DOCSLIB.ORG

Timor-Leste Cooperative Agreement Number: AID-486-A-13-00007 Grantee: Counterpart International, Inc

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Timor-Leste Cooperative Agreement Number: AID-486-A-13-00007 Grantee: Counterpart International, Inc Mai Munisípiu Project Final Report Period: September 23, 2013 – September 22, 2017 Submitted To: USAID/ Timor-Leste Cooperative Agreement Number: AID-486-A-13-00007 Grantee: Counterpart International, Inc. Contact: Belma Ejupovic, Vice President Programs [email protected] Counterpart International Inc. 2345 Crystal Drive, Suite 301 Arlington, VA 22202 1 Contents I. Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... 6 II. Project Purpose ............................................................................................................ 13 III. Project Impacts ............................................................................................................ 15 Objective 1: Enhanced capacity of suco councils to strengthen citizen participation and representation in local governance ................................................................................... 15 Objective 2: Improved communication and linkages of suco councils with district administrations, local GoTL line ministries and other providers of basic services at the sub- national level ................................................................................................................... 25 Objective 3: Strengthened local justice sector institutions that increase access to formal and informal justice for marginalized citizens and the poor .................................................... 34 Objective 4: Strengthened capacity of Government of Timor-Leste (GOTL), in particular its Electoral Management Bodies to hold fair, transparent, inclusive local elections and facilitate voter engagement ............................................................................................................ 51 IV. Gender and other Cross-Cutting Themes ...................................................................... 58 I. Project Grants .............................................................................................................. 61 V. Problems Encountered ................................................................................................. 63 Component A: Local Governance Strengthening ............................................................. 63 Component B: Decentralisation ....................................................................................... 65 Components C & D: Access To Justice ............................................................................ 66 Component E: Suco (Village) Electoral Support .............................................................. 68 VI. Success Stories, Lessons Learned and Recommendations ............................................ 69 Success Stories ................................................................................................................ 69 Lessons Learned .............................................................................................................. 72 Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 75 VII. Monitoring and Evaluation ........................................................................................... 78 VIII. Annexes ................................................................................................................ 81 2 Acronym List AATL Asosiasaun Advogadu Timor-Lorosa’e ADR Alternate Dispute Resolution ADTL Asosiasaun Difisiensia Timor Leste ALFeLa Asistensia Legal ba Feto no Labarik AOR Agreement Officer’s Representative ARKTL Asosiasaun Radio Komunidade Timor-Leste BESIK Bee, Saneamentu no Ijiene iha Komunidade CBO Community-Based Organization CCL Local Advisory Councils CDI Community Development Interest CEG Constituent Engagement Grant CNE National Election Commission CNJTL Timor-Leste’s National Council for the Youth COP Chief of Party CRL Legislative Reform and Justice Sector Commission CSO Civil Society Organization DA District Administration DAGs Decentralization Advocacy Grants DFAT Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade DG-DA Directorate-General for Administrative Decentralization DNAAS National Directorate for Suku Administration and Support DNAL National Directorate for Local Administration DNDCAS National Directorate for Community Development and Suku Support DNDHS National Directorate of Human Rights and Citizenship DNJAL National Directorate for Judicial Advisory and Legislation DQA Data Quality Assessment DRAG Decentralization Research and Advocacy Grant ECM Educaҫão Comunidade Matebian EOM PNDS Suku Operation and Maintenance Team ETAN East Timor and Indonesia Action Network FAO United Nations Food Agriculture Organization FDG Focus Discussion Group FECM Fundasaun Educaҫão Matebian FEEO Fundasaun Esperanza Enclave Oé-Cusse FFSO Fundasaun Fatuk Sinae Oé-Cusse FOG Fixed Obligation Grant FONGTIL NGO Forum FPWO Oé-Cusse Women Forum FRETILIN Political Party in Timor-Leste FSM Suco Municipal Forum FY Fiscal Year GACOROA Coordinating Office for Relations with the Special Administrative Region Authority of Oé-Cusse Ambeno GBV Gender Based Violence GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GMF Facility Management Group GOTL Government of Timor-Leste GSB General State Budget 3 GTD District Technical Group ICC International Criminal Court IIMS Integrated Information Management System IJTL Timor-Leste’s Judicial Institute INAP National Institute of Public Administration INDMO The National Labour Force Development Institute IP Implementing Partner JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency JPC Comissão Justiҫa I Paz/ Justice and Peace Commission JSMP Judicial System Monitoring Programme KMP Knowledge Management Portal KSDS Superior Council for Defense and Security LAAIG Legal Aid Advocacy and Implementation Grants LADV Law Against Domestic Violence LJTC Legal and Juridical Training Center (formerly Legal Training Center) M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MAE Ministeriu Administrasaun Estatal (Ministry of State Administration) MDI Mata Dalan Institute MOFFETL Movimento Feto Foinsa’e Timor-Leste MOJ Ministry of Justice MOU Memorandum of Understanding MSA Ministry of State Administration (Ministeriu Asministrasaun Estatal) NGO Non-government Organization OCB Organizational Capacity Building OD Organizational Development OPD Office of Public Defenders OPG Office of the Prosecutor General OPS Suco Police Officer PAAS Personnel Support to Suco Administration PACT Plan of Action PDA Pre-Deconcentration Administrative PDID Integrated Plan for District Development PDS Professional Development System PIMD/PDIM Planning of Integrated Municipal Development PMEP Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan PMP Performance Monitoring Plan PNDS National Program for Suku Development PQL Program, Quality and Learning PSA Public Services Announcement PNTL National Police of Timor-Leste Q Quarter RAEOA Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse-Ambeno RCAL Radio Comunidade Atoni Lifau RCLM Radio Comunidade Lian Matebian RCT Radio Comunidade Tokodede RDTL Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste RFA Request for Application RHTO Ra’es Hadomi Timor Oan RTL Radio Timor-Leste RTTL Timor-Leste’s Public Broadcasting Service 4 SAIM Secretariat for the Administration and Installation of Municipalities SAR Special Administrative Region SAS Water Supply and Sanitation Department (Serbisu Aqua no Saneamentu) SC Steering Committee SEM Secretariat for the Support and Socio-economic Promotion of Women SEPI Secretary of State for Promotion of Equality SEPFOPE Secretariat of State for Vocational Training Policy and Employment SGPS Suku Government Performance Scale SHIO Suku Hadomi Inan no Oan (Suku Loves Mothers and Children) SLAIM Local Secretariat for the Administration and Installation of Municipalities SOPs Standard Operating Procedures STAE Technical Secretariat for the Administration of Elections STTA Short Term Technical Assistance SukAT Suku Assessment Tool TAF The Asia Foundation TL Timor-Leste ToT Training of Trainers Tt DPK Tetra Tech DPK TVET Technical and Vocational Education Training TVTL Television Timor-Leste UNDP United Nations Development Program UNFPA United Nations Population Fund USAID United States Agency for International Development USG United States Government VPU Vulnerable Persons Unit YACTS Youth in Action Towards Sustainability ZEESM Special Zone of Social Market Economy in Timor-Leste 5 I. Executive Summary In September 2013, Counterpart International, Inc. (Counterpart) was awarded funding from USAID/Timor-Leste to implement the four-year Mai Munisípiu1 Project – Cooperative Agreement AID 486-A-13-00007. The project seeks to contribute to a wider vision of improved decentralized governance, inclusive access to justice and strengthened civic and voter education in Timor-Leste. Over the period of the project, Mai Munisípiu achieved the following: Objective 1: Enhanced capacity of suco councils to strengthen citizen participation and representation in local governance Increased knowledge and skills of suco members o Implementing partner Belun facilitated a total of three (3) organizational capacity development assessments for each of the project’s target 100 suco councils in Baucau, Covalima, Ermera, Liquica and Oé-Cusse. o On the basis of the baseline organisational capacity development assessment, training and technical assistance were provided for the identified key areas of leadership and strategic management, representation and quality control, administration, financial sustainability and external
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Financial Report and Audited Financial Statements
    A/63/5/Add.1 United Nations United Nations Development Programme Financial report and audited financial statements for the biennium ended 31 December 2007 and Report of the Board of Auditors General Assembly Official Records Sixty-third Session Supplement No. 5A General Assembly Official Records Sixty-third Session Supplement No. 5A United Nations Development Programme Financial report and audited financial statements for the biennium ended 31 December 2007 and Report of the Board of Auditors United Nations • New York, 2008 A/63/5/Add.1 Note Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. ISSN 0251-8198 [23 July 2008] Contents Chapter Page Letters of transmittal and certification.............................................. vii I. Financial report for the biennium ended 31 December 2007 ............................ 1 A. Changes in accounting practices and policies in the biennium ...................... 2 B. Regular resources .......................................................... 5 C. Other resources activities .................................................... 7 D. Programme expenditure monitoring ........................................... 9 E. Trust funds established by the United Nations Development Programme ............. 10 F. Management service agreements .............................................. 14 G. United Nations Volunteers ................................................... 15 H. Junior Professional
    [Show full text]
  • With Text Wrapping Independent Women Candidates in Local
    Consolidated Response Independent Women Candidates in local elections in Mali International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics www.iKNOWpolitics.org With text wrapping Introduction Despite comprising more than 50 percent of the world's population, women continue to lack access to political leadership opportunities and resources at all levels of government. Women‟s equal participation in decision-making is not only a demand for simple justice or democracy, but a necessary pre-condition for women‟s interests to be taken into account. Governance structures which do not result in the equal participation of men and women, or their equal enjoyment of benefits from state interventions are by definition neither inclusive nor democratic. In 2007, recognizing that over the last century women‟s gains in the political arena have been slow and inadequate, five international organizations came together to make women‟s political participation their collective priority and devise a strategy that would scale-up each of the organization‟s efforts to foster gender equality in politics: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) National Democratic Institute (NDI) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) The International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (www.iKNOWPolitics.org) is an online network, jointly supported by the five partner organizations, that aims to increase the participation and effectiveness of women in political life by utilizing a technology-enabled forum to provide access to critical resources and expertise, stimulate dialogue, create knowledge, and share experiences among women in politics.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Law 107-228 107Th Congress an Act to Authorize Appropriations for the Department of State for Fiscal Year 2003, to Sept
    116 STAT. 1350 PUBLIC LAW 107-228—SEPT. 30, 2002 Public Law 107-228 107th Congress An Act To authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal year 2003, to Sept. 30, 2002 authorize appropriations under the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign [HR 1646] Assistance Act of 1961 for security assistance for fiscal year 2003, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Foreign Relations the United States of America in Congress assembled, Authorization ^^^™w^»,. „„^^r., ^-^^^ -^ Act, Fiscal Year SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. o^ri'ar o«i^i This Act may be cited as the "Foreign Relations Authorization note. Act, Fiscal Year 2003". SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF ACT INTO DIVISIONS; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) DIVISIONS.—This Act is organized into two divisions as follows: (1) DIVISION A.—Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003. (2) DIVISION B.—Security Assistance Act of 2002. (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Organization of Act into divisions; table of contents. Sec. 3. Definitions. DIVISION A—DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEAR 2003 Sec. 101. Short title. TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS Subtitle A—Department of State Sec. 111. Administration of foreign affairs. Sec. 112. United States educational, cultural, and public diplomacy programs. Sec. 113. Contributions to international organizations. Sec. 114. International Commissions. Sec. 115. Migration and refugee assistance. Sec. 116. Grants to The Asia Foundation. Subtitle B—United States International Broadcasting Activities Sec. 121. Authorizations of appropriations.
    [Show full text]
  • Egypt's 2005 Presidential Election Assessment Report
    INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE FINAL REPORT 2005 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ASSESSMENT IN EGYPT AUGUST 15 – SEPTEMBER 9, 2005 International Republican Institute 1225 Eye St., NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20005 (202) 408-9450 phone • (202) 408-9462 fax • Web site: www.iri.org TABLE OF CONTENTS: A. Executive Summary B. The Legal and Political Context C. The Presidential Election Committee (PEC) D. The Campaign Period E. Voter Lists and Voter Registration F. Judicial Oversight G. Domestic Election Monitors H. Election Day I. Conclusion J. IRI Recommendations for Future Elections in Egypt K. IRI Delegate Biographies IRI ELECTION ASSESSMENT REPORT 2 October 2005 EGYPT A. Executive Summary Genuine democratic elections are a requisite condition for democratic governance, as the primary vehicle through which the people of a country freely express their will. Achieving genuine democratic elections is a part of establishing broader processes and institutions necessary for democratic governance. Therefore, while all election practices should reflect universal principles for democratic elections, no election can be separated from the political, cultural and historical context in which it takes place. On September 7, 2005, Egypt faced an historic opportunity with the first direct, multi- candidate presidential election in its history. For the first time, voters were given the opportunity to choose from among several candidates for the position of president, and open campaigning was permitted for candidates representing opposition political parties. State-owned television stations strove to provide equal airtime coverage for candidates, and some independent newspapers provided critical coverage of the campaigns. Perhaps most important, voting occurred in a safe and non-violent atmosphere, without the overt intimidation on the part of police or security forces that has sometimes marred elections in Egypt in the past.
    [Show full text]
  • Jean A. Berlie East Timor’S Independence, Indonesia and ASEAN Jean A
    EAST TIMOR’S INDEPENDENCE, INDONESIA AND ASEAN Jean A. Berlie East Timor’s Independence, Indonesia and ASEAN Jean A. Berlie Editor East Timor’s Independence, Indonesia and ASEAN Editor Jean A. Berlie The Education University of Hong Kong Tai Po, Hong Kong ISBN 978-3-319-62629-1 ISBN 978-3-319-62630-7 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62630-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017948274 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifcally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microflms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifc statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affliations.
    [Show full text]
  • «Poor Family Name», «Rich First Name»
    ENCIU Ioan (S&D / RO) Manager, Administrative Sciences Graduate, Faculty of Hydrotechnics, Institute of Construction, Bucharest (1976); Graduate, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest (2003). Head of section, assistant head of brigade, SOCED, Bucharest (1976-1990); Executive Director, SC ACRO SRL, Bucharest (1990-1992); Executive Director, SC METACC SRL, Bucharest (1992-1996); Director of Production, SC CASTOR SRL, Bucharest (1996-1997); Assistant Director-General, SC ACRO SRL, Bucharest (1997-2000); Consultant, SC GKS Special Advertising SRL (2004-2008); Consultant, SC Monolit Lake Residence SRL (2008-2009). Vice-President, Bucharest branch, Romanian Party of Social Solidarity (PSSR) (1992-1994); Member of National Council, Bucharest branch Council and Sector 1 Executive, Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSDR) (1994-2000); Member of National Council, Bucharest branch Council and Bucharest branch Executive and Vice-President, Bucharest branch, Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2000-present). Local councillor, Sector 1, Bucharest (1996-2000); Councillor, Bucharest Municipal Council (2000-2001); Deputy Mayor of Bucharest (2000-2004); Councillor, Bucharest Municipal Council (2004-2007). ABELA BALDACCHINO Claudette (S&D / MT) Journalist Diploma in Social Studies (Women and Development) (1999); BA (Hons) in Social Administration (2005). Public Service Employee (1992-1996); Senior Journalist, Newscaster, presenter and producer for Television, Radio and newspaper' (1995-2011); Principal (Public Service), currently on long
    [Show full text]
  • The Timor Gap, 1972-2002
    The Timor Gap, 1972-2002 Robert J. King July 2002 The Timor Sea Treaty between Australia and East Timor was signed in Dili on 20 May 2002, the first day of East Timor’s existence as an internationally recognized independent state. The treaty was signed for Australia by Prime Minister John Howard, and for East Timor by Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri. The treaty created a Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA) of 75,000 sq km in the Timor Sea, with 90 per cent of revenue from production within the area going to East Timor and 10 per cent to Australia. The JPDA covered 100 per cent of a $US1.6 billion project being developed at the Bayu-Undan oil and gas fields by Phillips Petroleum and about 20 per cent of the ten trillion cubic feet Sunrise and Troubadour reservoirs.1An annex to the treaty awarded 18 per cent of revenues from the Greater Sunrise field, a deposit that straddles the eastern corner of the joint area, to East Timor. The Timor Sea Treaty will remain in force until there is a permanent seabed delimitation between Australia and East Timor, or for thirty years from the date of its entry into force, whichever is the sooner (article 22). The Timor Sea Treaty replaced the Timor Gap (Zone of Cooperation) Treaty between Australia and Indonesia, which lapsed when East Timor ceased to be a province of Indonesia following a United Nations supervised act of self-determination on 30 August 1999. The Joint Petroleum Development Area created by the Timor Sea Treaty covers Zone of Cooperation Area A established by the Timor Gap Treaty.
    [Show full text]
  • F:Asttunor ./)ATAURO
    Timor link, no. 11, November 1987 This is the Published version of the following publication UNSPECIFIED (1987) Timor link, no. 11, November 1987. Timor link (11). pp. 1-8. The publisher’s official version can be found at Note that access to this version may require subscription. Downloaded from VU Research Repository https://vuir.vu.edu.au/25950/ November 1987 LINK ISSN 1010 1888 CONTENTS ./)ATAURO News from Inside by John f:astTunor (}MalJl'ftei.a WETAR STRAIT Taylor: New Appeal from Xanana New Maps from the War Human Rights Update Views from Lisbon: Portugal's Position by Jean-Pierre Catry The Cavaco Silva Government by Jill Jolliffe Review: The Uniting Church in Australia .report by Robert Archer , NEWS FROM INSIDE A substantial amount of information members of Batallion 745 for having 1981. They show how the area under has been received from East Timor in gone to his vegetable garden during a cultivation has fallen in the war zones the last few weeks. Much of it comes period of curfew. This took place on and how the population has been from Fretilin sources. Information has 5 .1. 87., at a place called Pupuhu.' concentrated around the strategic also been received from contacts in These examples are taken from a villages. Indonesian-held areas, especially Fretilin document produced in Timor Fretilin has also dispatched detailed student groups, and from refugees on June 20 1987. It is just one of many accounts of engagements with recently arrived in Lisbon. This which have recently arrived from the Indonesian troops in the last twelve month's commentary draws upon this territory.
    [Show full text]
  • Japan's Contribution to Human Security of East Timor
    Peace and Conflict Studies Volume 20 Number 2 Article 2 11-2013 A Sequence Analysis of International Peace Operations: Japan’s Contribution to Human Security of East Timor Daisuke Akimoto Soka University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/pcs Part of the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons Recommended Citation Akimoto, Daisuke (2013) "A Sequence Analysis of International Peace Operations: Japan’s Contribution to Human Security of East Timor," Peace and Conflict Studies: Vol. 20 : No. 2 , Article 2. DOI: 10.46743/1082-7307/2013.1149 Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/pcs/vol20/iss2/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Peace & Conflict Studies at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Peace and Conflict Studies by an authorized editor of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Sequence Analysis of International Peace Operations: Japan’s Contribution to Human Security of East Timor Abstract Japan’s commitments to the UN-authorized peace operations in East Timor were the largest contribution the country has made in the history of its international peace operations. Notably, Japan’s participation in the peacebuilding operations in East Timor was based on “human security” as one of the pillars of its diplomatic policy. Moreover, Japan’s participation in the peace operations in East Timor was a touchstone issue for its human security policy. Yet, one simple but important question arises. How consistent were Japan’s commitments to the peace operations? In an attempt to answer to this question, this paper systematically examines Japan’s contributions to the international peace operations for East Timor.
    [Show full text]
  • Women's Political Networks
    Women’s Political Networks Defining Leadership, Breaking Barriers, and Fostering Change Lucina Di Meco WOMEN’S POLITICAL NETWORKS THE COMPLETE GUIDE Women’s Political Networks: Defining Leadership, Breaking Barriers, and Fostering Change Acknowledgements I’d like to gracefully acknowledge all the politicians, gender experts and managers of political networks who generously took part in this study, sharing with me their experiences and thoughts regarding women’s political networks. In alphabetical Gwen K. Young, Director order, they are: Achol Williams, Aida Balamaci, Ajla van Heel, Alessia Mosca, Anita Perez Ferguson, Anna Burke, Aretha Frances, Caroline Hubbard, Federiga Bindi, Marie Principe, Funke Baruwa, Gabriela Jakovleva, Gabriella Borovsky, Hanane Ennadir, Hilary Program Associate Anderson, Krishanti Dharmaraj, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Jessica Berns, Jessica Althea Lloyd, Grounds, Jessica Huber, Joanna Maycock, Joyce Banda, Kah Walla, Kent Da- Program Coordinator vis-Packard, Khadija Idrissi Janati, Khatoun Haidar, Kristin Haffert, Kristen Sam- Ellysse Dick, ple, Kudzai Makombe, Lana Ackar, Lesia Radelicki, Lia Quartapelle, Lindy Wafula, Communications Assistant Margarita Percovich, Maria Eugenia Valverde, Maria Ysabel Cedano, Mahnaz Afkhami, Mary Balikungeri, Massimo Tommasoli, Melanne Verveer, Randi Davis, Special thanks to Gwen K. Sandra Pepera, Susannah Wellford, Sonia Palmieri, Sonja Lokar, Susan Markham, Young and Marie Principe Teina Mackenzie, Valeria Fedeli, Valerie Dowling, Vivian Roza, Zeina Hilal. In for editing this publication and to Ellysse Dick for the addition, I’d like to acknowledge Karine Lepillez, who read the manuscript and design and layout. provided critical comments and Elyse Gainor, who kindly proofread it. Finally, a special thank you goes to Gwen Young, Director of the Global Women’s Leadership About the Initiative and Women in Public Service Project at the Wilson Center, who believed in the importance of this research and made it possible.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Muslim' Leader of a 'Catholic' Nation?
    Melissa Johnston A ‘Muslim’ Leader of a ‘Catholic’ Nation? Mari Alkatiri’s Arab-Islamic Identity and its (Inter-)National Contestations Introduction At the turn of the century, Mari Alkatiri became the first Prime Minister of East Timor1 – a nation which had gained independence in 1999 after Portuguese colonialism and Indonesian occupation. Mari bin Amude Alkatiri was born into the tiny Muslim Arab- Hadhrami minority in Portuguese Timor. Thanks to this ethnic heritage, he had some money and access to education in his youth – vital to his development as a politician in Fretilin, the Revolutionary Front for the Independence of East Timor (Frente Revolucionária do Timor-Leste Independente). In 1999, he returned from his exile in Mozambique to an East Timor that had become profoundly more Catholic. His religious identity was not particularly advantageous. The Indonesian government policy insisted on its citizens identifying themselves with a major religion and most Timorese chose Catholicism; the number of Catholics officially rose from twenty nine per cent in 1974 to nearly ninety per cent in 1999 (Carey 1999: 78). The Catholic Church provided succour and a solidarity network for the independence movement at home. In 2005, an argument over religious education in schools resulted in the Church organising a two-week long demonstration at which people called for Alkatiri’s resignation as Prime Minister.2 In this article, I look at two instances where Alkatiri’s Islamic identity became visible and problematic for him. First, I draw out some examples of the Australian media’s presentation of Alkatiri’s identity in 2005 and 2006 that illustrate how they rewrote Alkatiri’s religious identity in a primordialist fashion.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Connections
    Pacific Forum CSIS Comparative Connections A Quarterly E-Journal on East Asian Bilateral Relations edited by Ralph A. Cossa Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger January 2000 – Vol. 1, No. 3 4th Quarter 1999 http://www.csis.org/pacfor/ccejournal.html Pacific Forum CSIS Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Pacific Forum CSIS operates as the autonomous Asia- Pacific arm of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1975, the thrust of the Forum's work is to help develop cooperative policies in the Asia-Pacific region through debate and analyses undertaken with the region's leaders in the academic, government, and corporate arenas. The Forum's programs encompass current and emerging issues in political, security, economic/business, and oceans policy issues. It collaborates with a network of more than 30 research institutes around the Pacific Rim, drawing on Asian perspectives and disseminating its projects' findings and recommendations to opinion leaders, governments, and publics throughout the region. An international Board of Governors guides the Pacific Forum’s work; it is chaired by Brent Scowcroft, former Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. The Forum is funded by grants from foundations, corporations, individuals, and governments, the latter providing a small percentage of the forum’s $1.2 million annual budget. The forum’s studies are objective and nonpartisan and it does not engage in classified or proprietary work. Comparative Connections A Quarterly E-Journal on East Asian Bilateral Relations Edited by Ralph A. Cossa and Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger Volume 1, Number 3 4th Quarter 1999 Honolulu, Hawaii January, 2000 Comparative Connections A Quarterly Electronic Journal on East Asian Bilateral Relations Bilateral relationships in East Asia have long been important to regional peace and stability, but in the post-Cold War environment, these relationships have taken on a new strategic rationale as countries pursue multiple ties, beyond those with the U.S., to realize complex political, economic, and security interests.
    [Show full text]