[TimorLesteStudies] Seminar 23rd June: Displacement, Mobilities, and Livelihoods

[Pyone Myat Thu]

Post-Fieldwork Seminar by PhD candidate Pyone Myat Thu

Human Geography Seminar Series

23rd June 2008

Monday, 3.30-4.30pm

RSPAS, Coombs Building, Seminar Room C



Displacement, Mobilities, and Livelihoods: Tracing Indigenous Routes 
in Rural East Timor


Abstract:

1979 marked a significant year in which East Timorese lives were 
transformed. A policy of forced relocation led by the Indonesian 
occupying forces reconfigured the traditional mobilities and survival 
strategies of the populace in an unanticipated manner. Rural 
inhabitants of the rugged interior were effectively concentrated into 
'strategic' camps along accessible, low-lying coastal areas so as to 
isolate them from contact with the remaining resistance fighters 
hiding out in mountainous areas. Despite having their movements 
constrained, displaced villagers strengthened marital and 
pre-colonial political ties and created host-settler networks through 
the negotiation of land access in the new settlements. This seminar 
presents preliminary findings from my fieldwork conducted between 
June 2007 and February 2008, tracing the livelihoods of historically 
displaced populations in the central highlands of Manufahi and 
eastern coast of Baucau. These observations from rural East Timor 
reveal that while people have regained freedom of movement since 
gaining independence, the militarised past has an enduring influence 
in shaping patterns of mobility.

All are welcome to attend.




Pyone Myat Thu


PhD Scholar
Department of Human Geography
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
The Australian National University
Canberra 0200 ACT
AUSTRALIA

Phone: (02) 612 54344
School Fax: (02) 6257 1893

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