tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102659722011-10-05T00:10:34.158+09:00Danielnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1160895535180872392006-10-10T15:48:00.000+09:002007-02-08T09:48:34.246+09:00<div align="justify">Finally, some decent research and suggestions on how to resolve Timor's current "crisis", and it comes from the <a href="http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4438&l=1" target="_blank">International Crisis Group</a>. Oh how this report shows up all those Aussie journos who continue to misinform the public as to the current goings on in Timor. As I suspected, especially since reading Fanon's <em>The Wretched of the Earth</em>, the problems stem back years and are not due to some attempted coup by a government, I myself revile. Please, read.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-116089553518087239?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1160894921862417242006-09-30T15:24:00.000+09:002006-10-19T04:57:59.880+09:00<div align="justify">Good news (I think), Virginia has been awarded a scholarship to study medicine in Cuba for seven years! But first, she has to pass an interview, health check up (mainly a blood test) and a Spanish language test. Poor thing, first she's educated in Bahasa Indonesia, next she's told she'll have to learn Portuguese if she's to hold down a government job, and now she has to learn Spanish in order to become a doctor! (The language situation is trying for everyone, but especially for the Timorese.) She'll be taught Spanish for three months by some of the nearly 300 Cuban doctors who are sent (unwillingly) to Timor to serve the community. Timor and Cuba have a bilateral agreement concerning the training and sending of doctors. Anne Barker from the ABC did a report on the Cuban doctors in Timor back in July which you can read <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1678441.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Senyor Rafael is very excited; it has been his long held desire for Virginia to become a doctor; so much so in fact that I wonder if Virginia really wants to herself! It seems that parental expectations are prevalent no matter where you go.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">When Virginia lands in Havana, she might just find herself amidst more civil and political unrest if Castro's ill health continues to decline and the good, but very oppressed citizens of Cuba aren't happy with his brother at the helm. I wanted to give Virginia the aptly titled Lonely Planet publication <a href="http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/product_detail.cfm?productID=1970&seriesID=18&amp;seriesname=Journeys%3A%20travel%20literature&" target="_blank">Enduring Cuba</a> by Zoe Bran but as it's in English and she only has a basic command of the language, I didn't want to burden her any further. I don't imagine that LP published it in Bahasa Indonesia?<br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-116089492186241724?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1160893460499763982006-08-25T15:13:00.000+09:002007-02-07T17:30:37.346+09:00<div align="justify">I've just finished reading <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frantz_Fanon" target="_blank">Frantz Fanon</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wretched_of_the_Earth" target="_blank">The Wretched of the Earth</a>. Although written during the Algerian war for independence during the 1950s, I thought I was reading about Timor. Could it be that all post-conflict/colonial countries are doomed to the same fate as Algeria? In Timor's case, I certainly hope not but I'm beginning to think that I'm hopelessly naive. Is it because I just happen to be born in a Western country which during my lifetime has not experienced any serious social and political unrest?</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As there is very little easily accessible literature available out there on the roots of Timor's current crisis (one cannot rely on the media, particularly Australia's), I implore those with an interest in Timor to read Fanon's classic book. As you read, just replace Algeria with Timor, and think of the leading revolutionary party as Fretilin and the charismatic leader as Xanana. You'll soon get the drift.<br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-116089346049976398?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155355966470957672006-08-17T13:11:00.000+09:002006-09-24T23:43:56.050+09:00<div align="justify">Before we were evacuated, I had gone on a DVD spending spree and as a result, we had upwards of 30 DVDs waiting for us back in Dili. Now that we have a TV and DVD player at our disposal in Ai-tarak-laran and Daniel is able to bring his work laptop home at the weekends, we have slowly been watching some of these DVDs. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Compounding the abundance, however, is my colleague's own very substantial collection of DVDs, some of which I want to watch! However, I have been very disappointed with the quality of many (both hers and ours) and won’t be recommending many; I’ll simply list the ones we’ve watched and only comment on those I enjoyed. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>UK<br /></strong><em>Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story<br />Mrs Henderson Presents<br />Man to Man<br />Keeping Mum<br />The Constant Gardener</em> (a profoundly disappointing film after having read the enjoyable novel on which it was based)<br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/sherlockholmes.shtml" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking</a> - BBC production – excellent<br /><a href="http://www.girlwithapearlearringmovie.com/" target="_blank">Girl with a Pearl Earring</a> - excellent<br /><br /><strong>France</strong><br /><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1218300.htm" target="_blank">Intimate Strangers</a> - good<br /><br /><strong>New Zealand<br /></strong><a href="http://www.nzfilm.co.nz/film_catalogue/features/feature_film_catalogue/Rain_102.aspx" target="_blank">Rain</a> - excellent<br /><br /><strong>Israel<br /></strong><a href="http://www.films42.com/columns/campfire.asp" target="_blank">Campfire</a> - excellent<br /><br /><strong>USA<br /></strong><em>The Baxter<br />House of D<br />The Libertine<br />The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou<br />Elizabethtown<br />Head Above Water<br /></em><a href="http://wip.warnerbros.com/goodnightgoodluck/index1.html" target="_blank">Good Night, Good Luck</a> - good<br /><a href="http://www.sonyclassics.com/savingface/" target="_blank">Saving Face</a> – excellent<br /><a href="http://www.justlikeheaven-themovie.com/" target="_blank">Just Like Heaven</a> – excellent<br /><a href="http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/capote/" target="_blank">Capote</a> – excellent<br /><br />We have also been watching season 2 of <em>Desperate Housewives</em>, season 5 of the <em>West Wing</em>, season 1 of <em>Little Britain</em>, and struggling to watch due to poor quality, the final seasons of both <em>Six Feet Under</em> and <em>Queer as Folk</em>. We are waiting for the DVD shop in Kolmera to get in new stock of these television programs so that we can swap our poor quality DVDs for ones that are watchable!</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535596647095767?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155355298677880272006-08-16T13:00:00.000+09:002006-09-19T15:03:14.936+09:00<div align="justify">Another noticeable change is the increased number of war games played by boy children, often complete with toy guns. In suburb after suburb I walk through, I notice little boys aiming fire and pretending to kill one another. It is most unsettling. Wherever you find military personnel, you will inevitably also find a group of generally boy children following the soldiers, trying to gain their attention. What long term impact does the sight of soldiers carrying large automatic weapons on the streets of Dili have on the future of impressionable young children?</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535529867788027?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155354860184412872006-08-15T12:51:00.000+09:002006-11-28T19:01:02.316+09:00<div align="justify">Apart from all the other changes that have been wrought on Dili over the past months, one that reflects the depth of the problems is the use of flags by foreign nationals both on their cars and homes. My colleague has the German flag on her front door as well as on the gate to the compound she lives in. My hairdresser has the Philippines flag on the door to her small salon opposite the Australian Embassy. None of this existed back in May. I feel this is a manifestation of the deep divisions now evident within Timorese society.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Should we put up an Australian flag on our home in Raikotu? I would find this very difficult to do as my well known contempt of nationalism and nationalists would forbid me to take any such action. Thus, we remain ostensibly part of the community in which we live.</div><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP3021-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP3021-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP3020-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP3020-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535486018441287?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155354591738261632006-08-14T12:48:00.000+09:002006-09-22T14:59:09.996+09:00<div align="justify">On the streets of Dili you regularly notice small groups of men and women sweeping and gathering up the detritus of the city. They wear masks over their mouths and noses to prevent them from inhaling the dust and their bodies are clothed with black t-shirts with Oxfam emblazoned in green lettering. The streets and parks have become noticeably cleaner and poor Dili residents are able to earn a small income to support their families.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535459173826163?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155367902905265952006-08-12T16:28:00.000+09:002006-09-22T15:06:18.066+09:00<div align="justify">Tia Martha rang us this morning to tell us that we couldn’t meet her in Bebonuk as planned as her house had been attacked and most of her family had fled. She was now living in the IDP camp opposite Hotel Timor. We were due to pay her the remaining fee for creating tais which we had ordered only two days before.<br /><br />As we sat waiting inside the Hotel Timor, a Timorese man whom we both know from the DVD shop in Kolmera approached us. As we had not seen him since our return last month, Daniel had assumed that he had fled the country but it turns out that he is working as a translator for the Australian military. He asked if he could join us and sat down.<br /><br />We asked where he had learnt English and he said he had taught himself. His home was similarly burnt down and his sister’s cars and motorbikes were also burnt, all because they are from the east. As with Tia Martha, they are likewise living at the IDP camp opposite the hotel. His parents still live in Los Palos and he has four sisters and three brothers. One brother is in fact the President of a new political party in Timor which intends to contest the national elections next year.<br /><br />Daniel excused himself to go to the toilet, and within seconds of him leaving, our friend followed him. I was immediately suspicious as Daniel had told me that he believed our friend had been hitting (quite seriously) on him a number of times in the DVD shop, even asking him out 'for some fun' once. We both suspected he was gay but I never thought think he would try hitting on Daniel so blatantly in front of me! Momentarily I worried how I would warn Daniel, before he reappeared. Apparently Daniel had given him a friendly, but apologetic, smile in the toilets and gone on his way.<br /><br />When our friend returned rather quickly from the toilet, Daniel went to call Tia Martha. She and her family were at the IDP camp across the road. It was the first time Daniel had seen one of the camps from the inside. Tia Martha said that although her house hadn’t been destroyed yet, she fully expected it to be so. She has another house in Becora, a suburb on the eastern outskirts of Dili which bore a disproportionate brunt of the violence in May and June.<br /><br />In the meantime, I was left to make small conversation with the man who had tried to proposition my partner in the toilets while I sat outside! I wondered if now would be the right time to talk about the television series Queer as Folk as a hint that I knew what he was up to.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115536790290526595?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155356608164855012006-08-11T13:21:00.000+09:002006-09-22T15:16:03.050+09:00<div align="justify">Weather wise, I really enjoy this time of year in Dili. The humidity level is bearable, the daily temperature around 30oC, and the mornings are cool. Sometimes I don’t even need to sleep with the fan turned on. I also enjoy the <em>anin-boot</em> (windy weather) for during the wet season, the air is so still and humidity levels so high, that one begins to feel suffocated by it. The one downside to <em>anin-boot</em> is that it whips up all the dust which is considerable.<br /><br />A necessary accessory in Timor is a pair of large, wrap around sunglasses to protect one’s eyes, not only from the damaging rays of the sun, but also, from the dust and any potential infections. At this time of year, many people are afflicted with <em>matan-mean</em> (red eyes or conjunctivitis), and having experienced two such episodes myself, the purchase of a new pair of sunglasses while on holiday in Cairns, was a worthwhile investment.<br /><br />With the dust however, comes a commonplace Timorese practice that speaks volumes about the lack of environmental awareness amongst the general population. People hose down dusty roads with the precious little water this drought prone country has. The dust problem not only causes <em>matan-mean</em> but contributes to the depletion of the country’s water supply, which gives even more weight for the need to build paved roads and footpaths. The photo below was taken outside the Ministry of Saúde (Health) in Caicoli. The irony of this photo is not lost on me.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2947-800.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2947-800.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535660816485501?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155356128409731622006-08-10T13:14:00.000+09:002006-09-22T15:23:23.140+09:00<div align="justify">I have been wanting to get some tais made by Tia(Aunt) Martha, a woman I met at a women’s workshop in April. Originally from Oecusse, Tia wears traditional Timorese women’s clothes, her arms are covered in tattoos and she is illiterate but regarded as one of Timor’s finest tais makers. In independent Timor, her skills are in demand as both the government and NGOs such as Rede Feto (Women’s Network) regularly engage her creative skills. Many visiting dignitaries to Timor end up leaving the country with one of Tia’s tais in their suitcases.<br /><br />Tia Martha lives in Bebonuk, a suburb in the Komoro area of Dili, 4km west of town. Daniel telephoned her to get instructions on how to get to her house. We caught a taxi to the SD tingat school and then asked various people on the street where Tia Martha’s house was. As we walked down the street we came upon this graffiti. So the GNR do have friends in Timor!<br /><br />We also passed a small group of recently destroyed small shops and noticed a number of burnt down houses. A young man led us for the final leg of the walk to Tia’s house. We weaved in and out of people’s backyards and passed a couple of women at a water pump skinning a very dead and rigid dog. Ah hah, it is confirmed, the Timorese do eat dogs!<br /><br />Upon entering Tia Martha’s veranda she greeted me warmly and had remembered me from the workshop. Two younger women were sitting on the ground weaving tais on order from Rede Feto. Tia’s husband, various children and grandchildren were also milling about. We sat down on plastic chairs and I immediately noticed the beautiful purple and green tais on the table. They just happen to be my favourite colours! Tia proceeded to show us her work including a bunch of personalised tais for Rotary Australia members who never collected their scarves. I commented to Daniel that I would contact Rotary myself and advise them that their unpaid order was still waiting collection three months later. I assumed that the Rotary members had visited Timor just before all hell broke lose, and as a result were not able to collect their order.<br /><br />Tia showed us the material she uses to weave the tais which I suspect is a polycotton. It comes from China and isn’t cheap. A young girl was winding the material into balls and I asked to have a look at the colours available. I chose a selection and then Daniel explained in Tetum what I wanted. It was an experience for Daniel to explain how many metres and what combination of colours to use.<br /><br />Tia said what I wanted was possible and they would be ready in early September. She would return to Oecusse the following Monday and bring back one of her daughters to help make the order. It takes three days for a woman to weave one small scarf and I had ordered very large wraps.<br /><br />Once we had negotiated a price, left a deposit and promised to return on Saturday in order to pay in full. One of Tia’s sons escorted us back to the main road as there were now a number of groups of young men congregating on the street, some with slingshots. He said that the area had experienced its fair share of troubles and he didn’t want us to run into any trouble. We admittedly felt a little intimidated but diffused any potential problems by greeting people as we passed.<br /><br />We made it out of the neighbourhood safe and sound back to the main road to catch a taxi to town. It’s a shame that Tia Martha doesn’t have a wider audience for her tais as most visitors to Timor simply head to the ramshackle tais market in Kolmera. The quality of the material used here can vary and I wonder if the women get to see any of the profits from their craftwork or whether the (mostly) men who sell the tais, keep it for themselves. Due to these concerns, I made the decision to seek out Tia Martha despite it being a more time consuming (and heart pounding) undertaking.<br /><br />When Daniel returned to work he heard that there had been fighting in Bebonuk some time after lunch and at least one person was stabbed, which explains the presence of so many men on the streets in Tia Martha’s neighbourhood.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535612840973162?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155356397234219982006-08-09T13:18:00.000+09:002006-09-22T15:28:14.053+09:00<div align="justify">Well before dawn one morning, I awoke to hear the sound of a call to prayer. As I turned on the light on the radio to see what time it was, I felt for a split second as if I had awoken somewhere in Indonesia or the Middle East and not Catholic East Timor. Where was it coming from I wondered?<br /><br />Upon waking I told Daniel about hearing it and he too had likewise heard the call. We guessed that it must have come from Dili’s Muslim mosque in Kampung Alor which borders Ai-tarak-laran. Living in different parts of a city gives one an opportunity to experience its diversity, no matter how small that diversity might be.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535639723421998?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1156977062669778592006-08-08T19:29:00.000+09:002006-11-29T20:43:37.053+09:00<div align="justify">Is it possible for a person from a modern society to work together with those from a feudal society where the benefits of the former society are sustainably conferred on the latter?<br /><br />For the past year, my partner Daniel worked for a leading legal human rights NGO in Timor; today just before he resigned, he learned that the Director sent an email to AVI telling them that Daniel’s services were no longer required and that the new six month contract they were currently in negotiation about was not necessary. Why? Because both the Director and many of the mainly male Timorese staff believe that one male colleague’s possession of child pornography on its organisation’s computer (a fact he does not deny nor try to justify) merely warrants a warning and that Daniel’s protestations that it constituted a serious offence that should be met with the sacking of the offender, meant that the head of a Timorese human rights NGO decided to get rid of the whistleblower in order to protect the offender and anyone else like him that works at this so-called human rights NGO.<br /><br />The offenders first documented warning was of the sexual assault of a colleague which came on top of an undocumented warning of being so drunk that he was unable to drive colleagues to the districts to undertake human rights training, that he sent a friend and inexperienced driver in his place. This event potentially endangered the lives of his colleagues. Furthermore, this person engages in corrupt work practices such as abusing the organisation’s resources. But when the Director does likewise, who is going to hold him to account?<br /><br />Within this organisation there are two units which work on issues of sexual assault of children and women. From experience, they have come to learn that within Timorese society, the sexual assault of children is only taken seriously when a girl child is vaginally raped with a male’s penis. Everything else is considered of no real consequence. The reason being that within traditional Timorese society, girls and women are considered simply an asset, not much different from owning a cow or a pig, except that their (bride) price brings in more income. When a girl’s virginity is “stolen”, her price is markedly reduced. If the family (father and his brothers) decides not to pursue the assault through the formal (modern) justice sector, then they will do so via customary law which inevitably awards the girl child’s family animals in compensation for their “loss”.<br /><br />Daniel has been told by some of his mostly male Timorese colleagues that he is simply a trouble maker; that he should just chill out, have fun and stop trying to make things difficult. Others (notably most of the Timorese women) are appalled that the organisation they work for, an organisation whose mission is to uphold the rule of (modern) law and human rights conventions, could, when it comes to its own (male) staff, fail to hold them accountable to these very same principles.<br /><br />Compounding the situation is a highly stratified traditional Timorese culture. Despite the fact that most of the Timorese staff hail from the privileged class and hold university degrees in law from Indonesia, they cannot escape their deeply entrenched patriarchal culture as exemplified in the relations between the ema boot and ema kiik. The staff simply will not question the authority of the director even when they feel he fails to show any leadership on such a serious issue as child pornography. They do not see it as their place to do so. Timorese are also loath to confront problems head on, instead employing the very strategy which freed them from their Indonesian oppressors: passive resistance. Furthermore, with a high unemployment rate, they cannot afford to lose their jobs and confronting an ineffectual Director, might very well get them fired. Thus, any challenges to corruption and contravention of human rights standards, has to come from the malae, but even here there are serious problems.<br /><br />The other three malae women Daniel currently works with believe the possession of child pornography is a serious matter. Only one of these women has been working at the NGO for more than a year, the other two having commenced work within the last month (Daniel is currently the second longest serving malae and during his time there said goodbye to five malae and three Timorese, yet the latter outnumber the former by 3 to 1). </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">However, this very fact demonstrates the incredibly high turnover of malae staff who stay just as long as it takes them to get their next better paid position in some other third world country or secure a scholarship to do their masters in law at some top Western university. As we have both come to learn from our time in Timor, there are many many malae here who simply come to Timor to glorify their CVs and fatten their bank accounts and couldn’t really give a fuck about the very principles to which they purportedly hold dear nor the long term interests of the organisation, the country or its people. Some even go so far as to say that they “love the lifestyle” Timor affords them. What “lifestyle” might that be I ask when the country is so impoverished? “Lifestyle” and poverty are incompatible with each other. Moreover, they enjoy the power of being a big fish in a little pond. They use and abuse this country while enjoying the benefits of modernity but live in the midst of a society that denies them, in practice, to the Timorese.<br /><br />A number of Daniel’s male Timorese colleagues have told him that he is nothing like the other malae they have worked with. That none of the previous malae “caused trouble” and as a consequence enjoyed working with them. But how many of these previous malae really showed any real commitment to the organisation, their colleagues or Timor? How many of them have been like Daniel, worked as a volunteer for a year and then after being mandatorily evacuated due to the deteriorating security situation is told that the program he is with is suspended under further notice, return to Timor under their own steam to work on a greatly reduced allowance because they passionately care about the organisation, their colleagues and the work they do? How many malae are willing to put their neck on the line for an issue or cause they believe in? Many internationally paid malae in Timor seek nothing more than there own glorification. The irony is, Daniel’s Timorese colleagues believe that it is these very same malae who care about the organisation!<br /><br />How can the work of a leading Timorese NGO be reconciled with the behaviour of some of its staff? Why should the community listen to what these very people have to say when they themselves contravene these very principles? When these people teach its citizens about the law and human rights conventions such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and then return to the office to view child pornography, sexually assault or harass their female colleagues? What is the consequence of impunity within a human rights NGO which publicly condemns it?<br /><br />The Director can argue that it is not a crime in Timor to possess child pornography. The Indonesian Penal Code (to which Timor still adheres) is ambiguous on possession but clear on manufacturing and distributing child pornography. However, the new Timorese Penal Code which is waiting ratification by the government, states that the possession of child pornography is punishable by one to six years imprisonment. Shouldn’t this legal human rights NGO uphold both the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the local law which will soon come into force?<br /><br />Complicating matters is the fact that it was malae staff who decided to hand over the reigns of the organisation as a malae to a Timorese managed one. It certainly looks good on one’s CV when you can say that you “successfully transitioned” an NGO to local staff, while you then never get to experience the consequences of this decision but do go on to continue climbing the career ladder of your chosen field. What potential Western employer is going to telephone a local NGO in Timor and ask whether the transition was a success, when the person they will inevitably talk to (the Director) is the very person who should never have been elevated to the position in the first place? And who subsequently went on to sexually harass one of his junior female colleagues and admitted to her that he had on at least one occasion, had sexual relations with a sex worker while attending a conference on human rights in Asia?<br /><br />Ultimately, one has to draw the line somewhere. Capacity building is a fraught endeavour when the people involved are from two very different cultural and educational backgrounds and all to frequently with conflicting motivations. Both the NGOs we have worked for include many Timorese who are not terribly interested in the issues the organisation espouses, and certainly are not passionate about human rights, but simply need a job to support themselves and their substantial extended families. Given that the NGO field in Timor is one of the biggest (and one of the best paid) industries, it is inevitable that many of the staff do not work for an organisation with the same level of commitment to the principles of that organisation that one might expect in the West where we have more opportunities and a far greater range of industries to chose from for paid employment. In fact in the West, the NGO sector is one of the worst paid industries and tends to attract highly motivated and passionate people who are prepared (and able) to sacrifice a more highly lucrative position elsewhere. In Timor, the situation is frequently the reverse.<br /><br />Just imagine a modern Westerner trying to capacity build a feudal European from the medieval period about human rights. (Take just one example, Children’s Rights. In Western feudal societies, children were considered mini adults and sexual abuse was rife; there was simply no understanding about its consequences. With the benefits of education and research, we now know that it is incredibly damaging to the child and the future adult they will become.) Now throw in conflicting motivations and a multi language environment and you get a pretty good sense of how difficult and perhaps even futile it is. As one of our malae friends says, the Timorese have a very good theoretical understanding of human rights but the gap between theory and practice is enormous. I would also add that the same applies (albeit it manifests itself in different ways) to many of the malae who come here. One could even argue that given all the privileges and education bestowed on malae, it is they who should be held most accountable.<br /></div><div align="justify">For those interested in how to live a practically ethical life, I take this opportunity to draw to your attention the work of the philosopher Peter Singer. I highly commend his book <em>Practical Ethics.</em></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115697706266977859?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155367664757855122006-08-08T16:25:00.000+09:002006-09-22T15:44:57.733+09:00<div align="justify">The taxi driver who took me from Landmark supermarket to my colleague’s home in Aitarak-laran, upon asking him how he was, told me that Timor was no good, but the Republican National Guard (Portugal's rapid response unit, currently deployed in Timor) were worse! This is not the first complaint I have heard from the Timorese about the heavy handed GNR.<br /><br />Only two weeks ago I was flicking through Amnesty International’s (AI) state of the world’s human rights report for 2006. I decided to focus on those countries which were of interest to me including my own, Timor and Portugal.<br /><br />As to be expected, AI’s criticism of Australia focused on our appalling treatment of asylum seekers and refugees; the continuing third world conditions that our indigenous people live in and their high homicide and incarceration rates; and counter-terrorism laws which potentially have negative impacts on human rights. I fully support AI’s criticism of my country of birth. It is shameful!<br /><br />Timor was criticised for its weak justice system including allegations of police abuses such as arbitrary detention and ill-treatment, as well as a lack of judges, prosecutors and defence lawyers; also the ongoing lack of justice for victims of the 1999 independence referendum.<br /><br />Portugal was criticised for its ill-treatment of suspects by police officers, the lack of law enforcement training in the use of force and firearms and the concerns this raises about the country’s failure to comply with international law and standards. At least three people were killed as a result of lethal force (two by the GNR), again raising long-standing concerns about the possible unnecessary or disproportionate use of force.<br /><br />It seems a little crazy to me for the Timorese government to ask for men from a force in another country with human rights violations on its record to take over from a similarly criticised force within its own country! I certainly wouldn’t want Timor to ask Australia for immigration advisors (anyone that is from the current government or bureaucracy at DIMIA).<br /><br />So is it any wonder that the Timorese have more faith in Australia’s security forces than its own or its former colonial masters?</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115536766475785512?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155352225661545022006-08-08T12:09:00.000+09:002006-11-08T15:29:20.423+09:00<div align="justify">Upon hearing the terrified screams of children, I peered through the curtains but couldn’t see much except for the landlady of my colleague’s house bending down over a screaming child. The sound was awful.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I hesitated to leave the house as I didn’t want to walk into a family dispute but when we could wait no longer, Daniel and I ventured outside. We found the landlady with two young adults whipping two of the children with spindly branches from a tree. The landlady said it was as punishment for the kids engaging in their own <em>baku-malu</em> (fighting).</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Meemee and her pups were hovering around, clearly upset at the fracas. The children being whipped were inconsolable, one trying to run away and then being brought back. I had the very same feeling I experienced not long after I first arrived in Timor when I was witness to the beating of a child by its father in my neighbourhood of Raikotu. As then, I had to stop myself from denouncing the adults from such cruel behaviour and was just glad that I had dark sunglasses on to hide the look in my eyes, although the scowl on my lips probably gave me away. I was furious!<br /><br />How long will it take for the Timorese to understand that violence met with violence only begets more violence? That what goes on within the family likewise goes on within the wider Timorese community, as the last few months have clearly shown.<br /><br />When will Israel and Hezbolah likewise learn this same lesson? When will the Tamil Tigers and government of Sri Lanka? When will the Americans, the Australians and British and their “War on Terror”; the Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq; and the Taliban and warlords in Afghanistan?<br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535222566154502?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155352447580648382006-08-07T12:11:00.000+09:002007-02-06T15:37:48.943+09:00<div align="justify">This morning as I walked down our street in Raikotu towards the main street in order to catch a <em>mikrolete</em> to town, I stopped to say hello to Flora’s parents. I had learnt the night before from “our” family that her mother is from Atambua in Indonesian West Timor and her father from Los Palos. They have three children: two daughters and a son who is mute. Flora’s parents said that she had started a job last week at the ANZ bank. I was very happy for her and her family. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Less than a week in the country, with her degree in banking and finance, and she has secured a job with an international bank! It just goes to show what an international qualification in a field that is needed in Timor can do for a young and bright Timorese woman (as opposed to the hundreds of university students in Timor studying international relations!) </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Working at an international bank in Timor will presumably provide her with many opportunities and experience. Perhaps one day, she might be snapped up by the government’s Banking and Payments Authority (central bank) for Flora is exactly what Timor needs.<br /><br />After lunch Daniel and I visited the ANZ bank in order to cash his pay cheque and while waiting for the cash to be counted, Flora walked out with a colleague from the rear offices. She looked so smart in a pair of black trousers with a neatly pressed striped shirt that for a moment I thought I was back in the Melbourne CBD! I kissed her on both cheeks and congratulated her on her success.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535244758064838?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155355710127587092006-08-06T13:06:00.000+09:002006-08-12T17:34:15.096+09:00<div align="justify">Virginia turns 21 on the 9th August and her father Raphael 43 on the 10th. We bought a cake from Aru Bakery in Kolmera the day before and presented it to the family. Tonight we had a celebration. A number of the children and young adults from our immediate community gathered together in the yet to be completed front room of “our” family’s slowly being built new home. The littlies sat on a mat on the floor while the young and older adults sat on the ubiquitous plastic chairs. The cake took pride of place at the centre of the table while biscuits, bananas, apples, water and soft drinks (supplied by our family) adorned its edges.<br /><br />Instead of the attention being on Virginia and Raphael, however, I felt the attention was still on us as the honoured <em>malae</em> guests. The entire conversation was dominated by Raphael and Daniel. It doesn’t help that my Tetum is not as advanced as Daniel’s but it is a fact that in such situations, the men tend to hold court. I find it an incredibly frustrating aspect of Timorese culture. But Raphael is a very good man and I have to remind myself that he cannot so easily overcome the deep patriarchy he was born and raised in.<br /><br />An interesting comment made by Raphael was that he and Domingas wanted to return to living in the districts once the children had grown up and left home. He said that it was very difficult to grow food in Dili due to the lack of land and that being dependent on money to buy food was an incredible challenge. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">This confirms what I have read about the food insecurity problem in Timor which is that Dili residents are at greater risk of going hungry than those who live in the districts and have more land at their disposal. As Domingas is from Ainaro and Raphael from Bobonaro, Daniel asked where they would return to and he replied either place. At least they’re both from the West!<br /><br />I asked the littlies if they would like their photo taken and they immediately became excited by the prospect. It is very entertaining taking photos of kids on a digital camera as they get to see the results immediately and think it’s hilarious to see themselves reflected back on screen. Then I proceeded to take photos of the birthday “girl” and “boy” and “our” family. This week I will go to the photography store in the centre of town and get copies printed out to give to everyone I took a photo of. Timorese pride photos of themselves as owning a camera is simply out of their reach.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2992-800.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2992-800.0.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Raphael and Virginia celebrate their 43rd and 21st birthdays respectively</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP3005-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP3005-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>"Our" family:</em> <em>Raphael, Joel, Virginia, Domingas, Joanico; Front row: Abina and Zalia; Absent: Atoby</em></p><p><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2994-800.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2994-800.0.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em>Zalia, unknown boy, Atito, Bebe, Jenny, Abe and Abina</em></p><p align="justify">About an hour after the celebration began, the power went off and as the generator is currently broken, people scrambled around in the dark looking for candles to light. We decided it was a good time to bid goodnight. As we had also spent the night before with “our” family, I wanted to do my own thing tonight. I often feel very guilty about not spending more time with them but the need for privacy and time out, combined with feeling exhausted with living in Timor in general and the fact that family get togethers revolve around conversations between Raphael and Daniel, I shouldn’t beat myself up about it!<br /><br />Before we could leave, Raphael insisted that we take a bunch of bananas with us which they had cut from a palm in their garden. They had originally done so earlier in the week with the intention of giving them to Daniel when he was sick. Domingas and Raphael had journeyed into town the previous Monday to seek Daniel out at the hospital as the day before I had told “our” family that he was sick with a virus. I didn’t expect them to take thirteen bananas to town in search of Daniel when he had already returned to work anyway! We tried to take only two of the bananas because after all, we are overfed Westerners and they are all, without exception, underweight Timorese. Moreover we can afford to buy our own bananas. But Raphael wouldn’t hear of it so we reluctantly took all thirteen home. </p><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Back at home Daniel ate one of the bananas and said that it was very sweet (they are the equivalent of lady finger bananas in Australia). I replied that they would make a great smoothie with soy milk, something we have not been able to make due to the lack of an appropriate kitchen appliance and the often tart Timorese bananas. However, my colleague has a hand blender at her home in Ai-tarak-laran so I decided we would take them with us and enjoy daily smoothies until all twelve had been consumed.<br /><br />We watched the last episode of Spooks season 3 that we have with us in Timor (while in Australia we sent the final DVD containing the last two episodes in the series back to Melbourne thinking we wouldn’t be able to watch it in Timor as I had damaged the LCD in the screen of our laptop). As another one of my favourite characters was written out of the series, and as Daniel fell asleep before the end, I was suddenly overcome with sadness at the possibility of leaving “our” family just when we were growing closer. Ever since our evacuation and our regular telephone calls to Raphael inquiring as to their situation, not to mention our arranging for delivery of food, “our” family have become noticeably more attentive towards us. I think finally after a year, they know that we care about them and many of the walls between us have been dismantled. It’s a lesson one learns from living here: it takes a long time for trust between <em>malae</em> and Timorese to take root.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535571012758709?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155355493181708082006-08-05T13:02:00.000+09:002006-08-30T22:58:47.030+09:00<div align="justify">Zalia collected the flowers from the trees in our shared garden. Her mother Domingas, fashioned them into beautiful wreaths. Members of “our” family and their kin arrived on our veranda. Two older girls each carried a basket which contained the wreaths and posies of pink flowers. Hand knitted purple doilies kept the flowers in place. Together we walked down to Raikotu beach and clambered over the cement breaks which dot the headland which borders the airport. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As the tide went out, Senyor Raphael, Daniel and I each threw a wreath into the ocean while the children threw the small posies. This laying of flowers on the ocean is in honour of my grandmother who died on the 21 July. Because she died over the oceans in another land, the Timorese conduct such a memorial at the beach rather than a cemetery. Doing so is symbolic of where the person died and the waves shall carry the flowers and thoughts of loved ones to the shores of the land they died in.<br /><br />One young woman and Senyor Raphael tried to light a bunch of small white candles, much like the ones you see in a Catholic church, but with the strong wind, it took many attempts. Finally lit, we placed them on a stone ledge to burn. Raphael said that it allowed us to remember all our grandparents who had passed on and that conducting such a ceremony was for the benefit of those who remain behind, so that they can again be at peace.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2960-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2960-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Members of "our" family and their kin with the basket of flowers for the kari aifunan down at Raikotu beach, Dili</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2964-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2964-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>The basket of flowers with a photo of my Nanna (centre) on her 90th birthday in February (my Aunt Jan is to the right in the photo).</em></p><p><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2986-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2986-800.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em>Once sent forth on the outgoing tide, the aifunan (flowers) initially come back to shore</em><br /><br /></p><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535549318170808?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155351657646127562006-08-03T11:37:00.000+09:002006-11-14T15:24:10.763+09:00<div align="justify">On a two day tour of Dili, USA Assistant Secretary of State, Christopher Hill met with President Gusmao and PM Ramos-Horta to talk about challenges facing the Timorese government, including issues such as unemployment and the new United Nations mission. He was quoted on Radio Australia as saying that “at the end of the day, the people of East Timor need to solve their own problems and not the United Nations”.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">For me this is like saying to a child who has been abused by strangers, neighbours, friends, and family, that it must immediately start functioning as a “normal” child or adult without any assistance (such as intensive counselling, financial compensation or welfare support) or legal justice for the abuse they experienced. Who would expect such a child to function “normally”, without ramifications for many years? How can the international community expect Timor, a nation of one million similarly abused people, to do otherwise? </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535165764612756?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155354335926791592006-07-31T12:41:00.000+09:002006-08-12T12:56:43.113+09:00<div align="justify">For the past week after dark, helicopters have been flying over the house in Aitarak-laran. On one occasion one flew over at 1am and needless to say woke me up. Living next to the airport in Raikotu, we are very used to hearing and seeing military helicopters coming and going but not many do so after nightfall. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I assume that the increase in military surveillance is a result of increasing tensions in the community since Major Alfredo Reinado was arrested by the GNR on the 25 July. Supporters of Reinado, are not happy that the GNR arrested him as they see it as a political move by Alkatiri’s supporters. Reinado is ostensibly supported by the Australians, and had been left to his own devices, until the GNR stepped in.<br /><br />In brief the theory goes something like this: Alkatiri is supported by the Portuguese and by extension, the GNR will arrest anyone not supportive of him; Gusmao, Ramos-Horta and Reinado are supported by the Australians and by extension its military and police personnel won’t arrest these same people, instead focussing on the Alkatiri supporters. Apart from a grossly oversimplified idea of the politics and competing interests here, this is also quite an insult to both military groups' professionalism!<br /><br />Over the weekend the Australian Federal Police arrested 40 men, 19 of whom were planning an attack from a banana plantation near the airport on an IDP camp. During the course of the weekend, six houses were burnt down. Violence regularly flares up at Komoro market and inevitably, one sees the increasingly hated GNR called out to diffuse (or is that inflame?) the situation.<br /><br />Meanwhile the Australian, New Zealand and Malaysian governments have begun to withdraw their troops. By the end of the month, Malaysia will have withdrawn all its military personnel leaving behind its police. Australia is downgrading its personnel but plans to keep 2,000 troops in Timor. There is no doubt that the main issue is policing and the yet to be created new UN mission in Timor will hopefully have a large contingent of international police as part of its mandate.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535433592679159?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155353283175073412006-07-30T12:23:00.000+09:002006-11-28T18:54:50.556+09:00<div align="justify">Daniel is ill again with a dreadful flu like virus. The symptoms began nearly a week ago and he says they are different to the ones he suffered through earlier in the year. We know of quite a number of people in Dili who are similarly unwell.<br /><br />This morning he awoke with a temperature of 38.9C and we both decided it was time to visit a doctor. As the Australian Embassy doctor has left Timor for Laos and his substitute will not arrive until Wednesday, we went to the free clinic in Bairo Pite which is a short walk from where we are staying in Aitarak-laran.<br /><br />We arrived just after 8am and found the place deserted apart from a security guard. He told us to go into the clinic and wait. As we sat down and admired the beautiful artwork by students of Arte Moris, we noticed a door to our right with a plaque above it that read “Dr Dan”. Within seconds, the man himself walked out and invited Daniel in.<br /><br />Dr Dan is (in)famous in Timor. He arrived in the mid to late 1990s during the Indonesian occupation and has remained ever since. An American by birth and now in his 50/60s, he has made Timor his home. His clinic sees hundreds of Timorese every day except Sunday (all at no charge) which was why the clinic was deserted of patients.<br /><br />After consulting Dr Dan, a nurse took a finger prick of blood to test it for malaria. Dr Dan then talked to us. I got the distinct impression that he was one of those who believe in the (conspiracy) theories that Australia was up to no good and had instigated the unrest and violence that led to Alkatiri’s downfall. This did not endear him to me. Still, medical doctors are in short supply in Timor and there is no doubt that he provides a highly valuable service to the many thousands of impoverished Timorese. His obvious dedication and commitment to the poor is to be commended.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535328317507341?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155352622821085482006-07-30T12:15:00.000+09:002007-01-21T01:34:15.223+09:00<div align="justify">Today on my way to my morning <em>mikrolete</em>, I passed the carpenter’s family home. Daniel and I have built up a neighbourly interest in this family ever since we admired the father and son’s handiwork. As I passed their home, their car pulled up with the carpenter, his wife and two daughters, one who was new to me. I assumed she was the one who had been studying at <em>Victoria University of Technology</em> in my home city of Melbourne, as her parents had told me the week before that she was due to return.<br /><br />Their daughter’s name is Flora and she has spent four years in Melbourne obtaining her Bachelors degree in Banking and Finance. As she shook my hand I noticed her Aussie accent and confidence, the latter in stark contrast with most Timorese women who are painfully shy. I was however taken aback when she asked me whether I loved Timor. I replied that I wouldn’t say that, but did love all the children. She said that “yes, Timor has a lot doesn’t it; in Melbourne you have to go to a park or playground in order to see them!”<br /><br />I asked her whether she planned on staying in Timor to look for work and she replied yes. She planned to take her CV to various businesses the following day. I wished her the best of luck and said that I was sure that with her qualification and English language skills, that she was sure to find work.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535262282108548?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155353869868189792006-07-25T12:28:00.000+09:002007-01-16T09:41:05.570+09:00<div align="justify">It almost feels like I’m back in Australia for I am house and dog sitting for a <em>malae</em> colleague while she takes a two month break in Bali, Germany and Switzerland. We now spend Monday to Saturday morning in Aitarak-laran, a suburb of Dili 2km west of the centre of town, while we return to our home in Raikotu for the weekends. I have joked that we now have two abodes: a city pad and a beach house – how aspirational and terribly upper class for two volunteers!<br /><br />My colleague’s home is an enormous three bedroom house which is part of an Indonesian-ish family compound. The landlady and her family live opposite and two recently built one bedroom units complete the grounds. At night there are two cars parked under the carport and a very heavy and large gate secures the entrance. The landlady runs a small shop on Komoro Road opposite the heliport which is currently occupied by the Australian military. The family are clearly much better off financially than “our” family in Raikotu.<br /><br />The downsides to staying here are that a security guard arrives at 8pm every night and sleeps on the veranda until sunrise, something I find unnerving and intrusive to our privacy (the curtains are very flimsy). There is no hot water which makes for a very refreshing mandi in the cool mornings and there is no generator in times of power blackouts. Lastly, her house does not command a view of the ocean and the glorious sunsets to which we are privy to in Raikotu. It does however come complete with eleven clocks! (Is this because the owner is German?)<br /><br />This house contrasts with our very small one bedroom home which is located deep in the community of Raikotu and which needs no security other than the presence of the family next door. What amazes me is the difference in rent: we pay $400 a month and my colleague pays $300! Does the one hundred dollar difference reflect our hot water, generator and beach views (despite the house being one third the size and a further 5km from town than my colleague’s) or is it just the arbitrary nature of the rental market in Dili?<br /><br />I really enjoy living so close to town as I can walk just about everywhere I need to go and, thus don’t have to worry about the lack of transport. Moreover, my colleague’s house allows me the escapist fantasy that I could be somewhere else. It is such a secluded home that with the doors, windows and curtains closed and with only the sound of children, dogs, pigs and the occasional rooster to bring me back to reality, I am transported to another place, one that makes me happy.<br /><br />My main task while living here is to feed Meemee, a lovely but very shy one year old female dog who recently gave birth to seven adorable little puppies. They all belong to the landlady but Meemee is referred to as my colleague’s dog as she took a special interest in her as a wee one, which wasn’t so long ago. I love playing with the puppies and often in the mornings sit outside on the veranda and do so for hours. They make me laugh and bring a smile to my face. My dreams of becoming “Dra. Doolittle” are finally coming to fruition!<br /><br />I buy Meemee’s food from Leader supermarket, including dry dog food and powdered milk both of which are imported from Australia. Twice a day I give her a cup of dry food with half a cup of powdered milk mixed with a cup of purified water. She’s still terribly thin and her little ones are very demanding of her milk supply but I’m sure the food helps!<br /><br />As previously written, there is only one Timorese vet in the entire country, but I have heard recently that there may also be an Australian one. In the West, Meemee would hopefully have been spayed and so too her seven littlies, but in Timor, animals like humans, beget many offspring.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2890-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2890-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Meemee takes a rest</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2888-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2888-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Two of her puppies also take a rest</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2878-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2878-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> My favourite of the seven puppies</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2871-800.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2871-800.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Meemee feeding her pups</em></p><p><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2875-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2875-800.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em>Meemee feeding and grooming her pups<br /></em><br /></p><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535386986818979?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155354082439492902006-07-22T12:39:00.000+09:002006-08-12T16:38:46.400+09:00<div align="justify">The number of Timorese marrying at this unsettled time is on the increase. Upon hearing this, one thinks it a bit odd that people would want to marry when there are other more pressing things to think about such as securing shelter and food for one’s family. However, brides have become very cheap! Brides’ families are prepared to negotiate the price of their daughters down due to the current situation. Families know that money is tight and possessions have been lost. Thus, many people are taking the plunge. In a society where those marrying often take on life-long debts, cheap weddings (and wives) have become the fashion of the day. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">This morning the driver at Daniel’s work place, Rui, married his long time partner and mother of his children. They are all living at the IDP camp at the airport after their house was burnt down. We were invited to the wedding but due to miscommunication, we were not able to attend!</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535408243949290?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1155352802166702422006-07-22T12:17:00.000+09:002006-08-12T18:13:08.230+09:00<div align="justify">As I entered the security conscious entrance area of Leader supermarket in Komoro (most of the gates are now closed, allowing just a small area for entering), a young Timorese man looked at me and said, “Samantha, right?”</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It didn’t take me long to recognise the young man as Skip, who had talked to me at length on a <em>mikrolete</em> trip months before. “Skip” I said, “<em>diak ka lae</em>” (how are you?). He replied in his very Aussie English accent that he was good and working again as a translator for the Australian military based at the RTTL (Radio and Television Timor-Leste) complex in Caicoli. I was happy to hear he was able to secure work again as his spoken English is excellent. Skip’s good fortune is an example of the increased employment opportunities during a time of crisis, perhaps the only positive thing about it!</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115535280216670242?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1153474121010173472006-07-21T18:27:00.000+09:002006-07-31T17:01:44.886+09:00<div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2817-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2817-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>An IDP camp in Dili</em></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2818-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2818-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Children talking in the IDP camp</em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2819-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2819-800.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a><em>Children playing in the park that has now become their home</em></p><br /><div align="justify">Today marks the first coordinated effort by the INGOs to encourage the IDPs to return home. INGOs will set up food distribution in the suburbs of Dili while the International Stability Force are set to post security personnel to the suburbs, thus addressing two concerns the IDPs have and which prevent them from leaving the camps: food and security. Let’s hope it has a noticeable effect.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115347412101017347?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1153474057392992742006-07-19T18:26:00.000+09:002007-02-06T07:28:55.356+09:00<div align="justify">The Australian Prime Minister John Howard arrived in Dili today for his first visit since goodness knows when. It’s certainly his first visit since I arrived in the country a year ago. According to ABC Radio Australia, the purpose of his flying visit was to meet with the newly installed Prime Minister, Jose Ramos-Horta and President Xanana Gusmao; not to mention sharing a morale boosting BBQ lunch with some of the estimated 2,500 Australian security forces currently deployed in Timor.<br /><br />Of course, Howard’s visit has fuelled the lefty rumours (a la Pilger, Martinkus and the Communist Party of Australia) that the unseating of the former PM Mari Alkatiri was as a result of an Australian backed coup and that Howard has come to congratulate “his” men in Timor. This (conspiracy?) theory says that Australia disliked Alkatiri (true) and wanted to get rid of him in order to get their hands on Timor’s oil (unfounded as Australia and Timor had already negotiated an agreement over the final disputed area in the Timor Sea which is waiting approval by both country’s parliaments but which when passed, will remain in effect for the next 50 years), and wanted the more Australian friendly Ramos-Horta (true) at the helm of the country. That Australia also dislikes Fretilin as it is considered the most radical of the political parties in Timor (true, but radical only in comparison to the other parties, not with its past history and policies or to other more radical parties in the world such as the Communists. I would describe Fretilin as similar to Australia’s Labor Party (even though there is a Timorese Labor Party with no current MPs), which can hardly be described as radical). The theory goes that Australia approached a number of high ranking Timorese military men to stage a coup but that they refused. In the end they somehow managed to convince some of the original 500 odd soldiers from the west of the country to resign in protest over discrimination and favouritism to those from the east, which sparked civil unrest and which led to our evacuation from Timor and the subsequent downfall of the former PM.<br /><br />This theory fails to explain: why stage a coup now after the disputed oil reserves had been negotiated? The elections are only a year way anyway and given the former PM’s widespread unpopularity, there was speculation that Fretilin would lose seats in parliament as a backlash to their choice of PM. Moreover, how did the Australians manage to engender such vitriol in the Timorese people for their former PM? By osmosis? Normally I’m a great supporter of lefty theories about political coups (not to mention a fan of the writings of Pilger and Martinkus) but having lived in Timor for the past year, I find this latest theory difficult to believe. The Timorese people genuinely disliked their PM which was not manufactured by Australian ASIS spooks.<br /><br />I believe the recent trouble all comes down to the incompetence and inexperience of a new government left to fend for itself without adequate ongoing international support coupled with the arrogance of a PM and his Ministers who decided that the dismissal of nearly one third of their military personnel was not worth addressing. Moreover, it was the United Nations who decided on the make up of the security forces and clearly not enough attention was paid to the history of the Indonesian occupation and the geographical realities of Timor. By and large, people from the east of the country escaped the worst excesses of the occupation while the people from the west, who were and remain right up against the border with Indonesia, were much more vulnerable to human rights abuses including intimidation to join pro-Jakarta militias in the lead up to the independence ballot. Most of the Falintil soldiers came from the east where it was geographical feasible for them to continue hiding out in the mountains; while the people from the west simple were not able to. For the UN then to divide the newly independent nation’s security forces along geographical lines (military from the east and police from the west) shows a great deal of ignorance in planning the peace and security for a post-conflict society. Unfortunately it has contributed greatly to the current situation which on the surface looks peaceful and secure, but underneath is anything but.<br /><br />As the Timorese refugees in Darwin and Dili know, there is no secure future for as soon as the International Stabilisation Force departs, they anticipate that all hell will break loose again as further retributions are exacted in a vicious cycle that will be difficult to break. The only hope is that the UN will decide to send a substantial number of both peacekeepers and police officers to retrain a reformed security service. Moreover, that peace building activities amongst the people begins in earnest.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115347405739299274?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1153473987100056162006-07-18T18:25:00.000+09:002007-01-09T14:30:18.470+09:00<div align="justify">Today is my one year anniversary at my place of work (my one year anniversary in Timor was noted in Tropical North Queensland). It’s hard to believe that I actually made it this far: what with a breakdown, dengue fever, an armed battle in my neighbourhood between rival factions of the army, and being evacuated, all as a result of living here! Sometimes I wonder about my sanity but I certainly do not doubt my tenacity or resilience.<br /><br />The thought of spending another year here however does not particularly fill me with enthusiasm. Apart from all the problems I have with living in Timor, now added to the mix is the political uncertainty and the fact that I fear that one day in the not too distant future, Timor could descend into a very bloody ethnic conflict which I do not wish to bear witness to.<br /><br />It is very noticeable how the east/west divide has become cemented in the Timorese conscious. Before we were evacuated, we never heard any Timorese person speak disparagingly of people from the east or west, apart from the usual banter about how expensive women from Los Palos are! Now, we routinely hear (from taxi drivers, always a good barometer of how the average person thinks) how the country must be divided up and how the people from the east are murderers.<br /><br />One colleague whose house was burnt down, on Sunday night experienced further destruction of her property when unknown persons destroyed most of the windows of her car. She told me that she and her husband were leaving Timor in two months to live in London. When I said for how long, she said, “maybe five years, I don’t know but Timor is no good and I cannot live here any longer.”<br /><br />Another colleague has been living in the UN Obrigado Barracks IDP camp for two months. She fled there with her husband and two small children. The reason: she lived in an area of Dili which is mainly inhabited by those from the west and although she and her family of origin are also from the west, her husband is from the east and he is frightened to go on living in the area as he believes he will be killed. Thus they remain indefinite IDPs. Many people in Timor are married to people from the opposite side of the country and the children born of these unions are both east and west. How and where are they to live in an independent Timor?</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115347398710005616?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1153473898609434242006-07-17T18:23:00.000+09:002006-07-21T18:24:58.766+09:00<div align="justify">I returned to work today as a true volunteer (i.e. no remuneration). It was nearly two months since I had last stepped foot into my work place and much had changed in the interim.<br /><br />We are now operating an emergency program until mid September which is being funded by INGOs. My team no longer exists as the coordinator remains living in Baukau and the acting coordinator now works on the emergency program in the IDP camps of Dili.<br /><br />The computer problems continue unabated. Although I was not employed to do such tasks and nor do I have any expertise, in comparison to my Timorese colleagues I know many things. Unfortunately the power was off and would remain thus for five hours! The government had warned its citizens that it was low on <em>mina</em> (oil) and had instituted power blackouts until stocks could be replenished. Apparently someone in the electricity department had forgotten to order <em>mina</em> (from Indonesia) in advance. Now, due to the recent problems, this person could be forgiven for such an oversight but unfortunately, this sort of thing occurs regularly.<br /><br />Thus, I had to wait until late afternoon before I dared to look at each and every one of the twenty odd computers to see how they were working. One computer which was in perfect working order two months ago was now (I believe) riddled with viruses and had to be taken to the real expert (a lovely Indonesian man named Harry) for a cure. Others were performing slowly but when I installed the latest Norton Anti Virus definitions (obtained from Daniel’s work place’s Internet connection), they picked up their game and now work fine.<br /><br />We still have no widespread Internet access other than from one virus riddled laptop that my colleagues are reluctant to let me take to Harry, even for one day! It’s very frustrating trying to explain that because they insert their USBs into an infected computer and then into an uninfected one, the viruses keep doing the rounds in the office which makes it very difficult to get rid of the little buggers once and for all!<br /><br />The server computer was cleared of viruses in May but ever since, we cannot establish any Internet or printer connection. Hence my colleagues are reliant on the use of USBs to take files to the one computer which remains connected to the printer, and hence the viruses do the rounds. At least the majority of computers are now up-to-date with the latest virus definitions so perhaps I can contain the viruses to a handful of computers (mostly laptops).</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115347389860943424?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1153473623593507502006-07-16T18:17:00.000+09:002006-08-02T22:44:39.896+09:00<div align="justify">We were woken not only by the sound of roosters (who remarkably no longer irritate me) but by the even louder sound of an Australian military helicopter taking off before 7am. I thought this a bit rich as it was Sunday after all but I forgot that I am in Timor where people wake before dawn no matter what day of the week it is in order to do chores before the heat of the day kicks in.<br /><br />Daniel suggested a walk along the beach as he had not done so since he returned the week before as he wanted to share the experience with me. It was another beautiful morning and as we left the property we came across many members of “our” family and other children in the neighbourhood who were just returning from their <em>pasiar</em> (stroll). We talked to a number of women and their children and we asked them about the <em>festa</em> (celebration). They said it was for Lezette who had turned seven. Lezette is the second eldest child of the family next door whose father works in the government department of state administration. He is considered a bit of an <em>ema boot</em> (big/important people) in our community as they easily have the largest house along with one government car and perhaps a personal one.<br /><br />During our walk we noticed the lack of people who would normally be on the beach. A small fishing boat was moored out at sea replete with a Timorese flag. We passed the houses of two of the <em>malae</em> we know in the area (the couple from Georgia and our AVI colleague and his Canadian partner). We decided it was too early to drop in on them and would do so on our return.<br /><br />We walked over to Tasi-tolu Peace Park and noticed the large Australian and Malaysian military presence on both sides of the park. A road block had been set up less than a kilometre from the Dili/Liquisa border. As we walked passed the John Paul II memorial house and under the trees where normally animals abound, we noticed numerous shallow graves and became a little concerned as to what these were. We peered into a couple and saw that they were empty. I surmised that these were the spots dug up by investigators looking for the supposed dumped bodies of the tens of people claimed to have been killed in Tasi-tolu and Rai Kotu on 28 April. So far, no bodies have been found and the allegations remain unsubstantiated.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2834-800.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2834-800.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The three lakes were still quite full although the two that join together during the wet season were slowly separating. We immediately noticed the many pelicans on the opposite side of the middle lake set against the backdrop off scared hills from recent burnings (this is the season for burning off). We walked between lakes one and two and I took photos of the pelicans which numbered between fifty and one hundred. As we journeyed between the lakes two pelicans flew so low over us that we could just about touch them. (I love pelicans; they are one of my favourite birds.) We also noticed Malaysian plovers, cormorants, terns and much to our delight, three birds of prey flying gracefully over a hill.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2836-800.3.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2836-800.3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We caught a <em>mikrolete</em> to Landmark supermarket and it felt good to be shopping in our usual haunt. I was particularly happy to see our yummy Chinese vegetarian dumplings in the freezer section but not so happy to see the price at $6 US a pack! (Late last year they were $4.40, by January they were $5.70 and now $6.) I soon noticed other price increases such as toilet paper $3.90 (up from $3.15) and bread $2.20 (up from $2.05). Other items had remained the same but nonetheless certainly not good for me given that I now have no income.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115347362359350750?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1153473794028863732006-07-15T18:20:00.000+09:002006-07-31T17:07:57.956+09:00<div align="justify">This morning while I ironed our clothes (I had brought many clean but unironed clothes back from Australia and didn’t want to burden Senyora Domingas with them and as she had accidentally left the iron behind (she keeps it in her house) I took the opportunity to do so) I heard the screams of a goat. I peered through the window to the back garden of our recently returned neighbours (whose dog I had adopted when they abandoned it) and saw to my horror a goat hanging from its neck from an easel. Oh dear, not another party! Daniel hurriedly pulled down the venetian blinds and seeing how dirty and dusty they were, decided to clean one, only to discover how difficult and time consuming it is! The goat’s cries went on for a while longer and when it had stopped, I peered through a slat to see that the animal was motionless. I wondered what the party was in aid of and whether it would end in a <em>baku malu</em> (fight) as the first one they held did when they first moved.<br /><br />As the women prepared food under a makeshift tarpaulin, we journeyed into town to have lunch at the Bali Sunrise which during the unrest moved from the beach road to behind the government building to take up residence beside two long established restaurants: the Erli Restaurant and Alpha Omega.<br /><br />Bali Sunrise offer a buffet which has an excellent vegetarian selection. I ate beans and carrots, a leafy green vegetable, mixed vegetables, tofu and mushrooms, a piece of marinated tempe and white rice. During my stay in Australia, I really started to miss this kind of food, particularly the tempe which is possible to buy in Australia but generally only as a tempe vegetarian burger patty from the supermarkets. I also like the simplicity of this Indonesian influenced Timorese food. (Although, it is difficult to eat every day as you soon grow tired of it and want some variety, hence the inclusion of Indian food in our diet.)<br /><br />After lunch we walked from the restaurant to my German colleague’s home which is opposite the now occupied (by Australian military personnel) heliport. Along the way we walked down one of the main commercial streets of Dili and where Daniel works in Komoro. The street was festooned with banners proclaiming unity and peace. I have included photos of these here with translations.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2812-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2812-800.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em>Long live! one Timor only</em></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2813-800.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Carry peace</em></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2814-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2814-800.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><em>Peace can give peace for the future</em></p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2815-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2815-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2850-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2850-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>A poster advising of the role of the international Stability Force in Timor</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2816-2-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2816-2-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>An Australian soldier (whose face we hid) surrounded by pirated DVD and cigarette sellers on the streets of Komoro in Dili</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2820-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2820-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>One of the Australian army's bases in Dili. This one is at the heliport opposite where we are staying during the week in Ai-tarak laran, Dili.</em></p><p align="justify"><br />As we came to the Komoro junction, we turned a corner to find a horde of men standing around a tall Australian army officer trying to flog him pirated DVDs. It looked however as if he were surrounded and I was just glad that their attention was on him and not me because one of the things I most dread about coming back to Timor is feeling once again that I am under siege.<br /><br />My colleague greeted me warmly and was genuinely happy to see me again. She had remained in Timor during the unrest and had to fight for her right to do so as the German Embassy in Indonesia had demanded the evacuation of all their citizens. My colleague is paid by the German government through their Peace Building Program to work in Timor for three years with the Timorese NGO we both work at. She is about to sign another three year contract to enable her to continue working with our NGO. There are currently another three people (all women) on this particular German program in Timor. All four of them elected to remain in Timor and negotiated with their sending organisation (<a href="http://www.ageh.de" target="_blank">AGEH</a>) to stay. Only my colleague is based in Dili; one is in Baukau and two are in Aileu.<br /><br />My colleague is leaving for a very much needed eight week holiday to Bali, Germany and Switzerland (her home for twenty years) tomorrow and has offered to let us stay in her home during her absence. We have decided to partially take her up on her kind offer by staying at her house during the week and returning to our home on the weekends. Her home is within walking distance to both our workplaces and given the lack of transport after dark we thought it less stressful to stay at her place part of the time. Moreover, she has a television and a DVD player and during our holiday in Australia, I believe I accidentally damaged the LCD in our laptop’s screen which has left us with a small amount of screen space. As I had gone on a DVD shopping splurge in the months leading up to our evacuation, we have rather a lot of DVDs to watch!<br /><br />My colleague and I were picked up by her driver (yes, she has a driver and a car, something completely alien to me as a former AVIer which is a no frills experience) and taken to our NGO for its ninth birthday celebration which was to include a discussion on recent events. I was a little apprehensive about seeing my colleagues again for fear of how they might react after my prolonged absence. They appeared however in the main to be genuinely happy to see me again which was a relief. One of my colleagues who was always eyeing off my personal possessions didn’t disappoint, she immediately stared at the sunglasses on my head (a new pair as I had lost the previous pair in Cairns) and there her eyes remained during our brief conversation!<br /><br />My Timorese colleagues are truly remarkable women: brave and steadfast in the face of a crisis; they have continued to support women and children during the past two months despite their own often precarious personal situations. For example, three of my colleague’s homes were burnt down, for reasons unknown and two of them, along with their young families are living at our work place. (In fact the outside <em>aula</em> (meeting room) was full of IDPs related to our colleagues.) One of these colleagues had also become acting Director in my absence as I learned that our Director who had given birth to her third child in late March and who was due back at work three months later, had taken her three children to Australia to stay with family in Perth. She will return in September. My colleague who had given birth a week later remains living in Baukau and is not in good health since she lost a lot of blood after having an induced labour. I am told she is receiving medical care but I wonder about its quality.<br /><br />Most of the rest of my colleagues were in attendance for the celebration. We had a two hour discussion in Bahasa Indonesia mixed with Tetum, some of which was translated for me and my German colleague into English. I was also able to read a summary in English of a report about the current situation of women in Timor written by my NGO. I read the report with some emotional distance as I really didn’t want to suffer another breakdown as I did after reading many harrowing documents about the brutal occupation of Timor by both the Japanese (WWII) and Indonesians (1975-1999). It surprised me how I could read such a document without being drawn in too far.<br /><br />The situation of the IDPs is of concern as there are approximately 100,000 (10% of the population) still living in camps throughout Dili and the districts with only small numbers electing to return home. (In early May, soon after the events of 28 April, there were approximately 30,000 IDPs.) Many visit their homes during the day but return to the camps in the evenings. There are a number of issues which mitigate their returning home apart from the obvious one that some have no home to return to as they were burnt down. Firstly, some do not feel safe in their communities as they fear retributions are still to come. Furthermore that they cannot rely nor do they trust that the vastly reduced PNTL (police) will do their job of keeping the peace; and that a culture of impunity has been established in Timor which extends back to the failure of the government to pursue justice for the occupation of Timor by the Indonesians. People believe that if you commit a crime, you’ll probably just get away with it which does not make for a safe and secure society. Secondly, people are being looked after in the camps, many better than they can take care of themselves at home; food aid is given out regularly and some eat better than they would normally. Thirdly, even if they do go home and although the government has promised to provide these people with food, they do not believe this will happen. The IDPs have more confidence in the INGOs to deliver them food than they do in their own government.<br /><br />The issue of why angry young men became ready arsonists was also discussed. It appears that many people are jealous of those who have done well since independence. Thus any person with obvious wealth (eg small business people) were targeted. Often these people are from the east as that part of Timor is, for various reasons to do with geography and history, wealthier than the west.<br /><br />We concluded the discussion with a shared meal of bananas, sweet potato, cassava, tomato and chilli salad, fried pork, cakes and ice cream. As I had eaten a large lunch combined with the fact that I do not like to eat large chunks of unappetising starchy food, I simply had some appetising cake and ice cream. Upon leaving the celebration I told my colleagues I would come in on Monday morning as a true volunteer (unpaid) and attend to anything they might need doing. At least one task is to complete fixing the virus problems that plague the computers and USBs. I’m no computer expert but Harry the Indonesian who owns/works at I-Market Computers, was an enormous help before I was evacuated so I will pay him another visit. Daniel collected me in a taxi at 6:30pm as we were conscious of getting home before dark when taxis all but disappear from the streets.<br /><br />As we walked down our street we came across Robert, a lovely and handsome young Timorese man who lives on his own. He was very happy to see me again. He is studying English at university and is currently volunteering with the Australian military as a translator. In return they give him food. If after two weeks they are happy with him, they will offer him paid work. I told him I hoped that he would be successful.<br /><br />Upon entering our home we heard many little children next door singing happy birthday over and over again. I thought perhaps the party was for a child rather than an adult but had witnessed very few parties for children (other than the three christenings they undergo throughout their childhood) as Timorese in general do not celebrate birthdays. I wondered who the celebration, and in whose name the life of the goat was taken, but for the moment was glad that the party ended early.<br /><br />We again went to bed early while listening to the BBC World News Service.</p><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115347379402886373?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1153473403577534462006-07-14T18:15:00.000+09:002006-11-11T13:59:09.566+09:00<div align="justify">This morning I caught the 7am Air North flight from Darwin to Dili. There were 19 people on the flight, mainly <em>malae</em> including a number Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers who had taken R&R in Darwin. As we were escorted from the airport across the tarmac where we were advised to follow the white stripes, one of the two AFP officers directly in front of me looked behind her and then said to her colleague: “there’s a lot of people on this flight; why would anyone want to go to Dili?” Apart from the fact that I thought her comment rude given there were a handful of Timorese on the flight, I also thought how lacking in insight the officer had about Timor. Most of the <em>malae</em> were almost certainly United Nations (UN) personnel (in fact there were at least two from Kenya) and International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) staff. Then there was me: a former volunteer with Australian Volunteers International (AVI) who was evacuated from Dili on 25 May and was now returning under my own steam as AVI had decided to suspend its program in Timor until further notice (ie until the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had reduced its travel advisory warning down from category 5 (the highest) to at least 4).<br /><br />The plane was an Embraer Brasilia 120, a very small aircraft that vibrated when the propellers started. I wondered whether we’d ever make the 500km journey over the Timor Sea and then the next leg over the mountainous terrain of Timor island. The air stewardess was in-training and being watched over by two colleagues; she was very nervous and would regularly consult her notes. This further added to my apprehension. When she finished her safety announcement, I started clapping and the other passengers followed suit. The man next to me said something about her being very nervous and I retorted with “now I just hope we don’t go down!” He laughed and began asking me questions and I likewise inquired about his reason for visiting Timor.<br /><br />The man was originally from Malaysia but immigrated to Australia where he has lived for nearly twenty years. He was around 40 years of age and lived in Sydney where he worked for a leading Catholic international development and relief agency. His work was focused on Indonesia and particularly the provinces of West Timor and West Papua but given the recent events in East Timor, he was being sent to Dili for two weeks as part of his organisation’s emergency program in Timor. He was quite apprehensive about arriving in Dili as he had spent two and a half years between 2000 and 2003 living and working in the exclave of Oecussi and when he left, he never imagined he would again have the opportunity to visit Timor. Moreover, upon his departure, the country was on a high as independence was a reality and a new government had not long been sworn in. Now he was visiting under very different circumstances. One interesting comment he made was about the international stabilisation force currently keeping law and order in Dili. He said he was glad that they were mostly Australian soldiers as he did not have much faith in either the soldiers from his birth country (Malaysia) nor the Portuguese, the latter of whom he reserved most of his criticism. This was based on his experience with these particular nation’s military (among others) during the time of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).<br /><br />As we approached Dili International Airport we flew past Tasitolu Peace Park and I noticed with glee that all three lakes were still quite full. Just before we landed, we passed our little white house and again I was happy to see it and the surrounding community still standing. From the window of the plane I noticed the large Australian military presence which had grown since the day I was evacuated when the military had first landed in Dili. There were trucks, helicopters, tents and personnel not to mention freshly washed military fatigues hanging on fences drying in the hot sun.<br /><br />As I was able to utilise my two year visa to re-enter the country I was able to proceed quickly to the small baggage carousel. I took the opportunity to go to the toilet and soon noticed the stench. There were notices in English advising users not to flush anything other than human waste down the toilet and to put everything else into the overflowing bins provided. Unfortunately both toilets had been used by people either unable to understand the instructions or not literate in English and toilet paper and waste were clogging the system. I chose the least offensive of the two toilets available, duly put my soiled toilet paper in the overflowing bin, and promptly went to wash my hands. When just a tiny trickle of water emanated from the tap and then promptly ceased, I said out loud to myself, “welcome back to Timor!”<br /><br />Upon collecting my luggage and proceeding through customs, I was greeted by the many little boy children who hang around the airport helping passengers with their luggage in the hope that you will give them some money. I greeted them in Tetum and asked how they were which obviously surprised them as they all became very shy all of a sudden. I thanked them but told them I didn’t need their help and looked furtively around for Daniel who was no where in sight. After pushing my luggage trolley around a bit I gave up and sat down. I waited a wee while but still no sign of Daniel. I thought that an emergency must have prevented him from meeting me so I called Senyor Raphael and Virginia, the oldest child answered and said that Daniel had gone to work. Mmmm, I thought, that’s strange. So I telephoned Daniel’s workplace and soon I was speaking to him. He thought I was calling from Darwin and when I said no, Dili airport he was rather surprised! He had forgotten what day of the week it was and thought I was arriving the following day (he’d experienced two Thursdays instead of one). I was not impressed!<br /><br />Senyor Raphael called me back and asked if I would like him to come and collect me on his motorbike. I thanked him but explained that Daniel was coming in a taxi. Needless to say when Daniel arrived, I did not give him a warm reception.<br /><br />I noticed while sitting and waiting for Daniel to arrive the internally displaced people (IDP) across the road. Many temporary shelters made of tarpaulins with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) logo were erected for the one to two thousand people who live there. As we drove past the IDP camp an Oxfam Australia water truck drove past and women were lining up to fill their buckets. The branding by the INGOs was very noticeable.<br /><br />We arrived home to a warm reception by “our” family. (I believe they were more effusive when Daniel returned the week before, which was to be expected.) They all looked well except for Senyor Raphael who appeared to have aged considerably during my seven week absence. Argentina’s beau Alberto was now living with “our” family which I assume was because he is from Baukau and therefore being an easterner in Dili, has not felt safe and so “our” family and our neighbourhood who are all from the west, had been sheltering him from any potential harm.<br /><br />The garden was looking very trim and Senyor had begun a market garden. We now have many tube stock plants which he has created from cuttings. As there became a serious food shortage, those that remained in Dili began in earnest to be more self sufficient in food. During our absence we had transferred $150 AUD to a former AVI colleague’s bank account who had elected to stay in Dili and therefore be kicked out of the program, and asked him to buy any food he could get his hands on and take it to “our” family. He had done this twice, first of his own violation and secondly after a request from us. As we were in regular telephone contact with Senyor Raphael we knew their food situation was serious and they needed someone with a car to bring them supplies. In the end they were delivered rice, soup-a-mie, eggs and vegetables which staved off any serious hunger for the family and many of our immediate neighbours. If they had gone to an IDP camp, they would have been fed. Staying in one’s house has other benefits such as less chance of contracting communicable diseases but it can also be very isolating and leads to lack of access to essential items such as food.<br /><br />The little <em>asu</em> (dog) which we had adopted since the family next door had abandoned it upon fleeing to the districts, died while we were away. I left the dog food behind and told “our” family to keep feeding her but she had in the days leading up to our evacuation, moved further a field which made it difficult to locate and feed her. Senyor Raphael said that one day she came to our veranda, laid down and died. I was very sad to hear this news but also do believe that she is much better off in doggy heaven. She was crippled by a car accident and ants infested her body which caused her much suffering. She was a fine little dog and I miss her but take comfort in the fact that she no longer suffers.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP1948-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP1948-800.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em>Our adopted </em>asu<em> outside "our" Timorese family's home before she died</em></p><p align="justify"><br />“Our” family now have a young dog of their own. This dog just turned up one day and didn’t leave so they have adopted him. He is a dark golden colour and seems amenable enough. I am sure that I will soon get to know him. We have noticed the stark drop off in dogs around the neighbourhood. Before we were evacuated, there were tens of dogs, particularly puppies, roaming the neighbourhood scavenging for food as their owners had fled to safety. It felt as though the dogs had taken over. Now we hardly notice them, perhaps because our attention is also focused on the people who have returned and perhaps too because many of the dogs have died (and even eaten in desperation for life sustaining sustenance). Our AVI colleague and his partner who live down the beach in Tasitolu have lost their beloved dog. She disappeared during their absence despite him giving money to their security guard to feed it. I would not be surprised in the least if it had been captured and eaten as well fed dogs (of which there are few) are a prized possession during times of hunger.<br /><br />As I unpacked my belongings I heard the sounds of many little children playing alongside the twittering of the birds. It made me smile to again hear these sounds as during the weeks leading up to our evacuation, most of the children had fled with their families. What wasn’t so pleasant was the sound of the Australian military helicopters flying overhead at regular intervals as they came and went from the airport next door. Before there were a mere three aeroplanes a day along with an occasional UN helicopter, now it feels like Bourke Street!<br /><br />There are a number of new faces in our community, including many children; I assume they are related family members of our neighbours.<br /><br />I was really hanging out for a rich, thick banana lassie from one of the two Indian restaurants in town as during my seven week absence, I only managed to have a banana lassie/smoothie twice as the availability and cost of bananas had soared due to the devastation that tropical cyclone Larry reaked on the banana growing region of Australia and which we travelled through. We caught a <em>mikrolete</em> (minibus) which was unusually uncrowded and paid 25c each for the ride, a 5c rise in the cost of a fare since May. On the journey into town we passed one of the hardest hit areas of Komoro near one of the two major markets in Dili. Shop after shop was burnt down and the market was closed. Women and men had set up temporary market stalls on the street but the volume of fruit and vegetables on offer was much reduced.<br /><br />Upon seeing the burnt out shells of former small businesses, I was reminded of the same carnage wreaked on Tasi-tolu in late April, and how the young angry male arsonists were only causing more hardship for themselves, their families and communities. These small businesses supplied them with essential goods and services such as fresh food and vegetables, cooked lunches for $1 a plate, non perishable items such as personal care products, motorcycle and bicycle repairs. Now they have nothing.<br /><br />The “pink palace” restaurant as we affectionately call it (its real name is the Sun Restaurant) was empty but it was a late lunch we were partaking in so this was not an indication as to the lack of business. One of the Timorese women who normally serve us was still there and the Indian owner said that they had remained open throughout the unrest.<br /><br />I noted on the menu that the price of lassies had risen 50% and now cost $1.50 US each. It’s still a very good price for a lassie although with the abundance of bananas in Timor and the cost of them therefore being low, I expect the price increase has something to do with the rise in petrol prices and perhaps, dare I say, taking advantage of the inflow of new cashed up <em>malae</em>.<br /><br />We enjoyed a very delicious meal of marinated eggplant, vegetable korma, garlic naan, vegetable martabak (fried roti stuffed with vegetables) and rice washed down with a not so rich and thick banana lassie each. The meal cost us $11 US. While in Cairns, we spent around $45 US for a similar but not as delicious meal in one of that city’s finest Indian restaurants. We commented at the time that it wasn’t as good as our “pink palace” meal in Dili.<br /><br />I noticed how quiet Dili was; not many people or cars on the streets. Importantly it was also peaceful, however fragile this peace might be I did not notice any tension in the air. As a result I feel comfortable here.<br /><br />We caught the <em>mikrolete</em> home again and spent the rest of the afternoon talking and resting and went to bed early. As I closed my eyes, I thought how fortuitous it was for me to arrive on the day that the new government of East Timor was sworn in with the former Foreign Affairs Minister and Nobel Laurete Jose Ramos-Horta as Prime Minister, and DFAT reducing its security level for Timor down from 5 to 4.</p><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><p align="justify"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115347340357753446?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1153470976663318822006-07-13T17:34:00.000+09:002007-02-07T00:15:36.936+09:00<div align="justify">The night we arrived in Darwin was half price movie day and I really wanted to go as it is one of the many things I miss about living in Timor (there is no cinema). I spent a mere hour at the farewell dinner at a way too loud bar/pub/restaurant, where again I felt decidedly old, but did manage to win a schooner of beer and a free meal after answering correctly the theme tune to the television series The Muppets (my era the 70s) and promptly gave both prizes away to a fellow traveller as one, I don’t drink beer and two, I had absolutely no intention of returning to the joint for the free meal (the queue to eat would really have tried my patience!)<br /><br />Bored by the evening, I asked the woman from South Korea and two young Dutch women if they would like to join me at the cinema as I guessed (rightly) that they were a little bored too. We saw Rolf de Heer’s <a href="http://www.vertigoproductions.com.au/10canoes.htm" target="_blank">Ten Canoes</a>, the first movie filmed entirely in an Indigenous Australian language and which has a purely Indigenous story without any reference to white fellas; really quite remarkable. I enjoyed the film but it brought up for me many issues which I have encountered in Timor, particularly around polygamy, promised young brides to old men and brothers inheriting their dead brothers wives. As one of the two Dutch women whispered in my ear, “men are all the same wherever you go”, again, I thanked the goddesses that I was a modern western woman. I wouldn’t for a moment want to live in any (Western) romanticised idea of a pre-modern Indigenous or Timorese society.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115347097666331882?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1153470862726033552006-07-13T17:25:00.000+09:002006-12-30T02:36:54.080+09:00<div align="justify">Daniel left a week later for Darwin where he flew on to Dili. I stayed in Cairns a few more nights before catching a four day/three night tour bus across the <a href="http://www.savannahway.com.au/site/default.asp?pageId=46" target="_blank">Savannah Way</a> to Darwin. We did 3,000km in four days so as you might guess, we spent most of the time sitting on a bus but it was worth it despite having to rise at 5am every morning in order to fit in 750km a day! I fell in love with the red earth, endless blue sky and diverse native landscapes which included many colourful and beautiful flowering trees and shrubs, not to mention the abundant bird life. The highlight was <a href="http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=185" target="_blank">Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park</a> where we only had two hours but I spent it well canoeing up the lake and swimming in its cool waters.<br /><br />The people on the tour were an interesting bunch of mainly backpackers from Europe on one year working holidays to Australia (England (3), Belgium (1), The Netherlands (5), Germany (4), France (1), Italy (2), Switzerland (3), Sweden (1), Slovenia (2)), Canada (3) and South Korea (1). I befriended the South Korean woman (the only person from Asia on the tour) and she turned out to be the only person to ask me anything about East Timor! The rest simply showed no interest and instead (understandably), broke off into regional and language groups. The Europeans talked a lot about the European Union and after having just read <a href="http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/divphil/singerp1.htm" target="_blank">Peter Singer’s One World: the Ethics of Globalisation</a> decided that the world had a long way to go before its citizens considered themselves internationalists and not nationalists or regionalists.<br /><br />Despite the presence of a retired Dutch couple in their mid 60s and a father in his late 30s/early 40s and his 12 year old daughter from Slovenia, the average age of the group was around 22 and I felt decidedly old. I took my first group tour 14 years ago (at the age of 22) in the USA and Canada and still remember it well. Even then I knew I had an internationalist orientation and in fact got into an argument with two Scottish lassies who were incensed that I held two passports and told me I had to make up my mind which country I wished to belong to. When I explained that I was a global citizen, I think it just went over their heads.<br /><br />Unfortunately on this trip I also encountered at least one nationalist: this time a Canadian. Now normally I really like Canadians, after all I lived there for two years and it is my favourite country in the world, but this one drove me crazy. I made what I thought was a humorous comment about the number of Aussie flags I had encountered in Queensland both outside private homes and on caravans in parks (the former is a rare sight in my home state of Victoria) and that I wondered whether there were so many simply to remind me which country I was in because I might forget. She came out with her rah, rah, let’s all fly the Canadian flag and be proud of our nation drivel, and I really had to hold my tongue from saying, “which province are you from again, oh, that’s right, Calgary, Alberta, home of the Reform party”. (It turned out that her mother proudly flies the Canadian flag outside her home in Calgary.) The woman from Sweden had just commented that in her country the flag and anthem are now so entwined with racist groups and parties, that no one else can use these symbols of nationalism without being tainted a racist. I thought how sad and noted the irony of the Canadian woman’s nationalistic fervour as being a good thing in her eyes, when for most (particularly now in Europe) it is seen as a sign of racism and exclusion. I don’t think she drew any links between the two.<br /><br />The Canadian then went on to say that her government wanted to changed its constitution to remove the word God. When I said it was obviously a political issue she said no, religious. I asked, “how’s that?” and she said that religious minorities were agitating to have it removed and that in her opinion, the constitution was good as it was and should be left in its original form. I daren’t not say well actually, the decision to change the constitution is a political not a religious one and that the government was probably endeavouring to be more inclusive and that religious minorities did not have enough political clout to change such an important document. She then piped up with her defence: “well, I stay well out of politics” but continued to profess her very uninformed political opinions. When I brought up the fact that Canada had changed both its national anthem and flag she looked at me blankly. When I asked “so what do you think about that?” She replied she had no idea what I was talking about. When I, an Australian had to explain to a Canadian, her country’s history, I knew right there and then that Western civilisation was in peril! Canada changed its flag from one with the British Union Jack to the current maple leaf in1965 and its national anthem from God Save the Queen to O Canada in 1980. She had no idea and yet propounded all these nationalist, small minded, uninformed views that in the end, I simply dropped the conversation. As much as I would have liked to, I certainly was not going to try and discuss Peter Singer’s ideas about globalization! (I feared that she did not know much if anything about philosophy let alone who Peter Singer is, and I didn’t want to embarrass her further; I’m simply not that much of a sadist.) And when it became obvious that she had a crush on our likewise Aussie nationalist driver, I wanted to dry wretch. Still, I thought they’d make a good pair but I could well imagine a few arguments ensuing as to which country they’d live in and then which country’s flag would ultimately take pride of place outside their home.<br /><br />Needless to say, I was relieved to get off the bus in Darwin!</div><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2753-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2753-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Millstream Falls, Queensland</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2760-800.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2760-800.0.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Termite mounds along the Matilda Highway, Gulf Savannah country, Outback Queensland</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2763-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2763-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Termite mounds and colourful flowering tree along the Matilda Highway, Gulf Savannah country, Outback Queensland</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2766-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2766-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>Gregory River at Gregory Downs, off the Matilda Highway, Gulf Savannah country, Outback Queensland</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2771-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2771-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, off the Matilda Highway, Gulf Savannah country, Outback Queensland</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2775-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2775-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, off the Matilda Highway, Gulf Savannah country, Outback Queensland</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2777-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2777-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, off the Matilda Highway, Gulf Savannah country, Outback Queensland</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2782-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2782-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>Pretty native pink flora, off the Matilda Highway, Gulf Savannah country, Outback Queensland</em> </p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2783-800.jpg" border="0" /><em>Yellow wattle, off the Matilda Highway, Gulf Savannah country, Outback Queensland</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2799-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2799-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> From the top of <a href="http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/caranbirini.html">Caranbirini Conservation Reserve</a> in Outback Northern Territory, the moon rose ...</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2802-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2802-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> as the sun set</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2804-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2804-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> The historic Daly Waters pub festooned with glorious pink bougainvillea in Outback Northern Territory</em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2806-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2806-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Red bougainvillea against a cloudy blue sky</em></p><p><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2809-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2809-800.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a><em>Mataranka natural hot springs near Katherine, Outback Northern Territory</em><br /></p><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115347086272603355?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1153470321784857552006-07-13T17:24:00.000+09:002006-07-29T16:45:14.626+09:00<div align="justify">Being evacuated from Timor enabled us to have a mostly enjoyable holiday in Tropical Far North Queensland, the Savannah Outback of Queensland and the Northern Territory and Darwin. Neither of us had visited these parts of Australia before so it was educational as well as enjoyable.<br /><br />I learnt from this experience that holidays are very important; they can and should have a restorative effect on one’s well being. And despite the mostly atrocious weather (rain, rain and more rain) I was very glad that we took the opportunity to explore this part of Australia after landing in a chartered military plane in Townsville. My seven week stay in Australia, after being absent from the country for eleven months, made me realise how easy and pleasant life is for most people, unlike Timor, where life is a daily grind and battle for survival.<br /><br />The people in Townsville were incredibly friendly and helpful, especially Sol who ran a local Internet café in the CBD. He graciously gave all evacuated AVIs free access to the Internet for as long as we liked. Our surreal week long stay at the <a href="http://www.jupiterstownsville.com.au/index.html" target="_blank">Jupiters Townsville Hotel</a> was made easier by the likes of people like Sol and the staff at the hotel who were very accommodating.<br /><br />We spent a wonderful three days on Magnetic Island and stayed at the YHA in Bungalow Bay near Horseshoe Bay. The weather was sublime and the secluded beaches spectacular. We did a number of walks on the Island and encountered the following animals along the way: allied rock wallaby, koala, green tree snake (which scared me silly), laughing kookaburra, rainbow lorikeet, bush stone-curlew, white bellied sea eagle and brahminy kite to name a few.<br /><br />We then took a long distance bus to Cairns where we hired a <a href="http://www.wickedcampers.com.au/" target="_blank">Wicked</a> campervan for three weeks. We spent two nights in a very crowded (with backpackers) Cairns before heading north to the <a href="http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=166" target="_blank">Daintree National Park</a>. Along the way we stayed in the public caravan park on the beach at exclusive Palm Cove (just south of Port Douglas) and Mossman, the cane sugar growing town of the Tropical North, and there it began to rain and did not stop for about ten days straight.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2066-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2066-800.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a><em>Our home for most of June</em></p><p align="justify">The Daintree was absolutely gorgeous; the only tropical rainforest left standing in Australia and justifiably classified as a <a href="http://www.wettropics.gov.au/" target="_blank">Wet Tropics World Heritage Area</a>. We stayed at the only National Park campground at Noah Beach for a week and despite the terminal rain, managed to enjoy many walks along the near deserted beaches, and boardwalks that dot the area. I cannot speak highly enough of the Daintree; it is simply stunning. We encountered the following animals: the highly endangered Southern Cassowary and its chick, Australian brush-turkey, orange footed scrub fowl, spotted cat bird, red-capped plover, kingfisher, laughing kookaburra, emerald ground dove, black butcherbird, double-eyed fig-parrot, spectacled flying fox, saw-shelled tortoise, Ulysses blue butterfly, Four o-clock moth, green tree ant, potter wasp nests, damselfly, northern jewelled spider, and one dead feral pig and three live ones to name a few. We were fortunate not to come across the estuarine crocodiles that inhabit the many waterways of the Daintree. </p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2114-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2114-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>While trapped in the campervan due to the relentless rain outside, I became a little obsessed with these two amorous flies. A little voyeuristic perhaps?</em><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2288-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2288-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> These comic road signs in the Daintree also conveyed a serious message. The endangered Southern Cassowary was threatened not only by destruction of its habitat, but also by people driving cars irresponsibly. Although we were blessed to see one of these magnificent birds, our photos turned out blurry due to taking them from our moving campervan.<br /></em><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2312-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2312-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Light through a fan palm<br /></em><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2410-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2410-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> A grey and miserable but nevertheless beautiful Cape Tribulation. Just imagine what it looks like on a sunny day!</em><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2418-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2418-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>Estuarine crocodiles live in this river near Cape Tribulation</em></p><em></em><p align="justify"><br />Upon leaving the Daintree, we spent another night or two in Mossman and headed for the Kingfisher Bird Park on the Atherton Tablelands. The park was replete with a host of different birds but instead of trying to figure out what they were, I merely listened to their melodious calls as I read <a href="http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/endofpoverty/" target="_blank">The End of Poverty</a> by Jeffrey Sachs. This book had such resonance for me having lived for a year in Asia’s poorest nation and I commend it to you.<br /><br />Next we headed for Mareeba, a big town which claims to have 300 days of sunshine a year. It didn’t disappoint and we finally began to dry out after growing webbed feet in the Daintree. Our reason for staying here was that we wanted to visit the <a href="http://www.mareebawetlands.com/index.html" target="_blank">Mareeba Tropical Savannah and Wetland Reserve</a>, a private non-profit reserve for migratory waterbirds. The place was beautiful but just about devoid of birds. Due to the heavy rains brought on by the severe <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/cyclone/tc_larry/" target="_blank">Tropical Cyclone Larry</a>, the birds had yet to arrive but we met a delightful staff member (originally from Melbourne) who told us about the birds that were there: pheasant coucal, willie wagtail, welcome swallow, the majestic black-necked stork (Australia’s only stork), little pied cormorant, great cormorant, green pygmy-goose, comb-crested jacana and the very beautiful and colourful rare Gouldian finch which were being bred in cages for release into the wild. We highly commend the Mareeba Wetlands.<br /><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2514-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2514-800.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a><em>The endangered Gouldian finch which are bred in captivity by the Mareeba Wetlands folk</em><br /><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2517-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2517-800.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a><em>The Mareeba wetlands replete with water lilies but sans any water birds</em><br /><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2611-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2611-800.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a><em>The Mareeba wetlands under a different light</em></p><p align="justify"><br />Our next destination was <a href="http://www.tablelands.org/granite-gorge.html" target="_blank">Granite Gorge Park</a> which has been privately owned and operated for thirty odd years by Jack, an octogenarian who continues to live in his caravan while his daughter in law “helps” out with the parade of visitors. Again, the weather here was sublime and I was so enamoured by the endangered Mareeba Rock Wallabies and birdlife that we stayed longer than we planned. We encountered many birds but without a reference book to hand I could only name the following: peaceful dove and tawny frog-mouths (photo below). On the way to the Park, we came across the most astonishing sight, a majestic wedge-tailed eagle (Australia’s largest) standing on the side of the road (no doubt it had spotted some road kill).<br /><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2618-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2618-800.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a><em>Our well camouflaged, two resident Tawny frog mouths. Can you spot them?</em><br /><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2639-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2639-800.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center"></a><em>Foot prints at Granite Gorge</em><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP2641-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP2641-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>The endangered Mareeba rocky wallaby</em><br /></p><p align="justify">Unfortunately our few days of sunshine soon came to an end as we ventured back into the Atherton Tablelands where it had rained every day except for a handful since the cyclone in March. It was so wet, muddy and dreary that my patience soon began to wear. However, we encountered a lovely caravan park host at Lake Eacham, memories of whom I had to extract upon encountering the caravan park host from hell in Millaa Millaa (she was not a happy person as was evidenced by the many rules stuck on paper all over the place along with a strict 10am departure which we flouted and soon encountered her wrath!)<br /><br />In Malanda, along the river we saw tens of saw-shelled tortoises which we had previously encountered in the Daintree but not in so many numbers. There were babies, juveniles and adults – quite a sight to behold.<br /><br />Near Millaa Millaa we stopped at the <a href="http://www.millaa.com/Mungalli/mungalli.htm" target="_blank">Mungalli Creek Dairy</a> biodynamic farm to partake in some dairy products (we had been eating vegan for most of the trip) as I had discovered their sublime yoghurt in the local supermarkets. They utilise two indigenous fruits to the FNQ area (Davidson’s plum and lemon Aspen) in their yoghurt to great culinary effect.<br /><br />We had planned on undertaking a number of bush walks in the <a href="http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=152" target="_blank">Wooroonooran National Park</a> but the rain prevented us from doing so. We also discovered a number of the tracks had been closed due to damage sustained during the cyclone. Thus we decided to drive out of the wet and miserable Tablelands and over to Innisfail, the worst affected area to be hit by the cyclone, and stayed a little farther north at Brampton Beach where we again dried ourselves out.<br /><br />Upon returning to Cairns where we spent a week, we had the most delicious meal at the <a href="http://www.redochregrill.com.au/" target="_blank">Red Ochre Grill</a>. It serves up a bevy of native animals and bush foods but we stuck to the vegetarian options and they were incredibly good. It had been such a long time since we had enjoyed a really good meal (Tarazo in Ubud, Bali in January) that we didn’t mind footing the bill (you get what you pay for I reckon). Highly recommended.</p><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115347032178485755?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1151730471091959262006-07-01T14:03:00.000+09:002006-07-17T21:36:18.796+09:00<div align="justify">As expected, given the ongoing political crisis in Timor, <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.australianvolunteers.com/home" target="_blank">Australian Volunteers International</a> has made the decision to close its volunteer program. Thus we are now both officially unemployed.<br /><br />We are currently in Cairns having returned here a few days ago after (mostly) enjoying our much needed holiday. However, most of the time that we were in the hired campervan enjoying the sights of tropical Far North Queensland it rained, and despite our loathing for Timor's sweltering humidity, we were desperate for some of its sunshine.<br /><br />Daniel flies to Darwin on Wednesday. From there he will catch a flight to Dili. The NGO where he worked will probably give him a month or two of work and pay him the equivalent volunteer allowance. Once in Timor he will scout around for other work as he would like to continue working there in the short term. If no work can be secured, he will volunteer until his meagre financial resources run out and then return to Melbourne.<br /><br />I on the other hand am very much relieved to be back in Australia. As some of you would be aware from following the blog, I found living in Timor incredibly difficult and although things were starting to get a little easier, I am not keen to return living there under the present circumstances. (I'm afraid that my mental health would suffer further.) However, I would like to return for a couple of weeks in order to bid farewell to my colleagues and "our" family, as the manner in which we left the country has left us both with many unresolved feelings.<br /><br />Thus, I will leave Cairns next Saturday and join a small tour on the <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.savannahway.com.au/" target="_blank">Savannah Way</a> to Darwin. This four day tour will take me to some of the remotest parts of Australia's outback and after green, green, green and rain, rain, rain I am looking forward to red, gold, orange, blue and desert, desert, desert. The trip includes time in the spectacular <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?noback=1&parkid=185" target="_blank">Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park </a>.<br /><br />Once in Darwin, I will consult with Daniel who will have been back in Dili a week, to assess the situation in Timor and if it satisfies my comfort level, I will catch a flight to Dili. I plan on being in Timor no longer than a few weeks, then I will return to Melbourne.<br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115173047109195926?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1151728460846779592006-07-01T13:34:00.000+09:002006-07-17T21:36:27.696+09:00<div align="justify"><em>"The United Nations says funding shortages have forced it to cut back food rations to an estimated 150,000 people who have fled their homes in East Timor.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>UN spokeswoman Kym Sithies says there is still enough rice to go around, but relief agencies have had to cut back on supplementary supplies of food, which add nutritional value to the meagre diet.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>The </em><a href="http://www.wfp.org/english/"><em>UN World Food Program</em></a><em> (WFP) has so far only received $US2.2million of the $US5.2 million it sought in an emergency appeal to donors.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>"The problem is the delay, in some cases, and lack of funds from other donors," Tarek Elguindi, WFP country director for East Timor, said.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>"Children are born weak and they are surviving, but any shock that comes will break them."</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>The WFP began cutting some rations on Friday.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>The price of rice has risen by 60% in some areas amid short supplies, markets have closed and household chicken stocks have nearly halved as families struggle to make ends meet.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>There are 66 camps in the capital, Dili, alone where people began fleeing in late April after fighting between rival factions of the security forces sparked gang warfare.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>UN humanitarian coordinator Finn Reske-Nielsen says "the displaced population is incredibly vulnerable and the camps have the potential to become flashpoints if we cannot continue to provide basic humanitarian needs".</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>The crisis sparked the resignation of prime minister Mari Alkatiri. His successor has not yet been appointed."</em></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>If you want to make a donation to the UN World Food Program in East Timor, click </strong><a href="https://www.kintera.org/site/c.diJRK4PFJpH/b.1147339/k.66D5/Generic_Donation_Form/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=diJRK4PFJpH&b=1147339&amp;en=9gLLJRNrFbJRIVNtF7LEJTOFKqKUIXPvHcLTKZOCLkIVJdK"><strong>here</strong></a><strong> (and select East Timor from the drop down menu).</strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115172846084677959?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1151728925037739672006-06-30T13:34:00.000+09:002006-11-28T18:32:04.183+09:00<div align="justify"><em>Financial Times (UK)</em></div><div align="justify"><em>June 30, 2006</em></div><div align="justify"><em>Comment</em></div><div align="justify"><em>By ARNOLD KOHEN and LAWRENCE KORB</em></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><em>"The tragic renewal of violence in East Timor and unfolding political crisis there should stimulate a tough reappraisal of the way the world community, not least the US, approaches international peacekeeping. For the sake of the long-suffering people of East Timor- and other peacekeeping operations - it is time to learn from past mistakes.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>With a temporary Australian-led force in place, the United Nations Security Council is considering a new peacekeeping effort in East Timor to help maintain order before and after elections next year. One hopes that recent remarks by John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN, suggesting that Washington may oppose it, are not the last words on this issue.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>It is a disturbing reality that peacekeeping missions move according to a logic and schedule that have little to do with the needs of a particular place. They are focused instead on budgets and other international commitments. Every time there is an emergency, a new begging bowl is passed around. In spite of the large demand for troops, few are readily available. And, as the East Timor experience has illustrated, the best expert advice means little if the nations in charge of the mission choose to ignore unpleasant facts. We must find better mechanisms to utilise expert knowledge and reach beyond a small layer of government officials to tap authentic public sentiment.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>Several factors, including animosities inside the local security forces and political rivalries, ignited the crisis in East Timor, where 151,000 people have taken refuge in squalid tent cities to avoid further brutality and the possibility of a fresh outbreak of fighting that has killed at least 30 people since April.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>But the situation might never have deteriorated so badly if peacekeepers and expert advisers with solid negotiating skills had remained - as they have in Bosnia since 1995 - instead of leaving last year. Historical responsibility cannot be overlooked. Throughout Indonesia's 24-year occupation of East Timor, the US staunchly backed Jakarta both with arms shipments and by blunting criticism in Congress and the UN. But wanting to save money on peacekeeping, the Bush administration pushed for the withdrawal of UN troops as soon as East Timor became independent in 2002. With the eruption of conflict, the folly of this penny-wise, pound-foolish stance is plain.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>To the casual observer, East Timor may have seemed peaceful before the recent fighting. After decades of trauma, however, it was far more volatile than it appeared.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>East Timor's truth and reconciliation commission has determined that as many as 180,000 people, more than a quarter of the population, perished from the effects of Indonesian rule from 1975 until 1999 when East Timor voted to leave Indonesia and Indonesian-backed militias laid waste to the territory. Torture and rape were widespread.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>Many urban youth had been among those tortured. In some instances their torturers were hired for the national police force because they had prior experience in police work under Indonesia. With more than 50 per cent of young people and many veterans of the independence struggle without jobs, East Timor became a tinderbox.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>International agencies' officials have sheepishly conceded that job-creating development should have been a higher priority, especially in agriculture. As experienced international peacekeepers know, a lack of serious engagement on the economic front will inevitably come back to haunt the international community - precisely what is now reported about Afghanistan.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>International donors and a re-structured government must seriously address widespread poverty in East Timor. This should start with reconstruction and other public works projects to engage unemployed veterans and youth, and include support for rural livelihoods.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>If a small fraction of the Dollars 1,000bnin annual world military spending were devoted to a permanent fund for international peacekeeping missions, it would be far easier to address the plight of places such as East Timor. If a portion of the peacekeeping budget went to well-targeted economic help, far larger military expenditures to stabilise violent upheavals would be unnecessary next time.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>Lawrence Korb, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, was an assistant secretary of defence in the Reagan Administration. Arnold Kohen, international co-ordinator of Global Priorities, an inter-religious initiative to change budget priorities, is author of From the Place of the Dead (St Martins Press, US; Lion, UK)."<br /></em></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115172892503773967?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1151300911745978122006-06-26T14:39:00.000+09:002006-06-26T14:48:31.976+09:00<div align="justify">Alkatiri has finally resigned as PM of Timor! Thank goddess! Perhaps now things can start to return to "normal".</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I'm still on enforced R&R in Tropical Far North Queensland and due to return to Cairns this Thursday.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">AVI will inform all Timor volunteers this Friday whether the program will resume or close until further notice. Despite Alkatiri's resignation, I predict I'll soon be out of a job. (The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) still has Timor on a level 5 (the highest) security alert.)<br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115130091174597812?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1150514768849908802006-06-15T12:23:00.000+09:002006-06-21T17:40:16.883+09:00<div align="justify"><em>"Wednesday, 14 June, 2006 18:25:13<br />Reporter: Anne Barker<br /><br />MARK COLVIN: East Timor's President Xanana Gusmao appears to have stymied calls for the removal of the Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri.<br /><br />President Gusmao has resisted pressure to suspend the country's constitution, to dissolve the Parliament and install a transitional government.<br /><br />In an address to the nation's Parliament this morning, the President declared he would uphold the constitution to safeguard democracy, at least until his term ends next year.<br /><br />As Anne Barker reports, the announcement comes as East Timor begins its own criminal investigations into the many violent deaths over recent weeks.<br /><br />(sound of Xanana Gusmao speaking)<br /><br />ANNE BARKER: It was only a short address before East Timor's Parliament, but Xanana Gusmao's words could have far-reaching implications for this tiny fragile nation.<br /><br />In Portuguese, he addressed the nation's 88 parliamentarians for the first time since East Timor descended into chaos more than a month ago.<br /><br />President Gusmao compared the crisis to the bloodshed of 1999, albeit on a smaller scale.<br /><br />He said the weeks of violence had caused unacceptable suffering and fear and paralysed state institutions. But it's clear the President did not support those who believe the only solution is to suspend East Timor's constitution and dissolve the Parliament.<br /><br />(sound of Xanana Gusmao speaking)<br /><br />"It is incumbent on me to be the guardian of the constitution," he said, "and to be a guardian of the constitution basically means to safeguard the democratic state based on the rule of law."<br /><br />"To the happiness of some and to the discontent of others, I will continue to fulfil this sacred duty until the end of my mandate in May 2007. And I will do so," he said, "unwaveringly, and the people can be sure of that."<br /><br />Xanana Gusmao's decision will, in his own words, be a cause of discontent to the many opponents of Mari Alkatiri. There's widespread resentment in the community at the way the Prime Minister has handled the crisis, and continuing allegations that he was involved in some of the deaths.<br /><br />His opponents can now only take solace in news that United Nations prosecutors have begun a criminal investigation into the various killings.<br /><br />The UN's Special Representative in East Timor, Sukehiro Hasegawa, says four investigators attached to the Office of East Timor's Prosecutor-General will examine the circumstance surrounding the deaths of 10 police officers in a gunfight last month, and at least five protesters on April the 28th.<br /><br />SUKEHIRO HASEGAWA: And they have commenced their criminal investigations. They will do so with the view to establishing the accountability of those who are responsible.<br /><br />ANNE BARKER: What will happen to those who are found to be responsible for the violence?<br /><br />SUKEHIRO HASEGAWA: I think we cannot presume the outcome of number one the investigations. I think United Nations is totally committed to the principle of justice, therefore it is not incumbent on me to hypothesise what would happen.<br /><br />ANNE BARKER: So would they be tried?<br /><br />SUKEHIRO HASEGAWA: I think the course of justice has to take place; this is a democratically principled country.<br /><br />ANNE BARKER: The United Nations Human Rights Commission, based in Geneva, is setting up its own separate inquiry into the deaths, and Mr Hasegawa appeared to confirm today that there will be an investigation into the allegations against Mari Alkatiri that he was behind the spate of killings.<br /><br />MARK COLVIN: Anne Barker. "</em><br /><br />Source: ABC PM program (UNOTIL Daily Media Review, Public Information Office)</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115051476884990880?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1150514912947582122006-06-15T12:10:00.000+09:002006-06-17T12:30:44.680+09:00<div align="justify"><em>"John Howard failed the East Timorese, argues Australia's Labor Party's foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd.<br /><br />THE fresh commitment of Australian troops to East Timor in late May has the bipartisan support of the Australian Labor Party. The troops have been doing a first-class job in a difficult and dangerous operating environment. They have been unjustifiably criticised for not restoring immediate order to the streets of Dili.<br /><br />But the mission the ADF was sent to perform was to prevent a civil war between the warring elements of an armed, dangerous and disintegrating East Timorese defence force and police force. To date, the ADF has been remarkably successful in this task. They were not sent to Dili to prevent hooliganism. But the Howard Government should have dispatched sufficient police resources from the outset - something they have belatedly sought to do with the impending arrival of approximately 500 police from Australia and the region.<br /><br />The question that now arises is how we managed to get into this mess. Because East Timor has now become another full-blown member of the arc of instability to Australia's north.<br /><br />The Prime Minister says East Timor became independent too early. It is amazing how he reinvents political history by press statement. This is the same Prime Minister who in reflecting on his 10 years in office said in March that East Timor had "all turned out fantastically".<br /><br />Claim the credit when it's all going fine; but when it's not, run a thousand miles an hour from accepting the responsibility. A large reason why East Timor is now a security mess is because the Howard Government decided to cut and run from East Timor in 2003 in order to meet its new military commitments in Iraq.<br /><br />UN Security Council Resolution 1410 was passed in May 2002, establishing the UN Mission in Support of East Timor. UNMISET consisted of civilian advisers, 1250 police officers and up to 5000 international peacekeeping troops. Australia was a large contributor to that force.<br /><br />In early 2003 the East Timorese Government made a plea for increased international military assistance to help combat reported border incursions. Unfortunately for the East Timorese, however, the Australian Government had other plans for its troops: the invasion of Iraq.<br /><br />Labor was critical of the Government's position at the time saying: "At a time when John Howard is forward deploying 1500 troops to Iraq, we face an emerging security crisis in East Timor where Australia's 1000 peacekeepers are already stretched to the limit." And with the support of the Australian Government, the UN Security Council authorised the downsizing<br />of the military and police components of the UN mission. A year later in May 2004 the UN Security Council met and announced that the military and police components of its mission in East Timor were again to be significantly reduced to a core force of 157 police advisers, 42 military liaison officers, 310 troops and a 125-person international response unit.<br /><br />In advance of the Security Council meeting, The Australian reported on February 20, 2004, that the Australian Government had been actively lobbying the US and Britain for an even greater reduction in the military component. East Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta, for one, was confused by the Australian Government's position, saying: "We are all quite puzzled as to why Canberra, London and Washington want to differ from everybody else on this issue."<br /><br />Once again Alexander Downer, the man who on East Timorese independence pledged that Australia would not let East Timor down, described the East Timorese request for assistance as just "a security blanket for East Timor".<br /><br />In the end Australia was not able to win sufficient support at the UN Security Council in 2004 for its position. But a year later in early 2005, Australia again took a strong position advocating further cuts to the military component of the peacekeeping mission in East Timor.<br /><br />Strangely enough the Government's opposition to military support for East Timor once again coincided with its commitment to deploy troops to Iraq. Only two days after Howard announced the new deployment of 450 troops to Iraq's Al Muthanna province, our ambassador to the UN stated Canberra's position that "we don't think there's a need for a continuing military component".<br /><br />Little more than six months or so after the withdrawal of the last of Australia's troops, problems erupted in the East Timorese military and police forces. The rest, as they say, is history.<br /><br />The UN's peacekeeping force in East Timor (of which Australia was a central part) represented a major stabilizing force in East Timorese politics - particularly during the early development of its democratic institutions. The permanent withdrawal of the UN force exposed too early the brittleness of East Timorese politics - brittleness now on stark display and with consequences for future stability.<br /><br />East Timor and the Solomons are casualties of a Government whose foreign policy priorities for many years now have been driven by John Howard's $2 billion investment in his so far failed Iraq enterprise.<br /><br />The result: a growing arc of instability that now presents financial and foreign policy costs for Australia in the years to come."<br /></em><br />Source: The Australian (UNOTIL Daily Media Review, Public Information Office)</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-115051491294758212?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1149474623577756902006-06-03T11:28:00.000+09:002006-06-15T20:03:38.873+09:00<div align="justify"><em>"3 June 2006 Dili—As efforts to restore order are stepped up, UNOTIL continues to support the leaders to work towards finding a political solution and encourage the people of Timor-Leste to seek out peace and unity for the sake of all citizens.<br /><br />“We are in constant dialogue with the Timorese leadership,” Special Representative of the Secretary-General Sukehiro Hasegawa stated. “The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy Ian Martin is now on the ground to make a political assessment,” he added. Additionally, UN Security as well as UN military and police advisers continue to closely monitor the situation and liaise with international forces.<br /><br />Commenting on the recent decision made in the Council of State, in which it was agreed that the President, in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, would assume principal responsibility of the nation’s security and defense, SRSG Hasegawa told ABC television, “ The announcement made by the Council of State yesterday was a good one. It’s a step forward.”<br /><br />The SRSG said one of the fundamental elements necessary for a sustainable restoration to peace and security is the need for retraining and reuniting of security forces, and he expressed a confident outlook if this can be accomplished “We can move towards the presidential and the parliamentary elections next year and that is key. We are going to bring this country back together,” the SRSG commented.<br /><br />Hasegawa said that the underlying causes of conflict he found were the institutional incapability to address grievances of the members of the Timorese Armed Forces; poverty and unemployment, particularly among the youths; and the mindset of certain issue groups that have a propensity to resort to violence in settling disputes. He pointed out that the challenge and opportunity posed for the UN and the international community to help the Timorese is to overcome the conflict trap by linking the promotion of human rights with guarding the imperatives of inclusive democracy.<br /><br />“We now have the opportunity to engage in peace- and nation-building with innovative ideas. We need to recognize that the problem is never how to get new innovative thoughts into our minds, but how to get the old ones out when facing a new situation, “ the SRSG said."</em><br /> <br /><em>For additional information, please contact: Donna Cusumano, Chief, Public Information Office, UNOTIL; +670 723 0749</em></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Source: UNOTIL Public Information Office<br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114947462357775690?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1149475817772037612006-06-02T11:48:00.000+09:002006-06-05T22:20:45.910+09:00<div align="justify"><em>“United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)<br /><br />Date: 02 Jun 2006<br /><br /><strong>Timor-Leste: Population Displacement OCHA Situation Report No. 4<br /></strong><br />Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/0096<br /><br />OCHA Situation Report No. 4<br />Timor-Leste - Population Displacement<br /><br />This report is based on information received from the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL), the OCHA Regional Office in Bangkok, and the Dili offices of IOM, Oxfam, World Vision International and Care International.<br /><br /><strong>SITUATION<br /></strong><br />1. The security situation in Dili is essentially unchanged over the last 24 hours with increasing calm accompanied by a continuation of sporadic looting, arson and gang clashes. On 30 May President Gusmao assumed emergency powers and direct control of the security forces and on 1 June the Ministers of Interior and Defence resigned. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on 2 June that Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta had been appointed as the new Minster of Defence while maintaining his position as Foreign Minister. 1,800 Australian forces have been deployed in Dili since 25 May. More than 330 Malaysian troops are in place and 120 Portuguese police are expected in Dili on Saturday 3 June. The number of New Zealand forces deployed is expected to reach 160 by the end of this week.<br /><br />2. According to data drawn from inter-agency assessments conducted between 29 May and 1 June, and compiled by IOM, 71,300 IDPs are living at 65 locations in Dili. The five largest sites in Dili are Cannossiana Sisters (Balide) with 13,060; Dom Bosco (Comoro) with 13,000; Has Laran Canossa School with 6,000; Obrigado Barraks (UN Compound) with 4,500; and Fatumeta Seminario Maior with 4,064. 40% of sites had received some type of support; 26% of sites had access to medical facilities nearby or within the camp; 49% of site reported availability of food; and 42% reported sufficient quantities of drinking water. Health problems including diarrhoea, fever/malaria, cough and respiratory infections were reported at 26% of the sites. Water quality at 72 % of sites was assessed to be good.<br /><br />3. UNOTIL estimates an additional 60 to 70 camps housing between 35,000 and 40,000 people are scattered throughout the country, in particular in the districts of Liquiça, Ermera, Aileu, Oecussi, Baucau, as well as in the sub-district of Atauro. Humanitarian agencies have been unable to travel more than 60 km. from Dili for the past several days due to fluctuations in the security situation.<br /><br />4. Ensuring security around and within IDP locations is of concern to humanitarian agencies. While delivery of food, water and non-food items has been ongoing over the last few days, access by the humanitarian agencies to IDP locations is regularly interrupted due to the fluid security situation. Humanitarian agencies have also had difficulty in ensuring effective security arrangements at warehouses and distribution sites.<br /><br />5. As a result of looting, widespread shortages of food, commodities and fuel are reported in Dili.<br /><br />6. The Humanitarian Action Group, including UN agencies and national and international NGOs, continues to meet daily under the chairmanship of he Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Reintegration.<br /><br /><strong>ASSISTANCE REQUIRED</strong><br /><br />7. Priority areas determined by the Humanitarian Action Group as a result of ongoing assessments are: protection, food, water and sanitation, health and shelter. UN agencies are compiling a flash appeal which is expected to be launched next week.<br /><br />8. The Dili hospital reports fuel shortages.<br /><br /><strong>NATIONAL RESPONSE</strong><br /><br />9. The Timorese Government is undertaking daily distribution of rice and water to IDPs.<br /><br />10. To ameliorate living conditions, the Government, with the support of UNHCR and others, is planning to establish planned camps where IDPS can live in better condition and receive more timely assistance, until they are able to return home when security improves.<br /><br /><strong>INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE</strong><br /><br />11. Mr. Fin Reske-Nielsen, has been appointed as the new Resident Coordinator for Timor-Leste. He is expected to arrive in Dili next week.<br /><br />12. WFP is providing comprehensive food packages to vulnerable families and IDPs drawing on a donation from the Chinese Government of 2,000 MT of rice. According to WFP's estimates, the food stocks currently available in Dili will last no longer than 3 weeks.<br /><br />13. The Australian Defence flights arrived in Dili on 30 May with water, blankets, tents, plastic sheeting as well as medical and blood supplied for the Dili hospital. The Australian Government, through AusAid, has made available 3 million Australian dollars for the provision of assistance to the IDPs in Timor-Leste (1 million to be allocated to NGOs, 1 million to UN agencies, and 1 million for urgent relief items). In Darwin, AusAid has also pre-positioned stockpiles of shelter and non-food items including 10 and 20 litre water containers, water purifying tablets, tarpaulins, tenst, mosquito netting, and blankets. These items are scheduled to be transported to Dili in the coming days.<br /><br />14. UNICEF is focusing its activities on water and sanitation, health and nutrition and child protection. UNICEF has supported the Timor-Leste Red Cross in the distribution of jerry cans, latrine plates, bottled water and detergent. They have also initiated the procurement of family water kits, sanitation supplies, emergency measles vaccines, oral dehydration salts, therapeutic milk and emergency educational materials. The working group on child protection has also resumed its activities and developed a plan to address child protection concerns.<br /><br />15. UNHCR will deploy a 9-person emergency response team in the coming days to support the provision of shelter, camp management and protection activities. An airlift of tents, plastic sheeting, and non-food items for up to 30,000 will also be deployed from existing stocks. UNHCR also plans to deploy three large portable warehouses and 1,400 stoves to Dili.<br /><br />16. An OCHA civil-military coordination officer arrived in Dili on 1 June and additional OCHA Officer to support humanitarian coordination will arrive on 4 June.<br /><br />17. WHO has mobilized emergency health kits and stands ready to deploy them to Dili upon request of the UN Country Team.<br /><br />18. IOM has assisted in the delivery of over 60,000 kgs of rice and 60,000 litres of drinking water to 15 IDP sites.<br /><br />19. UNFPA is mobilizing safe –birth and hygiene kits.<br /><br />20. ICRC had deployed 7 additional staff to support the work of the local Red Cross society. They have been distributing clean water to IDPs camps since 29 May.<br /><br />21. Plan International has mobilized 60-80 tonnes of oil and beans from Darwin.<br /><br />22. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the SRSG UNOTIL and UN Country Team in Dili and will revert with further information as it becomes available. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at <</em><a href="http://www.reliefweb.int/" target="_blank"><em>http://www.reliefweb.int</em></a><em>><br /><br />Tel.: +41-22-917 12 34<br />Fax: +41-22-917 0023<br />E-mail: </em><a href="mailto:ochagva@un.org"><em>ochagva@un.org</em></a><br /><em><br />In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10<br /><br />Desk Officer:<br /><br />Ms. Megan Gilgan (in GVA) direct Tel. +41-22-917 1558<br />Mr. Wojtek Wilk (in NY) direct Tel. +1-917-367-9748<br /><br />Press contact:<br /><br />(in GVA) Ms. Elizabeth. Byrs direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653<br />(in N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker direct Tel. + 1-917 367”</em></div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114947581777203761?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1149476382198723802006-06-01T11:56:00.000+09:002006-06-05T11:59:44.186+09:00<div align="justify"><em>"Occasional UN advisor and Dili resident Robert Johnson writes:</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>Each morning over the past week I have watched large groups of women and children walk past my house, carrying bed mats or small plastic bags of clothes, either heading home from a safer bed or towards a church compound for food after another night of fear. </em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>To many of the Timorese people holed up in their homes or in the increasing number of camps across Dili, frustration at the failure of the political leadership to act is mounting. But the consequences of the continuing political impasse are not being felt by the leadership, most of whom seem immune or blind to the crisis around them. How else to describe the ability to continually talk while so many thousands of people are being killed or injured or displaced – their homes burnt to the ground or attacked by mobs of (mainly young) men? </em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>The victims of all this are primarily women and children – East Timor is a very young country, with the highest fertility rate in the world (more than seven births per woman) and more than 50% of people aged under 18 years. Under incredibly difficult circumstances, the women have to continue to care for their families, do the cooking and manage appalling sanitation conditions. Two days ago I visited a woman who was the third to give birth in her camp; her baby is now four days old. With a diet of basically rice and water, she's trying her best to breastfeed. Yesterday when I saw her, she was the focus of a BBC film crew. </em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>Today, the women and children have responded to the actions of the men in power and the men on the streets. At 9 o'clock this morning, some 150 Timorese women and children started gathering outside the prime minister's office to start a three-day peace rally. The women were dressed predominantly in white (to symbolise peace) or black (to mark their grieving), while the children sang and chanted slogans. </em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>The peace rally has been organised by a group of non-governmental organisations, led by the Peace and Democracy Foundation (established by Dr Ramos Horta from his Nobel Peace Prize funds), along with Alola Foundation, Fokupers, Rede Feto (Timorese women's NGOs), and some nuns from the Catholic Diocese of Dili. Australian troops are providing security. </em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>The people involved in this "Peace Rally of Women and Children of Timor-Leste" are saying they will not cooperate with leaders who lack the capacity to govern, and will actively advocate a vote against political candidates who do not listen to them. The rally is expected to demand that an international independent commission investigate the recent violence, including the "bad attitude" of some leaders, and that the government rebuild the houses that have been destroyed. </em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>The children are calling for an end to the sound of weapons and an end to blood being spilled "in our homes, in our neighbourhood, on the streets". And to be able to go back to school."</em></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Source: Crikey (<a href="http://www.crikey.com.au">www.crikey.com.au</a>)</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114947638219872380?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1149128854345037782006-06-01T11:13:00.000+09:002006-06-02T13:15:33.170+09:00<div align="justify">The President of East Timor yesterday declared a State of Crisis (read: Emergency) for 30 days. As such, AVIs insurers will not send us back until the State of Crisis is lifted. Thus we were faced with the dilemma of whether to return to a wintry Melbourne or wait things out here in Tropical North Queensland. We've elected to do the latter. In early July, we will have a better picture of whether it will be feasible for one or both of us to return to Dili.<br /><br />As you might expect, we're both shattered. We're very much in need of some R&R and have decided to bring forward our four weeks annual leave by a couple of weeks. (We were due to leave for a two week break in Bali this month followed by two weeks exploring East Timor.) So for the remainder of June we will travel to Magnetic and Hichenbrook Islands, Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands and the World Heritage Area of the Daintree Rain Forest. We've never visited this part of Australia before so we thought we might as well take advantage of the fact that our evacuation flight landed in Townsville.<br /><br />I have continued to update the blog about the situation in Timor, mostly with news from reputable sources. However, it is doubtful that I will be able to keep this up while travelling.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Here's to a speedy and peaceful resolution in Timor.<br /><br />Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114912885434503778?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148963674236306792006-05-30T13:31:00.000+09:002006-12-25T21:28:55.800+09:00<div align="justify"><em>Date: 29 May 2006<br /><br />Timor-Leste: Population Displacement OCHA Situation Report No. 1<br /><br />Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/0085<br /><br /></em><em><strong>OCHA Situation Report No. 1<br />Timor-Leste - Population Displacement</strong><br /><br />"This report is based on information received from the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL), and the OCHA Regional Office in Bangkok.<br /><br /></em><em><strong>SITUATION<br /></strong><br />1. The security situation in Dili has deteriorated rapidly since 24 May when intensive fighting erupted between two factions of the East Timorese Army and then between the army and the police. The unrest began in March, when 595 of the army's original force of 1,400 went on strike claiming poor service conditions and ethnic discrimination by eastern-born commanders. At least five people were killed and dozens injured on April 27-28 when a protest rally in Dili in support of the rebels turned violent. Tens of thousands fled Dili fearing further unrest.<br /><br />2. Australia has deployed approximately 1,800 troops in Dili (300 more then originally foreseen) and Malaysia approximately 200-250 troops. Malaysia will deploy an additional 250 troops and Portugal is likely to begin deployments this week.<br /><br />3. While level of violence has slightly decreased since the deployment of Australian-led military force (25-26 May), youth gangs are reportedly pillaging and arsoning in several districts in Dili. It appears that these groups are Timorese from the west of the island (coming from the hills outside of Dili) that are seeking reprisal and targeting individuals originating from the east of the island. The situation remains calm in areas outside Dili, as reported by the UN border monitors.<br /><br />4. UNOTIL estimates the number of IDPs in Timor-Leste at approximately 60,000 people. This number includes some 35,000 – 40,000 persons already displaced over the last several weeks and at least 25,000 displaced within or from Dili since 24 May (Population of Dili is 150,000). The number of displaced may be higher as displacement continues in Dili the movements of humanitarian agencies are constrained by the security situation.<br /><br />5. While there are more than 100 identified IDP locations countrywide, according to reports from IOM, there is information available on at least three large IDP concentrations in Dili:<br />- 2 or 3 IDP camps managed by World Vision (Australia), with the two largest accommodating 13,000 and 10,000 IDPs;<br />- 4,000 IDPs accommodated in the UNOTIL compound and immediate vicinity.<br /><br />6. Unconfirmed reports of attacks on IDPs at the locations where they are sheltering are being received from IOM, UNOTIL and the media.<br /><br />7. UN Agencies and NGOs are to conduct an initial assessment of IDP camps in and around Dili today (29 May), security permitting. Such assessment has not been possible to-date due to the security situation and movement constraints.<br /><br />8. Assistance to the IDPs is being coordinated by the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Reintegration through the Humanitarian Action Group which will meet today (29 May) to agree on a list of priority sectors, and both financial and resource requirements that might be needed to address the situation.<br /><br />9. Insecurity still impacts humanitarian operations, with only essential movement permitted in Dili and most of the humanitarian staff confined to their offices or residences. UNOTIL confirmed that a government food warehouse in Dili was looted on 28 May but Australian forces intervened promptly. According to World Vision, some NGO Offices have been targeted in the recent violence for supplies or other, unknown, reasons<br /><br />10. Relocation of non-essential staff and family members of all UN staff continues. 58 UNOTIL staff (out of 149) and 76 Agency personnel (out of 162) have been evacuated to Darwin by 28 May 2006, together with 71 family members (both UNOTIL and UN Agency staff). Additional staff is expected to be evacuated over the next days. UNOTIL has established temporary offices in Darwin.<br /><br /></em><em><strong>ASSISTANCE REQUIRED<br /></strong><br />11. From initial indications the food and water needs of the IDPs are relatively well covered, with food available at the WFP and Government warehouses. Sanitation and shelter are two key requirements. Heavy rains, expected in the Dili area, raise fears of possible malaria and dengue fever outbreaks.<br /><br /><strong>INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE</strong><br /><br />12. OCHA has been in contact with the Office of the SRSG UNOTIL and offered assistance in public information, civil military liaison and humanitarian assessment and coordination support. OCHA is currently awaiting the outcome of the Inter-agency assessment and Humanitarian Action Group meeting at which requirements will be discussed.<br /><br />13. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the SRSG UNOTIL in Dili, and the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok and will revert with further information as it becomes available. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at </em><a href="http://www.reliefweb.int/"><em>http://www.reliefweb.int/</em></a><em>. "<br /><br />Tel.: +41-22-917 12 34</em></div><div align="justify"><em>Fax: +41-22-917 0023</em></div><div align="justify"><em>E-mail: ochagva@un.org<br /><br />In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10<br /><br />Desk Officer:<br />Ms. Megan Gilgan (in GVA) direct Tel. +41-22-917 1558</em></div><div align="justify"><em>Mr. Wojtek Wilk (in NY) direct Tel. +1-917-367-9748<br /><br />Press contact:<br />(in GVA) Ms. Elizabeth. Byrs direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653</em></div><div align="justify"><em>(in N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify">Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)</div><div align="justify"><em><br /></em></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114896367423630679?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148872151907559992006-05-29T11:54:00.000+09:002006-05-29T12:09:12.086+09:00<div align="justify">We again called "our" family this morning in Dili to see how they are and to our relief, they continue to fair as well as to be expected given the circumstances. "Our" neighbourhood has not been attacked by the marauding gangs of frustrated young men currently terrorizing Dili.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Upon leaving our home last Wednesday, we had instructed "our" family to eat any food in our house and this morning Senyor Raphael said they had been doing just that. However, he said that they did not know what some of the food was so left that for when they really got desperate. This comment provided some light relief for what has become a very serious and stressful few days.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Senyor Raphael hopes that the Australian military and police will soon restore law and order to the streets of Dili because our <em>malae</em> food will only last so long. It was purchased with the intention of feeding two not five (and possibly more) people for no more than a week or so.<br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114887215190755999?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148870574494072002006-05-29T11:36:00.000+09:002006-05-29T11:42:54.656+09:00<div align="justify"><em>"Red Cross has launched an appeal to support the people affected by the current unrest in Timor-Leste.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>Up to fifty thousand people are estimated to have left their homes because of the violence and are living in makeshift camps around the country.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>Funds raised by the Australian Red Cross Timor-Leste Appeal will help provide food and other relief items such as tarpaulins, tents, house hold items, and mosquito nets, as well as logistical and communications support.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>'By launching this appeal we can help with the immediate needs of those who have fled their homes,' said Robert Tickner, CEO of Australian Red Cross.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>'However this appeal will also help us to contribute to the longer-term development of Australia's closest neighbour. Our commitment to supporting the people of Timor-Leste and the Timor-Leste Red Cross must extend beyond this current situation as Timor-Leste remains the poorest country in the region,' he said.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>'Support for projects which improve the health and wellbeing of the people are central to nation-building.'</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>According to Mr Tickner, the fledgling Timor-Leste Red Cross has been working closely with the Timor-Leste Government over the past week, helping distribute food and other relief supplies as well as monitoring the state of the more than 30 camps that have sprung up across the country.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>In Australia, Red Cross staff and volunteers in Darwin have been registering people evacuated from Timor-Leste, collecting their details and entering them into the National Registration and Inquiry System (NRIS). Family and friends seeking information on people being evacuated can contact the Red Cross on 08 8924 3900.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>To donate to the 'Timor-Leste Appeal':</em></div><ul><li><div align="justify"><em>Visit www.redcross.org.au to make a secure online donation</em></div></li><li><div align="justify"><em>call 1800 811 700 toll free</em></div></li><li><div align="justify"><em>send a cheque to GPO Box 2957 Melbourne VIC 8060 marked 'Timor-Leste Appeal'</em></div></li></ul><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>The funds raised through this appeal will be used for the following activities:</em></div><ul><li><em>to support the relief, rehabilitation and on-going long term development activities of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement in Timor-Leste, through the emergency appeal</em></li><li><em>to fund any deployment of specialist aid workers to Timor-Leste to assist in the International Red Cross response</em></li><li><em>to support any Australian Red Cross programs of assistance in Timor-Leste</em></li><li><em>to support the ongoing development of the Timor Leste Red Cross (CVTL)</em></li></ul><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>NOTE: Australian Red Cross will not deduct more than 10% of any donation for an international appeal to cover appeal costs. Should the funds raised exceed the amount required to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of the people in the affected areas, Australian Red Cross will use any excess funds to help people affected by emergencies within the same region of the world."</em><br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114887057449407200?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148868756635553952006-05-28T11:10:00.000+09:002006-05-29T11:12:37.260+09:00<div align="justify"><em>"28 May, 2006/ Dili—Special Representative of the Secretary-General Sukehiro Hasegawa made a vehement appeal for more international police forces in Timor-Leste. “ The sporadic flair ups of fighting, looting and burning of property that continues requires a robust international police presence to bring the situation fully under control,” he said today.<br /><br />Hasegawa added that the Australian Troops have already contributed significantly to the restoration of some control in the city. “Their presence is seen, felt and appreciated by the Timorese and the international community,” he said. But, he added that there is a need to maintain law and order apart from combating riots and acts of violence.<br /><br />The SRSG referred to the letter sent by the Timorese President, Prime Minister and Speaker of the Parliament to Secretary-General Kofi Annan requesting rapid deployment of an international police presence as well as troops “to establish measures of security and confidence among the populations so as to restore tranquility throughout the national territory and promote a climate of dialogue among the various sectors of society….”<br /><br />The main threat to the safety of the citizens of Timor-Leste now comes from hooligans and others taking advantage of the situation committing acts of revenge, vandalism and looting.<br /> “For a complete containment of the present volatile situation and to avoid an escalating humanitarian crisis, security enhancements are needed immediately in the form of international polices forces,” the SRSG stressed.”"</em></div><div align="justify"><br />Source: UNOTIL Public Information Office</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114886875663555395?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148767791057088822006-05-27T07:07:00.000+09:002006-05-28T12:33:25.346+09:00<div align="justify"><em>"27 May, 2006/ Dili--The United Nations has today announced that all UN families and non-essential staff will begin to be relocated to a temporary safe haven in Darwin as the security level was raised to Phase three.<br /><br />Under phase three, “all eligible dependents of internationally recruited staff members and non-essential internationally recruited staff members are to be relocated to a safe haven outside the country.”<br /><br />“As head of the mission, I am responsible for the safety of all personnel and therefore after careful deliberations, I think a temporary relocation for non-essential staff is the most judicious choice at this time,” the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Sukehiro Hasegawa said. <br /><br />SRSG Hasegawa added that the UN will still maintain more than 100 international staff in Timor-Leste while others will continue to work from Darwin. Stressing that this measure is a temporary one, the SRSG expressed his hope that arrival of Australian and other international security forces will allow a return to a secure environment for the people of Timor-Leste, many of whom are now living in a heightened sense of panic and fear.”<br /><br />He expressed his appreciation to the Australian Government for providing Australian security personnel to protect the UN compound where several hundred UN personnel are working and staying overnight. <br /><br />The United Nations remains committed to supporting and assisting the people of Timor-Leste through this difficult time with the hope for a return to stability and security in the immediate future."</em></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Source: UNOTIL Public Information Office</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114876779105708882?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148871230902068802006-05-26T11:47:00.000+09:002006-05-29T11:53:51.276+09:00<div align="justify">We arrived in Townsville in the early hours of this morning. My head is too full of stuff to write about my last day in Timor, which was nerve racking. I'll get to it in due course. In the meantime, I'll keep uploading any information I receive about the situation in Dili.<br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114887123090206880?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148767627185819752006-05-26T07:04:00.000+09:002006-05-28T07:07:07.433+09:00<div align="justify"><em>"26 May 2006 Dili--As a serious battle raged between elements of F-FDTL and members of the PNTL yesterday at the police headquarters in the centre of Dili, UN Senior Police and Military advisors were dispatched to help broker what they hoped would be a mutually agreed to cease-fire.<br /><br />After negotiations with the F-FDTL Commander as well as their operational commander on the spot, it was agreed that FFDTL would allow PNTL safe passage from the area only if they laid down their weapons and left the compound on foot which they accepted.<br /><br />Unarmed and relying on the protection afforded by the reputation of the blue flag of the United Nations, UN police and military training advisors bravely led their Timorese counterparts into what they believed was a peaceful resolution of a very volatile situation.<br /><br />As the UN personnel led the group under the banner of a UN flag, F-FDTL military personnel opened fire. In the chaos, nine national police officers were killed, 27 were wounded, 18 critically. Two UN Police Officers were among the injured.<br /><br />Saif Malik, the chief police-training advisor tried to diffuse the situation. “I said to the troops, ‘Brother, don’t shoot! Why are you shooting at these men? They are your brothers.’ But they went on shooting anyway.” Malik said.<br /><br />Special Representative of the Secretary-General Sukehiro Hasegawa denounced the attack on unarmed individuals and United Nations personnel. “This incident represents a grave violation of human rights. The UN demands that immediate steps be taken to hold those responsible accountable for these atrocities.”<br /><br />At the same time, he commended the actions of the UN police and military advisors.<br /><br />“I stress that they were doing their jobs in a very difficult situation. With the promise of peace, these UN personnel risked their lives in their effort to counter this situation. Instead, they walked into what turned out to be an ambush that resulted in the tragic loss of many lives.”"</em></div><div align="justify"><br />Source: UNOTIL Public Information Office</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114876762718581975?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148517297862925472006-05-24T21:22:00.000+09:002006-07-04T23:22:14.326+09:00<div align="justify">As I sit here, typing this post, I can hear the sound of gun and mortar fire. It’s been going on for four hours already. Senyor Raphael told us that it is coming from the military compound next to Tasi Tolu Peace Park, less than two kilometres from our home, and where most Sundays, we take a leisurely <em>pasiar</em> (stroll). It is the first time in my life that I have heard exchanges of actual gunfire, up until now, such sounds have been confined to news reports from far away places.<br /><br />While I called the AVI Country Manager to tell her what I was hearing, Daniel started packing a bag while asking me if we should take such and such valuables. I grew more agitated by his questions and comments (feeling they were quite demanding). The AVI Country Manager soon advised us to stay put.<br /><br />At 10pm last night, we received the following text message from the Australian Embassy in Dili. The wording was the strongest yet:<br /><br /><em>Austemb advises security situation extremely dangerous and australians in east timor should consider leaving.<br /></em><br />This message alarmed me and I immediately called the AVI Country Manager. She said that in light of the Australian SBS journalist David O’Shea’s emergency evacuation earlier that morning (see below), and the fact that he was the first Australian to be caught up in the violence, they were compelled to send such a message.<br /><br />At 10am this morning we received the following from the Embassy:<br /><br /><em>Austemb advises: do not travel past Comoro (airport) roundabout in the direction of Tasi Tolu due to major ongoing gunfire.<br /></em><br />Hah! I thought, how about those of us who actually live out here!? (beyond the Comoro roundabout).<br /><br />This text message was immediately followed by one from the AVI Country Manager:<br /><br /><em>Advise you do not travel in dili, stay where you are. Fighting in & near Tasi Tolu continues, a few random acts of violence in Dili eg Stoning of cars and sml grps of youths sighted with bows &amp; arrows, machetes. Extreme caution.<br /><br /></em>We are listening to Radio Australia to monitor the news but they are yet to mention these recent developments. Instead, the focus is on yesterday’s violent confrontation between the twenty or so rebel Military Police who went AWOL with their weapons not long after the riots of 28 April and currently serving F-FDTL soldiers in the mountains that surround the capital.<br /><br />Apparently, following an interview with David O’Shea, Major Alfredo (the leader of the rebels) ordered his men to open fire on unarmed F-FDTL soldiers. Thankfully, there were armed soldiers in the vicinity but according to reports one soldier and one other person were killed, with a number of others wounded. It appears that none of the rebels were captured and perhaps it is they who are now exchanging fire with their former colleagues in my neighbourhood.<br /><br />Timor’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Jose Ramos-Horta was interviewed on Radio Australia’s Connect Asia program this morning. He said that he, the President and the Prime Minister would meet today to discuss whether Timor needed Australia’s offer of assistance. However, he said that if they did, it would be in the form of police not military assistance.<br /><br />Meanwhile, both Australia’s Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs are talking up the security situation in Timor while stating that the warships on standby off the coast of northern Australia will only be deployed if the Timorese government asks. Moreover, the ships will be used as part of an assisted evacuation of the 620 Australians registered with the Embassy in Dili (although there are approximately 800 Australians in Timor).<br /><br />The AVI Country Manager called me back to advise that the F-FDTL (army) are conducting an operation from the roundabout at the airport through Rai Kotu and Tasi Tolu to Dili’s border with Liquica. She reiterated that we are to stay put. She also gave us the United Nations Security Operations telephone number. We are to call them if we feel our personal security is under threat and they will send out an armoured car to collect us.<br /><br />Unlike the events of 28 April, where we were not able to get home, we are now confined to our house. At least we have our escape route sorted (the hole in the perimeter fence to the airport) or a UN escorted vehicle!<br /><br />In the meantime, we sit tight, monitor the radio and if our minds will allow, perhaps try and read a little. Daniel is starting to worry about leaving all our read and unread books behind.<br /><br />Late this morning I received yet another call from the AVI Country Manager. This time it was to say that as soon as the shooting stops and the F-FDTL opens up the road, we are to move to a hotel close to the centre of Dili. That may happen later today or tomorrow morning. Moreover, that AVI are considering evacuating all 50 odd volunteers currently in Timor for a period of two weeks.<br /><br />The 11am news on Radio Australia finally mentioned the outbreak of violence this morning. However, they gave little information and we are certainly more informed than they are. The World Today program followed and Timor headed the bulletin. The Country Manager for the NGO Concern Worldwide was interviewed and what she had to say alarmed me further. She said that apparently groups of armed men are gathering to the west of Dili and that police officers from Lautem (Los Palos) district in the east are heading to Dili in order to protect their “own” people. She suggested that the whole east/west issue is coming to the fore.<br /><br />At lunchtime, AVI sent the following text message:<br /><br /><em>Important message from avi. Please be ready for possible avi organised withdrawal to Bali for two weeks and then review. Stand by for decision and further details. Exercise high level of caution.<br /></em><br />The AVI Country Manager called us to say that we were being moved to a hotel in the centre of Dili in preparation for the evacuation. We had less than an hour to pack all our things, quite a stressful activity as we are not entirely sure if we will be returning or not. More importantly, we were upset to leave “our” family as we felt we were abandoning them and by us leaving, we would be sending a message that the situation was serious enough for us to leave Timor. Also, we are leaving the <em>asu</em> (dog) behind who has been moved out of our immediate neighbourhood by a more dominant male dog. “Our” family showed us where she had moved to and I took her some food and water.<br /><br />However, I cannot rely on “our” family taking over the baton as they may leave Dili for Bobonaro and if not, have other pressing concerns to worry about. I fear that if and when we return, our little asu will be dead.<br /><br />As Timor is now rated a category 5 security risk, we are being evacuated to Australia tomorrow on a 5pm chartered flight to Townsville in Far North Queensland. The flight from Australia is full of troops who will disembark in Dili while we embark. We are told that it will be for a week and that we will be returned to Timor ASAP.<br /><br />We are now staying at the Turismo Hotel, made famous by John Martinkus’ reports from the roof of this very hotel during the chaos of 1999, and which he wrote about in <em>Dirty Little War</em>. Yet again, it is swarming with Aussie journalists, many of whom will undoubtedly file sensationalised reports.<br /><br />Tonight we tried to get un update on the situation in Timor and tuned in to both Radio Australia and ABC Asia Pacific Television (the only advantage to staying in a hotel). To my absolute disgust, both were playing the State of Origin rugby game live from Australia! I tuned in at 7pm and they couldn’t even take a five minute news break! How bloody typically Australian I thought: a game of sport is more important than news and the situation in Timor.<br /><br />We found the local news on RTTL but we tuned in too late to see the leading news item which we assume was about the outbreak of violence this morning. Following the news, Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Ramos-Horta gave a speech about the outcome of the government’s discussion today on whether to invite Australian forces into Timor. The answer is yes, Australia along with New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal will send troops to Timor. Approximately 600 Australian troops will arrive tomorrow. Thank goddess!<br /><br />I have an unanswered question: where has the President been throughout this whole sad sorry saga? He has been conspicuously absent ever since the Fretilin Party Congress. Is he in ill health? Does anybody out there know? There has been talk of Jose Ramos-Horta nominating for the presidency if Xanana Gusmao doesn’t, however to me it seems he has already assumed the president’s duties!</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114851729786292547?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148517392093919402006-05-24T09:35:00.000+09:002006-05-27T04:04:14.623+09:00<div align="justify">The problem as I see it with the government of Timor is that they have focused on external or macro issues to the detriment of internal and micro issues. In my estimation, they have done well and continue to do so at the macro level. However, the glaring exception is their lack of willingness to seek justice from Indonesia for the brutal 24-year occupation of Timor. This important exception feeds into the internal and micro issues that the government has neglected.<br /><br />Neglected, I believe, because most of the government are out of touch with ordinary Timorese concerns. Why? Because most of them didn’t live in Timor during the 24 year occupation and despite the fact that many worked tirelessly to obtain Timor’s independence, it meant that their focus became international. This, combined with their high levels of education, has set them apart from the ordinary Timorese, most of whom are illiterate, poor and have little idea about the world outside their village, yet alone this small half-island’s boundaries. Their concerns are immediate: where to get enough food and water today to feed their family and access to health and education. Many also want justice from Indonesia, good roads and to see the fruits of their government’s work and words as actual impacts in their everyday lives. If the ordinary people had these things, I don’t think the ethnic divide we now are seeing would have gathered much momentum.<br /><br />The second problem confronting the government is the way the F-FDTL and the PNTL were formed and the continuing lack of rules and procedures concerning them, particularly the former. The higher-ranking officers of the F-FDTL are almost universally from the east and the PNTL if full of people from the west. In a fledgling society such as Timor, its military and police should not be so ethnically divided. This leaves the two security forces open to exploitation and genuine charges of discrimination within their ranks. Political manipulation and exploitation is a particular worry.<br /><br />When this happens, those angry unemployed young men who belong to martial arts groups are also likely to get in on the act. Thus, tensions rise, different groups take action, and the situation deteriorates rapidly. </div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114851739209391940?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148516541435571152006-05-20T09:20:00.000+09:002006-05-25T09:22:21.586+09:00<div align="justify">For the first time in three weeks, we heard the sounds of ‘donut, donut, donut’ sung by two young boys as they endeavoured to sell them to the few residents that remain in Rai Kotu. I went outside to greet them but declined to buy these unappetizing treats at 5c a piece. Daniel remains partial to them, but even he did not feel like them today.<br /><br />For the first time since commencing work in Timor, I went to work on a weekend. It had come to my attention in the past week or so that none of the seventeen computers at my place of work had had their virus definitions updated for the last nine months and as a result, all but two were riddled with nasty viruses.<br /><br />I take my own laptop to work, as there is not a spare computer, thus I was not aware of the problem. When I asked both the office manager and executive secretary whose responsibility it was to make sure that the virus definitions were up-to-date, they both replied <em>hau la hatene</em> (I don’t know). Exasperated, I went and purchased, with my own money, a pirated version of Norton Anti-Virus 2006 and began loading the program one computer at a time. Quickly however, I encountered major problems as the viruses tried to prevent me from doing so. I then called in Daniel who managed to bypass some of the viruses but others were too difficult. We then called in an Australian IT consultant who began to work his way through the computers, some of which proved very complicated. In the end, we had to take a number of the computers to a shop, particularly those that required new parts due to unrelated damage caused by the lack of functioning Universal Power Sources (UPSs) and Dili’s frequent electricity brown and black outs.<br /><br />It is another one of the frustrations of working in Timor. Most Timorese working in offices with computers have very little understanding of how the things work, let alone how to maintain them.<br /><br />Secondly, donors do not like to fund items like IT consultants or UPSs that prevent damage to the computers during brown and black outs. The NGO I work for suffers from these problems and as a result, now has to try to find money to pay IT consultants to fix the problems and money to purchase UPSs.<br /><br />Unfortunately, it is also part of Timorese culture that if someone experiences a problem, they just work around it rather than proactively seeking its solution. This definitely worked to their advantage when resisting the Indonesian occupation, but in peacetime office environments, it ultimately causes more trouble than it saves. Furthermore, the Timorese have little experience or knowledge of prevention (particularly when it comes to computers!) and firmly rely on curing problems, often when it is too late.<br /><br />Restoration of Independence Day was a low-key day with the only excitement a cavalcade of Fretilin supporters roaring down the Comoro Road towards the <em>Palacio do Governo</em> where a small concert was to take place. At the time we were partaking in a late lunch at a local Indian establishment (affectionately named the pink palace), and heard the roar and horns of cars hooning down the main road. Along with the restaurant’s staff, we went outside to investigate. I found the cavalcade rather intimidating as the participants looked (to me) no different from angry troublemakers, rather than celebrating supporters of the largest political party in the country. I could not imagine such a scene in Australia with either the Libs or the Labs doing a similar thing, it’s completely incongruous. More like the supporters of a footy team coming home after the AFL Grand Final.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114851654143557115?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148516397397325162006-05-19T09:18:00.000+09:002006-06-30T20:59:52.246+09:00<div align="justify">During the second day of the Fretilin Party Congress, it was announced that the method of voting to decide the next Secretary General would be a show of hands rather than a secret ballot. The only person standing in competition with Mari Alkatiri (Jose Luis Guterres, Timor’s current Ambassador to the United Nations and USA) withdrew his nomination in protest. Despite the fact that Guterres probably did not have the numbers to win, the fact that an ostensibly democratic party would change their voting method to an undemocratic one has shocked not only Daniel and me but also my Timorese colleagues. It is clear that the current political elites wish to retain their positions and will resort to undemocratic measures to do so. It is also worrying considering the current security situation and general distrust of the government. I fear this will only worsen the situation.<br /><br />The Director of my NGO received an invitation to the Congress. I was stunned to see the invitation was written in Portuguese and English only, languages spoken by less than 5% of the population. Whatever happened to the predominant and almost universally spoken national language Tetum? For me, this was another clear example of the ruling party’s arrogance and lack of connection with the people of Timor.<br /><br />Alkatiri was re-elected Secretary General of Fretilin, meaning he will retain his position as Prime Minister if Fretilin wins the next election. Fretilin seems divided while the people of Timor certainly are.<br /><br />If anything untoward goes down in the streets of Dili in the coming days, weeks and months leading to the general elections in May 2007, the ruling party is partly to blame for not listening to the public’s discontent and manipulating party rules to ensure the outcome they (the Fretilin status quo) wanted.<br /><br />Tomorrow is not only Timor’s Restoration of Independence Day (RID) but also Fretilin’s 32nd anniversary. I had no idea why the 20th of May was chosen as RID but now I know.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114851639739732516?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148516302721415842006-05-16T21:16:00.000+09:002006-05-25T09:18:23.446+09:00<div align="justify">This morning Daniel called me to the front window of our home to point out our new friend the <em>asu</em> (dog) sitting on our veranda. I immediately took her some Meaty Bites and water. The veranda was swarming with ants, which had (somehow) infested her little body despite her best efforts to keep them at bay. Unfortunately, she also stank to high heaven, making it hard to imagine me getting close enough to her any time soon to give her a bath! Still, I was touched that she found her way to our house for her breakfast as normally she sits outside “our” family’s home. Her owners still have not returned from Ainaro so we continue to be her foster carers.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114851630272141584?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148363068552184742006-05-16T14:22:00.000+09:002006-06-23T11:58:26.323+09:00<div align="justify">By Dr. Helen Hill<br />Victoria University, Australia<br /></div><div align="justify"><em>"Ever since the August 2001 elections for the Constituent Assembly in East Timor when the longest standing party of resistance, FRETILIN, won a convincing 54% of the vote against 14 other parties, the Australian embassy in Dili and most Australian journalists have never lost an opportunity to express a lack of confidence in the Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, FRETILIN's General Secretary.<br /><br />Bulletin journalists Paul Toohey and Eric Ellis regularly recommend his overthrow whenever they write about Timor. The Australian regularly front-pages any anti-Alkatiri rumours they can pick up. But last Friday, Jim Middleton on the ABC's evening news topped this by wondering 'what would happen if Alkatiri decides to resist' calls for his resignation! His evidence that there was widespread hostility to wards Alkatiri in FRETILIN came from a highly dubious source, sacked Central Committee Vicente Ximenes. But over the weekend it escalated, Mark Vaile, Minister for Trade, on Laurie Oakes Channel 9 interview even made it look as if the warships were going to Dili for the FRETILIN Congress next week! To the Timorese, this begins to look like intimidation. Accusations against Alkatiri frequently accuse him of having 'sat out' the occupation in Mozambique whereas he was present with Jose Ramos Horta every year at the debate on East Timor at the United Nations. It was Alkatiri who did most of the thinking that led the multi-party National Council for Timorese Resistance to adopts its 'Magna Carta' in 1998 linking Timor's future policies with the best standards in international practice coming from the UN's conferences on human rights, environment, population, women and social development during the 1990s.<br /> </em></div><div align="justify"><em>Detractors frequently allege that Mari Alkatiri's presence in Mozambique for 24 years means he is some sort of unreconstructed Marxist. In reality he is a strong economic nationalist and has spoken out against privatisation of electricity and managed to get a 'single-desk' pharmaceutical store despite opposition from the World Bank, but this is hardly radical policy. He hopes a state-owned petroleum company assisted by China, Malaysia and Brazil will enable Timor to benefit from some of its own in-shore oil and gas in addition to the revenue it will raise from the area jointly shared with Australia. Lessons from their time in Mozambique have helped several of the Ministers now running East Timor to avoid problems such as an international debt, currently plaguing most African countries. There is widespread support in Timor for Alkatiri's decision not to take loans from the World Bank under the Poverty Reduction Strategy Program despite the fact that it gave Timor a few years of extremely low salaries in the public service. In reality the World Bank has been much more forthcoming with grant money although it still sets aside money for loans in case the government of Timor-Leste should change its policy.<br /> </em></div><div align="justify"><em>Former Representative of Timor-Leste at the UN, Jose-Luis Guterres has announced his intention to stand against Alkatiri at next week's Party Congress. While that is his right as a FRETILIN member, he is by no means assured of victory. His detractors accuse him of having 'sat out' the first difficult years of independence in New York and of being out of touch with the community. The young intellectuals at the national university and the leadership of many Timorese Non Governmental Organizations, who praise Alkatiri's economic knowledge and his ability to defend Timor's interests against the likes of the World Bank and the Australian government (over the Timor Sea issue) believe that Guterres would be so much weaker and less visionary and that he lacks administrative experience. Alkatiri's championing of the Petroleum Fund as a way of avoiding the 'resource curse', his ability to choose Ministers and sack them if they don't perform, and his strong support for the rights of women have given him a more broad appeal among FRETILIN supporters. Issues which have dogged him include a defamation law which has caused the ire of much of Timor's media and the issue of the sacking of the dissident soldiers, where he has supported army commander Tuar Matan Ruark. Another frequent accusation is that Alkatiri is 'arrogant' and while this might be the case he has increased massively the public consultations held over the last year. Under East Timor's Semi-Presidential Constitution it is the President who is popularly elected and must maintain a close relationship with the people, the Prime Minister is regarded as needing skills and abilities to get government departments running properly, appointing good ministers and proposing new development initiatives. In these matters Alkatiri has received wide praise, even from some of those who don't agree with all his policies such as the World Bank. Timor is much more in control of its own decision-making than many other small countries in the Pacific where Australian consultants have now been brought in to make those decisions.<br /> </em></div><div align="justify"><em>There is, however still a huge skills shortage. Indonesia did not train graduates to think for themselves and address development problems; they were trained to take orders and rarely given responsibility for management. All political parties face the problem that there are scarcely enough skilled people to take on the role of ministers.<br /> </em></div><div align="justify"><em>The FRETILIN Congress opens on Wednesday and the election will take place on Friday. Candidates will be nominated from the floor and all delegates can vote. It is highly likely that Dr Mari Alkatiri will be re-elected, and that FRETILIN will again be elected, but with a smaller majority, at the elections in 2007. What will the response of the Australian media and government be?"</em></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Source: Timor Post (UNOTIL Daily Media Review, Public Information Office)</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114836306855218474?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147771883156341242006-05-15T18:28:00.000+09:002006-05-16T18:31:23.356+09:00<div align="justify">This morning upon commencing the journey from my house to the main road to catch a <em>mikrolete</em>, a middle-aged woman who lives in my neighbourhood was sitting on the ground with some younger women and a number of small children. I greeted her and she did likewise before saying, “a<em>mi hamlaha, la iha hahan</em>” (we are hungry, there is no food). I was waiting for what I believed was the next part of her sentence (can you give us some food) but it never came. I just responded <em>deskulpa</em> (sorry) which probably confused her because Timorese do not use sorry in the way that we malae do.<br /><br />I walked off pissed off for the umpteenth time that the Timorese treat me like I’m an endless source of giving (I’m not!) I was so taken by surprise by her comment that I didn’t have the chance to respond to her in a way I would have liked. If I had I would have said then you need to talk to the Ministry of Labour and Solidarity as they are giving out food to families who fled on the 28 April. I also thought to myself if I didn’t live in her neighbourhood, she would have to find another way to get food, not simply rely on asking the <em>malae</em> for it (if that had been her intention all along)! The issue of overwhelming need and dependency weighs greatly on my mind yet again.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114777188315634124?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147771344768596412006-05-14T18:19:00.000+09:002006-05-16T18:22:24.840+09:00<div align="justify">This afternoon a <em>bís boot</em> (big minibus) pulled up outside our house and deposited four members of our family: Argentina, Virginia, Joel and Atoby. We heard them talking excitedly with their dad and a number of the male members of our immediate neighbourhood who had returned the week before. We were also glad to see them again. Senyora Domingas and the two youngest members of the family, Zalia and Abina are due to return the following Sunday, after the Fretilin Party Congress (17-19 May) and Restoration of Independence Day (20 May) just in case anything untoward happens in Dili.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114777134476859641?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147770820053631232006-05-13T18:11:00.000+09:002006-05-16T18:34:37.433+09:00<div align="justify">Tonight on Radio Australia, the program <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/mind/" target="_blank">All in the Mind</a> did a story on how trauma affects the brain and that through the very act of talking about the trauma, the brain heals itself. I thought how synchronous (Jungian idea) that this program should be aired the day following the group counselling held for my colleagues. The program gave more weight to my view that trauma simply cannot be forgotten, stuffed down, and suffocated inside oneself. For the person to heal their trauma, they must talk about it and open it up to others. This also helps others have greater compassion and understanding.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114777082005363123?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147769612199638692006-05-12T17:48:00.000+09:002006-05-16T17:53:36.560+09:00<div align="justify">I awoke this morning to hear that Australia had sent two naval ships to the country’s north in anticipation of Timor calling on its neighbour for assistance should it be necessary. The Timorese Minister for Foreign Affairs had no idea that my country had done this!<br /><br />As I was filling my water bottle in the kitchen at work, a colleague who I had not seen for two weeks greeted me warmly. She had fled to Liquica and was returning to the district that evening, too frightened to spend a night in Dili. I told her that there were no problems in Rai Kotu and she replied <em>parabens</em> (congratulations) which I thought a little odd. It wasn’t long before she said that I was just a “tourist” so it wasn’t the same as it was for her. I was immediately offended but understood why she would say such a thing. I just nodded and said I understood, detecting a great deal of grief and trauma in her, which was confirmed later that morning.<br /><br />I believe my colleague used the word “tourist” as that was the best word she could find in her limited English vocabulary and that the Tetum word is near identical (<em>turista</em>). However, I am not a “tourist”. Most tourists have little interest in digging deep into their host country’s economic, social or political roots and becoming acquainted with the everyday experiences of its people. Tourists (the majority anyway) want to relate to locals in a service context eg, ‘What can you do for me?’<br /><br />I on the other hand have lived here for nearly a year and during that time, have suffered stress and trauma because I have dug too deep into Timorese society. In comparison to the few other <em>malae</em> I have ever talked to beyond the superficial niceties, my digging deep is unusual, most of them do not do so and quite frankly, many, despite living here for months and years do behave like tourists. Behaviour I find highly offensive as it is neo-colonial and inhumane.<br /><br />My colleague also used the word “tourist” (really to me, an insult) as a short hand way to also say that I am not Timorese, I never will be, and as a privileged <em>malae</em> I can always leave when trouble arises. All this is very true. But it also brings up for me again the issue of being an outsider and my feelings of being treated as nothing more than an ATM machine and this I find intolerable. When told I am merely a “tourist” or when Timorese simply see the dollar sign on my forehead, I feel dehumanised. Although I will never know their trauma, I feel very deeply about them, their history, and the attendant guilt of being an Australian when my government did nothing to stop the Indonesians from invading in 1975, none of which is recognised when I am told I am just a “tourist”.<br /><br />That morning we held a group counselling debrief for all staff. We invited them to talk about what happened to them personally on Friday 28 April. My only other <em>malae</em> colleague facilitated the session, in response to (as I was later to find out) some of my colleagues who had been ribbing each other for fleeing to the hills and districts in fear. My colleague was upset that people should treat each other in this manner and thought it would do them all good to discuss their feelings, for others to see how distraught most of them are, and that it isn’t funny to make light of a fellow human being’s (and I would add all other animals) distress.<br /><br />As I have commented before, the Timorese tend to laugh at things that we Westerners find highly inappropriate and offensive; they laugh when others hurt themselves and moreover show very little compassion towards others’ trauma (eg mental illness.) All of this is a coping strategy for people who have themselves experienced extreme trauma and who are not able to access (nor if able to, see the benefit of) appropriate counselling. It should also be said that animistic beliefs also contribute to some of this behaviour such as a belief that evil spirits inhabit those with mental illness and therefore such people, having brought about their own fate, should simply be avoided.<br /><br />For two hours I sat and listened to a number of colleagues tell their stories through their heart wrenching sobs. I was often moved to tears for, although I couldn’t understand everything that they said, my heart was certainly engaged. It was also very clear to me that a number, if not all of my colleagues have deeply felt trauma from the past that was triggered by the events of 28 April.<br /><br />Although I was scared at times, I certainly did not feel as deep a distress. To a casual observer, unaware of Timor’s history, my colleagues’ reactions (run and flee) to the events of that one day were out of proportion to the seriousness of what actually occurred. To a compassionate, well-informed observer, they were completely understandable. What Timor needs, is mass group trauma counselling and justice for victims of the Indonesian occupation (ie an International Criminal Tribunal), otherwise, the people of this country will continue to suffer unnecessarily. And that, in itself, would be another tragedy.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114776961219963869?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147167082772701162006-05-09T18:24:00.000+09:002006-05-10T16:13:17.750+09:00<div align="justify">Yesterday afternoon in the town of Gleno, Ermera, a western district of the country, a member of the PNTL’s (police) UIR (rapid response unit) was murdered. The officer was trying to defend a colleague who was being set upon by a group of youths simply because he was <em>lorosa’e</em>, instead they killed another <em>lorosa’e</em> officer. The police were called to the area to defend a local government official and they all wound up being surrounded by a crowd of 2,000 very angry men. Some of these men were seeking retribution for the events of 28 April during which they believe that <em>lorosa’e </em>members of the UIR were responsible for the deaths of <em>loromonu</em> supporters of the '594' petitioners.<br /><br />The man’s funeral was held today in Dili. The other officer remains in a serious condition.<br /><br />Where is all this leading I ask?</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114716708277270116?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147166256271721702006-05-08T18:17:00.001+09:002006-07-04T23:18:40.130+09:00<div align="justify">I have been absolutely appalled by the degree of misinformation and scare mongering that journalists from Australia, Indonesia and Portugal have engaged in throughout this entire sad episode. I have come to expect this from the Indonesian media as their reporting of Timor is resoundedly inflammatory and inaccurate no matter what the issue. Portugal is represented in Timor by both journalists from their national broadcaster RTP and Lusa. Their reporting has been so so; certainly I would expect better from journos stationed on the ground. The Australian media however has been disgraceful. Not one Australian journalist is based in Timor and instead, temporary visitors arrive when a crisis happens and within hours of stepping off the plane, they write as if they know what’s really going on!</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Sadly, I have been most disgusted by old Auntie (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), normally one of my favourite media outlets. Because they are a quality media outlet, my expectations of them are much higher and therefore my condemnation greater. First they sent foreign correspondent Eric Campbell who reported fairly accurately. He was soon replaced by foreign affairs editor Peter Cave who was downright inflammatory and egged on his interviewees as if he personally wanted to see a civil war. Thankfully he has been replaced by (I believe) Maryann Keady who is doing a commendable job.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The ABC Radio Australia current affairs program <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/ra/connectasia/" target="_blank">Connect Asia</a> hosted by Sen Lam, which is aired in Dili from Monday to Friday, 8am to 9am, has done a much better job at reporting what is going on in Timor but is only heard outside of Australia. On the other hand, the supposedly quality broadsheet newspaper <em>The Australian</em> and all other Rupert Murdoch media outlets within Australia have done nothing but report unsubstantiated rumours from afar. I am not aware of one of their journalists actually having visited Timor. Ever heard of the BBC school of journalism that says you must check any information you receive with more than one reliable source? Who do they think they are: armchair war correspondents!<br /><br />Timorese Australians and Portuguese alike have listened to this deceitful news reporting, quickly got on to their families in Timor and as a result, incited more panic. (If the international media is stating rumours as facts then they must be true!) The international media must take some responsibility for the mass evacuation of Dili and the triggering of the deeply felt traumas of vulnerable people.<br /><br />I feel like <a href="http://www.hinch.net/" target="_blank">Derryn Hinch</a> saying this but shame, shame, shame!<br /><br />(See also <a href="http://samanddaniel.blogspot.com/2006/03/minister-angry-at-irresponsible.html" target="_blank">Minister angry at irresponsible, alarmist and downright deceitful reports</a>.)</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114716625627172170?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147166616622302242006-05-08T18:17:00.000+09:002006-05-09T18:59:04.880+09:00<div align="justify">It is quite difficult to access all the facts of the situation as rumours abound and are not only passed on verbally but are also written up as “truth” by international media outlets (see The role of the international media). However, I will endeavor to tell you what I know from what I have read, seen and heard (shoddy journalism notwithstanding).<br /><br />The violence started outside the Government Building at about 1:30pm on Friday 28 April and culminated in the loss of lives and the destruction of property including windows, cars, shops and houses. Much of this took place in the village I live next to which is called Tasi Tolu (I will include some photos of the destruction in this village when I get the chance to upload them). There have been no violent incidents since that day.<br /><br />Five people are confirmed dead. However, the leader of the ‘594’ petitioners claims that this figure is much higher. In response, the government has established an independent commission to investigate these claims and the United Nations Office in Timor Leste (UNOTIL) Human Rights Unit is likewise conducting its own investigating. To date, they have found nothing to indicate that the death toll is more than five persons. It is believed that the leader of the petitioners has made this claim in order to discredit the F-FDTL (army) from which they all were expelled.<br /><br />Approximately 20,000 people are believed to have either fled Dili or sought refuge in churches. However, given the population of the capital is around 180,000 I would have thought this number would be higher. Certainly my village of Rai Kotu and Tasi Tolu next door have lost the overwhelming majority of its residents.<br /><br />About one hundred of the petitioners including their leader are hiding up in the hills around Dili and are too scared to come down in fear that they will be physically harmed. The government has guaranteed their safety but the petitioners do not trust the government.<br /><br />The government has established a new commission (separate to the aforementioned one above) to investigate the claims of the petitioners which will report its findings to the public by 5 August. The commission is comprised of a number of people from government, state, church and civil society. However, the original commission established in February never finished its mandate, engendering little confidence that the second commission will do so. However, the leader of the petitioners has said that the ‘594’ will accept the new commission’s findings and recommendations.<br /><br />There is no doubt that the leaders of Timor have really messed up. For starters, they were divided on the issue of whether the ‘594’ should have been fired in the first place and this lack of unity further exacerbated growing tensions. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Secondly, the original commission they established never completed its mandate. Why? </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Thirdly, bringing in the army equipped with large weapons to quell the violence frightened a population all too used to a corrupt and brutal army during the Indonesian occupation. The Timorese have not yet had their own army for long enough to appreciate that it isn’t the same as the Indonesian variety, particularly when the whole issue began with claims of ethnic discrimination within the military itself.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Fourthly, the government did not have in place an effective mechanism with which to combat the myriad of unsubstantiated rumours which caused Dili residents to flee in their thousands. Although, in fairness, I am not sure how anyone could have managed to do this effectively.<br /><br />It is said by the government that the violence on 28 April was politically motivated in order to bring down the government, or at the very least, the Prime Minister. Various political figures claim that it was initiated by new political parties or groups with their own destabilizing agendas; or elements within the ruling party Fretilin with an agenda to depose the Prime Minister at this month’s national party congress. Some government ministers claim that outside (i.e. overseas) interests are to blame but no one will name names.<br /><br />The Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri is a deeply unpopular leader. Most Timorese do not like or respect him because he was not present in Timor during the military occupation by Indonesia. He lived in Mozambique where he worked as a university lecturer. Secondly, there are allegations of corruption and nepotism including that his brother obtains many of the road building contracts in Timor. (A friend currently works for Alkatiri’s brother building roads in Dili.)<br /><br />Fretilin are due to start their annual national congress in the coming week. Many believe that Alkatiri will not be reappointed as the party’s Secretary General (SG) and therefore, will not serve a second term as PM after next year’s election. Given the depth of animosity for the man, and the obvious lack of cohesion he brings to the role, it would not surprise me in the slightest if he fails to be reappointed SG. Timor is a fledgling democracy and it needs leaders who unite not divide the nation, regardless of the person’s other attributes.<br /><br />The elections are still a year away so I expect many more interesting times ahead. I do hope however that they are not as stressful as the past week has been particularly for the Timorese but I won’t hold my breath. After all, democracy in Timor is a mere four years in the making.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114716661662230224?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147166084180088212006-05-08T18:12:00.001+09:002006-05-10T16:20:38.013+09:00<div align="justify">The US State Department has advised all non essential staff to leave Timor, although it is voluntary not mandatory. However, the 41 Peace Corps volunteers have no choice in the matter. We ran into three of them on Saturday and they were very upset at having to leave.<br /><br />This morning we received the following email from a Peace Corps volunteer who I have quoted in a previous post (see <a href="http://samanddaniel.blogspot.com/2005/10/women-poverty-and-education.html" target="_blank">Women, poverty and education</a>). I have copied her email here as I believe it illuminates well the ramifications of such an extreme and unwarranted response. How grateful I am that AVI has taken a more considered and measured response to the events of the past week.<br /><br /><em>Sat May 6, 2006 11:59pm(PDT)</em></div><div align="justify"><em>Subject: me right now</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>i'm all messed up. we're being evacuated from timor. i was supposed to fly out yesterday, but there was an issue with the plane we chartered so i'm flying out tomorrow. to bangkok. i don't know how long we'll be there for, probably about a week. then we're done. we're closing service.</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>i haven't processed this whole thing, so i don't know what to write. more will come later. but these have been the worst couple of days in my whole life. i had 1.5 hours to pack up my life and tell everyone goodbye. frantic. crying. i'm crushed. i feel like i've been run over by a truck. and by doing this i have basically just told all of my friends that my life is more valuable than theirs. i've shown them how much more people care about me than they do about them. i've left them in a country that's too unsafe for me, but ok for them, I guess. i feel like i'm abandoning them. i don't have a choice. and if i did i would stay. I don't feel in danger. i'm embarrassed. ashamed. and all i can do is apologize to the ones I love and the staff here at the office. i'm scared to come home. because i don't know what i'm going to do with myself. i don't know how to handle things. or life there at this point. once i figure things out i'll let you know. </em></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114716608418008821?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147165961626702522006-05-08T18:12:00.000+09:002006-05-09T18:48:25.140+09:00<div align="justify">The Timorese have fled Dili en masse based on unsubstantiated rumours; rumours which are apparently politically motivated and generally believed by most Timorese. Due to their past history and individual and collective experience of witnessing torture, execution and rape at the hands of the Indonesian military combined with their inability to access grief and loss counselling, the Timorese remain a highly traumatised nation and are highly susceptible to rumours which trigger this trauma. A week after the tsunami that hit Asia on 26 December 2004, people started a rumour that a tsunami was headed for Dili and despite the police assuring residents that this wasn’t the case, they fled en masse to the hills and districts that surround Dili. While they were gone, people looted and stole the few possessions people had from their empty dwellings.<br /><br />Although Dili feels a little less like a ghost town, slowly people are starting to return. Most of my colleagues were at work today although the ones that fled to the districts have yet to make an appearance.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114716596162670252?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147165916117299922006-05-07T18:10:00.000+09:002006-05-09T18:45:07.643+09:00<div align="justify">On Sunday I awoke to listen to Background Briefing on Radio Australia, which was followed by doing the crossword puzzle in the only English language newspaper in Timor. I soon called Daniel in to help and then we both resorted to the online thesaurus in word although we still cannot solve seven of the questions! </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I spent the rest of the day reading half a book by the Brazilian author <a href="http://www.paulocoelho.com/port/" target="_blank">Paulo Coelho</a> and at sunset went for a walk for the first time since arriving in Timor, alone along the beach. With so few people around, I actually felt safe being on my own!<br /><br />I managed to track down the neighbour’s dog and throughout the course of the day, she ate two cups of Meaty Bites and even spent the afternoon lazing in our front garden. She’s a sweet little dog, with a golden blonde coat, but she cowers terribly, an indication of her less than desirable treatment. I am however happy that she is eating “dog food” (for the first time in her life) and hope that with time she will come to trust me.<br /><br />That night we watched the final dramatic episode of series two of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/" target="_blank">Spooks</a> and as I couldn’t wait to know what had happened, we watched episode one of series three much to Daniel’s disgust who had to wait over two years to find out the resolution of the cliffhanger ending!</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114716591611729992?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147165790273817322006-05-06T18:07:00.000+09:002006-05-10T16:22:45.486+09:00<div align="justify">On Saturday morning we attended an AVI security briefing which included a talk by an Australian Embassy official who Daniel said reminded him of a character straight out of a John Le Carré novel (it didn’t help matters that Daniel was currently reading <em>The Russia House</em>!); and a United Nations security officer who was once an AVIer herself. The briefing allayed any residual concerns I had and engendered in me a much needed sense of calm. From then on, I was able to function normally again.<br /><br />In the afternoon we went supermarket shopping and I purchased Meaty Bites dog food for our neighbour’s dog next door who they had left behind upon fleeing to Ainaro. It amuses me that in Timor, people value their roosters far more than their dogs for we have had rooster free sleeps since the mass evacuation of Dili while the neighbourhood has slowly been taken over by dogs. (Not being woken at 5am is one of the few good things to have come out of this whole sad sorry saga.) Unfortunately for the abandoned animals, there is little food to eat as normally they rummage through the rubbish produced by humans (and there aren't that many of them around).</div><div align="justify"><br />We shared lunch with some fellow AVIs and I also talked to three Peace Corps volunteers who were very angry at being evacuated (see The overreaction of the Americans). At the end of our meal, I asked the restaurant owner for some left over scraps which I could feed the two pigs that our family had left caged without any food. As I was unsure when they would return, I wanted to make sure our little piggies were okay (one is an adult male and the other a juvenile).<br /><br />However, we arrived home to find that Senyor Raphael had returned with a small number of our male neighbours. All the women and children remain in Bobonaro. We were very pleased to see Senyor again and he likewise seemed happy to see that we were still here. We told him that we would look after ourselves in terms of cleaning the house, washing and ironing our clothes but he insisted that this was his job now. Senyora Domingas had told him that if he didn’t do these tasks, he would shame the family, so no matter how much we argued with him he wouldn’t budge. We also asked him if he would like to join us for dinner which I think he was quite touched by, but said that he was cooking fish for himself and the small group of men who had returned.<br /><br />It is quite humorous having a Timorese man do all our domestic chores for Timor is a deeply entrenched patriarchal society with a strongly gendered division of labour. I am so impressed with Senyor’s capabilities that I have a newfound respect for him.<br /><br />I endeavored to find the neighbour’s dog but she was no where to be found. I hoped that she would be okay and would try to find her again the following day.<br /><br />That night we watched the academy nominated film <a href="http://northcountrymovie.warnerbros.com/" target="_blank">North Country</a> which was very moving and highly commendable.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114716579027381732?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1147165648835641702006-05-05T18:07:00.000+09:002006-05-10T16:24:22.166+09:00<div align="justify">We arrived home late Thursday afternoon to find that the last remaining souls in Rai Kotu had finally abandoned their homes in fear of what they thought was to come. Even our family had fled leaving us on our own.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The silence was unnerving, particularly in the evening when I’m pretty sure I was the only remaining female in the entire village. We walked along the beach to Tasi Tolu to check on the other <em>malae</em> and were interested to discover that there are six not five residing there: two from Georgia, one from Canada, one from Australia, one from the USA and one from Bangladesh.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">For the first time we met the American who is married to a Timorese woman and the man from Bangladesh who is the Ministry of Health’s Forensic Pathologist advisor through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He has a car and offered to drive us out of the area should the need arise. We also met up again with the police officer who lives next to the couple from Georgia. He again reiterated that there were no problems, but many rumours were about. Despite his assurances, our sleep that night was disturbed and fitful.<br /><br />On Friday morning, I decided to scour the perimeter fence to the airport, to find a way in should that be necessary. I blame my over active imagination as I had just read <em>Taronga</em> by <a href="http://www.penguin.com.au/authors/author-author-profile.cfm?AuthorId=0000000997" target="_blank">Victor Kelleher</a>, an Australian dystopian young adult novel which is mostly set in Taronga Zoo in Sydney following a huge calamity which, although never stated explicitly, I inferred as a nuclear holocaust. The wall that surrounds the zoo is the focus of much of the story as people try to scale its perimeter in search of imagined sanctuary. We found a section of the airport fence (by the beach) which had collapsed or been knocked down. It was being used by the many roaming goats to access the overgrown grass inside the airport's perimeter. We had found our escape route!<br /><br />On Radio Australia we heard that both the American and New Zealand governments had decided to evacuate all non essential personnel, and that both Australia and New Zealand were prepared to send in peace keepers should the Timorese government ask. I was growing more edgy.<br /><br />We received a telephone call from one of Daniel’s <em>malae</em> colleagues and she told us that her two housemates, who are Australian Youth Ambassadors, were being evacuated. “Now we simply couldn’t have Alexander Downer’s (the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister) protégées and so called “future leaders” of Australia harmed in any way now could we? while us AVIs are merely dispensable plebs”, I sarcastically said to Daniel. On the other hand, I take great satisfaction from knowing that I am made of tougher stuff and don’t need my government to hold my hand nor namby-pambie me and fly me out at the mere whiff of trouble! <em>(However, I have since been informed that they were merely given the choice of whether to leave or not, am yet to clarify which is the case.)</em><br /><br />At dusk we again walked over to Tasi Tolu and talked to our friendly police officer. He told us that nothing had changed since yesterday so we talked a little about his life. During the Indonesian occupation he was an English teacher (which explained his good English) and during the upheaval of 1999, he worked as a translator for a number of senior Australian army men. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">During this time he visited our home city of Melbourne which he naturally enough described as <em>malirin</em> (cold). He subsequently joined the PNTL (police force) and lives with his wife and children in Tasi Tolu. From our brief conversations with him, he appears not only a dedicated police officer, but also an understanding and sympathetic citizen who acknowledges that Timor is a new and fragile democracy that must be nurtured.<br /><br />Before returning home we decided to go for a swim as the half moon was brightly shining in company with hundreds of twinkling stars. Daniel decided to take a leaf out of my book and skinny dipped (which I had done the week before). I thought to myself how strange it was to be living in a near deserted village of Dili as rumours of an imminent attack abounded, swimming in the dark, one of us stark naked!<br /><br />That night we watched the academy award winner <a href="http://www.brokebackmountain.com/" target="_blank">Brokeback Mountain</a> directed by the Taiwanese Ang Lee. By the end we were sobbing. It was a heart wrenching story wonderfully realized and beautifully filmed in my favourite place in the world (the Rocky Mountains of Canada). I highly commend this film.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114716564883564170?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1146720758606232932006-05-04T13:05:00.001+09:002006-12-22T11:44:29.586+09:00<div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/r83641_244053.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/r83641_244053.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>East Timorese children stay in the church for safety in Dili after last Friday's riots. </em><em>Source: Reuters and the </em><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200604/r83641_244053.jpg" target="_blank"><em>ABC website</em></a> <div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Thousands of people have fled Dili over the past two days following much tension stemming from a myriad of rumours, including that a violent show down (between who and who was not clear!) may occur this afternoon. Our Timorese colleagues are saying that it's just like 1975 and 1999 all over again.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">However this is based solely on rumour, speculation and (most importantly) deeply felt trauma over past events. There is no evidence from the government of Timor, the Australian Embassy or the United Nations Security Office in Dili that events will again turn violent. We are trying to keep our ears to the ground while also heeding the more reliable sources of information.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Food supplies are running low as people panic buy and fresh fruit and vegetable sellers who normally come in from the districts have stopped bringing in produce. Petrol prices have soared from 80 cents yesterday to $1.25 a litre today with long queues at petrol pumps.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Half my colleagues failed to turn up to work today while the majority of Daniel's colleagues have either remained at home or fled to the districts. When I arrived at work my colleagues were having a discussion about the little girl who has been staying at our shelter since January (see <a href="http://samanddaniel.blogspot.com/2006/01/rape-of-child.html" target="_blank">The rape of a child</a>). Due to the situation in Dili, both my colleagues and the girl's father want her to return to Los Palos but none of our drivers are willing to take her because they're all <em>loromonu</em>!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As I thought, the violence last Friday was started by hooligans and not the '591' petitioners. These young men hijacked the demonstration and the leader of the '591' 'lost control'. Upwards of 20% of young men in Timor belong to martial arts groups (gangs) and surprisingly 5% of young women according to a youth survey report produced by the Timorese government. The Government says that the hooligans are linked to a radical political group that are connected to the integrationist militias of 1999 and that they want to destabilise the government in the lead up to the 2007 elections.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Half the petitioners never participated in the original peaceful week-long demonstration as they had already returned to their villages. Now the leader and approximately one hundred of his men are hiding in the hills of Dili, refusing to come down to participate in the government's promised commission to investigate their claims of systematic discrimination in the country's military. Five people are confirmed dead but again rumours abound as to the exact figure; generally an inflated figure is bandied around.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">We have been watching the local news and doing our best to translate from Tetum to English. For the past two nights, the broadcast has been brief to allow for a parade of <em>ema boot</em> to plead with the Timorese to return to their homes. First it was the Prime Minister; then the President followed by the President of Fretilin before a spokesperson for the Catholic Church. Last night it was the Interior Minister. All essentially say the same thing: peace prevails, there is no problem, please come home. Few heed their calls.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Last night we walked along the beach from Rai Kotu to Tasi Tolu and stopped in on four of the five <em>malae</em> that live there. One couple are from Georgia (former USSR/Russia); he is the Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Timor and she works for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The other couple are a woman from Canada who has just finished a contract with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and her partner an Australian Volunteer like us. They were all fine although all but six of their Timorese neighbours had fled. I talked to a police officer who lives next door to the couple from Georgia and he seemed calm and, unlike reports to the contrary that police officers in Dili have sent their families to the districts, he had his small children entwined around his legs.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">We walked over to Tasi Tolu on Tuesday morning to see for ourselves the damage wreaked on the village last Friday. We were shocked to see that every single shop had been burnt down along with any houses attached to them. There is not one shop standing in Tasi Tolu (nor houses connected to shops) and no where for both the communities of Tasi Tolu and Rai Kotu to buy essential goods. People now must travel further afield which for already impoverished people is an added burden they can ill afford.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Upon leaving the house for a walk we noticed a military tent erected on top of the hill that lies behind our house with at least one soldier wandering about. This morning they were still there.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Most of our neighbours have yet to return although the father of our <em>ema boot</em> family next door returned yesterday and went to work this morning. In times like these, one becomes better acquainted with one's neighbours. We regularly talk to a couple of families who tell us that during the day they stay at home, while at night, the women and children head to Dom Bosco seminary for the night where thousands continue to seek shelter. This is quite common, particularly for the women and children of families. Often the men stay to guard the houses throughout the night.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">For a week now we have not heard a single child playing or the morning cries of the <em>modo</em> (vegetable) or <em>paun </em>(bread) sellers. It is eerily quiet in Rai Kotu.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">On the one hand official news sources tell us that everything is "normal", on the other, we see thousands of people fleeing in large over packed trucks or whatever vehicles are available. Many are just walking out of town with whatever possessions they own on their backs.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Our nerves our frazzled. We are unable to sleep for thinking about what might or might not happen. I hope that there will be a speedy resolution to this "crisis" but I'm not holding my breath.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Two days ago I read the East Timor United Nations Development Assistance Framework, 2003-2005 document and on page 8 this one sentence caught my attention:</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em>Political stability and government commitment: on the positive side, however, and unlike many other recent post-conflict situations, there is no internal conflict in East Timor.</em></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Not any more I sadly said aloud to my empty office!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The Australian Embassy sent the following text message this afternoon:</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em>Aust advice updated 4/5 - reconsider need to be in E. Timr due to high level of communal tension. Avoid unnecessary travel, locatns pvsly mentioned. Ex ext. caution.</em></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114672075860623293?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1146470754027744942006-05-01T17:00:00.000+09:002006-05-09T12:29:50.690+09:00<div align="justify">Today we came to Daniel’s work to check emails and upload new blog posts. We again walked down our little street and noticed that although a few more of our neighbours had returned home, the place was still rather quiet. We decided to walk along the main road so that we could take photos of the burned down coffee sellers houses before catching a <em>mikrolete</em> into town. The road was quite busy, a noticeable change from yesterday. The <em>mikrolete</em> driver and conductor told us that the fare would be 20c each as the price of petrol had risen to $1 a litre. We thought nothing of this as this is the official fare set by the government that we tend to pay regardless. However, we have noticed that the <em>mikrolete</em> drivers and conductors often only charge 10c if the price of petrol is reasonable. Some other passengers were less pleased and a few kids were refused a ride because they didn’t have the extra fare.<br /><br />The talk amongst passengers was about how, even though few people had experienced violence, large numbers of people who had left their homes to seek shelter had been robbed in their absence. This also happened during the tsunami scare early last year. It is just appalling how some people will take advantage of others in times of fear!<br /><br />Upon disembarking, I again tried to buy a telephone card from a young man confined to a wheelchair who appears to have no legs. Again, he wanted $11 so I said I would wait. Daniel thought we could have considered the extra dollar as a donation, but I remain opposed to these particular market forces, verging too near opportunism for my liking.<br /><br />Some of Daniel’s colleagues were at work despite it being a national holiday. Most of them asked how he was, given that he lived in a <em>manas</em> (hot) area.<br /><br />When Daniel checked his email he was astonished to read a series of emails from one of his colleagues who had spent two nights sleeping at their workplace. His emails were to us extreme, but understandable given his past experiences. In the first email he said that this would probably be his last as he was in all likelihood going to die. Daniel and I had commented to each other that we were incredibly naïve when it came to violence perpetrated by one human being on another. We have been fortunate to live our lives in a safe and secure country, free of organised violence. Although we have felt tense and a little worried about what might happen, we certainly have not thought that things were as serious as many Timorese did.<br /><br />We also have had the benefit of being in contact with both the Australian Embassy, the AVI Country Manager, Radio Australia, BBC World News Service and local television and radio which kept us informed as the situation developed. None of these media outlets reported anything as extreme as we heard on the rumour mill, which is how most Timorese obtain their news. However, their recent past has traumatised them to such an extent that any outbreak of violence, leads them to flee their homes in search of safety. Although not always visible on the outside, their scars run deep and (paradoxically perhaps) are never far from the surface.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114647075402774494?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1146470403485639832006-04-30T16:54:00.000+09:002006-11-28T14:21:50.153+09:00<div align="justify">Today I am going out of mind. I really need to get out of the house as cabin fever is setting in. Moreover, we are in desperate need of bottled water as the one we have has a slow leak and we have therefore run out faster than anticipated. We consulted Senyor about going to the supermarket and whether it would be safe. He thought it would be as the main road had been reopened. Later that afternoon we ventured out. Walking up our little dirt road to the main road we again came across very few people. When we did, we greeted them warmly. We soon found a taxi and negotiated with the driver to take us to the supermarket and home again. The streets were very quiet with hardly any pedestrians, motorcycles or cars but at least there was some human movement.<br /><br />Only the exit to the supermarket’s parking area was open and the place was full of cars packed to the rafters with boxes of bottled water. “Panic buying”, I remarked to Daniel. The supermarket itself was also buzzing with more people than we had ever seen including many upper-middle class Timorese, few (if any) who have the money to shop at such places. Given that most of the smaller kiosks and markets in Dili were closed, they had little choice but to come to the <em>malae</em> establishments.<br /><br />I soon noticed that a litre of imported soymilk from Australia had risen from $2.75 to $3 and wondered if this was indicative of all products. Thankfully it wasn’t.<br /><br />When leaving the supermarket I ran into a colleague and her three children. I asked after her and she said she was fine. She told me that one of our colleagues had fled to Don Bosco and another to the American Embassy; and she had thought that given the situation, I would have returned to Australia. <em>Lae</em> (no) I said emphatically and thought to myself, it would have to be a lot more serious than this!<br /><br />I endeavoured to purchase a $10 mobile telephone card but the young men selling it to me wanted $11 for it! Huh, capitalism rears its head in Timor after all! I declined, as I knew Daniel had plenty of credit on his phone and within a couple of days, the price was bound to return to normal.<br /><br />Tonight we watched another of Hayao Miyazaki animated gems <a href="http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/laputa/" target="_blank">Castle in the Sky</a> with an intermission break to watch the local news on television and a televised message from Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri. Both maintained that things had returned to normal and that it was safe to return home and resume normal lives once more. We finished watching the film and then ate Chinese vegetarian dumplings imported from Korea while we watched the penultimate episode of series two of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/" target="_blank">Spooks</a>.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP1790-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP1790-800.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em>Our home in Rai Kotu</em> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP1785-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP1785-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> A neighbour's empty home, normally alive with children and adults<br /></em><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP1788-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP1788-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> One of the more colourful homes in our neighbourhood vacated by its occupants</em><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP1786-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP1786-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>This pool table is normally surrounded by young men playing a game, today it sits in silence</em><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP1789-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP1789-800.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Our deserted street in Rai Kotu, normally bustling with human and animal activity<br /></em><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP1787-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP1787-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Our empty street </em></p><p align="left">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114647040348563983?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1146470035627629832006-04-29T16:42:00.000+09:002006-05-09T12:30:03.513+09:00<div align="justify">At 3am this morning we were woken with a start as the text messages I had received twelve hours ago from the Australian Embassy finally came through on Daniel’s mobile phone. For the second time, I said to Daniel, better late than never!<br /><br />We were finding it very difficult to sleep as our minds and bodies were understandably, stressed by the previous days events. We finally got up and sat on the veranda where the cool morning air was goddess-sent.<br /><br />Daniel called “our” family and spoke to Senyor Raphael. He was still on his own protecting the three houses (ours, theirs and their slowly being-built new home) as the rest of the family had decamped to the airport next door. He thought the main road might be open again but wasn’t entirely sure. Daniel told him that we were going to try and come home.<br /><br />Our colleague lives with two of her cousins and one of them, Timor’s weightlifting Para-Olympic champion (he came third at the ASEAN games in Vietnam), had arranged for us to be taken home in his neighbour’s taxi. The driver had been out on the road early this morning and said that despite being quiet, everything looked fine and that the road to Tasi Tolu was open again. We said our farewells and told our colleague we would text her once (if!) we arrived home.<br /><br />The roads indeed were very quiet, but thankfully there was no signs of any damage to houses or shops along the way. Thinking that things were looking good, we rounded the airport roundabout a kilometre or two before the little street down to our home. Our taxi was greeted by a military roadblock manned with half a dozen F-FDTL (army) fully armed soldiers, one with a rather large automatic machine gun pointed towards us. We got the message we should probably stop. There was also a middle aged man sitting on the road with his hands tied behind his back. They motioned for us to keep going around the roundabout back to town. We assumed they were the currently employed mob of F-FDTL and not the recently sacked ‘591’ mob who had been demonstrating all week.<br /><br />The driver stopped the car and Daniel got out to ask the soldiers whether we could return home. They said he would need to talk to their commander who was currently on his mobile phone speaking Portuguese to someone at the PNTL (police) to get them to come and take away the suspect. The taxi pulled up under a tree while we waited for Daniel to have his hearing with the commander. We waited for some minutes while the driver and our colleague’s cousin grew more and more edgy. Daniel was still waiting when the cousin said it would probably be best if I got out so they could return home. I paid the driver $2 and got out of the car just as Daniel was given permission by the commander to return home in the taxi. Daniel was confused and asked where the taxi had gone and I said, home!<br /><br />The commander initially told Daniel that the situation was still bad and we couldn't go past. Daniel talked about needing our passports and other important documents and that we had talked with “our” family and he said the area was peaceful. Eventually the commander jumped in a car with three armed soldiers and went ahead, telling us we could walk back to our home. So we walked down the main road towards Rai Kotu and on the way passed the coffee stalls which had been trashed, many bags of coffee broken and spread over the ground, others intact. One house had been completely burned and was just a still-warm collapsed shell. Even though we see many burned out houses every day it is slightly scary to see one still smoking. Although it is the people of the west who grow the coffee, apparently these sellers were all from the east, hence they were targeted by the marauding youths.<br /><br />It was a bit nerve racking to walk down the road as there were very few people about. There were piles of ashes and remnants from tyres that had been set on fire on the road. The small dirt roads that lead off towards the beach were blocked by long steel poles. When we finally reached the first of the two roads that lead down to our house, we were greeted by another military checkpoint, however this young man didn't seem very interested in us. As we walked down our road we were greeted by two soldiers with automatic weapons and a group of our neighbours all huddled together along with a car packed to the rafters. We greeted the soldiers and explained that their commander had allowed us to return home. One of the soldiers was especially friendly and shook both our hands while explaining that he was trying to convince our neighbours to stay put and not to flee as there was no need to. I think they thought it was good for their community relations exercise that the <em>malae</em> were returning home. We greeted all of our neighbours that we saw warmly and were greeted warmly in return.<br /><br />Apart from a truck with two young men hoping to get in and leave the neighbourhood, there weren’t any other people in sight. Our neighbourhood is normally a bustling hive of activity with tens of children and their parents on the street. It felt very strange as if all of a sudden the place had become a ghost town. House after house was closed and bordered up, their occupants having either fled to the airport, the hills of Dili or back to their respective districts.<br /><br />As we turned the bend of our street for the final leg of the journey to our house, again, there was deathly silence as not a soul was about. We approached “our” family’s house and called out to Senyor Raphael who soon appeared. He seemed happy to see us again and gave us more details as to what had happened since yesterday.<br /><br />When the demonstration turned violent outside the government building, some of the ‘591’ and gangs of youths returned to Tasi Tolu where mayhem ensued. Some attacked the coffee sellers we had passed on the road and then proceeded to attack store holders in Tasi Tolu. The communities of Rai Kotu and Tasi Tolu soon starting fleeing en masse, particularly when they began hearing gun fire. Most of our immediate neighbours had fled including our <em>ema boot</em> (big/important people) next door neighbours who had returned to the districts. “Our” family along with the hundreds or thousands who had fled to the airport were being moved to Don Bosco, a Catholic mission further up the road towards the hills. Senyor said that our passports, money and laptop were with his family anticipating we would need them in case we were evacuated. We thanked him for being so considerate but began to wonder how we would retrieve them if we indeed needed them! We also cursed the fact that we didn’t have the laptop on which to write blog posts and to watch DVDs!<br /><br />We spent the whole day indoors, tense while listening to Radio Australia who kept repeating the same story about Timor over and over again until the afternoon. We learnt that two people had died: both civilians who were killed by shop owners defending their property, and upwards of forty people were injured. These figures were much less than the various ones we had heard on the rumour mill train of Dili. After three hours of just sitting and listening to the radio, I decided to see if I could read a book instead and began reading <a href="http://www.lontar.org/publications/titledetail.php?id=6" target="_blank">Menagerie 4</a>, a collection of literary work by Balinese and Indonesian writers. At various times throughout the course of the day we heard noises that sounded like gun fire but we couldn’t be sure over the din of the overhead fan and stand alone fan, both of which were on full blast to cool our overheated bodies.<br /><br />Mid afternoon, Atoby, the fourth child of “our” family returned home along with two teenage boys who live opposite and who are related. Senyor said that he wanted to be with his dad while the rest of the family had been moved to Don Bosco. We continued to read, listen to the radio for any updates, and snooze fitfully.<br /><br />Not long before sunset, the rest of “our” family began returning home in small groups with our belongings. We were happy to see them safe and well and to have back our laptop. Daniel soon typed up some notes for blog posts.<br /><br />That night was watched the evening news and were amused to discover that the commander whom Daniel had to seek permission from to return home, was in fact the F-FDTL Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Lere Anan Timor, the highest ranking military man currently in the country! We also learnt that the F-FDTL had taken control of the airport, Rai Kotu and Tasi Tolu while the PNTL (police) were in control of the rest of Dili. If gunshots were heard, it was in all probability just the F-FDTL firing into the air. Xanana had visited all the major refugee sites within Dili to talk to the people gathered there, to answer their questions and to persuade them to return home and be calm. Ramos-Horta asked Timor's journalists to give the message to the community that it should stay calm and not panic; they had a responsibility not to spread panic or make things worse.<br /><br />That evening we watched a DVD called <a href="http://www.thefilmfactory.co.uk/kinkyboots/index_flash.html" target="_blank">Kinky Boots</a>, a delightful British comedy that made us forget momentarily where we were. It was inspired by the true story of a traditional English men's footwear factory in Northamptonshire which turned to production of kinky boots for transvestites in order to save the ailing family business and safeguard the jobs of the local community.<br /><br />We again found it difficult to sleep as we didn’t know if anything was going to happen or not.</div><br /><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP1800-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP1800-800.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><em>Remnants of burnt tires on the road (just past the roundabout) to Rai Kotu and Tasi Tolu</em><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/1600/IMGP1796-800.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP1796-800.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>A destroyed coffee seller's home on the road to Rai Kotu and Tasi Tolu</em> </p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/69/786/400/IMGP1805-800.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>A destroyed home on the juncture of the road to the airport and Rai Kotu and Tasi Tolu</em><br /></p><p align="left">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114647003562762983?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1146469353963423562006-04-28T18:09:00.000+09:002006-05-04T13:40:02.666+09:00<div align="justify">Upon receiving reports that the road from the airport out to our neighbourhood was closed due to disturbances in Tasi Tolu, a Timorese colleague of Daniel’s invited us to spend the night at her house in Bebora near Vila Verde. We gladly accepted her kind offer.<br /><br />We waited for a car to return to take us to Bebora but as darkness descended on Dili, we decided to walk the kilometre or so distance to the colleague’s house rather than make the journey in the dark (car or no car!). The street on which Daniel’s NGO is located is a dead end, but we were guided or smuggled by the locals through various front and back yards until the way through was found. We passed under laundry hanging out to dry, women feeding children, dogs, pigs and chickens until we came out on to the main road, saving us quite a walk and avoiding the main road.<br /><br />Upon entering our colleague’s house, we were a little alarmed to see an enormous packed suitcase waiting at the inside of the front door. We asked what it was for and she said it was there in case we have to leave in a hurry. We felt this to be an ominous sign. Our colleague motioned for us to sit in the stiffling and fanless front room of her house. We soon began to perspire. We asked if she had a television that we could watch the evening news on but she replied no, she didn’t have one. It still amazes me how very middle class, well educated Timorese do not have some of the material goods that we would expect in the West. I felt totally cut off from what was really going on and knew I would have to rely on rumours for any information. For better or worse, these are always plentiful here.<br /><br />Reluctantly we asked our colleague if the neighbourhood was <em>loromonu</em> (west) or <em>lorosa’e</em> (east) and to our relief she said the former. We knew then that we would be relatively safe, primarily because most of the troubles seemed to be occurring in mixed neighbourhoods, but secondly because most of the trouble seemed to be aimed at <em>lorosa’e</em> Timorese.<br /><br />Soon after our arrival I received the following text message (twice) from the Australian Embassy in Dili:<br /><br /><em>Aust. travel advice updated 28/04 – advise against unneccessary travel in Dili esp at night and around govt. bldgs, Tasi Tolu and Taibesi and Comoro markets.<br /></em><br />We spent most of the evening sitting outside on the verandah where we were attacked by some ferocious mosquitoes. The thought of contracting malaria or dengue fever was not, however, uppermost in our minds. Our colleague brought out her photo albums and we happily devoured their contents as a form of distraction. We were a little envious however of the photos of our home city Melbourne, where our colleague had visited twice last year to attend conferences on Timor. One photo was of our colleague as she gave a talk at a workshop at the Cooperating with Timor-Leste conference, which I attended and remembered her very well. Little did I know then, that I would end up spending the night in her house due to a violent outbreak on the streets of her home town!.<br /><br />Our colleague is the eldest of six children: four girls and two boys. She was born and educated in Dili before leaving for Kupang in Indonesian West Timor where she studied and graduated in law. All of her nuclear family now resides in Kupang except a sister who lives in Dili and works for the government. Since arriving in Timor we have slowly got to know her and like and respect her immenseley. She is a beautiful human being: both physically and spiritually and I feel very fortunate to have met her.<br /><br />We shared a late meal together, most of which was the food Daniel’s female colleagues had prepared for their NGO’s fifth birthday celebration, but due to the outbreak of violence, unsurprisingly only two guests showed up and the event was cancelled. We ate white rice, a green leafy vegetable and mixed vegetables with chopped boiled eggs. Exhausted we all then went to bed. Our colleague had given up her room for us while she slept in the room that her parents use when they come to Dili. Despite having two mattresses on the bed (one of which our colleague put on the bed especially for us, knowing from experience when we stayed in Ainaro together with other colleagues for human rights training (see <a href="http://samanddaniel.blogspot.com/2005/08/atauro-island-and-human-rights.html" target="_blank">Atauro Island and Human Rights training in Ainaro</a>) that I found the thin mattress uncomfortable) the bed was still hard. We tried to sleep but our minds were too unsettled.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114646935396342356?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1146213682426124722006-04-28T17:27:00.000+09:002006-05-04T13:41:56.556+09:00<div align="justify">After lunch I made my way to the <em>mikrolete</em> (minibus) stop in Kolmera (Dili) near Daniel’s place of work. All the number 10 <em>mikrolete </em>were packed to the rafters so I waited under the shade of a gum tree. After about 30 minutes, the Chinese Timorese owned electronics shop across the road hurriedly closed its doors and people started running down the street. I wondered what was going on and thought perhaps it was due to one of the many rumours that pass as news in Timor.<br /><br />I continued to wait under a tree but no <em>mikrolete</em> came. Not long after, lots of cars, motorbikes and people started running up the street towards the hills. Then the police appeared in their 4WDs many with mean looking guns. They motioned to people to get off the streets and people began running. I thought it was time to make my way to Daniel’s workplace and proceeded to walk quickly, while my heart beat a little faster than usual.<br /><br />As I approached Daniel’s street I noticed a group of men at the end of it and wondered if they were part of the Kolmera martial arts group (gang) which were recently involved in the death of a young man. The heavy gates to Daniel’s work place were closed but as I peered through the bars I saw Daniel and some of his colleagues under the marquee, set up for a celebration planned for tonight. I motioned to him to let me in.<br /><br />I was relieved as I entered the gates as I had been growing quite frightened. Upon entering I noticed two little children, relatives of two of Daniel’s Timorese colleagues and I made an effort to smile so as not to worry them.<br /><br />One of Daniel’s <em>malae</em> (white foreigner) colleagues, whose last day it was today at their NGO, was wondering if we should all try and head home rather than stay put in Kolmera. The area is renowned as a problem neighbourhood because of the martial arts groups (gangs) and the mixed community. There are Chinese Timorese along with people from the west and east of the country, which makes for a volatile mix when tensions arise.<br /><br />People were trying to use their mobile telephones and the single landline but the system was jammed. After a couple of attempts, I managed to get through to the AVI Country Manager who arrived in Timor last week and who will now be based in Timor instead of Australia. She is staying at a hotel near the government building. She advised to stay put.<br /><br />The Internet connection was also down and with no radio at hand, it felt very unsettling not to have a link to the outside world. Radio Australia has disappeared from the airwaves of Dili yet again (when they will return is anybody’s guess), so we would be reliant on local radio in Tetum, Portuguese or Bahasa Indonesia.<br /><br />During the course of the afternoon, I received the following text message (five times) from the Australian Embassy in Dili (while Daniel has yet to receive it!):<br /><br /><em>Reminder from Embassy. Exercise caution. We recommend all Aust stay well clear of any gatherings and demonstrations, as they have the potential to escalate.<br /></em><br />This message comes on top of the one I received (three times) on Monday which read:<br /><br /><em>Emb suggests Australians stay away from protest. Protest expected to start today 24th, Tasi Tolu, GPA, Lu Olo’s Office & Palace of Ashes till 28th Enq (phone number)<br /><br /></em>One of Daniel’s <em>malae</em> colleagues arrived in a badly damaged car driven by another <em>malae</em> woman. Most of the car’s windows had been smashed with rocks which sat on the dashboard as testament. The car had been parked outside the government building while the two women ate lunch together in a nearby <em>malae</em> restaurant. As they left the restaurant, they noticed about a hundred young men wielding long sticks and rocks which they were using to damage parked cars. Then the tear gas appeared and suffering the consequences of it, the two women made a hasty retreat back to the restaurant to wash their eyes before going back outside to collect their car.<br /><br />What appears to have happened is that disturbances have occurred next to the government building in the heart of the city, about a kilometre from here. Young men have destroyed property and set buildings and cars on fire. It is unclear whether these men are part of the ‘591’ sacked military, members of martial arts groups (gangs) or random individuals. Given the situation has been mostly calm all week with the ‘591’ conducting themselves peacefully, I would guess that it is the gangs taking advantage of the situation but I cannot be sure. (The unemployment rate for young people in Dili is 40% and some young male members channel their frustrations vis-à-vis martial arts groups.)<br /><br />At around 3pm Daniel and some of his colleagues ventured beyond the gates to see if people had returned to the streets of Kolmera. They had so some of Daniel’s colleagues tentatively left the premises and headed for home.<br /><br />The situation remains tense. We have heard reports of people throwing rocks at <em>bis</em> (bus) headed for the east to Baukau and Lospalos. Many Dili residents are also fleeing to the surrounding hills. One of Daniel’s Timorese colleagues is convinced things are only going to get worse. He even asked us that if we are evacuated to Australia, would we take him with us!<br /><br />What a fragile democracy is Timor.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114621368242612472?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148115086090109222006-04-27T17:47:00.000+09:002006-05-20T17:51:26.266+09:00<div align="justify">Far Eastern Economic Review - April 2006</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><em>“Jill Jolliffe -- In October 1999, Indonesian troops filed silently through the smoldering remains of East Timor's capital, Dili, and on to its port. Their sullen embarkation signified the end of a bloody imperial adventure which began in the former Portuguese colony 24 years before. The Suharto dictatorship had fallen. United Nations officials in New York were busy drafting resolutions which would shape a new country about to rise from the ashes. Recently arrived UN peacekeepers observed the historic departure.They had been sent to restore order after violence accompanying an overwhelming pro-independence vote in August.Around 1,400 people had died and countless others were injured or missing in the violence unleashed by the departing Indonesians and their Timorese militias. Another quarter million had been forcibly deported to Indonesian (West) Timor.As the peacekeepers continued to arrive, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan commissioned five international jurists, led by Costa Rican expert Sonia Picado, to visit Timor, assess breaches of international law and recommend UN action.The team advised:Victims... must not be forgotten in the rush of events to redefine relations in the region, and their basic human rights to justice, compensation and the truth must be fully respected.It stressed "the need to act against impunity in order to discourage future violations of human rights" and recommended that the UN establish an international tribunal to judge "those accused ... of serious violations of fundamental human rights and international humanitarian law...."The secretary-general's response was to pass the Picado report to the Security Council without endorsing its recommendations. The Council voted instead to establish a two-pronged system of justice for East Timor. A special court in Jakarta would try Indonesian perpetrators, while a UN-funded Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) in Dili would prepare cases to be tried before international panels of judges.It also approved a truth commission for Dili, the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (known by its Portuguese acronym, CAVR), to collect testimony on human-rights violations committed between Portugal's botched April 1974 decolonization and Indonesia's 1999 withdrawal. Its brief was to reconcile perpetrators of minor crimes with their communities, while referring serious crimes to the SCU for prosecution.Two important points to note are that, firstly, the resolution assumed that democracy was complete in Indonesia, that the reformasi process begun before Suharto's fall in May 1998 had succeeded. This is still not the case. Some enlightened reforms, including decentralization of power and direct election of all political representatives, have been instituted, but military figures still exercise inordinate influence. Secondly, the resolution concerned only war crimes committed in 1999, despite a clamor by the East Timorese public for redress in cases stretching back throughout the 24-year Indonesian occupation. As a result, many Timorese distrusted the UN's justice arrangements, not believing Jakarta capable of trying its own military officers who had ordered and directed the bloodshed. The SCU prosecutions in Dili were viewed more positively, even if their power was limited.Seven years on and millions of dollars later, these various strands of the justice process have been tested and found wanting. There is discontent with the UN's performance and a tendency by UN, Timorese and Indonesian leaders to meet criticism by patching together inferior solutions without consulting victims, or civil society in general.By the time the UN was due to pull out of East Timor on May 20, 2005, the Jakarta court known as the Ad Hoc Tribunal had tried a mere 18 men accused of orchestrating the violence, mostly senior Indonesian officers. All were acquitted except Timorese militia leader Eurico Guterres, whose five-year sentence was increased to 10 years on appeal.The SCU prosecutions in Dili had more to show, but also disappointed. International judges tried perpetrators by due legal process, but although 317 people had been indicted by May 2005, only 74 had been convicted. East Timorese militiamen were behind bars, but not their Indonesian commanders.The reason was that although the UN transitional administration in Dili had signed an April 2000 extradition agreement with Jakarta, President Megawati Sukarnoputri reneged on the deal. Most of those indicted still enjoy sanctuary in Indonesia.In a bid to raise the psychological stakes, Timorese SCU chief Longuinhos Monteiro negotiated local police membership of Interpol. "Wanted" notices of indicted Indonesians now appear on the organization's Web sites, and when they travel abroad they risk arrest by Interpol agents and handover to Dili police.In early 2005 the UN secretary-general ordered a new report to determine why the 1999 Security Council resolution had failed. But even before the three-person commission began work, a new scheme was being hatched by politicians to satisfy the clamor for justice without actually delivering it. The CAVR had not handed in the report of its investigation into the violations of 1974-99, yet a new truth and reconciliation commission was underway, undermining CAVR's credibility.The idea of a bilateral Indonesian-East Timorese commission as an alternative to prosecuting war criminals had been raised earlier by Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta. By year's end a deal was in place between President Yudhoyono and East Timor's President Xanana Gusmao. This second Truth and Friendship Commission consisted of five Indonesian and five Timorese commissioners. Presented as a project to facilitate truth-telling by Indonesian officials, it offered an amnesty to those who testified. Former Indonesian Defense Minister Gen. Wiranto, indicted for war crimes in Dili but untouchable in Indonesia, was a desired witness.Its Timorese supporters argue that its truth-telling functions, facilitated by the amnesty, will assist President Yudhoyono to effect reforms within the military. They contend that by advancing Indonesian democracy it will serve Timorese interests (failing to consider that the commission could equally be a tool for Mr. Yudhoyono to vanquish political rivals).The commissioners sought access to sensitive testimony in SCU and CAVR archives, triggering fears this material might end up in Jakarta's secret police files. The Timorese commissioners were mainly recruited from the CAVR under pressure from President Gusmao's office. The Indonesian commissioners include West Timorese archbishop Petrus Turang and retired general Agus Widjojo, billed as a "respected reformist general." In 2001 Mr. Widjojo told a Jakarta conference that human-rights training was unsuitable for Indonesian soldiers because it interfered with their performance.In Dili, critics underlined that the commission had not been debated publicly, and the influential Roman Catholic Church, which advocates war-crimes trials, expressed its dissent in a letter to Mr. Annan.Meanwhile, the UN experts presented their findings on May 26, 2005, six days after the bulk of UN personnel had withdrawn from Dili. Their findings echoed those of the Picado report. They said the ad hoc trials in Jakarta showed "scant respect for relevant international standards" and recommended retrials, or, if Indonesia did not comply within six months, a war-crimes tribunal.The report called on the Security Council to extend the SCU's work for two years.On the bilateral Truth and Friendship Commission, UN experts urged the international community to withhold financial support "unless the two governments reconsider the terms of reference," saying the impunity offer violates international law. The experts also found "an absence of political will and government support in [East Timor] for the continuation of the serious crimes process, which impedes... bringing to justice those responsible for crimes against humanity..."Josi Andrade is an energetic parliamentarian for the governing Fretilin party. Officially he supports its impunity policy, but as a torture survivor his personal feelings tend to be at odds with the party line. He was arrested in 1999 in the border town of Maliana by Lieut.-Col. Siagian Burhanuddin, whose face now features on Interpol posters. Beaten insensible on Mr. Burhanuddin's orders during interrogation, Mr. Andrade was blinded in his right eye by blows from rifle butts. The SCU indictment brought him a sense of relief, but it could be dropped, leaving Mr. Andrade's torturer permanently at large.There are an estimated 10,000 former political prisoners from the Indonesian period in East Timor. A sample of 45 recent in-depth interviews by the archival project Living Memory showed that more than 90% had also been tortured. Of these, a substantial proportion had suffered severe torture, defined by practices such as the application of electric shocks and the extraction of fingernails or toenails with pliers. The ex-prisoners are a forgotten group who struggle with personal demons, untreated injuries and anger over the injustice of impunity.The capacity of the justice issue to generate tension was demonstrated when the 2,500-page CAVR report was finally tabled in late 2005. Based on 8,000 witness interviews, it was a damning litany of Indonesian abuses, blaming Jakarta for more than 100,000 deaths from killings, starvation and disease during the occupation.President Gusmao delivered a copy to the UN secretary-general in January. The president told reporters that East Timor would not be seeking reparations from Jakarta. Nevertheless, Mr. Yudhoyono canceled a scheduled meeting with the Timorese president and relations chilled.Mr. Annan has not responded to a September request from the Security Council for guidance on the latest experts' report. He is bound to speak before the UN's current Timor mandate expires in May, but insiders predict he will once again ignore anti-impunity resolutions and the very advisors he commissioned, allowing the justice issue to fester. At the end of his term, it would not be costly for the secretary-general to take a principled, if unpopular, stand. Such a stand might even secure his reputation in history, but his legacy looks like being otherwise.East Timor's vain quest for justice is a casualty of the new world order in which Indonesia's value as a moderate Muslim power supporting the war against terrorism outweighs its undemocratic shortcomings. It is, however, also a victim of international cynicism, which could see East Timor revert to its former status as a forgotten territory that lacks the international leverage necessary to redress decades of violence and abuse that still haunt those who live there.”</em></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">[Ms. Jolliffe is a free-lance journalist working on The Living Memory Project, a video archive of testimony by East Timor's former political prisoners. She recently shared the award of Journalist of the Year 2006 from Yale University's Globalist magazine.]</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114811508609010922?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1146467352016084782006-04-20T16:03:00.000+09:002006-05-04T13:42:28.393+09:00<div align="justify"><em>“Minister of Interior, Rogério Lobato told the media in a press conference Wednesday, that the police have given authorization for the ‘petitioners group’ to hold their protest. Lobato said his department received a notification from the group, informing him of their plans to hold a demonstration starting on Monday until Thursday. He reiterated that as a democratic nation, citizens of Timor-Leste have the right to protest, but added that ‘if the protesters commit a crime, police will shoot’. The Minister of Interior said the work of the police is to provide security to the protesters as well as the community therefore PNTL will be in control of the security to prevent any crimes that can affect the stability of the nation. According to media reports, Lobato also stated during the conference, that he has already received information that some political parties, embassies and priests are supporting the ‘petitioners group’ noting that police have also identified some people who are providing food to the ‘petitioners’. Lobato said police would patrol the airport and the borders to detain anyone contributing to the destabilization, from fleeing the country. He also appealed to the community not to panic as police would provide security 24 hours and he asked the heads and chiefs of villages to work together with the police in identifying new faces within their community and to question the purpose of their stay as many youths are now travelling to Dili to participate in the protest. He said police will identify the venue where the group plans to demonstrate and that participants will be searched to guarantee that they are not carrying any weapons. He asked all to maintain law and order.<br /><br />The media also reported that the spokesperson of the ‘petition group’, Salsinha Gastão, as saying that the scheduled protest is to demand the sovereign state to speed up a solution to the problem adding, “if it is not resolved within the fours days, we don’t know what will happen to this country. It is not we who are destroying the nation but the sovereign bodies for not wanting to resolve it,” he said, adding “We have been too patient during the last three months and we have exhausted our patience. We were once slaves and we don’t want to be forever slaves, therefore the leaders must give attention to this problem”. Gastão said the people planning to participate in the demonstration include the group and their families and asked police not to be in dismay as it will be a peaceful action. He stated that the group is only receiving support from their families and people from 10 Districts and not from embassies and political parties as reported. According to the media, Salsinha Gastão believes that the demonstration will run smoothly but emphasized there must be a solution. He questions the functioning ability of the established commission and asks why they are investigating the victims and not the suspects. He also appealed to the commission to act impartially.”</em><br /><br />Source: Timor Post, Suara Timor Lorosae & Diario Nacional (from UNOTIL Public Information Office, Daily Media Review)</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114646735201608478?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148111354663216642006-04-19T16:36:00.000+09:002006-05-20T18:07:22.140+09:00<div align="justify">Upon waking Saturday morning, I went for a walk west along the dirt road which passed the small group of fisher people’s huts, up on to the plateau past the rice paddy fields and down again to another white sandy beach which included the remains of an old Portuguese fort and a no longer functioning bathroom. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The bird calls were again melodious and I managed to spot a colourful kingfisher before it flew off further away into the tree foliage. At least one tree was deciduous and it had begun to drop its very large red leaves. I wondered what species it was and wished I had a reference book on the flora and fauna of Timor. Upon ascending another plateau I spotted a number of fishermen in their boats out at sea, and some of them called up to me “Hello Missus” and <em>Senyora</em>. I was amazed at how far their voices travelled as I also heard a number of them singing. It was a very pleasant hour’s walk.<br /><br />Following breakfast on Saturday, we got talking to the Australian couple and soon found we really enjoyed their company. They were thoughtful, intelligent, compassionate, and humble people with an obvious left of centre social justice bent. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Originally from Adelaide, married at 22 years of age and had their first child a year later. In 1986 at the age of 26 they left Australia for a two year post to Vanuatu where he worked as a secondary school teacher and she gave birth to their second child. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">They then moved to the Solomon Islands for four years where he again taught and she gave birth to their third and fourth children. She also home schooled the eldest two while studying for her BA part time over ten years initially through the <a href="http://www.usp.ac.fj/" target="_blank">University of the South Pacific</a>. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">They spent six years in the Pacific before returning to Australia in 1992. He went on to do post graduate studies including a Masters by research on how Solomon Islands children learn and a PhD thesis on how the different generations of Vietnamese immigrant children in Australia fared in the education system. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">His last paid position in Australia was as an academic in the faculty of education of a public university in New South Wales. They have come to Timor for three years as he has a contract working on primary education with <a href="http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/Timorleste.html" target="_blank">UNICEF</a> and she is doing her master’s by research on the friendship city agreements between Australia and Timor. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Although Daniel could be their son (I am a little too old for that), the age difference between us didn’t matter a bit (in fact, throughout my life I have always preferred the company of older people).<br /><br />I told them about my “problems” with living in Timor and for the first time since arriving in Timor (Daniel excepting), I received an empathic hearing. They too had experienced the same issues, such as the dependency of the locals including the dollar sign on one’s forehead and the total lack of interest people show towards you and what hard work it is to form relationships. Not to mention the deeply entrenched patriarchal nature of many of the societies and how completely and utterly repressed and oppressed most of the women and children are. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">But they persisted in trying to form relationships even though they indeed had to do most of the work, and in the end they found it worthwhile, although it wasn’t quick or easy. What it took was <em>pasiénsia</em> (patience), an often used word in Timor, which I do not have in abundant supply.<br /><br />They asked us if we had any plans for lunch and we said that we wanted to go to the Pousada which they had also planned to do. So they drove us up the 7km steep and windy road which explained why I was so exhausted after the “3km” trip down! Lonely Planet’s guide to East Timor states it as a 5km walk and the online <a href="http://www.osolemedia.com/" target="_blank">Unofficial Guide to East Timor</a> a mere 3km! Well I’m here to tell you that both are wrong, it’s 7km!<br /><br />The Pousada’s restaurant is absolutely gorgeous with the best architecture I’ve seen in Timor. The windows are floor length which command beautiful views across Old Town down to the ocean. Unfortunately the food didn’t match the architecture as the offering for vegetarians was paltry (Portugal is not renowned for its vegetarian cuisine). </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">So we settled on a very small vegetable soup (a broth with only two kinds of diced and chopped vegetables) and a very small salad of lettuce, cucumber, tomato and carrot. I was still very hungry so ordered a vegetable omelet which in contrast to the first two dishes was so enormous, I went halves with Daniel. We followed this with a crème brule type dessert which was too runny and not very tasty. Still we enjoyed the atmosphere and more importantly the company.<br /><br />Our new friends shouted us lunch (they know from experience what it’s like to live on a volunteer allowance) and Daniel and I then walked the short trip to the Piscina de Baukau for an afternoon swim in the stream fed pool. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It soon began to rain, sending the hordes of children and teenagers scurrying for home, which pleased us as I couldn’t decide how to enter the pool in a modest fashion. Despite my one piece bathing suit, there was no place dry near the pool to drop my sarong at the last moment, so I sat on the edge of the pool in both my sarong and t-shit and slowly took off the former and quickly took off the latter before jumping in (hopefully) unseen. I proceeded to do about twelve laps and that just about did me in (I haven’t swum laps for a couple of years although when I lived in London, I did so a couple of times a week). I then swapped with Daniel as one of us needed to keep an eye on our personal belongings.<br /><br />We paid 50c each for the swim and went and sat outside the gate to wait for a number A3 <em>mikrolete</em> back down to Osolata. We waited and waited and waited as we watched the A1s and A2s pass. Daniel asked a group of young Timorese men and later young boys, if the A3 ran on a Saturday and they all said yes until 6pm and that we should keep waiting. We waited for what turned out to be nearly an hour and a half with me fast losing my limited supply of <em>pasiénsia</em>. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">We guessed by the position of the sun that it was around 5:30pm and in all the time we waited, hadn’t seen an A3 come back up from Osolata. Perhaps they’d decided to all take the afternoon off; after all it was <em>páskua</em>. Daniel stopped a private <em>mikrolete</em> and negotiated with them to take us down for $3. They originally wanted $10 which was extreme given that the fare would normally be 10c each!<br /><br />When we finally arrived back at the bungalow just before 6pm, we told our Australian friends about our misfortune and they said that they were soon going to come back up to see whether we were stranded. I thought this was very considerate of them and my affection for them both grew more.<br /><br />Dinner that night was again <em>etu mutin</em>, <em>kankun</em>, <em>sopa mie</em> and <em>salada</em> with <em>mantolun da’an</em> and two more <em>mantolun da’an</em> each in a spicy chili sauce. I was wondering what my cholesterol reading would be like after four days of eating so many <em>mantolun</em>!</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114811135466321664?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148110566781119292006-04-19T16:29:00.000+09:002006-05-20T17:58:11.533+09:00<div align="justify">I didn’t sleep all that well (usual for me in a new bed), but we woke up early (as in Dili the roosters began at 4am). </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Breakfast consisted of freshly baked small Portuguese white <em>paun</em> (bread) rolls which were quite yummy, and which I ate with <em>keiju</em> (cheese, Kraft slices also from Indonesia) and one with vegemite, a small jar of which I had brought with us. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">As I don’t like coffee, I had thought ahead and also brought along the little individual packets of ginger and sugar tea from Singapore we enjoy every morning at home. Locally cultivated <em>hudi</em> (bananas), <em>ai-dila</em> (papaya/paw paw) and <em>sabraka-lotuk</em> (mandarins) were also served along with sweet biscuits from Indonesia and another lot of locally made Portuguese biscuits. Upon returning to our hut, we noticed a <em>hudi-hun</em> (banana tree) growing on the property with little tiny weenie <em>hudi</em> just sprouting (photo to come). Daniel remains amazed at how bananas begin their lives...<br /><br />We proceeded to wile away the day reading, snoozing and taking a midday swim to cool down. We decided to forgo lunch as we knew it would be the same again for dinner, so instead ate a handful of mixed nuts from Singapore purchased in Dili.<br /><br />The sole remaining guest of the night before departed early that morning and during the course of the afternoon we welcomed three car loads of new visitors: a couple from New Zealand, a couple from Australia and four women who work for the UN. Another carload of UN women stayed in the beach house, a short walk from the four traditional bungalows.<br /><br />The bungalows were pleasant enough but they weren’t designed very well. For starters they were far too big: they slept five people when most <em>malae</em> come alone, as a couple, or as friends; they could have been half the size which would have left room to build twice as many. Each had its own bathroom which was probably unnecessary and in the concrete floor as decoration were raised shells (raised a little too high) which were incredibly uncomfortable to walk over. The water was scalding hot during the day and freezing cold in the morning and evening due to the pipes exposure to the sun. Then there was the lack of light; if you didn’t open the four shutters and door, you were left in the dark. It did however give one an appreciation of what it is like to live in a traditional Timorese house as they are very dark and oppressive! At least we had a concrete floor and there was no fire burning in the corner!<br /><br />Comparing the bungalows to the ones on the eco-resort on Atauro Island, it is very clear that the latter were designed with much more planning and an understanding of what <em>malae</em> want. We certainly prefer the ones on Atauro, but the scenery in Osolata is more to our liking (lush as opposed to dry). Despite the bungalows shortcomings in design, we would have highly recommended the place.<br /><br />Dinner that night was most enjoyable because of the presence of tempe (fermented soya beans). Again we ate <em>etu mutin</em>, <em>kankun</em>, <em>sopa mie</em> and <em>salada</em> but instead of <em>mantolun da’an</em> we were served with stir fried and marinated tempe which was delicious. We ate with our two new New Zealand friends who had only recently arrived in Timor.<br /><br />The UN women had obviously decided to make this long weekend an enjoyable one, but not the quiet one the rest of us had envisaged. They had purchased wine in Dili and proceeded to drink it while giggling through the night. This went on until the electricity was switched off (like most of the towns in Timor that have electricity, power is only available from 6pm to midnight). </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">One of the women then got into her UN vehicle which was parked outside our bungalow, and proceeded to rev the engine as she tried (while intoxicated?) to negotiate her way between the coconut palms down onto the dirt road. I wondered where the hell she was going at this time of night, and the next day discovered she was merely driving to the beach house which was a simple five minute walk away! Needless to say I wasn’t very impressed with these young women, particularly as at least one of them liked walking around in nothing more than a skimpy two piece bikini, even when she walked to and from the house to collect her group’s meals! </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">As in Bali, <em>malae</em> in Timor can be incredibly disrespectful of the local traditional and conservative culture of the people.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114811056678111929?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148110012307760222006-04-19T16:21:00.000+09:002006-05-20T17:50:00.740+09:00<div align="justify">We disembarked the bis in New Town, a settlement that sprung up during Indonesian times and which has nothing very interesting about it for outsiders like us. We jumped on a local <em>mikrolete</em> which took us to the colonial era Old Town and the roundaboud at the bottom of the Pousada de Baukau (or Hotel Flamboyant, its Portuguese era name). You can’t miss the place as it is painted in “Portuguese pink” (flamingo pink) colour! Many other Portuguese buildings remain standing but most such as the Mercardo Municipal (market) are derelict and in need of renovation.<br /><br />Daniel said that it was a 3km walk down to Osolata, a small fishing village on the sea and as he wasn’t sure that <em>mikrolete</em> went down the paved road we decided to walk it (he had after all, done this once before on a work trip). It soon became apparent that <em>mikrolete</em> number A3 did in fact go to the beach but as we believed the walk was a mere 3km, we decided to keep walking. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">As we did, I was surprised to hear the local children shout out to us “photo, photo”. Unlike in Dili where its “dollar, dollar”, the kids of Baukau had obviously been trained by visiting <em>malae</em> to ask for their photo. Perhaps they were also expecting to be paid for it! It soon became very annoying.<br /><br />The walk down was beautiful as it follows the fresh water spring under enormous Banyan trees and over short waterfalls out to the sea. Importantly the spring irrigates the coconut groves and rice paddies which the local people grown who inhabit the area. The people live in the traditional thatched houses of the Makasai.<br /><br />The walk seemed to be much longer and unfortunately for me, steeper than I was led to believe. My knee problem (one leg slightly shorter than the other) soon surfaced and after glancing at the time, knew that it must be more than 3km to Osolata. One hour and ten minutes later, we arrived at our destination, hot, sweaty, and exhausted with one angry throbbing knee. We promptly “checked in” to Baukau Beach Bungalows, put our backpacks inside our allotted traditional hut and went for a swim in the warm sea at Pantai Wataboo (an Indonesian name), a beautiful white sand beach right on our doorstep. This area used to be Baukau’s port and the abandoned Portuguese c<em>asa alfándega</em> (customs house) fronts the beach. This derelict building could be turned into a magnificent restaurant or holiday apartments.<br /><br />The scenery was very beautiful and the atmosphere serene. Apart from us, there was only one other guest and we felt pretty much like we had the place to ourselves. The bird calls were numerous and we wondered what they all were. Finally, wildlife!<br /><br />We ate a typically Timorese lunch: a <em>salada</em> (salad) consisting of <em>alfase</em> (lettuce), <em>pepinu</em> (cucumber) and <em>tomate</em> (tomato) with <em>mantolun da’an</em> (boiled eggs) dowsed in <em>mina</em> (oil), <em>etu mutin</em> (white rice) and <em>kankun</em> (aquatic spinach-like plant). Afterwards, we spent the afternoon lazing about, reading and sleeping. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">At sunset, we walked the short distance to the beach and were amazed to see a bright full moon suspended between and framed by two coconut trees to the east. It was a glorious sight. We sat down in the sand and watched the moon slowly make its journey westwards, while to the west the sun slowly sank beneath the horizon leaving in its wake bright orange trails.</div><div align="justify"><br />Dinner consisted of exactly the same as lunch except we were also served <em>sopa mie</em> (packet noodles loaded with MSG from Indonesia, a bit like two minute noodles in Australia) and a can of coke. Mmmm I thought if this is it for lunch and dinner for four days, I think I might get a little bored. The owners were quite agitated that we had left our windows open while we ate dinner, but we thought nothing much of it. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I went to bed happy as the stresses of Dili had left me already and I felt quite relaxed. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114811001230776022?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148109668891852592006-04-19T16:10:00.000+09:002006-05-20T17:42:01.310+09:00<div align="justify">We spent Páskua (Easter) in Baukau, the main town and Episcopal see of eastern East Timor in the Makasai-speaking region (population 104,000). Located 124km east of Dili. Unable to afford the $75 a day cost of renting the smallest available 4WD, we decided to draw on some of the courage which brought us here in the first place and catch a local <em>bís</em> (bus), which we discovered few of the Dili based AVIs had ever done!<br /><br />Argentina and her <em>doben</em> (sweetheart/boyfriend) Alberto were leaving home at 5am Thursday morning for Alberto’s home town of Venilale which lies approximately half way between Baukau and Vikeke the main town of the South East Tetum-speaking plain. Argentina agreed to share the taxi ride with us to Bekora bus station, one of only two such stations in Dili. All <em>bís </em>heading east depart from Bekora and all <em>bís</em> heading west depart from Tasi-tolu. <em>Bís</em> generally leave very early in the morning starting around 6am and usually finishing before midday. There is no schedule and no booking system. You simply turn up at the bus station and hop on a <em>bís</em> which hopefully has an empty seat and is headed in your direction.<br /><br />Although Thursday was not a public holiday, most work places were offering the afternoon off, however Daniel’s NGO offered the whole day. So I took the morning off as well to wake up at 4:30am to finish preparing ourselves for the trip. Soon after 5am we were sitting on our verandah waiting for the taxi. It finally arrived at 6am an hour after it should have! </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The young man driving seemed very sleepy so I suspected that he had only just woken up and jumped in his car. Whether from his tiredness or simply his poor motor coordination skills, he was a very bad driver and kept veering to the centre of the road while oncoming traffic blared horns at him, warning him to keep to the left side of the road. As we approached the bus station, the driver decided to overtake a slower moving vehicle in front while an oncoming vehicle approached from the opposite direction with very little room to allow a take over. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Zalia, the fifth child and second eldest daughter of our “family” was sitting on the knee of Alberto in the front passenger seat without either one wearing a seatbelt. I could just see her flying through the window and that would have been the end of her. A little scream escaped my throat and our three Timorese adult companions all laughed. The driver said that all <em>malae</em> are <em>tauk</em> (scared). Humph I thought, we’re only <em>tauk</em> because the Timorese have absolutely no concept of safety and constantly risk their lives (and others) with dangerous behavior such as this.<br /><br />Even before the taxi came to a complete stop, young Timorese men were chasing the car trying to get us to come with them to their <em>bís</em>. I felt a bit overwhelmed by it all, particularly as one of the men walked off with my bag in order to lure us to his <em>bís</em>. Argentina, Alberto and Zalia left on a different <em>bís</em> so we were left to follow the young tout. Upon embarking the <em>bís</em> all eyes were on the <em>malae</em>, few of whom actually catch local transport. We endured being stared at for quite some time particularly as we both struggled to sit next to one another in seats meant for tiny Timorese people. I was not sure that I could endure being so squashed in next to Daniel for the three hour journey.<br /><br />The <em>bís</em> driver, a red headed middle aged Timorese man, revved the engine as if we were about to leave. We actually sat there for 40 minutes waiting for the <em>bís</em> to fill up all the while the engine was revved as a ploy to trick would-be passengers into believing that this particular <em>bís</em> was about to leave so they should hop on now and find a seat. What a waste of petrol! In the meantime, Daniel sauntered off to purchase some <em>bee</em> (water) and <em>paun</em> (bread rolls). Many hawkers (all of them young boys) tried to sell us the same thing. At 7:10am, not yet full, the bus left the station.<br /><br />The <em>bís</em> climbed up over the hills to the east that encloses Dili and within no time at all we discovered a segment of the road had half collapsed due to heavy rains or a landslide. The driver deftly negotiated his way around it.<br /><br />We were both uncomfortable but as long as we kept our legs and arms together each provided the other with something to lean against as we wound our way around the hills. However, the seats sloped not only towards the front but also towards Daniel so I often had to reposition myself as I slowly inched my way onto his seat. Poor Daniel not only had to contend with me encroaching onto his limited space while his left thigh was jammed up against the seat’s arm rest, but he also had a couple of <em>manu</em> (chickens) perched on his feet! As they <em>kokoteek</em> (cackled) in protest at being cramped together, Daniel wondered whether they might start nibbling at his toes.<br /><br />The scenery was quite beautiful as the road is suspended midway between the sea and the mountains. Much of the road hugged the coast and it reminded me somewhat of the <a href="http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au/" target="_blank">Great Ocean Road</a> in my home state of Victoria. About 23km out of Dili we passed through Metinaro, the training base for the country’s military, the F-FDTL which has been the subject of many recent posts. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">At 64km we crossed a long bridge which traverses the muddy brown Laklo River before arriving in Manatutu, capital of the Galoli-speaking region of northern Timor and the district from which the President hails. In the main street, many burnt out and destroyed buildings remained standing and were a stark reminder of the events of 1999. Supposedly a two day coast-to-coast walk begins here which ends up in a nature preserve on the south coast. Both Metinaro and Manatutu are known for their pottery production made by mixing the locally available resources of river clay with beach sand.<br /><br />Heading 19km further east, we passed through the small town of Laleia which has a beautiful Portuguese church, but we were not able to stop and visit. We again passed over a long bridge and wide brown river. Most of these bridges were built during the Indonesian occupation as virtually no major bridges were constructed during the Portuguese era (to their credit, the Portuguese did pave 7km of road during their 464 year stay!). Any that the retreating Indonesian army and their proxy militia destroyed, have been mostly rebuilt by the Japanese.<br /><br />From Laleia, we arrived 9km later in Vemasse where we crossed our third and final bridge. This leg of the journey afforded us with the sight of many lush green rice paddy fields before the road turned inland to mostly flat and dry landscape. Finally the <em>bís</em> descended through lush forest as we headed over the edge of the plateau into the town of Baukau. As we approached our destination, the <em>bís</em> conductor collected our fares, a mere $2 each!<br /><br />Baukau sits at an altitude of 330m and the sea breezes make it cooler than the coast. The town has a clear fresh water spring gushing from the almost vertical cliff face backing the Old Town. The exact spot was chosen by the Portuguese with defence in mind as its location above the sea backed by steep limestone cliffs allowed both attacks from the water and inland to be repelled. An interesting fact about Baukau is that during the Portuguese era, it was once northern Australia’s top honeymoon destination! (Thanks to Lonely Planet for some of the factual information in this post)<br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114810966889185259?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148108726952938282006-04-12T15:36:00.000+09:002006-05-20T17:32:05.636+09:00<div align="justify">The young man mentioned in this article, was killed in the street where Daniel works. Martial arts groups (effectively male youth street gangs) are a growing problem for Timor particularly in the capital where 40% of the youth are unemployed. Approximately 20% of men and surprisingly, 5% of women are members of martial arts groups in Timor.<br /><br /><em>“RTTL reported a fight between two martial groups in Kolmera, Dili on Monday night which left one man dead and one seriously injured. RTTL reported that 22-year-old Liborio Martins died of stab wounds. Minister of Interior Rogerio Lobato laments that a life has been lost due to martial arts groups problems. He said a total of 32 people are being investigated.”<br /></em><br />Source: RTTL News Monitoring (from UNOTIL Public Information Office, Daily Media Review)</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114810872695293828?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148106949609202912006-04-12T15:30:00.000+09:002006-05-20T17:29:31.933+09:00<div align="justify">Today I attended the fourth workshop on women’s participation in the 2007 elections. It was held at the City Café, <em>THE</em> hangout for the Portuguese ex-pats, which to its credit, bakes the best <em>paun</em> (bread) available in Dili for a mere $1 a loaf.<br /><br />I was interested to see that I was the only <em>malae</em> in attendance although at least two Indonesians, one who works for UNIFEM and the other who lectures at UNTL (the national university), were also attending. About 100 people were in attendance.<br /><br />Everyone spoke in Tetum so I could only pick up bits and pieces, although much more than I could nine months ago. Obviously my language skills have improved. However, as it grew quite wearing to listen, I read a fifteen page document in English called Towards a new electoral framework in Timor-Leste: on the legal framework, proportional representation and choice of electoral systems by the <a href="http://www.ifes.org/" target="_blank">International Federation of Electoral Systems</a> (IFES). </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It was fascinating to read as Timor’s Constitution states that only proportional representation (PR) may be used, but as there are many methods of PR, the parliament has to decide on which one in order to pass an electoral law before the elections next year. The three methods discussed had their advantages and disadvantages and I am personally set on one in particular. As a firm supporter of PR (as it is the most democratic system available), I look forward to hearing the debates in parliament about which particular method will be chosen for this country.<br /><br />A woman in her 40s wearing her finest aqua blue dress with matching silver blue sandals sat near me and who I came to believe had a rather sad history. The fingers on both her hands had been cut off from just below the knuckles and reattached as long scars were clearly visible. She had very little movement in any of her fingers and the pointer finger on her left hand was permanently bent. I noticed that she found it a challenge to write. Her right arm had a number of healed but deep gashes which I suspected were related to her finger injuries. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was a victim of a machete attack or torture during the Indonesian occupation or perhaps domestic violence. I wondered about her a great deal and my heart shed a few tears as her suffering was clearly visible.<br /><br />I was able to meet three very different Timorese women during the course of the day. The first was a woman aged 31 who studies Accounting at UNTL (the national university). She is originally from Balibo in Bobonaro district which borders Indonesian West Timor. Balibo is infamous in Australia for the murder of five journalists by the Indonesian military as they invaded Timor in December 1975. The murdered journalists have been immortalised as the ‘Balibo Five’. This young woman’s English was very good so we were able to converse with each other easily.<br /><br />The second woman was probably in her 40s, small and tubby with no waist (as mentioned in earlier posts, overweight Timorese do exist). She was very warm and we spoke in Tetum about her work and mine. She works for the only local NGO that works for and with Timorese female sex workers by providing them with counselling and health advice such as the need for clients to wear condoms to prevent STIs and HIV/AIDS (more on that subject to come in a future post). I really admired this woman’s courage to work in such a highly stigmatized area in Timor. I also really liked her.<br /><br />The third woman was a “traditional” Timorese woman in her 50s or 60s. She wore a <em>tais-feto</em> (sarong worn by women) with a mismatched jacket/top fastened together with safety pins (I have yet to see one of these jackets with buttons or clasps). She wore her hair in a bun and her teeth were very worn down (but not it would appear from chewing <em>bua</em> (betelnut) as her teeth and gums were not stained red). She also wore a number of silver bangles on her wrists which jangled when she moved her arms about; and up and down her forearms were many tattoos and I again wondered a great deal about their origin.<br /><br /><em>Tia</em> (aunt) as she insisted I call her is a gifted and well sought after <em>tais</em> (decorative cloth) maker from Oecusse, the ex-clave of Timor in Indonesian West Timor. Her creations are purchased by the government to give to visiting dignitaries. She uses only the finest cotton which is the traditional material of <em>tais,</em> but which today can only be purchased in Indonesian West Timor. (Most <em>tais</em> for sale in Timor are made from cheaper man made materials and not considered as good for this reason.) <em>Tia</em> was very demonstrative and kept touching my hands and arms when she spoke and as I intently listened to her in Tetum, I warmed to her immediately.<br /><br /><em>Tia</em> works for an NGO in Dili not far from my home. I made arrangements to visit her in a couple of week’s time so that I could see her work. She asked me to write my name down and my favourite colours as she wants to make me a small <em>tais</em> woven with my name. Naturally I chose <em>kór-violeta</em> (purple), <em>verde</em> (green) and <em>mutin</em> (white) the feminist colours.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my day with these women. At the conclusion of the workshop I felt quite elated, a feeling so seldom felt living in Timor that I hoped the feeling would remain for just a little while longer.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114810694960920291?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148106557049786422006-04-09T15:09:00.000+09:002006-05-20T17:22:14.756+09:00<div align="justify">It only took five weeks but finally on Thursday, my computer’s CPU fan was replaced with a new part purchased from Australia. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I originally consulted a young Indonesian man that my NGO employs on a regular basis to fix the myriad of IT problems that besets them (often due to the frequent power blackouts which quickly wear out our computers). </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">However, his customer service skills were so appalling (it took me four full days of persistent badgering to retrieve my computer from him) and moreover that I would have to wait until he next visited Indonesia to look for the part, that I decided to look elsewhere. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I then consulted a bloke from Singapore who said that he would need to email his home country to see if the part was available and would then call me. To this day, he has not called. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">With ever growing frustration, I consulted an Australian IT consultant who is regularly employed by Daniel’s NGO. Within half an hour of Daniel texting him with the problem, he arrived to look at my computer. He said he would need to email Australia and would get back to Daniel within three days. This he duly did and said that he had procured the part for us, although it would take two weeks to arrive. On Thursday he replaced the dead CPU fan with the new one. Finally!<br /><br />The whole incident demonstrated again not only how poor Timor is, that the part had to be procured from Australia, Indonesia or Singapore, but also the lack of human resources and education amongst the Timorese population which led me to consult three foreign men. Moreover, I learnt first hand the differences in customer service offered by three different cultures (although I wouldn't want to generalise these single experiences too far). I certainly know which one I prefer!<br /><br />After five weeks without films and television series we were very keen to start watching the many DVDs I have honed my retail therapy skills on. The first night we brought the computer home we watched the first episode of the second series of <a href="http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/" target="_blank">Desperate Housewives</a>. It was so good to watch, but when I went out to the kitchen during “intermission” I realised I was still in Timor and not back home. What a downer that was! </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">We followed this up with an episode from the second series of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/" target="_blank">Spooks</a> which was one I hadn’t seen. It wasn’t one of the better episodes but it was still good to watch. On Friday night we watched the Italian film <a href="http://www.sonyclassics.com/respiro/respiro.html" target="_blank">Respiro</a> which was a lovely little gem set in southern Italy. Last night we watched <a href="http://www.msn.co.uk/specials/alig/Default.asp" target="_blank">Ali G the Movie</a> which had its wildly funny moments but was definitely not a movie I could recommend. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114810655704978642?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148105325398060012006-04-06T23:05:00.000+09:002006-05-20T17:17:52.270+09:00<div align="justify">Just as I was about to leave for lunch, my other <em>malae</em> colleague said that our only Indonesian colleague was leaving tomorrow and a farewell lunch was being held in her honour today. Yet again, nobody told me! (I don’t know what it is about my NGO, but its communication channels are woeful.)<br /><br />I her how she was feeling about leaving Timor. She was sad because she really loved Timor and plans to come back again in the future. She has been here merely one year.<br /><br />I am totally perplexed as to why she loves it here so much. Her home country has much higher human development than Timor and moreover, she’s Indonesian in a country that was brutally occupied by her home country’s government and military for twenty-four years. I can therefore only assume the following. </div><div align="justify">One, My Timorese colleagues are not bothered by the fact that she is Indonesian (which is positive). </div><div align="justify">Two, That because they share a common language (Bahasa Indonesia) they are able to easily communicate and therefore, get to know each other. </div><div align="justify">Three, she is young and single as many of my colleagues are, and has formed a very tight knit group with the team she works with.<br /><br />One, I am a <em>malae</em> and Australian at that; my culture is completely and utterly different from Timor’s which is much closer to Indonesia’s than Australia’s. </div><div align="justify">Two, I do not share a common language. </div><div align="justify">Three, I am not young and single. Are these the reasons why I feel so alienated at work? Mmmmm, I’m beginning to wonder.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114810532539806001?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148114834415237782006-04-06T17:45:00.000+09:002006-05-20T17:47:14.486+09:00<div align="justify"><em>“The current crisis among East Timor's military could be a reflection of the country's cultural growing pains.<br /><br />On 8 February 2006, some 350 officers and soldiers from East Timor’s small defence force abandoned their posts and marched to the Presidential Palace. The unarmed soldiers protested against ill treatment, discriminatory practices and poor conditions within the Timorese Defence Forces (FDTL).<br /><br />After two unsuccessful attempts at mediating the crisis, the young nation’s charismatic and widely respected President Xanana Gusmao gave the mutineers an ultimatum: “Return to your posts and you shall not face court martial, or face the consequences of doing otherwise.” Only 25 took the offer. Since its creation in 2002, the Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Timor Leste (FDTL), has faced serious disciplinary problems. Before the 8 February incident, 60 other personnel, including a major, were charged for indiscipline. </em></div><div align="justify"><br /><em>Most observers explain the current problem as something to be expected when a 24-year old guerrilla force is transformed into a regular army. While this explanation may have some merit, it fails to address far more fundamental issues. First of all, most of the disciplinary cases involved young soldiers who had little or no participation in the war of national liberation. Most of them were new conscripts who had joined the force in 2002. Therefore, the causes of the current military crisis in East Timor are far deeper and may have severe consequences for the young nation if not properly addressed.<br /><br />Regionalism is one such cause fuelling the current crisis. During the war for national liberation against the Suharto regime, most of the military campaigns took place on the eastern side of the island. This was due to the natural conditions favourable to guerrilla warfare and to the fact that the western part of the country was too close to the Indonesian border. As a result, most of the guerrilla force was made up of people from the east, or "Loro Sae". Indeed, almost all of the new army’s high-ranking officers are easterners.<br /><br />This situation has led many to accuse the FDTL of being a "Firaku" or eastern-dominated force. Soldiers originating from the western part of the island accuse eastern officers of favouritism in promotion and double standards when it comes to discipline. To complicate matters further, Timor’s National Police Force (PNTL) has a high number of western personnel particularly among its senior officers. Once again the demands of the war of national liberation created this situation. The more educated and urbanized people, suited for police work, came from the western side of the island and many served previously in the Indonesian bureaucracy, giving them the advantage of experience. </em></div><div align="justify"><br /><em>President Xanana’s strategy of promoting national reconciliation allowed for the integration of many former Indonesian functionaries and pro-autonomy elements into the security forces, especially the police force. PNTL’s current commander Commissioner Paulo Martins was a former Colonel in the Indonesian Police.<br /><br />This has led many in the military to see the 3,500-strong police force as illegitimate and Western-dominated. The need to focus on internal security, rather than external threats, due to remarkable improvements in relations with Jakarta, means that the police rather than the military has benefited from government attention. The donor community's reluctance to fund the military further exacerbates the problem.<br /><br />As a result, the PNTL is a far larger and better equipped force, perceived to enjoy a higher standing within Timorese society, while the military, who claims - and rightly so - to have made the most sacrifices in the struggle for national liberation, is being marginalized. The rivalry between the military and the police is clearly demonstrated by the type of disciplinary cases reported in the FDTL. Nearly 70 per cent of the cases involved confrontations of one type or another, between police officers and military personnel and invariably, the regionalism element was always a contributing factor.<br /><br />The root causes of the current military crisis in East Timor are far deeper than the mere challenges of transition from a guerrilla force to a regular army. Confidence-building measures between the two forces - the police and the military - are critically needed, particularly among the rank and file. Nearly four years after independence, East Timor does not yet possess a military disciplinary code, let alone a defence policy. Addressing some of these deficiencies may go some way in taming Timor’s young and wild military. But, above all, there is a need to recognize that the current military crisis is more than just a problem of transition from a guerrilla force to a regular one.”</em> </div><div align="justify"><br />Reprinted with permission of the IDSS. Copyright (c) 2006 Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Blk S4, Level B4, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798. (ISN Security Watch-East) (from UNOTIL Public Information Office, Daily Media Review).</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114811483441523778?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1148114621223083002006-04-06T17:42:00.000+09:002006-05-20T17:43:41.340+09:00<div align="justify"><em>“The World Food Program (WFP) is now providing food to schools in five districts. According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by WFP and the Government of Timor-Leste, WFP will provide lunch and supplemental food for schools. The program started two months ago in the districts of Covalima, Bobonaro, Oecussi, Ainaro and Liquiça. The program will soon start in Dili District focusing first on the island of Ataúro. The School Director of Maumeta, Liquiça, Rozinha de Jesus said, since the program began the students are much more eager to attend classes and the numbers continue to increase. De Jesus said that before this, not many students could attend class up to twelve thirty because they could not bear being hungry and the long distance they had to walk back. She hopes that the food provided will strengthen their learning capacity, but it is too soon to tell. Food supplements (ground maize) are also being distributed to pregnant mothers. Each pregnant mother is entitled to 9 kilogram of the maize and oil. Breastfeeding mothers are entitled to 15 kilogram of maize (9 for mother and 6 for child). A total of 72 pregnant mothers and 104 breastfeeding mothers have benefited from the program.”</em><br /><br />Source: Timor Post (from UNOTIL Public Information Office, Daily Media Review)</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste" target="_blank">Timor-Leste</a> (<a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-EASTTIMOR');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/East%20Timor" target="_blank">East Timor</a>) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10265972-114811462122308300?l=samanddaniel.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13781331313066539420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10265972.post-1146725683171059492006-04-06T15:53:00.000+09:002006-05-04T15:54:43.176+09:00<div align="justify">This morning after I disembarked from a “mikrolet” and as I was walking down the street to work, I noticed a man crouched in the shade of a brick fence directly opposite my place of work. I decided for some reason to cross the road but no sooner had I done so than the man stood up, walked across the road and approached me. What could he want I wondered? He immediately put out his hand and asked if I spoke English or Tetum. I replied Tetum but he then talked at such a pace and with what I believe was a speaking impediment that I only caught bits and pieces of what he was saying. I certainly got the gist of it and didn’t like where the conversation was heading. I apologised that I couldn’t understand all of what he said in Tetum and could he please explain in English. But first, could we move to the shade of the outside waiting room at my work place, as having such a conversation in the blistering sun was highly unpleasant.<br /><br />I offered him a seat and he began again in English. However, he was not fluent and this combined with his speech impediment made it difficult for me to fully understand him. However, I was able to understand the essential points. He was an unemployed man with a wife and two children: one age two years and one age two months. He lived in Comoro a suburb on the way to my home. He did not have any money with which to buy food and asked if I would give him money to at least buy a bag of rice so that his two month old baby could eat. I asked him where his family (of origin) was and he said in Aileu. I felt for his children as I do for all the hundreds of thousands of malnourished and starving children in Timor, but again, I was angry that I was being treated as a bank or ATM machine by this stranger.<br /><br />I asked him how he knew who I was and where I worked and I believe he said something about a colleague working at my work place but I couldn’t be sure. I was and remain perplexed as to how he came to know of me as I do not live in the same village as he. Still, I stick out like a sore thumb because I am “malae”.<br /><br />It was difficult for me to say this to him but I apologised and said that I could not give him any money. However, I said that I might be able to put his family onto a nutrition program run by an AVI colleague at the Dili National Hospital, which gives food to malnourished children. I went inside my work place and rang my colleague who said she could help if the man brought the child(ren) to her after 2pm. I instructed the man what to do and drew him a map of where on the hospital grounds my colleague’s NGO is located. He had asked for money for a taxi to get there but I decided to give him 50c which was enough for two “mikrolet” trips: one to get home to fetch the baby, and the other to get to the hospital.<br /><br />I walked back inside my work place and immediately went and talked to my only other “malae” colleague about it. I was so angry to be again treated as if I am nothing but a bank by the Timorese (not to mention that I was accosted outside my work place!). Any relationship of some substance I have with a Timorese be it at work or home is sullied because of the dollar sign branded on my forehead. It is therefore just about impossible to have a genuine friendship with a Timorese because inevitably, they ask for something which is usually money. It makes me so angry because I feel so dehumanised by it. We talked at length about this problem. She said it is a common complaint of “malae” in Timor but how to find a way to deal with it?<br /><br />My colleague suggested that in order to protect myself, I need to set very firm boundaries and just say, no, sorry I cannot help you and leave it at that with no justification(s) for the reasons. I told her I find this very difficult to do. She said that it takes time and practice but is essential for my own sanity. Moreover, a “malae” saying no to a Timorese possibly begins to teach them that they simply cannot go on asking “malae” for money. It creates a relationship of dependence that is simply not sustainable, not to mention dehumanising for both parties.<br /><br />My saying no to this stranger was difficult but necessary. However, these incidences keep occurring and each time they do, I feel more and more that I cannot go on living here. I am an outsider, and although a privileged one, I am finding it more and more difficult living in a society where I am not an equal and treated the same as everybody else. I do not like my outsider status and wish to be admitted back “inside” but that is not and never will be possible in Timor.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Category: <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outgoing/Technorati-TIMORLESTE');" href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/Timor-Leste"