The acute political crisis that has gripped East Timor by its neck somewhat eased today as East Timor’s Nobel Prize laureate foreign minister was placed in the additional charge of defense. The appointment of Jose Ramos-Horta will definitely help easing the tension that sparked off last week in the world’s youngest independent nation.



The recent unrest in East Timor was caused by a rebellion of 600 dismissed members of the 1,400-member army. The rebellion group had complained about discrimination by their commanders led by Taur Matan Rauk, a ex-guerilla who operated in the east.



Earlier, Roque Rodriguez and Rogerio Lobato had resigned from their respective posts of defense minister and interior minister and by now, both the leaders have been completely sidelined by Gusmao. In the meanwhile, Gusmao assumed some emergency powers, and took control of the portfolios of out going ministers.



Gusmao had almost sacked the Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri who has been widely seen as the conniver of the present political crisis. In fact, political rivalries among the top-notch politicians to grab more power helped to fuel the polarizing tendency and the tension in the country.



Rogerio Lobato was also accused of forming special police units, which the East Timorese regarded as a deliberate attempt to boost up his personal power. No less is the case of the Prime Minister himself as even he is seen as a polarizing figure and many people want to see him out of power.



Interestingly, the Prime Minister belongs to Muslim community, which is minor in Roman Catholic dominated East Timor. Alkatiri does not enjoy good relationship with the church. Constitutionally, he can be only be removed through vote of no confidence which unlikely at present.



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