A Luta Kontinua (the struggle continues): the Marginalisation of Women in the Veterans’ Valorisation

Scheme

Lia Kent

State, Society

Australian National University

Lia KentState, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program, ANU

Photo from Guerra da Beatriz

Overview

1. Background to the veterans’ scheme/ evolution of the scheme over time/ increasing emphasis on

stability goals;

2. How the veterans scheme marginalises women

3. Could women be better recognised within the scheme?;

2002: Commission for the Issues of Former Combatants (CAAC)Commission for the Issues of FALINTIL (CAVF)

2004: Commission for Matters of Cadres of the Resistance (CAQR)

2005: Draft Legislation on ‘valorising the resistance’

2006: Statute of the National Liberation Combatants: a Timorese citizen who participated in the independence struggle for more than three years and was, ‘part of the structures or organizations of the

Resistance’.

• Benefits: medals, the right to funeral honours, and presidential decorations. Right to access state health and education services free of charge, scholarships

• Entitlements to pensions for select group: initially based on ‘vulnerability’ criteria, increasing shift towards years of service and military rank

• Years of service: sum of all periods of deportation, detention and work in ‘exclusive dedication’ to the Resistance

• 2010: 23.1 million dollars (3% of State budget)

• 2011: 82.7 million dollars (6% of State budget)

• Problems in verification of data

• Tensions between armed and clandestine front

How the veterans’ scheme marginalises women

• Definition of veteran: armed contributions valorised over contributions of women as cooks, couriers, clandestinos;

• Reliance on ‘exclusive dedication’ to the resistance

• Provision the precludes spouses from receiving pensions if they have remarried

• Sexual violence not considered

• Lack of recognition of second wives

• Women are benefitting financially (38% of pension recipients are women). But 97.5% receiving survival pension

Possibilities?

• Allowing second wives to claim a part of their former husband’s pension and allowing remarried spouses to claim the pension.

• Awarding title of National Liberation Combatant (NLC) to women who provided logistical support, medical services or intelligence to FALINTIL or the clandestine networks for a minimum of three years.

• Awarding honorific title of ‘Supporter of the National Liberation Struggle’ to women who provided valuable support to the Resistance.

Conclusions