Ms Hunt said, "The CNRT have not been given the support they need. They were not allocated decent office space in Dili by the UN, nor do they have transport and communications equipment adequate to the tasks they face. This is a matter for governments and the UN to address. If the international community is serious about consulting with Timorese leaders as the reconstruction effort goes forward, they have to give them the means to operate."
Ms Hunt said, "Non-government aid organisations were on the ground and responding to the crisis in East Timor ahead of CNRT leaders, who had been forced to flee in all directions, had been able to regroup and return safely to their own country. Now they all have to learn to work with one another, respecting the views of the East Timorese."
"ACFOA has seconded a staff member to the UN who is helping East Timorese NGOs re-establish, and building relationships between the Timorese NGOs and the international organisations now in East Timor,"she said. "This is a priority for us, and we know the CNRT supports our efforts to do this."
"ACFOA has been liaising closely with the CNRT and is urging international agencies to work in co-operation with them. During the Darwin preparations, ACFOA facilitated meetings between Australian humanitarian organisations and CNRT and we met in Melbourne with Xanana Gusmao. We have also prepared a detailed backgrounder on the CNRT which has been circulated widely."
"The CNRT has appointed an NGO liaison person, but he has been extremely busy and travelling internationally. Now he has returned to Dili we hope any problems can be quickly resolved. He is extremely welcome to attend the daily co-ordination meetings of the humanitarian community."
"NGOs are working against time to meet peoples' needs before the rains come, so the situation is clearly a difficult one for everyone. Everyone is living and working in exceptionally difficult conditions. Problems are inevitable - the issue is how quickly and well they are addressed. Australian NGOs will certainly heed advice and value feedback from the CNRT in relation to any problems they see in how the aid effort is going."
Ms Hunt said, all concerned need to redouble their efforts to work in close co-operation with the CNRT, but the CNRT also had to realise that as a political organisation, albeit a wide coalition and one with enormous moral authority arising from the vote for independence, it is not desirable to deliver aid directly through it.
Contact: Janet Hunt, Executive Director (02) 6281 9216 or (m) 0411 868 174
The Australian Council for Overseas Aid
is the coordinating body for some 90 Australian non-government aid and
development organisations
PH: 02 6285 1816 FAX: 02 6285 1720
EMAIL: acfoa@acfoa.asn.au
WEBSITE: http://www.acfoa.asn.au
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