Osttimor in der Krise

Abstract

After East Timor was hailed as a success story of nation-building in the twenty-first century the country descended into chaos and turmoil in the recent months. Since the end of April different factions of the security forces are fighting each other and communal violence is plaguing the capital Dili. In response to this outbreak of violence the government of Timor-Leste had to call for international military help. This article provides an overview of the recent events from February to mid-June 2006. It argues that the main reasons behind the current crisis lie in a failed recruitment policy of army and police personnel, an inappropriate crisis-management of the national government, a damaging dispute over historical merits between people from the west and the east of the country, and a common discontent among many Timorese with the development process after independence. Furthermore, there is a power struggle within the government, aggravating the crisis.