The Asia Foundation

Dili, Timor-Leste – July 23, 2010 –Today, Timor-Leste held its inaugural community policing conference in Dili. The conference, “Strengthening Security Through Community Policing,” was hosted by the Timor-Leste National Police Force (PNTL) with support from The Asia Foundation as part of the Community-Oriented Policing Program (CMCOP) funded by USAID.

The conference attracted 70 senior level police officers from across Timor-Leste.  Police and community leaders participated in panel discussions and debates on the role of community policing in resolving local public safety and reducing crime levels. At the broadest level, community policing builds relationships between communities and police in an effort to monitor local public security issues and provide oversight on the performance of the police.

“In simple terms, community policing is a philosophy. This philosophy opens the way for community participation and police to work together,” Community Police Commander Joao Belo said. “The PNTL has shown a real commitment to establishing meaningful partnerships with the local community.”

The Asia Foundation Country Representative Silas Everett reiterated that community policing is a natural starting point for community and police to work together to make communities in Timor-Leste safer.

“Police are an important bridge between the formal and informal systems of justice in Timor-Leste,” said TAF Country Representative Silas Everett. “What we saw in today’s conference was the first consolidated attempt to capture examples, perspectives, and stories of the progress already made by both community and police in improving local security together.”

See more information about Community Policing in Timor-Leste.

In an article in The Economist’s Banyan column about shifts in the West’s strategy in Afghanistan, and areas in which new strategy could possibly bring positive change, findings from The Asia Foundation’s 2009 Afghan poll are cited.  Read the full article: “Fighting on Afghans’ behalf.”

The Asia Foundation’s China office convened on May 13-14 a group of Chinese and international policy experts for a workshop to develop innovative ways of measuring changes in governance in China.  The meeting was organized under the Chinese Governance Assessment Project (C-GAP) – a Foundation-supported research study examining changes in public participation, transparency, and accountability in China and assessing whether these changes are associated with key governance outcomes such as improved legal compliance, reduced corruption, and better public service delivery.

At the workshop, research teams presented chronologies of Chinese governance reforms along with detailed research methodologies for analyzing the effectiveness of these initiatives. The methodological discussion focused on selecting the best indicators to capture changes in transparency, participation, and accountability within the Chinese polity over time and across provinces. For instance, the transparency team developed indicators for assessing the openness of government information, while the participation team proposed to examine the percentage of draft laws and regulations requiring public comment.

By the final session, the teams had produced comprehensive lists of specific indicators to measure their governance concepts as well as promising strategies for gathering data and information. More importantly, a consensus developed among participants that C-GAP is a unique endeavor in China that is breaking new theoretical and empirical ground.  Researchers from Chinese universities discussed how the project would help shape the understanding and future analysis of governance in China, and international participants expressed confidence that the project will provide new insights into the Chinese development model.

The C-GAP initiative, which will produce book-length manuscripts in English and Chinese, is being carried out in collaboration with the China Center for Overseas Social and Philosophical Theories, and the Center for Public Participation Studies and Support at Peking University Law School. It builds on governance programs supported by The Asia Foundation in China focusing on public participation in lawmaking, open government information, administrative procedure reform, performance evaluation of government officials, and other related topics.

Dili, Timor-Leste

Twenty members of the National Police and over 500 citizens of Bidau-Santana sucos (village) in Dili, Timor-Leste took part in an ancient ceremony, called Tara Bandu, to establish a community-wide agreement for security. The ceremony was presided over by the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Jose Ramos Horta, General Commander of the National Police, Longinhos Monteiro, US Ambassador Hans Klemm, district officials, and community leaders.

The day-long ceremony was the first of its kind and organized by The Asia Foundation and supported by USAID. Traditionally, Tara Bandu is a way of protecting natural ecosystems and fills gaps in the formal legal system through the application of customary law. The ceremony addressed the community’s need for safety and security, by bringing together traditional and formal legal systems.

The Tara Bandu initiative came out of joint work done by The Asia Foundation and the National Police of Timor-Leste to form community police councils in Dili, Baucau, and over a dozen sucos over the last 14 months. Currently, these councils with police, community leaders, women representatives, and elders meet every other week to discuss issues which have a direct impact on security.

“The principles of community policing and the principles of Tara Bandu are very similar: They are both based on the idea that many of the problems that exist in the community can be prevented by citizens themselves,” observed The Asia Foundation Program Manager, Liam Chinn.

After ten years of independence, there are signs that events like the Tara Bandu ceremony—led hand in hand with the community and the police—are ways to move forward in the transition of state institutions into legitimate instruments of governance.

For more information, please visit our Press Room.

The Solomon Star features an article about students at the School of Nursing and Health Studies of the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education completing a week-long disaster workshop, which was conducted by staff of the National Disaster Management Office. The Asia Foundation is credited with co-funding the project with the Solomon Islands Government. Read full article: “Nursing students end disaster training here.”

In a Philippine Information Agency article about the launch of a Quick Reaction Team related to extra-legal killings and enforced disappearances in Palo, Philippines, The Asia Foundation is credited with sponsoring the program along with the Ateneo Human Rights Center. Read the full article: “Palo hosts launching of Leyte team vs extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances.”

In a Sun Star (Philippines) article which features findings presented by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) Chief, Dr. Mahar Mangahas, from his talk before the Cebu business community, The Asia Foundation is credited for sponsoring the SWS surveys. Read the full article: “Solicitation of bribes down: SWS.”

In a Huffington Post blog piece about Afghan President Karzai’s May visit to Washington, D.C., and the influential role Afghan ministers play in decision making, The Asia Foundation is recommended as an organization that the State Department should connect the ministers with during their visit in order to raise their visibility with the American public. Read the full article: “Charlie Rose Meet Dr. Z.”

Dili, Timor-Leste

The National Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, with funding and support from The Asia Foundation and USAID, held the Second International Conference on Corruption from April 21-22. The conference enlightened participants on the role of the National Parliament in combating corruption. Senior statesmen from legislatures in other developing countries shared their experience in eradicating corruption, provided insights into how parliamentarians can enhance their oversight of corruption, and identified gaps in existing legislation.

Mrs. Cipriana Pereira, President of the National Parliament’s Sub-Committee C on Anti-Corruption, explained, “This was our Second International Conference on Corruption.  We invited key international experts such as Global Organization of Parliamentarian Against Corruption and other experts in the legislative arena and national speakers, to share their ideas and perspectives on the impact of corruption on national development and successful approaches to fight corruption.”

Timor-Leste government members, leaders from all 13 districts, academics institutions, foreign embassies, international organizations and private sectors relevant to eradicating corruption attended.

“What is corruption in the context of Timor-Leste?” asked Silas Everett, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation in Timor-Leste. “We know the future of the country rests on efficient and effective spending of its petroleum wealth. In this sense, fighting corruption is a national effort—to define corruption and to ensure the coordination of national agencies with the business community, civil society, and local authorities.  Parliament’s constitutional role in this regard makes its leadership essential.”

For more information, please visit our Press Room.

An article on Mongolia Web about corruption in Mongolia cites The Asia Foundation’s 2009 Mongolia Corruption Benchmarking Survey. Read the full article: “Successful Steps in Fighting Corruption in Mongolia.”

During an interview on NPR’s “All Things Considered” with Michele Norris about Afghan poppy fields, Seth Jones of the Rand Corporation cites The Asia Foundation’s 2009 Afghan poll findings about the drug trade and the government. Listen to the interview or read the full transcript: “Plan For Afghan Poppy Fields Examined.”

During a Charlie Rose Show interview with Columbia University professor, Hassan Abbas, and Seth Jones of the Rand Corporation, Jones references The Asia Foundation’s 2009 Afghan poll findings. Read the transcript: “An Update and Discussion on Afghanistan and Pakistan: “Notes From the Cracked Ceiling.”

An op-ed in The Guardian about the effectiveness of engaging in talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan cites findings from The Asia Foundation’s 2009 Afghan poll. Read the full piece: “Empty diplomacy in Afghanistan.”

In his opening remarks at the January 28 Afghanistan Conference in London, Prime Minister Gordon Brown mentioned The Asia Foundation’s partnership with the Afghan Independent Directorate for Local Governance as well as the British, American, Canadian and Belgian governments, to launch the new performance-based governors’ fund. The fund will provide more finance for provincial governors based on need and evidence of accountability and effectiveness. Read the full transcript: “Afghanistan Conference – PM’s opening remarks.”

In a Christian Science Monitor article about the frustration that Afghans feel as a result of the slow pace of development progress there, findings from The Asia Foundation’s 2009 Afghan poll are cited. Read the full article: “Afghanistan war: gap grows between US efforts, Afghan expectations.”

In an article in The Jakarta Post featuring the Danish government’s announcement of a $10 million grant to promote good governance in Indonesia, The Asia Foundation is mentioned for signing an agreement to launch a new project to promote human rights and civic values. Read the full article: “Denmark gives $10m grant for good governance in RI.”

Royal Danish Ambassador to Indonesia Borge Petersen (second left) with Transparency International Indonesia Secretary General Teten Masduki (left), The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Indonesia Robin Bush (second right) and Kemitraan (Partnership for Governance Reform) Executive Director Wicaksono Sarosa (right) during a ceremony held at his residence.

In an interview on NPR’s Morning Edition with Afghanistan’s ambassador to the U.S. Said Jawad on his thoughts on President Obama’s plans to increase troop levels there, he mentions findings from The Asia Foundation’s 2009 Survey of the Afghan People. Listen to the interview: “Jawad: 18 Months Enough Time To Train Forces.

In a Bloomberg news story about President Obama’s speech announcing plans to send more troops to Afghanistan, findings from The Asia Foundation’s 2009 Survey of the Afghan People are mentioned. Read the full piece: “Afghans Skeptical of Obama Troop Vow as Taliban Gain in North.”

In a NPR online article about Karzai’s inauguration as president on Thursday, findings from The Asia Foundation’s 2009 Survey of the Afghan People are cited. Read the full article: “New Term For Karzai Brings Same Old Problems.”

An op-ed in The New York Times by Asia Foundation Board of Trustee members Karl Inderfurth and Theodore Eliot about the mood of the Afghan people as the Obama administration deliberates next steps to take in the escalating war there analyzes findings from The Asia Foundation’s 2009 Survey of the Afghan People. Read the full piece: “Listen to the Afghan People.”