The diversity of the veterans of Timor-Leste's 24-year independence struggle is striking. It is a variety born of the many phases and forms of the resistance. All were ultimately united behind one purpose, but their contributions were channelled through very different structures. The definition of a veteran remains a slippery one in a country where the role of the civilian population at large in sheltering and sponsoring the resistance was of great practical and ideological importance but mostly hidden from view. The new state faced a difficult task in determining how to recognise and reward those who fought for independence. Future governments will have a difficult balance to strike in handling veterans' affairs. Granting them too much attention and recognition risks creating further obstacles to the generational transfer of power that will be crucial to the country's medium-term stability. If given too little attention, their discontent could easily be mobilised against those in power
Notes
Title from p.1 screen (viewed on February 29, 2012)
