Branching from the trunk : East Timorese perceptions of nationalism in transition
Abstract
This thesis explores contestations over East Timorese 'perceptions' of their political history. Central to this discussion is the East Timorese interpretation of nacionalismo. East Timorese use nacionalismo interchangeably to mean nationalism, national unity, solidarity and togetherness. It describes a sentiment that has existed since the 'time of long ago' and which remained crucial up until the country achieved independence.
Since 1999 a post independence 'identity crisis' has led many to question this sense of unity (forged through the long resistance against colonialism in its various forms). Division among nationalist factions in the post-liberation period has induced East Timorese to question the strength of their nationalism that has served as the basis for their struggle for independence.
This thesis begins by tracing East Timor's history through both documentary evidence and indigenous Timorese 'perceptions' of their ancestral past. Subsequently,the thesis presents East Timorese perceptions of their struggle against the Portuguese, and explains the dynamics within the East Timorese resistance, including conflict among nationalist factions, which paved the way for further divisions in the post-1999 period. After discussing current East Timorese views about the changes in the political landscape in the post-
1999 period and how this has contributed to the changing perception of nacionalismo, the thesis highlights other forms of social division which added to the political uncertainties during the period 1999-2002.
Connecting the past and the present is fundamental to the expression of East Timorese views about their political history. History is used to predict or classify events of today and possibly the future. This symmetrical line of thinking explains how the Timorese view the past and the future as two connected 'ends' that facilitate an understanding of colonialism and the unity and division of resistance. In a botanical idiom, this sequence of events is presented as a progression from hun 'roots', 'origins' 'past' 'history' to rohan,'future', 'end'. Nacionalismo is represented as the 'trunk' of a tree (nation)
where the whole tree (nation) can only stand firm if the 'trunk'(unity, nationalism) is strong. Nacionalismo is depicted as having its derivation in
'roots' (common sentiment), and harvesting its fruits when independence is finally achieved.
Following the August 1999 referendum, many saw that new branches (new differences and new political groups) were sprouting out of the 'trunk' (nationalism), and that instead of strengthening unity, these new branches stretched their own ways, crisscrossing and extending their tips (opinions, ideology) far away from the 'trunk'. This branching is quite natural and to be expected, however, if it went too far, it could lead to problems. Many East Timorese believed that if the common sentiment of national unity was ignored or weakened, the country might fall apart. If the 'roots'(abut) and
'trunk'(ai-hun) were to die, the tree (ai), personified as the East Timorese
nation, would collapse.