Political Symbols and National Identity in Timor-Leste

258 Pages·2019·5.397 MB·English

by  Catherine E. Arthur

RETHINKING PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES
Series Editor: Oliver P. Richmond
Political Symbols
& National Identity
in Timor-Leste
Catherine E. Arthur
Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies
Series Editor
Oliver P. Richmond
University of Manchester
Manchester, UK
This agenda-setting series of research monographs, now more than a
decade old, provides an interdisciplinary forum aimed at advancing inno-
vative new agendas for approaches to, and understandings of, peace and
conflict studies and International Relations. Many of the critical volumes
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sis directly or indirectly related to the search for positive, emancipatory,
and hybrid forms of peace. New perspectives on peacemaking in practice
and in theory, their implications for the international peace architecture,
and different conflict-affected regions around the world, remain crucial.
This series’ contributions offers both theoretical and empirical insights
into many of the world’s most intractable conflicts and any subsequent
attempts to build a new and more sustainable peace, responsive to the
needs and norms of those who are its subjects.
More information about this series at
http://www.palgrave.com/gp/series/14500
Catherine E. Arthur
Political Symbols and
National Identity
in Timor-Leste
Catherine E. Arthur
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast, UK
Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies
ISBN 978-3-319-98781-1 ISBN 978-3-319-98782-8 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98782-8
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A
cknowledgements
The writing of this book has been one of the greatest challenges I have
faced to date, but also one of the greatest joys. I’ve taken a long road to
get to this point and the completion of this book would not have been
possible without the invaluable help of a number of people. I have the
absolute pleasure of taking this opportunity to thank them here.
Firstly, I must acknowledge the origins of this book. The study has
developed and grown from my doctoral research and so I must thank
Queen’s University Belfast and the Department for Education and
Learning for the generous support of the project. Doctors Anthony
Soares and Dominic Bryan thank you both for your supervision and for
sparking and encouraging my passion for research. Your support, guid-
ance, and recommendations have made me a better scholar and this, a
better book. I would like to extend my thanks and warmest regards to
my other academic colleagues and friends who have helped to shape,
influence, and improve my research. In particular, my thanks to Professor
Bill Rolston for his help with research on murals, and for inspiring me to
pursue the research that I love. I also thank Dr. Paul Hainsworth for his
recommendations and encouragement to pursue the research that mat-
ters. To Chris Parkinson, my deep gratitude for the conversations, help-
ful insights, and the ideas that spark more. I would also like to thank the
numerous scholars who have helped to inform my research and who have
guided me over the years: Judith Bovensiepen, Henri Myrttinen, Kate
Roll, Josh Trindade, Philip McDermott, Kris Laslett, Johanne Devlin-
Trew, Kelly da Silva, Alice Feldman, Peter Carey, and Michael Leach.
v
vi ACKNOwLEDGEMENTS
Above all, I would like to thank my wonderful family for their unfail-
ing love and support. Through the most challenging moments, I have
managed to persevere and that is largely down to the support of my
brother, Dr. Ciaran Arthur, to whom this book is dedicated. For the
constant support, patience, and reading drafts, thank you. To my par-
ents, your sacrifices and love have allowed me to strive to reach my
potential. Thank you so much. To Ursula and Damian, your love and
support has meant so much and I hope that I’ll be able to do the same
for you.
To all of my beautiful friends who have stuck with me through the
whole journey, and who remind me of life outside of work, especially
Marie Cresswell, Amanda McMenamin, and Frances Boyle. Thank you,
you truly are the best.
***
Hau tenki dehan obrigada barak ba hau nia familia no belun Timor. Teze
ida ne’e mak ne’e imi nian. Hau agradese barak ba Senhor Jose Soares,
hau nia profesór Tetun ho belun diak. Ba Senhor Antonio Ximenes
ho familia hotu; sempre hau sei lembra imi nia bondade ho domin.
Obrigada barak ba imi hotu. Ba artistas iha Centro Arte Moris, hau
agradese barak imi nia ajuda ho hau nia peskiza. Obrigada barak maun.
Hau oferese livru ida nee ba Timor oan hotu-hotu.
c
ontents
1 Struggle, Suffering, and Symbols: Narratives
of Nationalism and Representing Identity 1
Part I Commemorative Symbols
2 Flying the Nation’s Colours: Commemorations
of the Past and the National Flag of Timor-Leste 37
3 Monuments and Memorials: Funu, Terus, and
Constructing an East Timorese National Identity 71
Part II National Heroes
4 The Spirit of Rebellion: National Heroes, Dom
Boaventura, and Personifying National Identity 107
5 ‘Big Brother Xanana’: The Cult of Personality
and the Creation of a Contemporary National Hero 137
vii
viii CONTENTS
Part III Symbols of Peace and Prosperity
6 The Struggle Continues: Peace and Prosperity,
Democratic Values and Development in Political Party
Flags 171
7 Painting Peace and Prosperity: Street Art, the Geração
Foun, and Identifying with an Evolving
‘East Timorese-ness’ 203
Part IV Conclusion
8 Conclusion 241
Glossary 249
Index 251
l f
ist of igures
Fig. 2.1 The national flag of Timor-Leste 43
Fig. 2.2 The flag of the Frente Revolucionária do Timor-Leste
Independente (Fretilin) 45
Fig. 2.3 Shop fronts in Dili displaying the national flag and bunting 56
Fig. 2.4 Bunting of the national flag of Timor-Leste hanging
from shops in Dili 57
Fig. 2.5 The party headquarters of the Partido Democrático (PD) 58
Fig. 2.6 The national flag flying alongside the PD party flag at its
headquarters 59
Fig. 2.7 Supporters of the Associação Social Democrata Timorense
(ASDT) party cheering on a Fretilin rally as it passes 64
Fig. 3.1 The aswain statue in the central park of Dili, Timor-Leste 75
Fig. 3.2 The Cristo Rei statue at Area Branca, Dili 82
Fig. 4.1 A T-shirt designed by the Associação Social Democrata
Timorense (ASDT) party and given to supporters at rallies,
featuring the images of (left to right) Dom Boaventura,
José Ramos-Horta and Xavier do Amaral 120
Fig. 4.2 An ASDT party’s 2012 election campaign banner in Dili 121
Fig. 5.1 A CNRT election campaign poster featuring the iconic
photograph of Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão as Commander
in Chief of the Falintil 148
Fig. 5.2 A group of CNRT supporters en route to a party rally,
accompanied by Xanana 150
Fig. 5.3 A CNRT campaign rally in Dili, where many supporters
wore T-shirts with Xanana Gusmão’s portrait on them 151
ix