Democracy Conducts Transparency Training in Timor Leste

Workshop in World's Newest Country Focuses on Government Accountability & Transparency in Oil Revenue Management

LOS ANGELES, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Democracy Council (http://www.democracycouncil.org/), a non-partisan, non-governmental organization based in Los Angeles, California, recently completed a training workshop with prominent representatives of Timor Leste's media and civil society from March 22-27, 2004 on methods for combating corruption and improving government transparency.

"The Democracy Council training program has helped the citizens of Timor Leste to participate more meaningfully in the democratic development of their country," said Democracy Council Vice President, Joshua Gordon. "A vigorous, informed press and civil society is vital to any nation's long-term economic growth and political stability," said Gordon.

Formerly known as East Timor, the country of Timor Leste won its independence from Indonesia in 1999 after decades of civil strife. The world's newest country, Timor Leste has recently begun to develop the oil and gas reserves found within its territorial waters in the Timor Sea in cooperation with multinational energy companies.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Democracy Council training program surveyed how governments around the world manage revenues from the exploitation of natural resources, assessed common sources of corruption, and discussed effective measures that the press and civil society can take to help ensure transparent and more effective government practices.

"If managed properly, revenues from oil and gas exploration can be a tremendous boon to all the people of Timor Leste," said Kerry Candaele, Democracy Council's Program Manager for the training workshop. " Over 50 participants of the workshops are in a better position to ensure that Timor Leste does not fall prey to the rampant corruption prevalent in too many petro-states today," said Candaele.

A Harvard University professor, a former CNN investigative journalist, and a regional economist were among the expert trainers the Democracy Council brought to Dili to lead the week-long session. Workshop participants came from the country's leading broadcast and print media outlets, including the Timor Post and Radio Timor-Leste, as well as well-known civic organizations including Fokupers, Perkumbulan Hak, and La'o Hamutuk. The President of Timor Leste, Xanana Gusmao, opened the workshop with a talk on transparency in government, and how civil society had to play the critical role of keeping a check on public policy and oil revenues. The training workshop was held in Dili, Timor Leste. Democracy Council is preparing a follow-up program with government officials and civil servants.

The Democracy Council conducts programs in emerging countries to assist peoples, strengthen democratic institutions, corporate governance, economic freedom, human rights, and the rule of law in their countries. The Democracy Council's work on transparency and anti-corruption issues have been widely reported in such outlets as in CBS 60 Minutes, CNN, Time Magazine, and USA Today.

Project Analyst
Democracy Council
11040 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 320
Los Angeles, CA 90025
tel. (310) 479-2441
fax. (310) 479-2740
http://www.democracycouncil.org/ For more information, please contact Mark Favis of the Democracy Council, +1-310-479-2441.

CONTACT: Mark Favis of the Democracy Council, +1-310-479-2441

Web site: http://www.democracycouncil.org/

Copyright 2004 PRNewswire
Issued: 04/06/2004 11:22 PM GMT

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