The purpose of this review is to draw pertinent lessons from NZAID’s programme of assistance to Timor Leste for the period 2001-07, which will inform development of a new country strategy.

Much media commentary has focussed on the political difficulties expected to be faced by the governments of Indonesia and Timor Leste as a result of the coming release of the final Commission of Truth and Friendship report, especially in the light of the complete failure of Indonesia to bring any important military figure to justice...

Clinton Fernandes of the Australian Defence Force Academy outlines the history of successive forums for investigation of crimes committed in East Timor by Indonesian military forces and militia forces under Indonesian control between 1975 and 1999 and reviews the work of courts and inquiries under UN, East Timorese and Indonesian auspices.

While the violence of the attempted coup in East Timor is shocking, it should not be a surprise. East Timor has been moving into multi-dimensional crisis for several years, resulting from three factors: rule by the gun; increasing and apparently intractable impoverishment and corruption; and deeply eroded legitimacy of all the major political players. Tanter...

The purpose of the review of the NZAID Social and Community Development Fund (SCDF) in Timor-Leste was to determine the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of the SCDF, and in light of these findings, make recommendations for any improvements.