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Indonesia + 4 more

What's New at OTI Jun 2000

Update on OTI's Assistance to Sierra Leone Diamond Policy

USAID/OTI's assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone to develop a new diamond policy and operations is advancing on several fronts. Consultations in London by OTI and the U.S. Department of State with the U.K. British and Commonwealth Office resulted in a shared approach to international sanctions on illicitly traded diamonds of Sierra Leone origin, soon to be considered by the U.N. Security Council. Joint U.S./U.K. meetings with diamond giant De Beers and the Diamond High Council of Belgium in London on June 15-16 advanced work OTI had prepared with these industry members for private sector cooperation in reducing diamond smuggling. USAID received favorable coverage for its work on diamonds and armed conflict in Sierra Leone in two articles and one editorial of the Financial Times on June 8 and 12. (These articles are accessible at http://www.usaid.gov/hum_response/oti/country/sleone/sleentry.html).

OTI-Funded Assessment to Identify Conflict Management Activities in Sulawesi

Following the recent increase in religious/ethnic violence in Central Sulawesi, and on a recommendation from U.S. Consul/Surabaya Bart Putney, OTI has agreed to support a rapid media assessment of the conflict in the Palu/Poso region of Central Sulawesi. Initial research is being performed by Internews in Jakarta, with the assessment itself being undertaken by the Association of Indonesian Journalists (AJI) and the Aksara Foundation from June 15-23.

The assessment will determine the level to which local media is playing a role in fueling the religious/ethnic conflict, and how they can improve their capability to disperse accurate and balanced news and information to local populations. The assessment will analyze and provide recommendations on various media (print, radio, T.V., Internet). The team will also meet with non-media organizations, including NGOs and local government officials, in order to assess the level to which different groups in society are communicating and playing a role in disseminating information.

OTI and its partners will use the results to explore measures that might be taken to disseminate messages to discourage violence and encourage communication and peaceful resolution, and identify immediate actions to help alleviate or mitigate the conflict.

OTI-Funded Town Planning Office Opens in Timor

The renovation of the Town Planning Office in Bacau, East Timor, funded by OTI, has been completed, and office staff have started to move into the newly renovated building from their temporary quarters.

During last year's post-referendum violence, the militia and Indonesian armed forces systematically burnt every building in Baucau's new town, which had been the area where the Indonesian government had established local offices during the occupation. The old town of Baucau, originally built by the Portuguese colonial government, was less badly damaged. The rehabilitation of the Town Planning Office is an important symbolic and practical step forward in the town's reconstruction. A functioning Town Planning Office means that technically trained Timorese will be able to apply their skills and function as effective partners with UNTAET, NGOs, and other local and international agencies. For example, the Director of Town Planning and his assistants recently began making assessments of the district's roads during periods of flooding.

OTI's grant for $52,000 covered renovation materials, such as cement, wood, zinc roofing, electrical wiring, and floor tiles for the three small buildings that make up the planning office. Additionally, OTI provided a drafting table, computers, desks, chairs, a truck, and three motorcycles. Work started on March 13 and was completed May 31. A total of 12 workers were employed on the project, along with the office director and his two assistants. U.S. Ambassador Gelbard visited the project during his visit to East Timor March 14-15.

Villagers in Central Java Prohibit Military from Holding Office

The military will no longer be allowed to become village leaders or hold other local village positions in some central Javanese villages, according to new research funded by OTI and conducted by the Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE) in Indonesia.

IRE conducted discussions among dozens of village leaders, religious leaders, and others in central Java (Regency Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta) on the traditional role of the military in local politics. Members of the local military and police were invited. The outcome of the discussions were that the military will no longer be allowed to become village leaders or hold other local positions such as village secretary or the head of the sub-village office (known as "dusun"). Villagers rejected the idea of allowing the military to run for local village offices because (a) the military is too authoritarian, (b) members of the military already receive a military salary, and would get double salary as a village leader; (c) by prohibiting the military from candidacy in village posts, it will allow many other unemployed villagers an opportunity to work. Further discussions are planned in other villages.

OTI/Indonesia is funding grants such as this to engage small groups in promoting civilian-military reform. OTI's support in addressing civilian-military issues comes at the request of the USAID Mission in Jakarta.

OTI Helps Re-Establish Leading NGO in East Timor

USAID/OTI's first grantee in East Timor, Yayasan HAK, a human rights and humanitarian NGO, is among the largest and best established civil society groups in East Timor. In the wake of last year's violence, USAID/OTI made Yayasan HAK a substantial grant of vehicles, computers, furniture, office supplies, and other equipment. The grant allowed Yayasan HAK to continue its activities, collaborate with international NGOs, and, critically, influence UNTAET and NGO policies. According to Yayasan HAK, many NGOs and UN agencies assumed all East Timorese community and social structures had been destroyed. By providing Yayasan HAK with assistance at this time, USAID/OTI ensured that Timorese civil society organizations had a voice in policy discussions and could assist Timorese communities directly.

Founded in 1996 and forced to operate under restrictive Indonesian laws, Yayasan HAK originally focused its efforts on advocacy, gathering information, and defending political prisoners in East Timor. Later the organization expanded its efforts to include humanitarian assistance. In July 1999, a convoy of trucks delivering food and medical assistance from Yayasan HAK and other groups was attacked near Liquica. In September the building housing Yayasan HAK and other Timorese NGOs in Dili's Farol district, not far from the current USAID/OTI office, was attacked and burned. Recovering from its losses last year, Yayasan HAK now employs 54 people and its activities include legal assistance and advocacy, human rights documentation and education, reconciliation, emergency assistance, and community development. Building on the support given by OTI, Yayasan HAK has been able to attract both funding and assistance from a number of different sources, including Oxfam, AusAid, DFID, and the Netherlands.

OTI-UNDP Partnership paying off for CICs in Kosovo

UNDP has given final approval to undertake three projects identified by OTI Community Improvement Councils in the Peje region: road rehabilitation benefiting nine villages, rehabilitation of the Klina Center for Social Work, and improvement of the drainage canal benefiting Roma, Albanian and Bosniak families in Peje town. These projects are the result of close coordination between OTI, UNDP's Community Integrated Rehabilitation Program (CIRP) and the International Rescue Committee, their implementing partner in the area. This has resulted in UNDP funding over $500,000 in CIC-identified projects in the Peje area.

UNDP's Village Employment and Rehabilitation Program (VERP) has also committed to assist the community with the extension of the water supply system in the Gremnik area. The Gremnik CICs members took a very active role in lobbying their issue with the UNDP representatives when the latter seemed to be having second thoughts about funding the project. Community members successfully presented their case to UNDP, which then committed to undertaking the project in May.

OTI Sponsors Anti-Corruption Project in Northern Nigeria

OTI recently sponsored a two-day seminar on "Ethics and Good Governance" June 6-7 in Kano, Nigeria. The seminar was hosted by a new NGO, the Anti-Corruption and Fraud Organization of Nigeria. The forty participants included state and local government officials, labor union representatives, bank employees and other private sector workers. The seminar aimed at improving participants' understanding and appreciation of accepted ethical norms and practices in government and business, as well as ways to curb corruption.

In 1999, Transparency International rated Nigeria the second most corrupt country in the world. President Obasanjo's commitment to reduce corruption began with the formulation and passage of the Anti-Corruption Bill. Anti-corruption is one of several key transition areas in which OTI/Nigeria has chosen to focus.

Lebanese President Receives OTI Grantee

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud recently received a delegation from the NGO Kullana Massoul, an OTI grantee dedicated to promoting transparency and good governance.

The President said that with the end of Israel's occupation of Lebanon in the south, the government needs to re-focus its attention on combating rampant corruption to repair the economy and lure investors.

A number of local ministers and officials have lost their positions or faced corruption investigations in recent months. With the support of OTI, Kullana Massoul is trying to broaden public support for anti-corruption efforts. The high-profile NGO continues to run a multimedia anti-corruption campaign across the country, including television, radio spots and billboards.

OTI Grantees Launching Conflict Prevention Program in West Timor

Two OTI/Surabaya grantees, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Greater Kupang and Yayasan Alfa-Omega, have launched an integrated conflict prevention program that includes interactive radio dialogues and public hearings with community, religious and political leaders. The program was inaugurated at the same time as tensions between East Timorese refugees and West Timorese community members exploded into violence at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Kupang. It is designed to reduce tensions between the two groups, who are competing for scarce resources in West Timor.

Kosovo Community Improvement Councils:

Creating a New Kind of Community Leader

Three moderate community council members (one woman and two men) from three community improvement councils in the Mitrovica area will be running for political office in the upcoming local elections. They directly connect their experiences with USAID/OTI and the CIC process to their new political goals. All three have been actively involved in the community improvement projects undertaken in cooperation with USAID/OTI, and want to make community and citizen participation in city decision-making a locus of their platforms.