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<DIV><SPAN lang=en-au>Dear All,</SPAN></DIV>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>As many of you may already know Charles Darwin
University will host an international conference, entitled Democratic Governance
in Timor Leste: </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Reconciling the Local and the National, on 7 and 8
February, 2008. Information about the conference and website address can be
found below. We have had trouble with the online registration form, but this is
now available and working on our website. We will confirm your registration by
email as soon as we can. Registration is free, but is required for catering and
logistical purposes. The conference is open to all, so please feel free to pass
on this information to anyone who may be interested.</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>We do still have a limited number of spots vacant
for presentations, so if you would like to present a paper, please send me an
abstract as soon as possible for consideration by the organising committee.
</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>I look forward to seeing you in Darwin in
February.</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Regards</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Steve </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Dr Steven Farram</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Research Associate</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>School of Creative Arts and Humanities</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Faculty of Law, Business and Arts</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Charles Darwin University</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Darwin, Northern Territory</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Australia</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Telephone: (08) 8946 6865</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Facsimile: (08) 8946 6540</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au>Email: steven.farram@cdu.edu.au</SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-au></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au></SPAN><A
href="http://www.cdu.edu.au/timorlesteconference/"><SPAN lang=en-au></SPAN><SPAN
lang=en-au><U><FONT face="Courier New" color=#0000ff
size=2>http://www.cdu.edu.au/timorlesteconference/</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN
lang=en-au></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-au></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-au></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Charles Darwin
University, in conjunction with The Australian National University and the Timor
Institute of Development Studies, will host an international conference entitled
Democratic Governance in Timor Leste: </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>Reconciling the
Local and the National on 7 and 8 February, 2008.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>This conference
follows the successful one-day symposium of November 2006 and the subsequent
book, The Crisis in Timor-Leste: Understanding the Past, Imagining the
Future.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>The 2008 conference
will focus on how the process of ‘nation building’ might be envisaged given the
international, national and local expectations that press upon the Timor Leste
Government and parliament. The aim is to ask speakers to examine critically the
emerging relations between the various levels of social, institutional and
organisational practice that confront the politicians and ‘civil society’ during
this critical phase of the country’s development. What space currently exists
for the genuine expression and achievement of the citizens’ aspirations? How
might the situation be improved?</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>The conference will
be divided into four, half-day panels each led by a keynote speaker who will
address specific aspects of the dynamic relations between central state and
local governance systems in a new nation.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
lang=en-au></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-au></SPAN></P><BR>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-au></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-au></SPAN><SPAN
lang=en-au></SPAN><A name=""><SPAN lang=en-au></SPAN></A></P>
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