SYDNEY — The largest ever public education conference on East Timor will be held here June 21-24, sponsored by the University of Sydney (School of Asian Studies), University of New South Wales (Centre for Human Rights) and University of Technology, Sydney (Institute for International Studies), together with Oporto University in Portugal. The theme of the conference is "East Timor: its future in the Asia Pacific".
"Between the four universities and their networks, there is enormous expertise relating to East Timor, Indonesia and the Asian perspective on the issue", conference coordinator Max Lane told Green Left Weekly. "The idea of this conference is to make the expertise and direct experience in these networks available to the community so that debate can be as informed as possible."
According to Lane, this is why registration costs ($15 or $30 for four days) have been kept low. "We hope that all those people who are interested in the issue but haven't had the chance to find out about the details and the different views on what should be done will come to this conference. Everybody is welcome."
More than 30 East Timorese academics, church, community and political figures will be attending the conference either as speakers or workshop resource people, said Lane. As well, there are about 15 Indonesian academic and community figures who have confirmed they are attending.
"This will be one of the biggest joint gatherings ever of East Timorese and Indonesians. The Legal Aid Institute, the Workers for Prosperity Union, the Geni Foundation, the Soekarnoist movement, the People's Democratic Party, the Alliance for Independent Journalists, the Pijar Foundation, the Indonesian Centre for Labour Struggles, the Institute for the Study of Information Flow, Students in Solidarity for Democracy in Indonesia and the Nahdatul Ulama Islamic movement are just some of those who will be represented on plenary panel sessions and in workshops. Leading academics from Indonesian universities will also be attending."
Dr Peter Carey, from Trinity College, Oxford University, the editor of the recently published book East Timor at the Cross Roads, will be one of the two keynote speakers at 7.00pm, Friday, June 21. The other keynote speaker will be Dr George Aditjondro. The theme of this special public lecture is "East Timor, Past Experiences, Future Prospects".
Also attending from South Bank University, London, is Dr John Taylor author of one of the basic modern histories of East Timor and many articles. A prominent Portuguese commentator, academic leader on the issue of East Timor and a conference convener, Professor Antonio Barbedo Magalhaes, will also be speaking.
Speakers from the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Japan and Malaysia are also confirmed. More than 80 international guest participants are expected.
The conference will start at 8.30am, Friday, June 21, University of Technology, Sydney, in University Hall, Harris St, Ultimo. The official welcome and keynote public lecture will be held at Wallace Theatre, Science Rd, University of Sydney, at 7.00pm, Friday, June 21. The conference finishes Monday, June 24, at 6.00pm. The East Timor Cultural Centre is organising a cultural evening in the city on the evening of Saturday, June 22.
Registration is $15 (concession) and $30 (waged). For further information, write to East Timor Conference, UTS Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007. Telephone (02) 330 1574, Fax (02) 330 1578.