Release of ASPI report on Australian interests in Timor-Leste

ASPI today released a new Strategic Insight publication ‘After the 2006 crisis: Australian interests in Timor-Leste.’  There have been many developments since the collapse of state authority in Timor-Leste.  The country has a new president and a new coalition government.  It is time to review how these developments might affect Australia’s long-term interests in Timor-Leste. The paper examines a range of Australian security interests in Timor-Leste, the factors contributing to the state collapse in 2006, and lessons for Australia in the handling of that crisis.  Key conclusions address overall measures that Timor-Leste will need to implement to prevent a re-occurrence of the crisis of 2006. ‘Advancing Australia’s interests in Timor-Leste is best achieved by cooperation with the government of that country.  The alternative of isolation and neglect, would undermine the financial and material commitment Australia has made to Timor-Leste’s security and development since 1999, and risk a return to crisis,’ says author Bob Lowry. He continues ‘It is to be hoped that the new arrangements can overcome the challenges of unsustainable population growth, extreme poverty, and the paucity of human resources and physical infrastructure to provide a more secure and relatively prosperous life for its people.  It would certainly be to Australia’s advantage if it succeeded.’  

Bob Lowry was an advisor on the development of national security structures and processes in Timor-Leste from mid-2002 until mid-2003.  He also evaluated the National Democratic Institute’s security sector reform projects in early 2005 and visited Timor-Leste in 2007 in the course of preparing the paper.