposta atu hala’o atividade hirak ne’e. Ita, la bele fiar no simu de’it (tolan tomak de’it) konseitu sira ho títulu furak hanesan “ekonomia azúl” katak buat hotu di’ak no pozitivu, maibé tenke kuidadu no tenke aprende esperiénsia nasaun seluk nian.

Oinsá mak atu evita risku no uza poténsia sira ho di’ak?

Dezenvolvimentu ekonomia azúl tenke haktuir prinsípiu sustentabilidade no justisa azúl. Tasi nudár propriedade komún, katak ema hotu bele asesu ho livre no diferente ho rai maran. Tasi iha poténsia boot no iha rekursu no biodiversidade oin-oin ne’ebé bele dezenvolve nudár ekonomia produtivu. Tenke dezenvolve tuir kontextu nasaun nian ne’ebé respeita aspetu kulturál, sosiál no ekonomia inkluzivu inklui integra partisipasaun komunidade iha governasaun tasi. 

Konseitu Justisa Azul mosu nudár resposta atu responde ba konseitu ekonomia azúl rasik. Ho observasaun katak, esforsu hotu hodi dezenvolve ekonomia azúl dala barak setór privadu no kompañia peska boot sira mak hetan prioridade, duke prioritiza komunidade ne’ebé kleur ona uza, jere, no depende maka’as ba rekursu iha tasi no tasi ninin sira ba moris no ekonomia. Hasoru asuntu ekonomia azúl, husi perspetiva justisa azúl bele ajuda Governu no komunidade oinsá foti desizaun ne’ebé matenek, justu, no sustentavel.

Konkluzaun

Bainhira Timor-Leste halo planu no estratéjia atu dezenvolve ekonomia azúl ba oin ho di’ak, prinsipalmente tenke ho maneira ne’ebé justu no sustentavel, no presiza hatene didi’ak proposta no interese oin-oin, bainhira atu hala’o atividade hirak ne’e. Ita, la bele simu ka fiar de’it konseitu sira ho títulu furak hanesan “ekonomia azúl” katak buat hotu di’ak no pozitivu, maibé tenke hatene no aprende esperiénsia nasaun seluk ne’ebé hahú ona. Tuir mai, Timor-Leste tenke iha rejime legal no polítika nasional Tasi nian (Polítika Oseanu) atu asegura, proteje, mantén, no restaura rekursu kosteiru no oseanu hodi sustenta ekonomia ne’ebé sustentavel tuir valor sosiál, kulturál povu nian ho maneira ne’ebé justu no equitavel. 

Governu ou estadu tenke hametin didi’ak jestaun ba atividade ne’ebé la’o hela, hanesan sistema transportasaun maritime, peska ne’ebé seidauk la’o didi’ak oinsá mak bele hadi’ak liu tan no haforsa komunidade hirak ne’ebé halo ona atividade ki’ik sira hanesan prodús budu tasi, hakiak ikan, boek, kadiuk no seluk tan, molok hahú fali atividade foun sira ho naran Ekonomia Azul.

Bele hare aprezentasaun husi La'o Hamutuk iha ne'e.

Semináriu Nasional: Dezenvolvimentu Alternativa Hafoin Mina

La’o Hamutuk hola inisiativa nudár organizasaun sosiedade sivíl ne’ebé mak hala’o nia knaar liu-husi peskiza, analiza, advokasia no tau matan ba polítika estadu no polítika husi instituisaun internasionál sira liga ho prosesu dezenvolvimentu iha Timor-Leste. Daudaun ne’e La’o Hamutuk organiza Semináriu Nasional ida iha Dili kona-ba asuntu nasional sira ne’ebé sai preokupasaun públiku liga ba Timor-Leste nia Ekonomia ne’ebé iha tinan barak sei depende ba setór petróleu. Tanba ne’e ita realiza Semináriu Nasional ida, ho nia tópiku “Dezenvolvimentu Alternativa Hafoin Mina”.

Semináriu ne’e hala’o iha loron 25 Abril 2023 iha Salaun Katedrál - Vilaverde, Dili.

Orador sira diskute topiku sira ne'e:

• Dezenvolvimentu Produtivu ba Sustentabilidade Ekonomia husi Sra. Hergui Luina Alves, Empresaria Feto (Prezidente AEMTL) (PowerPoint ka PDF)

• Empoderamentu Komunitáriu ba Dezenvolvimentu Ekonomia husi Sr. Mateus Tilman, Reprezentante Akademia

• Dependénsia ba Fundu Petróleo no Ekonomia Alternativa husi Sra. Eliziaria Febe Gomes, Peskizadóra La'o Hamutuk (PowerPoint ka PDF)

Bele mos hare entervista televizaun ho Febe, artigu iha Neon Metin ka kobertura iha GMN-TV (relatoriu segundu).