Democratic Governance in Timor-Leste
CDI Director Ben Reilly and Timor-Leste Deputy Prime Minister Dr Jose Luis Guterres were amongst the speakers at an international conference held in Darwin on Democratic Governance in Timor-Leste: Reconciling the Local and the National on 7-8 February, 2008.
The conference, which spent a considerable amount of time analysing the threats to political stability in Timor-Leste, finished the day before a failed coup attempt in Timor-Leste that left President Jose Ramos-Horta injured. "He will survive, and this country will survive", Dr Guterres was quoted as saying.
The conference focussed on how the process of 'nation building' might be envisaged given the international, national and local expectations that press upon the Timor-Leste government and parliament. Topics at the conference included the consolidation of democracy, the legal system, national identity, post-conflict peacebuilding, rural resettlement, and reconciling local and western modes of governance. Prof Reilly discussed the prospects for democratic development in Timor-Leste and the work of CDI in supporting Timor-Leste's legislature and political parties.
Speakers also examined the emerging relations between the national and local governments during what is a critical phase in the country's development. For more information, click on this link for the conference website:
