Last Monday, when I went back to Becora, I was greeted by seemingly endless rows of candles on both sides of the road. Their flames flickered brightly ing in the pitch darkness as the electricity was off - creating a beautiful ghostly scene. Children were lighting up candles and gathered outside their homes chatting - we almost forgot that we were still in a 'crisis'. Somehow Becora has emerged to be one of the safest neighbourhoods in recent months. The candles were lit to remember the many who were massacred on 4 September 1999 by the militia when Timorese voted to have their own independence, after 24 years of Indonesia rule foisted upon them. Apologies for the bad photo but I ain't got a fancy camera or a tripod! Anyways, it's poignant to think that now, the nation has once again plunged into dark times. Yeah, these days, it's a little more stressful working when at the back of your mind, you're wondering when the next trouble spot would be. This afternoon, i was at Alola Foundation interviewing the First Lady when 2 youth gangs (yup of course loro sae versus monu) began stoning each other just on the road outside. Apparently this has been happening everyday. The international forces say they need hard evidence to capture anyone but with ROCKS come on who are we kidding??? The police told Alola staff that witnesses were not enough so they'll have to snap a few photos of the troublemakers themselves before any real action can take place. Oh well..... anyways, i better get going. These days, it ain't safe on the streets after dark.
Valente SmellyBottom
Friday, September 8, 2006
4 september
Last Monday, when I went back to Becora, I was greeted by seemingly endless rows of candles on both sides of the road. Their flames flickered brightly ing in the pitch darkness as the electricity was off - creating a beautiful ghostly scene. Children were lighting up candles and gathered outside their homes chatting - we almost forgot that we were still in a 'crisis'. Somehow Becora has emerged to be one of the safest neighbourhoods in recent months. The candles were lit to remember the many who were massacred on 4 September 1999 by the militia when Timorese voted to have their own independence, after 24 years of Indonesia rule foisted upon them. Apologies for the bad photo but I ain't got a fancy camera or a tripod! Anyways, it's poignant to think that now, the nation has once again plunged into dark times. Yeah, these days, it's a little more stressful working when at the back of your mind, you're wondering when the next trouble spot would be. This afternoon, i was at Alola Foundation interviewing the First Lady when 2 youth gangs (yup of course loro sae versus monu) began stoning each other just on the road outside. Apparently this has been happening everyday. The international forces say they need hard evidence to capture anyone but with ROCKS come on who are we kidding??? The police told Alola staff that witnesses were not enough so they'll have to snap a few photos of the troublemakers themselves before any real action can take place. Oh well..... anyways, i better get going. These days, it ain't safe on the streets after dark.
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How ironic that Becora is now "safer" than most other places in Dili! And how very sad that seven years after the referendum, people are still resorting to violence to resolve differences.
ReplyDeletehi bridgette!
ReplyDelete*waves hi* this is clara from tashi deleg! chanced upon your little webspace. it's great to hear that you're working in timor leste now! your blog provides a very interesting perspective to outsiders on the happenings in timor leste. keep writing! :)
Que pasa? No updates?? Caught up with work or travelling?? Eitherways keep in touch and keep blogging :)
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