where're the timorese reporters?

I read the columnist Jeremy Wagstaff's comment about the dearth of timorese reporting (online) on this ongoing chaos and responded with the comment that a lot of the local reporters i know of are actually assisting foreign reporters at this moment - translating and bringing them to places.

In fact, last Saturday at the airport, I saw photojournalist Suzanna Cardoso who is pregnant still wielding a camera and with the Asahi Shimbun reporter. I touched her tummy, and grabbed her skinny forearm, and said "kuidado" or "be careful". What else could i say? She said she had no choice because with the baby coming, she needed money and this was something she had to do. Sitting next to me was Rosa Garcia who has only one week ago given birth assisting another japanese TV journalist at the airport. And from calls, i know that Francisco who heads the Timor Leste Media Development Centre has been assisting Voice of America these few days. There are many others like them.

in fact, when troubles first began late april, the local PBS called RTTL (radio tv timor leste) was doing an admirable job of reporting on the development of events. They had reporters travelling to the district of Aileu to interview Major Reinado, and rushing back in time for the evening's news. They also borrowed the portable transmitter from Radio Rakambia and went out to the districts in the bid to relay radio and tv news so that those who had ran to the hills could hear the information. At that point in time, there was calm in Dili despite the persistent rumours that civil war was going to take place and that people should desert the city (ok so it did come true eventually but that's something to debate about in another blog) . In fact, a radio team that went to Suai to do so was nearly attacked by a mob for being 'pro-government' by broadcasting news of peace in Dili which was the FACT at that time. So yes, the RTTL has done a really good job considering the odds.

And also because this conflict is close to them - each reporter is either a 'west' or an 'east' and so they also while trying to focus on reporting, have on the back of their minds if their homes are still standing or not. Plus the fact that many are not fluent in english and if they blog or report in tetum, how many would read it?

Anyways, just my personal thoughts. I wanted to share a part of an email i received yesterday from a timorese friend. He told me it's ok to share it online cos i explained to him that people want to hear what timorese feels.NOTE: this was before it was annoucned that the oz troops will hv more power to disarm the gangs.


I was so pleased to receive your calling; you gave me a spirit of life. I
have been staying in the office for 4 nights and don't know yet to return to
my own home.

Our leaders have not come yet to a decision to stop the violence even Ausi
troops are hopeless to arrest those who involved in the crimes instead of
showing power.

My country likes no leaders and no one care to other's life, people killed
each other just like a chicken and no human values exist in the country.