ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides a detailed account of the author’s interactions with the Timorese national leaders during his assignment in Timor-Leste from July 2002 to September 2006. It describes the start of the author’s UN peacekeeping assignment in Timor-Leste in July 2002 and assesses the significance of a referendum called "popular consultation" conducted by the United Nations on 30 August 1999. The book explains how Timorese leadership established the national judiciary system, including prison facilities. It reveals the tension among Timorese leadership regarding the manner and direction of national governance and development. The book analyses how the struggle for supreme power intensified between the two main leaders, triggering armed confrontations between their followers in April and May 2006. It also provides an explanation of how the Timorese dealt with several post-conflict transitional justice issues.
