Abstract
This commentary tries to explain the dimension of elites’ discourse and power struggle within Timor’s heroic struggle to determine its maritime boundary and oil-to-Timor. It aims to discuss the most elementary form of a power struggle of the elites behind the discourse of oil-to-Timor and the establishment of a new maritime boundary with Australia. This commentary concludes that the aspirations of Total-Complete Independence secured by the formula of oil-to-Timor and the establishment of the permanent maritime boundary with Australia is totally a fetishist delusion and resides precisely in self-serving desires of nationalist elites searching for the preservation of power, privilege and recognition; and the discourse itself serves as a moral and political mobilisation of the politico-economic elites.
Highlights
After returning from intense diplomatic engagement with Australia, International Oil Companies (IOC) and the United Nations, Timor-Leste’s national hero and chief negotiator for the delimitation of maritime boundary, Xanana Gusmão, during his press conference on 12 March 2018, responding to the question on whether TimorLeste was fighting for maritime boundary, or oil and gas, asserted, ‘for sure, it is for maritime boundary.’
The issues had gained popular support in Timor-Leste and there are signs that matters pertaining to maritime boundary are potent to nationalism in Timor-Leste
This was evident during a mass protest in front of the Australian embassy in Dili in 2016, which brought about 20,000 Timoriana - the biggest protest ever held in Timor-Leste since independence3
Summary
After returning from intense diplomatic engagement with Australia, International Oil Companies (IOC) and the United Nations, Timor-Leste’s national hero and chief negotiator for the delimitation of maritime boundary, Xanana Gusmão, during his press conference on 12 March 2018, responding to the question on whether TimorLeste was fighting for maritime boundary, or oil and gas, asserted, ‘for sure, it is for maritime boundary.’ The issues had gained popular support in Timor-Leste and there are signs that matters pertaining to maritime boundary are potent to nationalism in Timor-Leste. The struggle of Timor-Leste with regard to the delimitation of its maritime boundary has been a practical basis for the elites to reclaim their powerprivilege-recognition (PPR).
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