CNRT and the Rise of Cronyism in Timor-Leste

Political party in Timor-Leste has underlying into a vital structures of society since 1975. On regards of Timorese political affairs,  the two main influencing political party were FRETILIN and CNRT. The former constituted the nationalist revolutionary views that advocated to an independence of Timor-Leste and relies on the principle of marxism(self-reliance). The latter,  on its genealogy,  was established in the awake of the end of the cold war as an high council and national slogan of resistance.

Since readjustment of political-military structure in the 1981 under the new leadership of Xanana  Gusmao, resulted to the creation of the National Council of Maubere Resistance(CNRM) then transforming to the National Council of Timorese Resistance(CNRT), which aspired to implement an open policy in order to accommodate all of Timorese regardless of their political orientation and struggling for self-determination and independence.

During the incentive negotiation for the future of Timorese  in 1989 onwards. Gusmao which de facto leader of CNRT while jailed, he continue as a Chief vehicle for the armed and political structures which comprised of three elements of resistance such as, Armed Front,  Clandestine Front and Diplomatic Front.

In Jakarta,  Gusmao represent the CNRT to negotiate to the implementation of "referendum" as part of the 5 May Agreement 1998. After the ballot process sanctioned by Unites Nations,  majority of Timorese voted for independence which representing by CNRT. Gusmao and J. R. Horta subsequently included in the meetings with UN,  Major powerful nations and International Financial Institutions, i.e. World Bank and IMF, aimed to discuss the posture of new UN administration for the territory and post-independence of Timor-Leste.

Since the violence abrupted in 1999, UNSC adopted a resolution 1272 in 1999 to established a new mission,  UN Transitional Administration for East Timor(UNTAET) with mandate to restore the peace, order and law and administrated Timorese to achieve a full independence on 2002. During that three years governing East Timorese, UNTAET merely favored to work closely hand to hand with CNRT.  As a result,  some of critical institutions and policies had been produced and reflecting political style of Xanana Gusmao-CNRT that advocated on dialogue-reconciliation for instance the Commission on Reception, Truth and Reconciliation(CAVR).
CNRT had been dissolve in the awake of 2002 but it has successfully served as the main representative of a powerful engineering of social, political and economic order of a new republic. During the three years process of transition,  CNRT lead Timorese to a new client for capitalist system. Aid and oil was the solely alternative for the state survival. Dependency became irreversible as a result some policies during the transitional time and after restoring the independence, being adopted unconsciously and not in a rational choice calculation. Right,  this is not the end at all. It was just the beginning for the process of "Cronyism" in Timor-Leste.

Now what is exactly is cronyism if it differs from the process of capitalism? It is a term that often associated with capitalism but it's not,  particularly during the process of transition in the post-communism world to a capitalist democratic society. This differs with "crony capitalism" where according to Same J. Karam that, "Cronyism is itself antithetical to the principles of capitalism and ought not be viewed as a derivative of it". In a cronyism society,  to him is "a larger group extracts growing share of society wealth for themselves and their associates". Karam outlined the main characteristics of cronyism society:
I. Democratic principles of fair representation and equal access are jeopardized by the greater political influence that well-connected individuals-or explicit promises of lucrative future jobs in the private sector,
II.  Economy is heavily dominated by extractive industries,
III.  If the country lags on the independence of its judiciary,
IV.  If a country economy if overly reliant on raw materials export or low value-added goods,  productivity and innovation.

It is still difficult to distinguish these two concept,  as it was an interchangeably process. However, the process of cronyism are featured when the executive-legislative passed to regulations and shared the views with private sector(Banking, MNCs)  which resulted in policies that favored on private sector interest. It is the coalition among them to benefit themselves while the perform of economic activities, investment and business have affecting the short and long term on society.


As Gusmao elected as president and FRETILIN take on the lead the government in 2002. A challenges for the newly central authority of Timor-Leste are vary,  not just It economic vulnerability, but most notably is government-building,  particularly the accumulation of power and authority versus the existing situation that in fact required and forced to a limitation of authority and the division of power. But the latter seeming like a distant dream to be implemented,  as a result,  the power and authority division become a matters to boils the relationship of Gusmao as a head of state and Alkatiri as a head of government. The tension evolved and continue lead to it's peak on political-military crises in 2006 and Alkatiri was toppled down by the civilians and petitioners demonstration on April 2006.

CNRT reemerge again in 2007, but as an political party with the new name National Congress for the Timorese Reconstruction. After defeated by CNRT on the races of both presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007, CNRT lead the coalition of party in parliament to form the government from 2007-12 and continue the same way from 2012-15.

CNRT has been well evolved as funds comes out from the bussines-people and those who benefited from the government contract and subsidy such as Veteran Pension. Some scholars noted it was the rise of "ema Riku foun/ newest richer people" in Timor-Leste of post-2006 crises. A corruption exchautively made by CNRT cadre in the government,  where at results, political interference on judicial system was the growing common features and as a last resort to responds to protect some of Gusmao cabinet members.

Partidarization within the government system evolve rapidly to malaise the function of some institution and out of its comfort zone.

In fact during these two period of ruled,  the pattern of development and the outcome of those development in Timor-Leste reflecting the way how cronyism works. CNRT has successfully cultivated the seeds that jeopardize the progress in Timor-Leste.