Founders
Nélson Belo
Nélson was involved in the Timor-Leste Young People Solidarity Movement (OSKTL) in 1998-1999. OSKTL conducted research into the ongoing conflict in Timor-Leste and conducted discussion about the problems of that time. While studying in the University of Timor-Timur (UNTIM), Nélson Belo was also in establishing the Timor-Leste Student Solidarity Council (KSETL) in 1999, which campaigned for Timor-Leste’s independence referendum. In KSETL, Nélson Belo was responsible for the Human Rights Section, which did daily reports on human rights violations for the UN, the Justice of Peace Diocese in Dili, and also the International Student Union abroad during the campaign for the referendum and its aftermath.
In 2001 Nélson Belo helped establish a national NGO named the Monitoring Program for the Judicial System (http://www.jsmp.minihub.org). This NGO worked to promote citizen participation in the development of the justice sector in Timor-Leste. Nélson Belo did intensive work in the National Democratic Institute in Washington DC while studying in the University of Hawaii in 2007. At the same time, Nélson Belo also became president of the United States East Timor Student Association (USETSA).
Nélson Belo was also board president for the Asia Pacific Support Collective Timor-Leste (APSCTL). He became a Political Analyst for the UN, beginning in 2008-2009. Nélson Belo also became co-author of an international report about justice and security in Timor-Leste which was produced in both English and Tetun. Nélson Belo founded Fundasaun Mahein and currently serves as its Executive Director. To contact Nelson, please send an email to: direktor.mahein@gmail.com or telephone at: +670 78316075.
Edward Rees
Edward has worked in the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C., the Special Joint Committee for Defense Policy (Chamber/Senate of Canada), IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies, London), OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) in Bosnia, UNDP (United Nations Development Program ) – Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, and also the Cabinet of the Sub-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations (Best Practices Section) in the UN General Headquarters, New York.
In Timor-Leste, Rees worked as Regional Director for the Peace Dividend Trust, Political Advisor for UNSG (United Nations Secretary General) Special Envoy Ian Martin during the 2006 Crisis, and subsequently, the OHCHR Inquiry Commission. Rees worked as a Political Official in UNTAET, and previously ran Timor-Leste’s security sector reform program with the National Democratic Institute. Rees has also worked as an advisor for Amnesty International, the US State Department, the Small Arms Survey, the International Crisis Group, and also the Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces. He also worked as an associate for the Geneva-based International Security Sector Advisory Team. Email: rees.edward[at]gmail.com | Telephone: +670 735 1078 / +62 818 558 938