Oil-Boundary and Total-Complete Independence: Elite’s Power Struggle and the Power Discourse

Abstract

This commentary tries to explain the dimension of elites’ discourse and power struggle within Timor’s heroic struggle to determine its maritime boundary and oil-to-Timor. It aims to discuss the most elementary form of a power struggle of the elites behind the discourse of oil-to-Timor and the establishment of a new maritime boundary with Australia. This commentary concludes that the aspirations of Total-Complete Independence secured by the formula of oil-to-Timor and the establishment of the permanent maritime boundary with Australia is totally a fetishist delusion and resides precisely in self-serving desires of nationalist elites searching for the preservation of power, privilege and recognition; and the discourse itself serves as a moral and political mobilisation of the politico-economic elites.