The changing roles of NGOs in The changing roles of NGOs in

EastEast--TimorTimor(1975(1975--present)present)

Estêvão Cabral Estêvão Cabral

Research FellowResearch Fellow

POLSISPOLSIS

Map of the WorldMap of the World

The Democratic Republic of EastThe Democratic Republic of East--TimorTimor

POLITICAL HISTORY OF EASTPOLITICAL HISTORY OF EAST--TIMORTIMOR

�� Portuguese colonial rule 1516Portuguese colonial rule 1516--19751975

�� 1974 Decolonisation and the emergence of 1974 Decolonisation and the emergence of political partiespolitical parties

�� 1975 The Indonesian invasion and 1975 The Indonesian invasion and occupationoccupation

�� 19991999--2002 UN Transitional Administration2002 UN Transitional Administration

�� 2002 Independence2002 Independence

UKUK--based NGOs during the conflictbased NGOs during the conflict

19751975--19991999

CIIR CIIR (Catholic Institute for International Relations/ (Catholic Institute for International Relations/ now Progressio)now Progressio)

CAFOD CAFOD (Catholic Aid for Overseas Development)(Catholic Aid for Overseas Development)

TAPOL TAPOL (Tahanan Politik (Tahanan Politik –– ‘Political Prisoner’)‘Political Prisoner’)

Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International

Role played by these NGOsRole played by these NGOs

Raising awareness of human rights Raising awareness of human rights

ViolationsViolations

Lobbying governments & international Lobbying governments & international

organisations (e.g. UN)organisations (e.g. UN)

Supporting the Catholic Church in EastSupporting the Catholic Church in East

Timor (e.g. orphanages, schools)Timor (e.g. orphanages, schools)

A changing role in the last decade A changing role in the last decade

of the occupationof the occupation

Communication facilitated due to the Communication facilitated due to the

advent of the internet e.g.advent of the internet e.g.

Communication with globalised mediaCommunication with globalised media

& with governmental contacts& with governmental contacts

Greater coordination between NGOsGreater coordination between NGOs

internationallyinternationally

UKUK--based NGOs in the postbased NGOs in the post--

conflict phase (1999conflict phase (1999--present)present)

�� TAPOL has shifted its primary attention TAPOL has shifted its primary attention back to Indonesiaback to Indonesia

�� Amnesty International has refocussed on Amnesty International has refocussed on human rights in the new nationhuman rights in the new nation

�� CIIR & CAFOD now work ‘on the ground’ in CIIR & CAFOD now work ‘on the ground’ in EastEast--Timor (with local NGOs, women’s Timor (with local NGOs, women’s groups & the Church)groups & the Church)

Role of the history of the UKRole of the history of the UK--based NGOs?based NGOs?

�� All except CAFOD were established in response to All except CAFOD were established in response to human rights violations human rights violations

CIIR CIIR -- a response to the rise of Nazisma response to the rise of Nazism

TAPOL TAPOL –– a response to HR violations in Indonesia a response to HR violations in Indonesia (from 1965)(from 1965)

Amnesty International Amnesty International –– a response to HR a response to HR violations in Portugal under Salazarviolations in Portugal under Salazar

�� CIIR & CAFOD have built on their links with the CIIR & CAFOD have built on their links with the Catholic ChurchCatholic Church

Effect of postEffect of post--conflict environment?conflict environment?

�� Shift from a primary focus on human Shift from a primary focus on human rights to a focus on developmentrights to a focus on development

�� Increase in the number of international Increase in the number of international NGOs in East TimorNGOs in East Timor

�� Significant increase in the number of local Significant increase in the number of local NGOs (working with international NGOs NGOs (working with international NGOs e.g. adult literacy)e.g. adult literacy)

Parallels with other contexts?Parallels with other contexts?

�� Nicaragua (e.g. the role of the Nicaragua (e.g. the role of the Catholic church)Catholic church)

��Namibia (CIIR, CAFOD and Amnesty Namibia (CIIR, CAFOD and Amnesty were all involved)were all involved)

However, the political contexts for However, the political contexts for

these struggles were very differentthese struggles were very different

The changing roles of NGOs in The changing roles of NGOs in

EastEast--TimorTimor(1975(1975--present)present)

Estêvão CabralEstêvão Cabral

e.cabral@bham.ac.uke.cabral@bham.ac.uk