tumbleweeed thinks...

There has been a renewed rash of violence in the past week with stonings and fires. I have even heard that a Malae who stays with Timorese from both East and West had their rented house set on fire and all their belongings stolen. a group of IDPs in the Jardim (opposite Hotel Timor) have become very unwelcomed guests in the Colmera sucu so much so that the Xefe de Sucu has even annoucned that he wants them to go - this is because there have been quite a bit of stones being hurled from that camp and even broken windows of cars passing through that area. Some young people in Bairro Pite have even carried big placards saying that they don't want to accept any Easterners.

So what should be done?

It's strange that i should be saying this - but i think what the government needs is a great mouthpiece to spread its propaganda - or in a less biased way - spread INFORMATION. There's a lack of accurate information dissemination in this country - lots of people rely on LIA ANIN ("windy words") or GOSSIP - and statements repeated through a chain of whispers until they become distorted and incendiary in some cases.

So if there's one thing this government should learn - is to look to its neighbours to see how they have so carefully crafted their own information ministries and built up government newspapers, radio and tv stations to spread THEIR news. Why am i saying this? Because i believe this government is trying its best but too few people know exactly what it's doing.

Take for example, on 2 august President Xanana held a meeting with 18 NGOs to discuss how they could get young people from East and West to assist in reintegrating IDPs and creating dialogue for peace building -----GREAT INITIATIVE but what the government needs is a strategy to communicate all this to the folks at large - remember most don't have a TV or even a radio set - besides the fact that most of Timor is without electricity! So besides engaging the media - there must be other channels for communicating news, information and generating feedback.

GOOD WORK needs to be trumpeted ---- so there's a pressing need for communicators and social mobilisers to get involved! Here's one time when i accept that propaganda is fully needed!

OH by the way, this is an APOLITICAL weblog. Someone posted a statement in Tetum on my comments page asking me to translate it into English. MY tetum ain't great but i could figure out what it was roughly. SOrry to say, i've deleted it cos i don't want my blog hijacked by others to spread THEIR propaganda. If you want to let the world see your thoughts, set up your own blog! ;-)