The HD Centre organised a workshop for emerging leaders on 29 May in Dili, as part of a joint initiative with the President's Office and the Centre of Studies for Peace and Development (CEPAD). About 40 emerging leaders selected by the President's Office with input from the HD Centre and CEPAD attended. A considerable number of them were women. Observers at the meeting, which was officially opened by President Ramos-Horta, included the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Atul Khare, the American, Australian, Cuban and Brazilian Ambassadors, the Deputy Head of the New Zealand mission, the Dili representative of the Asia Foundation, and senior officials of UNMIT (United Nations Integrated Mission In Timor-Leste). The Deputy Chief of police and two members of Parliament also attended. Participants at the workshop agreed on the need for an ongoing process of dialogue among citizens at various levels and for more activities at the local level involving groups such as youth, to make Dili a City of Peace. Financial support for the workshop was provided by the Asia Foundation.

The HD Centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Representatives of the Office of the President in Dili, on Wednesday 19 November 2008. The MoU establishes the terms under which the HD Centre will provide assistance to the National Dialogue Process initiated and convened by President Jose Ramos-Horta.

The HD Centre's role in the National Dialogue Process, which will begin in January 2009, will be to act as the Secretariat for the meetings, prepare agendas and maintain a record of the meetings, monitor and report on the progress of the dialogue process, as well as provide advice and undertake additional tasks as requested.

At the request of President Ramos-Horta, the HD Centre will also liaise with various stakeholders, including the Church, youth and student leaders, as well as other civil society groups to ensure their contributions to the national dialogue process.

President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao envisage that such a process will build and achieve consensus on issues of national importance, and ultimately contribute to the peace and prosperity of Timor-Leste.

 The HD Centre staff traveled regularly to Timor-Leste between July and September 2008 to consult with key stakeholders. The visits were undertaken in response to specific requests for the HD Centre's support to fresh dialogue and reconciliation efforts in the country. The HD Centre is currently assessing different options in this regard in consultation with key stakeholders.      

On 29 April 2008, the HD Centre helped facilitate the peaceful handover to the authorities of Lt.Gastao Salsinha and his armed supporters in Dili. The men were wanted in connection with the attacks on President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao on 11 February 2008.

Lt. Salsinha and eleven of his supporters handed over eleven weapons in a ceremony led by President Ramos-Horta, the President of the Parliament, and other senior government and UN officials at the Palacio do Governo in Dili.

Following attacks on the President and Prime Minister on 11 February 2008, the HD Centre worked to facilitate the submission to justice of those implicated. Direct negotiations were opened with Lt. Gastao Salsinha, the head of the petitioners, and one of the prime accused, in an effort to get him and his supporters to lay down their weapons and submit to justice. The initiative was closely coordinated and conducted with Timor-Leste's authorities.

On 20 October and 6 November 2007, the HD Centre facilitated direct talks between a Government delegation and Major Reinado in close coordination with the Movimentu Unidade Nacional ba Justiça (MUNJ), a local coalition and fellow Directive Council member. Lt. Salsinha accompanied Major Reinado at both meetings. Two field visits to assess possible locations for the cantonment of Major Reinado and his group, the next envisaged step in the process, were also undertaken.

In October 2007, a multi-party Directive Council on the dialogue process with Major Reinado was constituted by Prime Minister Gusmao. The Directive Council was mandated to coordinate the dialogue process and define its modalities. It consisted of representatives of the Government Task Force, Major Reinado's group and the group of facilitators. The HD Centre was officially recognised as part of the latter.

On 19 August 2007, the HD Centre convened a crucial meeting between Major Reinado and President Ramos-Horta, the first since his swearing in, in Ermera district, southwest of the capital Dili. At the meeting, both sides expressed support for a dialogue process with the aim of settling their differences peacefully and ending the armed confrontation.

The HD Centre undertook two assessment missions to Timor-Leste in May and June 2007, during which it held several meetings with newly-elected President Jose Ramos-Horta, as well as other representatives of the Government, the Church, F-FDTL (national army), PNTL (national police), and civil society. The HD Centre also met several times with Major Reinado as well as Lt. Salsinha, the leader of the petitioners. The various parties accepted the HD Centre's offer of good offices and facilitation in a dialogue process. In particular, President Ramos-Horta asked the HD Centre to facilitate the peaceful resolution of: (i) the confrontation with Major Reinado and his group; and (ii) the case of the petitioners, which remains unresolved to-date.