Asia / Working Paper
The Crisis in Timor-Leste: restoring National Unity through state institutions, culture, and civil society
19/08/2005 By Rebecca Engel
Timor-Leste is in the throes of a national crisis. Over the past several months, tens of thousands of people have fled the capital, seeking refuge in family homes across the country or in the makeshift Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps that sprang up virtually over night throughout Dili and the surrounding districts.
International forces contributed by Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal have reduced the use of small arms violence. While looting and burning of homes and businesses continues, it has decreased considerably. Many are quick to point out the East/West nature of the violence.
The reality, however, is much more complex and the actors in this unstable situation are many.
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Keywords
Civil society Conflict resolution Democracy South AsiaRelated publications
Bio author: Rebecca Engel
Bachelors of Arts from Barnard College, Columbia University and Masters of International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. Rebecca Ellen Engel is an Associate Research Scholar with Columbia University's Center for International Conflict Resolution (CICR). Engel also serves as a Senior Adviser to BELUN, the national organisation that formed in order to ensure that CICR's work is continued over the long-term.
