Role of the Commons in Post-Conflict Countries: Natural Resource Management in East Timor

Abstract

"The paper analyzes how the role of commons has been integrated into management system of land and natural resources in post-conflict recovery and peace-building process in East Timor. The research is based on the surveys conducted by the author from 2001 to 2005. East Timor became independent in May 2002, ending Indonesian occupation. Independence shed light on the countrys environmental problems, which is a result of natural resources exploitation for short-term profit during the history of the colonization and occupation. Driven by the urgent need for restoration, the local movement to reestablish customary practices on land and natural resource management became active following the independence. The independent government supported the movement, for various practical and political reasons. For the new government, the customary approach was not only a cost-effective way to manage natural resources, but also adhered to the political motivation to support local participation and ownership by making the policies clearly different from that of the Indonesian administration. During the nation-building process, East Timor integrated customary law into state legislation. Analysis on the following interlinked aspects would reveal the factors that made commons more relevant during the post-conflict situation: limited general public resources and administrative capacity for natural resource management, limitations in effective enforcement of the state laws, and need for local participation and ownership. The study will examine the impact by the laws and policies during the nationbuilding stage which took the integrated approach. The relevant regulations and measures addressing land and natural resource management issues are analyzed, with special attention paid to enforcement mechanism, timeframe for taking those measures, community interventions, position of the national authority and international communities. Based on the findings and analysis on the practices, the paper will suggest how the effective natural resource management can facilitate the transition to peace in the post-conflict country."