Articles

• TAGS:
• Timor-Leste
• Sustainability

Evicted, Silently

Since the beginning of 2024, Timor-Leste’s government has intensified efforts to improve infrastructure, particularly the roads in Dili, the nation’s capital.

Praises often highlight the city’s improved orderliness and greater access to isolated neighbourhoods. However, sceptics criticise the practice of forced eviction to build roads, resulting in families displaced from their homes and environmental damage associated with tree felling.

Recent eviction in Dili is estimated to have affected at least 1,336 households (about 7,615 people) and has drawn widespread protest from the community and local NGOs given that it has caused many families to lose their lands without proper compensation.

The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice warns that “forced evictions without proper planning, relocation, or compensation could constitute serious human rights violations.” Local NGO Fundasaun Mahein has raised concerns about the methods and motives behind the eviction and its effectiveness to address deeper structural problems such as poverty. Meanwhile, some have called for the preservation of ecological and social values amid the government’s road-building endeavour.

Going deeper, infrastructure projects cannot be extricated from political agenda. They are tied to who holds the power, who controls the purse (capital) and whose interests will be served. It is never about just building roads—different actors with differing interests constantly negotiate to get the best terms, and thus dissatisfaction will sure follow those who are excluded, affected disproportionately or whose interests are not fulfilled.

These are valid concerns that reflect development challenges in Timor-Leste.

This dialectic between infrastructure improvement and socioeconomic wellbeing has exposed the flaws in Dili’s pursuit of development; plans are not communicated well to the public and remedies are not offered to affected individuals. Addressing these necessitates a comprehensive urban plan that guides infrastructure upgrades and provides a clear direction for growth that integrates economic objectives, social justice values, and environmental needs.

Paradox of Progress

The eviction controversy, in many ways, is caused by the clash between economic priorities and the need for social and environmental protection.

With a growing population (now estimated to have reached 350,000) in a limited land area, Dili is in dire need for infrastructure improvement to address urban problems such as traffic congestion, pollution, flooding and increasingly constrained access to services.

Compounding the problem are the undesired consequences for the communities and ecosystems that will emanate from any infrastructure upgrades in a space as limited as Dili. This creates a paradox where better infrastructure may improve efficiency and access for many but often pushes out those who have no means.

This is a dilemma that  Timor-Leste does not face alone; across the globe, leaders are compelled to prioritise agendas that can quickly address pressing issues such as unemployment and poverty. However, in Timor-Leste, solid infrastructure is the immediate priority considering the country’s underdevelopment. Better roads increase connectivity, which in turn creates employment opportunities and improves living standards.

The tension has persisted because many see that the situation currently faced by the affected families can be managed better.

For instance, solutions such as public housing, temporary shelters or adequate assistance – which are not offered – should have been provided for the displaced families to ensure that they do not experience worse living conditions after eviction.

While the timeline for vacating the sites and compensation has been communicated to the affected families, it is far from sufficient because the overall displacement impact on their livelihood – including disruption to their jobs, social support system and access to basic services – has not been taken into consideration.

After eviction, many of the affected families have no choice but to occupy plots that are prone to natural disasters, such as hills in the urban fringe. There is also a discussion about returning affected families to their respective municipalities, but this contradicts their initial migration to Dili for better economic opportunities.

How about the environmental impact? The felling of trees does not only affect animals’ habitat or source of food but also takes away the greenery’s function in providing shade and reducing urban heat.

The government, however, seems to have taken this into consideration; there are newly planted trees in the completed road sections, though whether this measure could compensate for the original loss of greenery remains a question.

Lessons to Learn

Eviction in Dili is not a new phenomenon but a recurring one.

In 2011, many families were evicted from their homes in Bairro Pitte, while multiple university students were removed from the former Hotel Rezende in 2013. These evictions were driven by interconnected factors: land disputes, unclear land tenure, lack of available housing and the development of offices, commercial centres, or other public infrastructure.

In the same way, the recent eviction cases are linked to the widening of roads, which is a part of the government’s effort to organise and improve the city. The latest controversy, however, exposes some weaknesses in the country’s development agenda.

First, the connection between infrastructure improvement and overall development objectives is not clearly defined and communicated to the public, leaving the people without a clear understanding about positive multiplier effects from better infrastructure.

Second, public consultations to discuss the development’s requirements and impacts – both positive and negative – are not carried out in a meaningful and transparent manner, leading to strong reactions from the community.

Third, proper avenues to raise and respond to grievances are not in place, undermining public trust and raising more questions about accountability. Fourth, solutions for the affected communities are not prepared adequately, which increase the likelihood of worse living conditions after eviction. Last but not least, there is a lack of clarity regarding how infrastructure improvement fits into the country’s long-term development vision.

These weaknesses point towards a key issue in the government’s agenda; that “development is happening, but is uneven”.

So what can the government do to address these shortcomings?

For starters, the adoption and implementation of a comprehensive urban plan is necessary to not only ensure better infrastructure but also the welfare of the people, social justice and environmental protection. Such a plan must have clearly defined areas for settlements, promote economic activities, protect nature and the environment, improve accessibility to basic services, and strengthen social interaction.

Ironically, Dili already has an urban masterplan that provides information and analyses of key development issues aimed at ensuring the above imperatives, complete with priorities, timelines and financial requirements. Therefore, it is crucial that the government stays faithful to this masterplan, using it as the point of reference for future development, as it could help prevent public backlash from reckless development projects.

Moreover, urbanisation in Dili is mainly driven by rural-urban migration for jobs and education. Upgrading infrastructure alone will not provide a long-term solution for its urban problems. The solution must be geared towards improving infrastructure and providing better opportunities in the municipalities, which would inhibit people from migrating to the capital and reduce the pressure to meet demands stemming from a rapidly growing population.

Path Forward

Timor-Leste is right to invest in basic infrastructure because it improves access to basic services such as electricity, water, roads, health and education—the prerequisites for a balanced development. Reliable infrastructure can also support the development of productive sectors, including agriculture and tourism, which have immense potential for job creation.

A key takeaway from the current eviction controversy is that development is a political process. Its outcomes may not meet expectations and needs of all the competing interests because they are tied to questions regarding who makes decisions, why such decisions are made and who benefits the most. Therefore, however framed, development will always generate controversies because it seldom occurs under perfect conditions.

Furthermore, since Timor-Leste’s economy relies on government spending, many at-risk communities look to the state to defend their rights to land and housing. The government thus plays an important role in making sure that development must contribute positively to the community’s wellbeing.

Ultimately, Timor-Leste’s path toward inclusive development lies in ensuring the effective implementation of the country’s long-term agenda (the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030), which could usher positive economic, social and environmental outcomes. While Timor-Leste places itself on a right path by investing in basic infrastructure, the challenge lies in how infrastructure can contribute to diversifying the country’s economy without deepening inequality and environmental degradation.

This article is published under a Creative Commons Licence. Republications minimally require 1) credit authors and their institutions, and 2) credit to STRAT.O.SPHERE CONSULTING PTE LTD  and include a link back to either our home page or the article URL.

• TAGS:
• Timor-Leste
• Sustainability