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Timor Leste’s independence hero calls for Indonesian global leadership
Prominent figures from Timor Leste’s independence movement are calling for Indonesia to lead more on the global stage, amid efforts to help the country join ASEAN.
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Timor Leste's first president Xanana Gusmao visits the grave of Indonesia's third president BJ Habibie at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta on Sept. 15, 2019. (JP/Narabeto Korohama)
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imor Leste’s first president Xanana Gusmão urged Indonesia on Wednesday to take more leadership positions and encourage cross-country dialogue on the international stage, noting that it is what Dili “needs” from Jakarta amid a turbulent geopolitical landscape.
Noting the serious threats of food insecurity, inflation and increasing global power rivalry, Gusmão emphasized that multilateral dialogue has never been more needed. The independence hero reiterated Jakarta’s long-standing support of Dili’s participation at the global level, crediting former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for encouraging Timor Leste to join ASEAN – a stance now continued by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, he said.
“Our world is changing. The post-Cold War period of relative peace is over,” he said. “As we are moving toward a multipolar world, we need Indonesia to play a central role in global affairs and lead dialogue at the regional and international levels,” said Gusmão in a virtual forum discussing Indonesia’s foreign policy on Wednesday.
“Now more than ever, we need the big nation of Indonesia to continue to stand tall in the faith of international law and promote dialogue between groups and countries.”
Despite Indonesia’s occupation of Timor Leste until 1999, which was brought to an end by an international process that saw the latter’s current President José Ramos-Horta receive a Nobel Peace Prize in the process, the two countries have enjoyed a close diplomatic friendship ever since.
Besides helping the former Portuguese colony expand its governing capacity as a development partner, Indonesia has also been pushing for Timor Leste’s entry into ASEAN, Southeast Asia's premier organization that has served as an engine for regional growth.
Despite being geographically Southeast Asian, Timor Leste has only been given an observer role at ASEAN, and is thus unable to make equal contributions to the regional bloc in comparison with its neighbors. And though it has been over a decade since its membership application, concerns over the country possibly slowing down the group’s economic growth have impeded its entry, despite Indonesia’s support for membership.
