01 March 2024

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.

08 December 2023

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.

07 December 2023

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.

03 October 2023

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:

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.

04 September 2023

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

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.

03 September 2023

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.

31 August 2023

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.