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Local Governance in Timor-Leste - Secretaria de Estado da Arte e ...

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis work is <strong>de</strong>dicated to my father, Scott Bradley Cumm<strong>in</strong>s (10 th July 1942 to 9 thDecember 2006), whose fasc<strong>in</strong>ation with the frontier will always encourage and<strong>in</strong>spire me.A PhD is never done by a s<strong>in</strong>gle person alone, and I have been privileged <strong>in</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>gthe support of so many people while do<strong>in</strong>g this work. Thank you to supervisorAssociate Professor Sarah Maddison for your unwaver<strong>in</strong>g support, wisdom, andmentorship—first for encourag<strong>in</strong>g me to start this PhD, and then as supervisor forprovid<strong>in</strong>g the perfect mix of empathy, <strong>in</strong>telligence, and good common sense. Bothprofessionally and personally, you set an example that I can only hope to emulate. Mygratitu<strong>de</strong> also to co-supervisor Professor Gav<strong>in</strong> Kitch<strong>in</strong>g for your enthusiasm for thisproject, stories from your own fieldwork that confirmed I was on the right track, andyour generosity <strong>in</strong> shar<strong>in</strong>g your <strong>de</strong>ep knowledge of the issues <strong>in</strong>volved. Many thanksalso to Dr Duncan McDuie-Ra who filled <strong>in</strong> as co-supervisor for one year—<strong>de</strong>spiteyour heavy commitments, you always had time for a chat, to share stories, and to giveadvice.This thesis was always more than an <strong>in</strong>tellectual exercise, and this became so muchmore so as I did my fieldwork. I am truly humbled by the generosity of spirit shownby my <strong>Timor</strong>ese friends and hosts. I am especially grateful to my two researchassistants, to Abilio <strong>da</strong> Silva Monteiro <strong>in</strong> Venilale, and Lucia do Rosario <strong>in</strong> A<strong>in</strong>aro,without whom I could never have completed this fieldwork, and also to everyone whoagreed to be <strong>in</strong>terviewed for this research (listed <strong>in</strong> Appendix A). To Maun Virgilio,my s<strong>in</strong>cere thanks for your generosity with your time, advice, and friendshipwhenever I was <strong>in</strong> Dili—<strong>de</strong>spite your heavy work commitments, you were alwaysavailable to help however you could. To the Ximenes family <strong>in</strong> Venilale, and <strong>in</strong>particular Mana Celest<strong>in</strong>a and Jose Manuel do Rêgo Ximenes, obriga<strong>da</strong> barak forwelcom<strong>in</strong>g me <strong>in</strong>to your home and for the many ways <strong>in</strong> which you helped me toadjust to village life. Thank you also to Jose Manuel for tak<strong>in</strong>g the time to help meun<strong>de</strong>rstand more about the different communities and the history of Venilale. And tovi

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