La'o Hamutuk Annual Report
Calendar year 2008 Appendices Table of ContentsAppendix I: Financial informationAll amounts are specified in United States dollars. La’o Hamutuk’s fiscal year is the calendar year. La’o Hamutuk maintains our policy of not accepting contributions from the UN and its agencies, the World Bank, ADB, IMF, major donors to Timor-Leste and transnational corporations operating here, to preserve the organization’s independence. The organization has a flat wage structure; both local and international staff received salaries of $400 dollars per month during 2008, plus a “13th month” in December. All staff receive benefits that include health insurance, some of which is self-insurance funded from the ‘Health Reserve’ account in the balance sheet. International staff receive one return airfare from their home country, as well as a ‘readjustment allowance’ of $200 for each month worked up to the end of the first year, payable after they finish working with La’o Hamutuk. Staff members who must rent housing in Dili receive $200/month toward those costs. In 2008, for the first time, La’o Hamutuk earned substantial income from our work. We were paid $1,600 to train journalists at ICFJ, and $5,000 to write a background paper for UNDP. In addition, sales of our report on Sunrise LNG have netted hundreds of dollars. Although this is nowhere near enough to free us from donor dependency, it is an initial step toward sustainability. As discussed under Financial Management in this report, we identified and dealt with some financial irregularities during 2008, resulting in firing the staff member involved. The amount of unjustified payments, including falsified receipts and double-billing, is under a thousand dollars, and the person involved forfeited much more than that in salary and benefits. However, since we do not know exactly what portion of the questionable receipts is valid, the financial report below lists expenditures as they were made. Balance sheetThis table indicates our total cash and bank account balances at the start and end of 2008, amounts of money set aside for specific purposes, and unrestricted money available for general operations. | Total cash & bank balances | Readjustment Reserve | Health Reserve | Sustainability Reserve | Operational Reserve | Building Fund | Unrestricted Funds | Balance
31 Dec. 2007 | 112,776 | 400 | 15,000 | 26,950 | 30,000 | 20,000 | 20,426 | Income
during 2008 | 135,749 | 3,600 | 3,010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 129,138 | Expenditures
during 2008 | 130,900 | 2,400 | 3,010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 125,489 | Balance
31 Dec. 2008 | 117,625 | 1,600 | 15,000 | 26,950 | 30,000 | 20,000 | 24,075 | |
Revenues received during 2008The following table shows income received by La’o Hamutuk during 2008. Each row shows a source of income, while each column shows the activities it was allocated to. See footnotes and expenditure list below for more details. | LNG report | Brazil study | Hivos natural resources | Hivos capacity building | Climate justice conf. | Trócaire general | Unrestricted | Total | Oxfam Australia | 4,778 | | | | | | | 4,778 | Hivos | | 7,669 | 44,507 | 6,180 | | | | 58,356 | Development & Peace | | | | | | | 28,812 | 28,812 | Trócaire | | 6,603 | | | 1,238 | 25,609 | | 33,450 | Paid to LH for donations, sales and interest | 595 | | | | | | 3,158 | 3,753 | Earned for LH services | | | | | | | 6,600 | 6,600 | Total | 5,373 | 14,272 | 44,507 | 6,180 | 1,238 | 25,609 | 38,570 | 135,749 | |
Sources of revenue to La’o Hamutuk during 2008
($135,749 total) |  |
Expenditures during 2008The following table shows the money budgeted and spent by La’o Hamutuk during 2008 for different aspects of our work. Some expenditures were allocated to separately-funded projects. In the first table below, these are shown as “projects” but in the following table the individual line items have been combined with equivalent types of expenditures. | Budgeted | Actual | Difference | Explanation | Audit | 2,700 | 3,027 | 327 | | Board expenses | | 140 | 140 | | Bulletin | 5,500 | 4,277 | (1,224) | Published fewer than planned. | Telephone and internet | 9,900 | 7,340 | (2,560) | | Attend international conferences | 1,000 | 2,175 | 1,175 | Not reimbursed by host or donor. | Capital equipment | 5,400 | 4,242 | (1,158) | Fewer new staff resulted in fewer computer purchases. | Issue campaigns | 300 | 150 | (150) | | Operations and supplies | 8,860 | 7,951 | (909) | | Personnel | 86,200 | 66,123 | (20,077) | Hard to find qualified new staff; some staff departures. | Projects | 20,800 | 28,020 | 7,220 | Oxfam will pay $7,500 toward the LNG project in early 2009. | Organizing public meetings | 2,900 | 2,158 | (742) | | Radio program production | 1,600 | 718 | (882) | Has planned to be on more community radio stations. | Research in rural Timor-Leste | 1,700 | 1,431 | (269) | | Resource center materials | 500 | 504 | 4 | | Training for staff | 900 | 520 | (380) | Fewer new staff. | Transportation in Timor-Leste | 1,640 | 2,128 | 488 | We repaired motorcycles we have, rather than buying a new one. | Miscellaneous | 500 | (3) | (503) | All expenses listed on other lines. | Total | 150,400 | 130,900 | (19,500) | | |
What La’o Hamutuk spent money on during 2008 |  |
The following table shows how the expenditures in the previous table were allocated among the projects and donors who supported La’o Hamutuk during 2008. Specifics on the various columns are explained in the Revenue section above. | LNG report | Brazil exchange | Hivos natural resources | Hivos capacity bldg | Climate justice | Trócaire | General support | Total | Audit | | | | | | | 3,027 | 3,027 | Board expenses | | | 55 | | | | 86 | 140 | Bulletin | | | 104 | | | 4,100 | 72 | 4,277 | Telephone and internet | 357 | | 2,542 | | | 2,135 | 2,662 | 7,697 | Attend internat. conferences | | | | | 1,808 | 1,600 | 6 | 3,414 | Capital equipment | 284 | | | | | | 4,242 | 4,526 | Brazil educational trip | | 13,318 | | | | | | 13,318 | Issue campaigns | | | | | | | 150 | 150 | Operations and supplies | 534 | | 485 | 2,243 | | 5,000 | 222 | 8,485 | Personnel | 470 | | 31,122 | | | 17,079 | 17,922 | 66,593 | Printing | 5,629 | | | | | | | 5,629 | Organizing public meetings | 887 | | 11 | | | | 2,147 | 3,045 | Radio program production | | | | | | | 718 | 718 | Research in rural Timor-Leste | | | | | | | 1,431 | 1,431 | Resource center | | | 130 | | | | 374 | 504 | Training for staff | | | | 520 | | | | 520 | Translation | 3,386 | | | | | | | 3,386 | Transportation in Timor-Leste | 1,915 | | 113 | 3 | | | 2,011 | 4,043 | Miscellaneous | | | | | | | (3) | (3) | TOTAL | 13,464 | 13,318 | 34,563 | 2,766 | 1,808 | 29,914 | 35,067 | 130,900 |
Projected budget for 2009The following is our projected budget for 2009. More details are in the proposal we submitted to our core donors in April 2009. Expenditure | | Explanation | Auditor | 3,200 | A foreign auditor. If our donors accept a Dili-based one, this will be $1,000. | Bulletin | 5,100 | Artwork, printing, translation, distribution | Capital equipment | 5,000 | Computers, motorcycles, etc. | External evaluation | 8,500 | Includes survey of users of our materials | Int’l conferences | 2,800 | Non-reimbursed costs to attend international conferences | Miscellaneous expenses | 1,000 | Includes reimbursement for board expenses, contributions to issue campaigns. | Operations | 9,800 | Electricity, supplies, photocopying, advertising etc. | Personnel | 87,200 | Salary, wage tax, visa fees, health insurance, transport for international staff, housing allowance, readjustment | Projects | 11,000 | Will be funded separately | Public meetings | 6,200 | Space and sound system rental, publicity, refreshments, invitations and other costs connected with meetings organized by LH. | Radio program | 2,300 | Production costs and fuel for community radio stations | Rent and moving expenses | 10,900 | Costs of setting up new office and rent. | Research | 2,600 | Travel and housing in Timor-Leste to conduct field research. | Resource Center | 1,100 | Books, videos, and other materials | Surat Popular | 300 | Popular education publication | Telephone and Internet | 8,300 | | Training for staff | 1,000 | Language and other classes | Transportation | 2,400 | Transport and motorcycle maintenance, in Dili and nearby | Total | 168,600 | | | | | | Revenues | | Explanation | Bank interest | 600 | | Donations | 500 | | Earned by LH | 2,000 | Training, consulting, writing papers, etc. | General support grants | 148,500 | | Moving expenses | 5,000 | Carried over from previous funding | Project grants | 11,000 | Will be funded separately from funds requested by this proposal | Sales | 1,000 | Sale of books, CD-ROMS, and other materials produced by La’o Hamutuk. | Total | 168,600 | |
JanuaryGovernment concept and politics on agriculture development. Valentino Varela (State Secretary of Livestock), Mateus da Silva (Dean of National University Agriculture Faculty) and Arsenio Pereira (HASATIL) Biogas and Biodiesel Development. Avelino Coelho (State Secretary for Energy Policy) and Arsenio Pereira (HASATIL) Climate Change. Santina Soares and Maximus Tahu (LH)
FebruaryPetroleum in Timor-Leste. Santina Soares (LH), Francisco Monteiro (State Secretariat for Natural Resources) and Adriano do Nascimento (Parliament) Housing Rights and Evictions. Joao Pequinho (Forum Tau Matan) CAVR recommendations. Rev. Agostinho Vasconcelos (Post-CAVR Technical Secretariat) and Fernanda Borges (Parliament) Sunrise LNG Report. Viriato Seac and Santina Soares (LH)
MarchAlternative Energy. Avelino Coelho (State Secretary for Energy Policy) and Fr. Rolando Fernandes (Biogas project) International Women’s Day. Idelta Rodrigues (State Secretary for Gender Equality Promotion), Rosa da Sousa (Fokupers) and Tome Xavier (Lawyer) Tax Reform. Cecilio Caminha (Parliament) and Santina Soares (LH) Civil Society in the Development Partners’ Conference. Santina Soares (LH)
AprilTruth and Friendship Commission Mandate. Manuela Pereira (ICTJ) and Edio Saldanha (ANTI) LNG Pipeline in Timor-Leste. Viriato Seac and Santina Soares (LH) Tax Reform. Cecilio Caminha (Parliament), Rui Gomes (UNDP), and Viriato Seac (LH)
MayImpacts of Mining on Women. Inês Martins (LH) State of the Nation Report. Helder da Costa and Edmundu Viegas (authors of report) Pardon to Prisoners. José Luis Oliveira (Asosiasaun HAK), Timotio de Deus (JSMP) and Vox Pop.
JunePermaculture. Lachlan McKenzie and Herminia Pinto (Permatil) MoU of Sugar Cane Plantation. Arsenio Pereira (HASATIL) and Maximus Tahu (LH) Pardon to Ex-Militias and NPA law. Timotio de Deus (JSMP), and LH statement on NPA law.
JulyOrsamento Rektifikativo. Cecilio Caminho (Parliament), Manuel Tilman (Parliament), Viriato Seac (Core Group for Transparency) Orsamento Rektifikativo. Ana Pessoa (Parliament), Manuel Tilman (Parliament), Fernanda Borges (Parliament), Viriato Seac (LH). Mandate of TFC. Edio Saldanha (ANTI), Nicolau Goncalves (NGO Forum) and Vox Pop of ANTI.
AugustJatropha Impact. Shona Hawkes (LH), Rui Castro (Daba Loqui) and Avelino Coelho (State Secretary for Energy Policy) The Role of Civil Society in development. Angelina Maria Sarmento (Director of NGO Forum), Viriato Seac (LH), Joaquim Freitas (Prime Minister’s advisor for civil society) and Augustu Pires (Board NGO Forum) Sharing experiences from Brazil. Yasinta Lujina and Inês Martins (LH)
SeptemberCoffee production and job situation. Sisto Kasemiro (Director NCBA), Junko Ito (PARCIC), Andre da Silva (CCT Maubisse) Women’s Movement in ASEAN Countries. Yasinta Lujina (LH), Maria Evelin Imam (Rede Feto) Climate Justice. Virgilio Guterres (Haburas), Maximus Tahu (LH), Adao Barbosa (National Directorate for Climate Change)
OctoberThe Land Problem. Carmelita Moniz (Parliament), Antonio Verdial (Director of Land and Property), Ibere Lopes (Advisor from ARD), Francisco Xavier (Parliament), Mario Araujo (Civil society). What is Climate Change? Maximus Tahu (LH), Adao Barbosa (National Directorate for Climate Change), Virgilio Guterres (Haburas)
NovemberSugar Cane Plantation and In-Country Experience from Brazil. Mariano Sabino (Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries), Youanto Kenchana (Director of GT Leste Biotech), Rui Pinto (Ecologist), Inês Martins (LH) Appeals Court Decision on the Budget Rectification. Fernanda Borges (Parliament), Viriato Seac (Core Group Transparency) What is LNG? Charles Scheiner (LH)
DecemberThe events in the list below were organized by La’o Hamutuk. Date | Topic / location | Speakers | Attendees | 15 Feb. | The implementation of Chega! in the national curriculum HAK Association | Dr. Clinton Fernandes (New South Wales Uni), Rev. Agustinho Vasconselhos (Director of STP), Fernanda Borges (Parliament) | 40 | 18 Feb. | Book launch of Sunrise LNG in Timor-Leste: Dreams, Realities, and Challenges Memorial Hall, Dili | Alfredo Pires (State Secretary for Natural Resources), with presentation of Report by Viriato Seac and Santina Soares (LH) | 120 | 28 March | The Government’s policy on alternative energy HAK Association | Avelino Coelho (State Secretary for Energy Policy), Fr. Rolando Fernandes (Biogas project), Arsenio Pereira (HASATIL) | 40 | 18 April | Tax reform UNTL | Rui Gomes (UNDP), Tobias Rasmussen (IMF), Viriato Seac (LH) | 40 | 29 May | Oecusse Community Activation Project (OCAP) Oecusse Business Dev. Center | Jose Oki (Director of Agriculture for Oecusse) and Domingos Maniquen (Oecussi District Development Officer) | 75 | 13 June | National Petroleum Authority draft decree-law HAK Association | La’o Hamutuk press conference and public statement | 25 | 8 July | Mid-Year Budget Rectification NGO Forum (CGT) | Training by Charles Scheiner and Viriato Seac (LH) | 35 | August | Sunrise LNG: Dreams, Realities and Challenges Viqueque, Beaçu, Same, Lore I, Los Palos | Five meetings with community people and local officials by Tibor van Staveren and Viriato Seac (LH) | 200
(total) | 26 Sep. | Climate Change and Timor-Leste HAK Association | Virgilio Guterres (Haburas), Adao Barbosa (Nat’l Directorate for Climate Change), Maximus Tahu (LH) | 39 | 17 Oct. | Land Issues in Timor-Leste HAK Association | Antonio Verdial (Nat’l Directorate of Land and Property), Carmelita Moniz (Parliament), Xavier do Amaral (Parliament), Ibere Lopes (Land & Property), Mario Araujo (civil society) | 33 | 7 Nov. | Sugar cane biofuels plantation HAK Association | Mariano Assanami Sabino (Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries), Youanto Kenchana (GT Leste Biotech), Rui Pinto (Ecologist), Inês Martins (LH) | 65 |
Presentations given by LH staff elsewhere: Press conferences of the Core Group on Transparency, ANTI, NGO Forum and the Housing Rights Network throughout the year. Proposed Tax Reform Law. Santina Soares testified at Parliamentary Commission A hearing. 25 March. Justice, Poverty and Oil: Unresolved Issues in East Timor. Presentation by Charles Scheiner at Bluestockings Books, New York City, organized by ETAN. 8 April. Strengthening the Role of Parliament in Promoting Transparency, Accountability and Combating Corruption in Timor-Leste, conference organized by Parliament Commission C at Hotel Timor. Charles Scheiner spoke on two panels. 18-19 September. How to Read and Analyze the State Budget. Trainings by Charles Scheiner and Viriato Seac to local journalists, contracted by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), 14-17 October. Millennium Challenge Corporation Aid for Timor-Leste. Charles Scheiner on a panel with U.S. Ambassador, Minister of Finance, and head of Parliamentary Subcommittee on Corruption. Organized by Ministry of Finance at Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 6 November.
La’o Hamutuk is frequently interviewed by journalists (local and foreign) and international organizations to provide background information, comment on current events, or explain our reports. This lists some of the coverage of La’o Hamutuk’s work in local and international media during 2008, as well as articles by La’o Hamutuk staff published elsewhere. It is not a complete list, omitting publications not in English or Tetum, and does not include articles or releases by La’o Hamutuk which were copied or referenced by on-line publications and websites. Timor-Leste Security situation, interview with Santina Soares, Radio Timor-Leste (RTL), 3 January Petroleum Fund and State Budget, interview with Santina Soares, Radio Timor Kmanek (RTK), 8 January Impact of Timor-Leste’s Situation on its Economic Growth, Interview with Santina Soares and Charles Scheiner, Associated Press, 15 February LNG report, interview with Santina Soares, TVTL, 18 February LNG report, interview with Santina Soares, Timor Post, 18 February LNG report, interview with Santina Soares, Media Weekly Internet, 19 February Call for Sunrise to be delayed, Bloomberg news service, 19 February LNG report, interview with Santina Soares, RTL, 20 February Security and Justice, interview with Santina Soares and Charles Scheiner, ABC Radio, 2 March LH position on transparency, interview with Viriato Seac, Labeh Radio Program, 18 March Tax Reform, interview with Viriato Seac, RTL, 28 March Underreported: The News from East Timor. Charles Scheiner interviewed on live radio program on WNYC in New York City, with ex-LH staffer Guteriano Neves. Women Program, interview with Yasinta Lujina, RTK, 18 April UNMIT Political Affairs, interview with Viriato Seac, UNMIT Radio, 23 April OCAP, interviews with Inês Martins and Yasinta Lujina, RTL, Lifau Post and STL, 25 May Oil companies jostle over Timor Sea rights, based on information from La’o Hamutuk, ABC Radio Australia, 3 June. Timor’s Alkatiri to sue over ‘false allegations’ of oil and gas bribes, based on Fretilin press release using information circulated by La’o Hamutuk, The Australian, 5 June Inadequate Public Consultation on National Petroleum Authority, based on La’o Hamutuk press conference, Kla’ak, 19 June Sugar cane plantation in Timor-Leste, interview with Maximus Tahu, FPA, 20 June NPA Law Passed by Council of Ministers, interview with Viriato Seac, Dili Weekly, 25 June Timor land ‘giveaway’ under fire, cites Maximus Tahu, Melbourne Age, 25 June Biofuels to increase poverty among Timorese, quoting Maximus Tahu Asia News, 25 June MCC fund for Timor-Leste, interview with Viriato Seac and Charles Scheiner, Timor Post, 25 June Sugar cane plantation in Timor-Leste, interview with Maximus Tahu, Radio France International, 26 June Questions over East Timor’s budget review, interview with Charles Scheiner, ABC, 30 June. Oil and gas can bring curse, interview with Viriato Seac, Tempo Semanal, 1 July Parliament worried about NPA Decree-Law, citing LH letter to Parliament and quoting Viriato Seac, Dili Weekly, 3 July Questions about sham power tender, copied from LH website, Dili Weekly, 10 July CGT: Taking money above the ESI will bring Timor-Leste into the Resource Curse also
Will the Economic Stabilization Fund resolve the problem?, citing Charles Scheiner interviewed on ABC radio, Kla’ak, 7 July Military exercises in East Timor under fire, citing La’o Hamutuk on ISF night-shooting exercises, The Canberra Times, 9 July Government must explain mechanism to execute budget, interview with Viriato Seac, Timor Post, 9 July Civil society worries about high budget rectification, interview with Viriato Seac, STL, 9 July New Electric Center: Power on or off forever? Quoting Charles Scheiner, Kla’ak, 14 July Interview with Januario Pereira, citing La’o Hamutuk as a source, Kla’ak, 22 July Timor-Leste needs legal foundation for resources, interview with Viriato Seac, STL, 24 July Economic Stabilization Fund will create new problems. Based on CGT/LH press statement, Kla’ak, 29 July Dangerous to use Economic Stabilization Fund for the Market. Based on CGT/LH press statement, Tempo Semanal, 7 August President of the Republic apologizes, who is wrong? citing LH as first to talk about rectified budget, Kla’ak, 13 August East Timor debates use of oil riches, quoting Viriato Seac, The National (Abu Dhabi), 26 August What is LNG? interview with Viriato Seac, Tempo Semanal, 8 September East Timor fights to tap vast undersea gas field, based on LH information, Associated Press, 26 September Government’s plan to bring pipeline to TL – Viriato: “Has benefits but not now”, interview with Viriato, Timor Post, 5 October La’o Hamutuk - Haburas climate change debate, STL, 6 October East Timor Talks Tough, quoting Charles Scheiner on delaying Sunrise, Australian Financial Review, 14 November Sugarcane plantation: Mariano Sabino not honest, citing La’o Hamutuk as source of MOU, Kla’ak, 17 November East Timor kills Chinese power deal. Quoting Tibor van Staveren, Asia Times Online, 3 December. (This article contains many errors, and La’o Hamutuk circulated a correction) Anger in East Timor over judge’s treatment. Interviewing Adino Nunes. Radio Australia, 4 December Like there’s no tomorrow, citing La’o Hamutuk, Sydney Morning Herald, 22 November.
This article was translated to Tetum and re-published by Kla’ak, 12 December East Timor uneasiness on troops, based on La’o Hamutuk submission to Australian Parliament, Melbourne Age, 18 December La’o Hamutuk report on Australian troops, interview with Shona Hawkes, LatinRadical program on Radio Nimbin, 26 December. Planting sugarcane: first time in the history of Timor-Leste’s ecosystem also
Difference between an Environmental Impact Statement and an Environmental Impact Audit, citing La’o Hamutuk as a source, Kla’ak, 28 December
At the close of 2008, La’o Hamutuk staff included five full-time Timorese and two foreign professionals, three women and four men, although more will be hired in 2009. Our staff is non-hierarchical and makes decisions collectively, although two serve as rotating coordinators. All staff share administrative and program responsibilities, with conscious effort being made to transfer skills and increase capacities. The following people are on our staff at the end of 2008: Shona HawkesShona is from Melbourne, Australia. She has worked in Australia to promote inclusive decision making, particularly with young people. Prior to joining La’o Hamutuk she researched development issues for Monash and RMIT Universities, teaching advocacy and research skills. She is active in community arts and active on global trade issues. In 2007 Shona was an election observer and volunteered with La’o Hamutuk. She speaks Tetum, French and English and is learning Bahasa Indonesia. Shona joined our staff in April 2008 and researches agrofuels and food security, as well as monitoring the ISF. She helps coordinate the Bulletin and liaise with international networks on land rights and ASEAN accession. | 
| Inês MartinsInês was studying economics at the University of Timor Leste before the Indonesian military destroyed it in September 1999. Born in Bobonaro, Inês is fluent in Tetum, Portuguese and Indonesian, and is learning English. Inês has worked with La’o Hamutuk since May 2000, researching many issues including Portuguese and Cuban assistance and the coffee sector. She participated in the exchanges to Brazil in 2001 and Cuba in 2003. Inês currently works on agriculture research, public meetings, radio program and organizational coordination. In August 2008, Inês went on a fact-finding study in Brazil. | 
| Odete MonizOdete joined La’o Hamutuk in October 2007 as office manager and finance manager. She previously worked as finance auditor in Regional Inspectoral (before the independence), finance and administration in Espada and the NGO Forum Working Group on Voters Education. She is completing courses at the International Institute of Business. Odete speaks Tetum, Bahasa Indonesia and Bunak. Odete is responsible for day-to-day office management, bookkeeping and financial oversight. | 
| Adino Nunes Cabral, S.H.Adino was born in Moro, Los Palos, and studied Constitutional Law at Janabadra University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from 2003-2007. During that time, he was active in the FPPI (Front for Indonesian Youth). Adino speaks Fataluku, Tetum, Bahasa Indonesia and some English and Portuguese. He was advocacy program officer at Rede Feto (Women’s Network) in 2007-8, and he joined La’o Hamutuk in September 2008, where he works on Governance and Democracy. | 
| Charles ScheinerAn engineer and long-time Timor-Leste solidarity activist, Charlie worked at La’o Hamutuk in Dili from 2001 until 2004, working on the Bulletin, finances, justice, the UN, oil and gas, international activist networks, and foreign governments’ roles in Timor-Leste. After alternating between New York and Dili for a few years and working part-time for La’o Hamutuk, Charlie returned to Dili to work full-time for La’o Hamutuk in 2008. His main foci are natural resources, justice, solidarity and governance, as well as finances, website, and Bulletin editing and layout. | 
| Viriato SeacViriato was born in Alas, Manufahi District. He has an Electronic Engineering degree from the National University of Timor-Leste and studied Information Sciences in New Zealand. Viriato worked for the Judicial Systems Monitoring Programme and UNICEF before joining La’o Hamutuk in September 2007. Viriato speaks Tetum, Bahasa Indonesia and English and is attending law school. At La’o Hamutuk he works on natural resources and governance, and serves on the EITI multi-stakeholder Working Group. In 2008, Viriato attended an EITI training in Germany. | 
| Maximus TahuMaxi was born in Seloi Kraik, Aileu district. He studied philosophy and theology in Major Seminary Dili for three years. Maxi joined La’o Hamutuk in June 2007, having previously worked as Editor and News Coordinator at Radio Timor Kmanek (RTK). Maxi speaks Tetum, Mamba’e, Bahasa Indonesia, Portuguese, and English. Maxi works on agriculture, our radio program and climate change. During 2008, he was on our Coordination Team and attended a Climate Justice conference in Bangkok. | 
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The following were on La’o Hamutuk staff during part of 2008:
| Santina SoaresSanti was born in Beaçu, Viqueque district, and joined La’o Hamutuk in 2005. Santi speaks Tetum, Indonesian, English, Noeti, Makasae and some Portuguese. At La’o Hamutuk, Santi focused on natural resources, fundraising and transparency. She left La’o Hamutuk in May 2008 to serve on the Government’s Sunrise Task Force, and in August she began graduate studies in Gender and Development Studies at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. | 
| Nawri Yuliana UlbadruReturning to Timor-Leste after several years in Indonesia, Urie joined La’o Hamutuk in June 2008 to work on economics, but left three months later. | 
| | Tibor van Staveren Tibor is of Dutch and Hungarian origin and has been involved in development work in Indonesia since 1998 and Timor-Leste since 2001. Tibor studied science education and international development and speaks Dutch, English, Bahasa Indonesia and Tetum. Before joining La’o Hamutuk in December 2007 he worked for Timor Aid, Knua Buka Hatene (KBH) and the European Community. At La’o Hamutuk, Tibor focused on economics and trade as well as natural resources, and was on our Coordination Team. He left La’o Hamutuk in December 2008 to be a full-time father. | 
| Yasinta LujinaYasinta was born and grew up in Oecusse. She studied at the Social Welfare University in Bandung, Indonesia, and worked at Christian Children’s Fund and Catholic Relief Services before joining La’o Hamutuk in August 2002. She speaks Tetum, Indonesian, Dawan and English. With La’o Hamutuk, Yasinta worked on justice, agriculture, and personnel, finance and Bulletin coordination. During 2008, she participated in two workshops on the Women’s Movement and an exchange visit to Brazil. Yasinta left La’o Hamutuk in December 2008 to become the Executive Director of Rede Feto (Women’s Network). | 
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Advisory Board Selma HayatiAn Indonesian human rights activist, Selma has worked in Timor-Leste since 2001, including with Concern Worldwide, Care International, Oxfam GB. La’o Hamutuk (2003-2004), Oxfam Australia, NGO Forum and UNTAET. Previously she worked for Asia Monitor Resource Center in Hong Kong; and Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation. Now Selma works as a Political Affairs Officer in UNMIT, and is a member of Action Asia on Conflict Transformation based in Cambodia and the “Seidauk Iha Naran (there is no name yet)” literature group in Dili. She writes articles and poetry for various publications. Joseph NevinsJoseph is the international coordinator of La’o Hamutuk. During 1999, he served in Dili as one of the coordinators of the IFET Observer Project, and had visited Timor-Leste three times previously. He volunteered as La’o Hamutuk staff in Dili during the summers of 2000, 2001 and 2005. Joe has written three books and numerous articles on Timor-Leste, including A Not-So Distant Horror: Mass Violence in East Timor, published in 2005. After teaching at the University of California in Los Angeles and Berkeley, Joe became a professor of geography at Vassar College, USA in 2003. Justino da SilvaJustino da Silva was born in Hato-udo, Ainaro district. Justino worked as facilitator for Civic Education in UNTAET and for the National Democratic Institute (NDI). He was leader of the Advocacy Division of the Timor-Leste NGO Forum (Fongtil) until mid-2008, and now works for Concern in Manufahi, although he remains involved in civic education, research and advocacy conducted by Fongtil and its members. Oscar da SilvaOscar da Silva was born in Uatu-karbau, Viqueque District, works as a consultant for UNDESA (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs) and teaches Social Economics at the National University of Timor-Leste. He previously worked for Association HAK and HASATIL. He designed the Community Development Concept Plan and Community Action Plan which were implemented in Laclo (Manatuto District), Laulara (Aileu District) and Atauro (Dili District). Pamela SextonFrom the USA, Pamela has extensive experience in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Pam lived in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for two years and speaks Indonesian fluently, as well as Tetum and Spanish. In 1999, she was U.S. coordinator for the IFET Observer Project, and observed the referendum in Suai. In May 2000, Pam helped set up La’o Hamutuk, and she served on our staff from 2000-2002, focusing on popular education, gender issues, and international exchanges. Pam returned to California in November 2002, from where she continues to support our work as a volunteer and a member of our board. She returned to Timor-Leste in 2009. Adérito de Jesus SoaresAdérito is a lawyer and human rights advocate. He was founding Director of Sah’e Institute for Liberation, and founded the Timor-Leste National Jurists Association. Born in Maliana, Timor-Leste, Adérito has served as director for ELSAM, a Jakarta-based human rights organization. Adérito co-authored a book on West Papua, and has written numerous articles on international law and human rights in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. In August 2001, Adérito was elected to Timor-Leste’s Constituent Assembly, where he chaired the committee on government structure, helping to write the Constitution. He later resigned from Parliament and did graduate legal studies at New York University. He returned to Dili in 2003 to undertake legal, writing and human rights projects. Since 2006, Adérito has been working on a Ph.D. at Australian National University.
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