It requires strong support from civil society. The organizations of civil society, which were prevented from forming during the Indonesian days, are now emerging and they will be our greatest protection in the future from the return of repression. A common feature of dictatorships all over the world has been the suppression of civil society. Dictators do not allow alternative voices because they know this will puncture their aura of invincibility. Any criticism becomes an act of treason because the dictator pretends that he is the sole source of authority.
Dictatorships create poverty.
They foster corruption and violence. They cannot rule without the use of force and the only wealth created is for a small minority at the expense of the majority. I am proud to be able to report that Timorese voices were never stilled in East Timor. Our organisations may have been closed down and many individuals suffered greatly, but they were never silent. Now those voices must re-emerge in the form of people's organisations capable of providing honest analysis and critiques of our progress.