Fulcrum editor Julia Lau sits down with Dr Udan Fernando, former Executive Director (2012-2020) of the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA), a Sri Lankan think tank. Based in Singapore and working as a consultant with the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), Dr Fernando is currently working on a project to develop under-represented scholars in the humanities and social sciences in Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Timor-Leste and Thailand.

The topic of their discussion is his recent documentary, “Not So Greener Pastures”, on four individuals who migrated to Timor-Leste and related issues, including Timor-Leste’s expected accession to ASEAN. 

Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were discussed:

2:40 – How Dr Fernando combines academia with his documentary filmmaking

5:20 – How the idea for the documentary came about

9:45 – How the protagonists in Dr Fernando’s documentary migrated to Timor-Leste 

21:40 – What the film says to global and regional audiences

27:20 – Recalling Timor’s “transition” from UN control and early development as an independent entity, including the role of Singapore in helping to set up the Timorese police force

33:54 – How Dr Fernando sees the issue of Timor Leste’s accession to ASEAN