Cross-Border Dialogue Held In
Bobonaro
A cross-border dialogue was held October 26-27 at Mota-Ain
village in Bobonaro district. One hundred people participated
from both sides of the border. The dialogue was organized by
the Peace and Democracy Foundation and Yayasan Bentara Sabda
Timor, community organizations supported by USAID and The Asia
Foundation (TAF). As in the previous dialogues held to date,
a key demand was to create a pass for border communities to
cross for extended family issues and small trade. The Bobonaro
District Administrator and Indonesian Ambassador to Timor-Leste
attended the dialogue. An earlier cross-border dialogue held
in September between Oecussi and West Timor residents resulted
in specific recommendations on cross-border issues which the
Oecussi-based Fundacão Fatu Sinai Oecussi, another local
partner of USAID and TAF, plans to present to national leaders
in Dili. (November 5, 2007)
