Border Community Leaders Meet
with President, Other Officials
A delegation of community leaders from the enclave of Oecussi
met with the President and other national officials in the capital
to present the concerns and recommendations raised by border
residents in earlier cross-border dialogues: special pass for
citizens living within five kilometers of the border; re-establishment
of cultural exchange points for cultural, religious, and bartering
of traditional goods; and recognition of traditional mediation
panels. President Jose Ramos-Horta promised to raise these points
for the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister to Jakarta in early
2008. The two Vice-Presidents of the Parliament also committed
to raising these issues with the Government, including during
the upcoming discussions on the 2008 budget. The cross-border
dialogues and the subsequent meetings with national officials
were facilitated by community-based organizations supported
by USAID through The Asia Foundation. (December 28, 2007)
