MACMILLAN Rethinking Human Rights and Peace in Post-Independence Timor-Leste Through Local Perspectives (Palgrave Macmillan Studies on Human Rights in Asia)

This book offers perspectives from the ground on human rights and peace in Timor-Leste. By highlighting the local voices, this book draws on their experience and expertise in engaging with questions concerning the nexus between human rights, peace and development. It posits that these concepts no longer mean absence of conflict, and argues that sustainable peace must be built from rights frameworks to protect the locals’ interests in the processes. Acknowledging the lack of autonomy on local actors in peace-making contexts, the book emphasizes the urgent need to facilitate the creation of political and social structures that can support and offer contextual rights and dignity for the Timorese community. Review “I was asked by Dr Khoo Ying Hooi to write an endorsement on the book that she, Dr Antero B. da Silva and Dr Therese Thi Phuong Tam Nguyen are going to publish, with the title “Rethinking Human Rights and Peace in Post Independence Timor-Leste through Local Perspectives”. In fact, this is a good opportunity to rethink Democracy, Human Rights, Peace and Justice in Timor-Leste. The topics presented are all very important and relevant. I hope the government and civil society groups are able to read, reflect and take as a standard to improve the situation of Human Rights and Justice in Timor-Leste. Only in this way can integral, harmonious and sustainable development benefit the people of Timor-Leste. I address my congratulations to all authors!” --Dom Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, Nobel Peace Prize 1996   “This is an excellent book written mostly by Timorese scholars, which serves as a critical counter-narrative to some of more widely publicised works on Timorese politics. I find much valuable information and thought-provoking arguments particularly on the critique of capitalism, and the dominant discourses on democracy and human rights in this fine collection.” --Jacqueline Siapno, University of California, Berkeley “This book raises a timely question: have we delivered on the promise of independence? 19 years following the hard-earned restoration of independence, this book informs the readers about Timor-Leste’s progress thus far and more importantly outlines the challenges which remain. Each of the well-researched and documented chapters, largely by national academics and human rights advocates, speak to our national consciousness about the large number of Timorese who also gave their lives for self-determination and independence; and who are still far from attaining their most basic human rights as enshrined in Timor-Leste’s Constitution, the United Nations Human Rights Charter and the international human rights treaties which Timor-Leste freely entered into. The book is a must read for policy makers as the country struggles to get back on track on achieving the SDGs and a peaceful, inclusive and just society for all Timorese citizens.” --Milena Pires, Former Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations From the Back Cover “This book raises a timely question: have we delivered on the promise of independence? 19 years following the hard-earned restoration of independence, this book informs the readers about Timor-Leste’s progress thus far and more importantly outlines the challenges which remain. Each of the well-researched and documented chapters, largely by national academics and human rights advocates, speak to our national consciousness about the large number of Timorese who also gave their lives for self-determination and independence; and who are still far from attaining their most basic human rights as enshrined in Timor-Leste’s Constitution, the United Nations Human Rights Charter and the international human rights treaties which Timor-Leste freely entered into. The book is a must read for policy makers as the country struggles to get back on track on achieving the SDGs and a peaceful, inclusive and just society for all Timorese citizens.” --M