Battle Himns Productions

East Timor

EAST TIMOR TRIP REPORT:

The Democracy Council recently completed a training workshop with prominent representatives of Timor Leste’s media and civil society from March 22-27 on methods for combating corruption and improving government transparency.

“The Democracy Council training program has helped the citizens of Timor Leste to participate more meaningfully in the democratic development of their country,” said Democracy Council Vice President, Joshua Gordon. “A vigorous, informed press and civil society is vital to any nation’s long-term economic growth and political stability,” said Gordon.

Formerly known as East Timor, the country of Timor Leste won its independence from Indonesia in 1999 after decades of struggle against violent occupation. The world’s newest country, Timor Leste has recently begun to develop the oil and gas reserves found within its territorial waters in the Timor Sea in cooperation with multinational energy companies.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Democracy Council training program surveyed how governments around the world manage revenues from the exploitation of natural resources, assessed common sources of corruption, and discussed effective measures that the press and civil society can take to help ensure transparent and more effective government practices.

“If managed properly, revenues from oil and gas exploration can be a tremendous boon to all the people of Timor Leste,” said Kerry Candaele, Democracy Council’s Program Manager for the training

workshop. ” Over 50 participants of the workshops are in a better position to ensure that Timor Leste does not fall prey to the rampant corruption prevalent in too many petro-states today,” said Candaele.

A Harvard University professor, a former CNN investigative journalist, and a regional economist were among the expert trainers the Democracy Council brought to Dili to lead the weeklong session. Workshop participants came from the country’s leading broadcast and print media outlets, including the Timor Post and Radio Timor-Leste, as well as well-known civic organizations including Fokupers, Perkumbulan Hak, and La’o Hamutuk. The President of Timor Leste, Xanana Gusmao, opened the workshop with a talk on transparency in government, and how civil

society had to play the critical role of keeping a check on public policy and oil revenues. The training workshop was held from March 22 through March 27 in Dili, Timor Leste. Democracy Council is preparing a follow-up program with government officials and civil servants.