Two decades after gaining independence, Timor-Leste remains a nation of contrasts. While it has established a functioning democracy and is set to join the ASEAN regional bloc later this month, deep economic challenges and persistent poverty continue to affect the country. Amid these developments, Agio Pereira, a senior minister overseeing the national intelligence agency, has made explosive public claims that organised crime may be infiltrating Timorese institutions. His warnings follow a recent UN report that details alleged attempts by triad-linked groups from China and Southeast Asia to establish operations in the Oecusse-Ambeno region.
Pereira, in a Facebook post titled A Manifesto for the Defence of Timor-Leste, alleged that US$45 million had been brought into the country by transnational criminal syndicates from Cambodia, Malaysia, Macau, and Hong Kong. He claims the funds were used to influence regulatory bodies, secure fraudulent licences, and create protected zones for illegal gambling, cyber-scam centres, and human trafficking. Pereira posed a stark choice for the nation: uphold democracy and sovereignty, or risk becoming controlled by foreign criminal networks. He called for revocation of licences granted to criminal networks, cooperation with international law enforcement, and investigations into officials allegedly involved.
President José Ramos-Horta acknowledged Timor-Leste’s vulnerability, noting that while the country lacks homegrown organised crime, its fragility makes it attractive to foreign criminal groups. He expressed confidence in local authorities with support from Australian and Indonesian police. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao initially took a measured stance but later approved a draft resolution cancelling existing online gambling licences and halting new ones. However, no investigation into implicated officials appears to have been initiated.
The allegations highlight the growing problem of cyber-scamming and illegal gambling in Southeast Asia, which generate billions in revenue and are often facilitated by weak regulatory oversight. Timor-Leste, with its strategic location near Australia, has become an attractive target. Pereira’s manifesto follows a recent raid on a suspected scam centre in Oecusse-Ambeno, where 30 foreign nationals were detained. The UN report noted that organised crime groups exploited the region’s loose regulations to establish an “Oecusse Digital Centre,” posing risks similar to those seen in Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines.
Reactions to Pereira’s claims have been mixed. Some, like Nelson Belo of Fundasaun Mahein, criticised Pereira for going public instead of working through official channels. Others, including former minister Abel Pires, suggested that systemic involvement in corruption may have left Pereira little choice but to speak out publicly. The cancellation of gambling licences has been welcomed, but calls for an independent investigation persist.
Public frustration over corruption and incompetence, amplified by student protests, underscores the broader concern that organised crime could subvert Timor-Leste’s institutions. As the country prepares for ASEAN membership, the allegations serve as a stark warning of the potential threat to national security and governance, requiring careful attention from both the Timorese government and international partners like Australia.
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