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.

fatuk

here's the blistering bugger that's been creating so much chaos these days in Dili. yeah, that's it - you looking at it - that FATUK - available in infinite numbers and unclassifiable as a weapon - yet if anyone has ever been hit by one, he or she'll attest to its sheer strength to draw blood. These days you gotta be careful - malae (foreigner) not excluded - some terribly bored and energetic boys have been lining streets hurling stones at passing cars - so these days it's not uncommon to see cars with shattered windscreens - it's too expensive to replace! In fact, it was only when a friend stepped on the accelerator that she narrowly missed her car becoming a statistic. The other day, we had to call the police after seeing a row of boys outside the Australian compound randomly attacking cars. Geezzz... what do you do with these kids? You can take away slingshots or katana but how can you take away FATUK????

On a lighter note, today someone wrote an email with the headline "XXX bitten 2 year old child..." I was of course lured to read the email first amongst the 25 waiting for my attention. It was fascinating reading about how XXX bit the 2 year old while XXX was trying to arrest the toddler's father. I was shocked - walked over to a colleague who had received the same mail and said, "did you read that???" Minutes later this colleague walks by my desk and said, "it's BEATEN not bitten." ???? Oh ya? I re-read the email and gathered finally that it was meant to be BEATEN but the person sending the email had wrote as BITTEN mistaking it to be the right word. How hilarious! It was funny cos that would be like a man bite dog headline story. But now after laughing about it, i'm thinking of the actual "XXX BEATEN 2 year old" - shucks such violence taking place here. If it's really true, something really needs to be done. As you may have gathered the XXX refers to an international force here - a highly frustrated international force which has been encountering so much difficulties with law enforcement here. The youth gangs simply playing cat and mouse with the beefy guys - scattering in seconds into their warrens when the coppers come. Interestingly, a Timorese frined told me that Becora where i used to live has become very safe now because a local gang leader (i can't mention his name!) has told all the young people to stay out of trouble or else... (what else??? but his fist!) so ironically in the face of greater violence, the youth in Becora are actually toeing the line and the area is now pretty quiet compared to the rest like Comoro and Colmera. So maybe the government needs to recruit these gang leaders? Strange huh?


Finally, as a goodbye - i treat you to these super yummy lobsters which my ema-bot (or big boss) bought when we were on our way to lunch on Saturday. 3 lobsters for USD30. Absolute HEAVEN. Slurp. Burp.

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! ;-)

brrrr and grrinnnnn

this little girl was amongst many bathing in a big hole in a road in Baucau.. it was so cold!

i'm so shyyy
Originally uploaded by tumbleweeed.

apparently someone had placed big rocks in the river upriver so as to create a greater flow of water downhill.... and someone dug up a HOLE in the road where the water has spilled - creating a SWIMMING POOL in the middle of a road ... see this picture!

baucau tomatoes

been so busy i haven't had anytime to blog or much energy to think! Went to Baucau in a day and back! Arggh... my butt still hurts from the 2.5 hours journey there and 2.5hrs back! Monday i go to Baucau again - this time with Indra my colleagues, for a 2 day session with our community volunteers to envision the setting up of Adolescents information centres out in districts. How exciting! For now, just wanted to share this juicy picture and by the way, i bought that stack of tomatoes with the small bright red one at the top! HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND!

through the eyes of the children

a sample of some drawings by children when we asked them to paint what they think of Timor-Leste generally. A picture speaks a thousand words, huh?

Her World....

Blogger Afny left a long comment on my previous blog entry after she read about my blog in the latest Her World magazine. Frankly, I'm surprised that the Her World interview that i agreed to in June has actually reached at least ONE Singaporean reader. So thank you HERWORLD! I had agreed to be interviewed because I had hoped that this mainstream women's magazine might give me some subterfuge (amidst the endless pages of glossy adverts!) so that i could spring upon unsuspecting readers with my 'covert' views.

I had hoped that more Singaporeans especially women would stop thinking "if only i could....." or "I wish i could...." and instead tell themselves "I will!". Too many days and months and years have been wasted from thinking of "should i? would i? could i?" and too little time spent on DOING IT.

Of course when i first agreed to be interviewed, i did not realise i also had to endure a lengthy photo shoot - with makeup to boot! Initially they put on this slinky, black branded top on me and a chunky gold necklace that weighed my neck down, and asked me to pose against a gritty wall looking 'cool'. haha, i think after a while, they realised that it's just NOT me! So they gave up and told me to wear casual singlets instead and my own jeans.

One thing to clarify though. I am NO LONGER a volunteer with UNICEF, instead working as a communication consultant - basically doing the same work (and more) and with greater responsibilities. Many organisations now would rather not have international volunteers here as the perceived risks are still there. At least as a contracted staff you get evacuated should anything happen again.

Okay maka ne'e deit (that's all) from me today on a sunny sunday. back to work! Yup........

gone with the wind

autumn in dili?
Originally uploaded by tumbleweeed.

this is how many parts of dili looks - scorched, brittle, brown, dead, razed. of course, new life springs forth quickly from the dust - it's how nature is - how humans are. yet ... there is some sadness ... especially when a colleague returns to his razed home for the first time to see his house - and returns with only a handful of photo negatives and a colour photo of his daughter. that's all he has now, after having spent five years of his life reconstructing his grandmother's house (which had been razed to the ground post 99 by militia) and now, that's gone too. In 1999, his many books were burnt, now in 2006, the same again. how can one not feel hopeless? how do the many timorese affected by this violence feel about the future? do they even dare to think of what next year might be like? i'm sure many would hesitate to invest in any material possessions - unlike so many of us in comfy, safe singapore where our lifestyle is about accumulating wealth, properties, material goods. the timorese have no choice but to focus on what's most important - that the lives of their loves ones were not lost. that's how basic living is like here. you don't ask for more.

metinaro camp

locally-designed kitchens

Following the troubles in Dili, thousands of IDPs fled from the city out to the districts and one of the places they have congregated in is opposite the F-FDTL training camp in Metinaro. There're about 7000 IDPs living in a huge piece of land, and like in Dili, the area is now dotted with hundreds of white UNHCR tents. But because you can't cook inside the tents, the IDPs have taken to using local materials to build their 'dapur' or kitchen with palm fronds and sticks.

Paper toilet
filing cabinet

Bathrooms constructed out of whatever materials the IDPs could find... the one above is made out of used UNHCR boxes, while the more sophisticated maroon-coloured bathroom is actually made out of FILES! Yes, i dunno where they got them, but someone made sure that they were all of the same colour! And why are they not using the copious amounts of tarpaulin distributed by aid agencies? Apparently - according to a source - some supplies had gone missing under the management of a previous team of volunteers who are IDPs at the camp. Since then they have been replaced with a new team of volunteers whom i saw putting up tents (donated by PLAN intl) for the doctors who visit everyday.

At the camp, i met a young man called Santiago. he spoke good english and was a university student at the UNTL until the crisis. He lived in Becora - where my place was! - and had fled to Metinaro after he was attacked three times. It was really sad hearing him speak of how his neighbours and friends whom he had grown up with attacked him during the height of the emergency - he is so confused - like so many others - he doesn't know why he was attacked and who manipulated others to turn on their friends and neighbours - he wants to come back to Dili but is fearful. He told me that he still believes it's not an ethnic clash but a political struggle gone awry. He said there are 'westerners' too living in the Metinaro camp but nobody harms them or targets them...

this is what Timor now needs to look at - peacebuilding. How to restore respect for one another? since returning, i read Kirsty Sword's "A Woman of Independence" and was saddened by how everything she and Xanana had wished then was not to be now. She had quoted Xanana as saying that once Timor was independent, there would be no more violence and bloodshed in this country. I am now reading John Taylor's book on Timor's history too - and again, during the struggle for independence, the resistance fighters had stressed that violence would end only with independence and on the contrary, the Indons had said that an indie east Timor would be a destabilising force and might spiral into civil unrest. HOW IRONIC is this? and how sad....

slowly slowly

let peace come to Timor!
Originally uploaded by tumbleweeed.

I have heard that the Art Group Arte Moris is the 'culprit' behind a rash of graffiti in town ---- so i took a walk along the beach yesterday and saw that indeed, someone, or somebodies have indeed painted the town 'red' blue green, yellow - whatever colours in order to restore some colour, gaiety, and positive energies back into this town now crowded with displaced people. This used to be a dull blue hoarding for a piece of land undergoing construction, now loud, graffiti-styled words in Tetum calling for PEACE, LOVE, STABILITY, and ONE TIMOR shout out from it. This is just next to FreeFlow the dive shop and very hard to miss. Arte Moris (i am presuming)has also put up cheerful banners on some other streets to remind people to BRING PEACE (Lori Paz) and generally remember that Timor must be one.

While walking along the pantai kelapa, i also noticed many more families out on the beach eating ikan bakar, ayam potong and of course batar nurak (soft grilled corn). Hmmm.... the food here is so delicious - especially when freshly done - the chicken meat so juicy, the ikan so crispy, the batar yummy! But if you're used to a life of 'sterilised' food, don't even look at how it's prepared --- but i hear that ASH is pretty sterile hahaha. Yes, that's how they cook your corn - they place it standing up on the ash.
I also couldn't resist a photo of this cutest boy playing in the water with his mom looking on at him from the shore. It's nice to see such scenes once again in Dili. So, LIFE is getting back to normal - more traffic on the streets - more people out in the sea at low tide picking up morsels of yummy seafood - but for now, the camps remain full of people at nights - still preferring to err on the side of caution. How long will these camps be here? Only GOD knows.

rosaries for peace

Photo by Armando Lay.

Last Saturday, I passed some 200 rosaries made by OUR LADY'S ROSARY MAKERS - a group of Singaporeans who handmake rosaries - to the Saint Bachita Orphanage (picture) and the Salesian Sisters in Comoro who are running an IDP camp right now. They were really glad to receive them and were surprised that they had been handmade by Singaporeans! Salesian Sister Lubelia said they pray every evening and the rosaries would be great gifts to uplift their worn spirits. Thanks to the generous friends in Singapore who made these gifts! The children at the orphanage prayed for the wellbeing of the Singaporeans who thought of them during this time. Prayer heals!

Saving lives with Nutritional Screening

By Bridgette See

Dili, 1 July 2006 - As little Nevia Nunes huddled close to her mother’s breast, her eyes were half-open, her face a picture of exhaustion. The 15-month-old had cried for a long time before succumbing to fatigue. Nevia was one of the three severely malnourished toddlers identified at the Don Bosco IDP camp today.

PHoto by Armando Lay

“She was able to walk and stand on her own before the crisis. But since coming here, her condition has worsened,” said her mother Maria Santina da Conceicao. The 28 year old mother of three was also malnourished during her pregnancy, a likely reason why Nevia was more vulnerable.

The family fled to the Don Bosco school when troubles began in late April. Staying at the shelter for two months has taken its toll on Nevia. Her family sustains her mainly on porridge and sometimes vegetables when they can afford it. She is also living in an overcrowded camp where an estimated 14,000 people have been displaced from their homes. Despite the best efforts of camp coordinators and humanitarian aid workers to keep the camp clean, children are still most susceptible to infections and diseases. As a result, coughs, malaria, and acute diarrhea are amongst the most common illnesses spreading through the camps now.

“She sleeps with the rest of us on the floor here,” said Maria Conceicao. “At night, when the wind blows, it’s cold. And even though we have a mosquito net, she still gets bitten.” Nevia’s mother pointed out their mats which were laid out on a corridor, next to a drain and sheltered by a piece of tarpaulin.

Little Nevia is now severely underweight and suffering from acute diarrhea. This prompted the doctors to send her to the Dili National Hospital for treatment immediately.

This is what the Health ministry and humanitarian aid workers fear would happen to more children as Timor-Leste enters its third month of emergency. Before the crisis, Timor-Leste was already the most undernourished country in the Asia-Pacific region. Around 50 per cent of children below 5 years old are underweight, with 14 per cent severely underweight and 48 per cent stunted.

In response, the Health Ministry, supported by UNICEF and other NGOs , launched a Nutritional Screening on Friday 30 June 2006 in order to identify children who are malnourished and intervene before their health further deteriorates. The campaign’s target are the estimated 10,000 children aged 6 months to under 5 who are living in the 66 camps in Dili.

The assessment team saw 70 children at the first camp yesterday and another 300 at Dom Bosco today. They used a simple strip to measure the mid-upper arm circumference of the children to check their nutritional status. Those who appear to be malnourished had their weight and height taken as confirmation. Those whose weight for height percentage fell below 85% were referred to the doctors from the Health Ministry for further checks.

More than 40 out of the 300 were referred to the doctors, and five sent to hospital for further treatment. Lukas Sarmento is another child who will be given therapeutic milk to increase his weight. The 2year, 8 months old boy has been sickly since birth.

Photo by Armando Lay

"A doctor told me Lukas had very low chances of survival when he was born but we've never given up hope on him," said his father Carlos Sarmento. Although clearly underweight, Lukas remains bright and cheerful, playing peek-a-boo with the reporter while his father was being interviewed. He is still able to run and has a healthy appetite.

It is not an entirely gloomy picture in the two camps visited. Many children were healthy and had bright alert eyes. Their mothers continue to breastfeed and there is no food shortage at the moment. The Ministry of Labour and Community Re-Insertion and the World Food Programme have distributed enough rations for everyone at the camps – from rice, corn-soy blend, oil to sugar. WFP said it has held cooking demonstrations to show parents how to make use of the fortified corn-soy blend.

The nutritional screening by the Health Ministry, UNICEF, and its NGO partners could save lives but it is not without challenges.

“There is an urgency to identify the severe cases quickly, yet at the same time we are faced with the dilemma of whether we can assure them the quality treatment,” said Jennifer Barak UNICEF Project Officer for Child Survival and Maternal Health Care.

The reason is that only 60% of the National Hospital staff has returned to work, and the hospital grounds have turned into an IDP camp. Severely malnourished children should be isolated so that they will not be exposed to infections while being treated.

Dirce Maria Soares, who is the Nutrition Officer from the Health Ministry, said: "We have asked our colleagues at the hospital to prepare for this but they are now coping with limited staff, limited equipment and overcrowding. Perhaps when more IDP camps are built, those staying in the hospital grounds will move away, giving more space for the families of malnourished children to move in and accompany them.”

For now, the best solution has been that only the severe malnourished children with complications are sent to the hospital while the rest are treated by doctors based at all the IDP camps. The Health Ministry together with UNICEF and its partners are exploring the possibility of treating those who are severely malnourished but have no other complications at the camps with ready-to-use therapeutic foods or upgrading community health centers and their staff into day-time feeding facilities.


* NGO Working Group: Hiam Health, WorldVision, Oxfam, Care, Concern, Health Alliance International, Christian Children’s Fund, UNICEF

life is gradually becoming normal

the first few mikrolets i saw on the streets since the day I returned to Dili! I never thought i would feel so much joy seeing these micro-mini buses hog the roads! But yes, this would be one of the barometers indicating a gradual shift back to normality although last night there was still at least one incident of house burning and stone throwing.

most of the IDP camps are stressed by the overwhelming number of people living in it so the toilets etc are either out of water or broken or not enough. when i visited the Motael camp, the women told me they bathe at the well in their clothes because it is too tiring for them to haul water to the bathroom to shower. So they bath their kids there like in the kampong except that this is in the city! Some of the camps are right smack in the city centre - one in front of Hotel Timor! - so they really lack privacy.

- Hanging out washing at the airport IDP camp.

Photo by Armando Lay.

This boy here is Lukas - he's not shy, but was playing peek a boo with me when i interviewed his father yesterday at the Dom Bosco camp. He was one of the three children identified as severely malnourished and needed to be sent to the hospital for treatment.You know how they say, every cloud has a silver lining? I think that if not for this emergency and them being at the camp, Lukas may not have been identified as malnourished and put on treatment until it's too late. Lukas was very bright despite clearly underweight. Thankfully there were many other children who were healthy, very bright clever eyes. 'Matenek los!' i have to say.

I went to the Canossian sister's IDP camp on Friday and met a girl who was in the English mass choir. She came and hugged me. She had lost so much weight but still had a smile on her face...

Photo by Armando Lay.

Clothes of some staff living in our compound, some of their homes have been destroyed by gangs, while others do not dare to return home as their other relatives have fled to the districts.

Will blog more when i have the time! Don't forget Timor!

Peaceful ---- so far

There was great tension today as Dili residents fearfully awaited for the 200 truckloads of demonstrators from the eastern districts to arrive. These protestors or so-called 'Alkatiri supporters' had been held off at Hera and Metinaro for nearly two days by the foreign troops so as to prevent a face-off with the westerners who had hung around from last Friday till yesterday. Apparently, Xanana appealed to the westerners to leave. This afternoon, the demonstrators were escorted into the city by the foreign troops promising to be peaceful. Not wanting any trouble, the troops had searched them one by one to make sure that weapons were confiscated before allowing anyone into Dili. This took a long time and it was only at 4pm did we see the protestors ride by outside the office, raising the brilliantly beautiful Timorese flag and shouting their slogans.

STRANGELY, for people who were supposedly calling for Xanana's exit (as we had heard), they were shouting 'Viva Xanana! Viva ALkatiri!' all in one breath! They certainly behaved rather differently from the guys I saw a few days ago who had trundled down Becora - led by a noisy motorbike rally, and many honking vehicles, shouting, screaming youth (including women) some painted in white, red and other colours. In contrast, these guys here (as far as my few minutes' of seeing them rumble by) were a lot more subdued. The trucks, it seemed, were not as packed. The guys less energetic. So far, there's been no news of violence from them. They'll be parked near the port tonight - presumably under heavy guard just to ensure there'll be no trouble.

Let's see what tomorrow or tonight will bring.

censorship - how much of an evil is it?

Back in Dili now, I initially rejoiced because the day I started work Mari Alkatiri resigned from his post ---- and people were happy. But then yesterday, troubles began again after he met his supporters in Hera (east of Dili city) and made more incendiary remarks about east versus west. The foreign troops are trying to keep the big groups of protestors apart, and keeping the easterners out of the city parked in Hera.

But right after Mari's remarks on TV, like 5 minutes after, the stoning and burning began again. Once again, the westerners in Dili are targetting their eastern neighbours.

I keep hearing news from outside. Like the handful of journalists from RTTL attacked this morning as people think they are Mari supporters for putting out the news. It makes me wonder if sometimes censorship to some extent is necessary. Instead of broadcasting his speech in his entirety, could they not have paraphrased what he said and perhaps lessen its inflammatory impact? It doesn't help that the politicians here shoot themselves in the foot all the time with their words, and now there's also the media simply publishes everything under the sky.

When do we draw the line how much 'news' we report?

hein hela

i'm twiddling my thumbs here at home, waiting for news that i can return to timor. anytime now they say. but then sometimes, they call and say, no don't come, something's brewing. other days, when peace seems to hang briefly, the outlook is more positive... but generally it seems that those i speak to know that this peace that is suspended over most parts of Dili is an artificial one, hanging on the threads that are the international troops. So while i wait, all i can do is to help to edit the occasional story or press release. But it's hard to stay involved when you're so far away.
I've heard that an ultimatum has been issued to Alkatiri to resign, as well as one to Alfredo to return with his arms. I can't seem to corroborate this with the commercial media so that puzzles me. Anyways, seems like the ultimatum for both A-lpha males to say 'i quit' lands squarely on the same day and thus many people are readying themselves again for a showdown of some sort. Dili might get 'HOT' or manas again. Once again, may i stress that my blog is not a news service and that should anyone have more accurate info, please let me know!

peace march on international children's day

My aunt once said the world would never find peace until men fell at their women's feet and asked for forgiveness.
Jack Kerouac

I posted the famous Beat poet's quote in my blog last October and have now found occasion to repost it again after hearing that there are plans to have a PEACE MARCH in Dili led by a women's network TOMORROW. I learnt this just today from a colleague who is planning to join in to show support. That is the best piece of news yet coming out of Dili which has been subject to gun battles and marauding rival gangs. I really hope that this peace march gets news coverage and that it is successfully and peacefully carried out. Apparently the organisers are motivating women from camps to join in the march - but some are fearful because of their children and also due to the trauma.

I've read before reports that say if women were rulers of nation, there would be less war and less corruption. What those reports were based upon, I'm not sure but I sure know that the Timorese who were wielding guns and machetes were mostly men. Ok, to be fair, I do have a friend who was a former guerilla fighter and she's a woman, and yes, we have heard alot about the female guerilla/ resistance fighters in the Vietnam War, the Khmer Rouge and of course the Timorese resistance. But most times, you have to admit this, it is the MEN who form the majority of the fighting. As for corruption, I can't say but some detractors say it's only because women have not been in positions of authority where they milk bribes. Anyways, what i have seen is that even when families can't afford to send children to school, husbands still clutch handfuls of dollar notes to gamble in the local markets in Timor. Hey, i'm not a man hater but it really just makes me wonder what IF the government had 90% women and 10% men - would it make a big difference? Which country is ready for this experiment?

So what do you think? If all the men in Timor now fell at the feet of their wives, and ask for forgiveness, would peace finally reign in Timor?

Significantly but very sadly JUNE 1 (which is tomorrow) is the International Children's Day - a day that we had been planning in earnest with the Government's Human Right Office and various other partners. My colleagues had begun meeting sometime in March to discuss plans for a national celebration, a poetry contest etc etc etc. A day that was supposed to be filled with happy faces, rousing music, beautiful sweet voices and HOPE. That all just evaporated with the first gun shot.

I'm really glad that some energetic women have still got the courage to put together the peace march, and perhaps that might remind these warring factions to put down their weapons and to consider their children and their future.


VIVA TIMOR LORO'SAE!

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.

HELP IS ON HAND. BUT JUST A LITTLE OUT OF REACH!

PICTURE by Bishnu Pokrel, Water & Sanitation Project Officer, UNICEF Timor-Leste
Date: 290506
A brave smile despite the mounting difficulties of staying inside a camp for Internally Displaced People. Aid agencies and the UN agencies are desperately trying to reach out to the thousands in camps near and in Dili.


UNICEF's Press Release dated 29 may 2006.

HELP IS ON HAND. BUT JUST A LITTLE OUT OF REACH!
Deteriorating security situation prevents immediate relief reaching thousands who have sought refuge within camps in Dili


29th May, Dili - For nearly 50,000 people in 35 camps in the capital city of Dili, Timor-Leste, relief is still not in sight due to the deteriorating security situation. Nearly 20,000 of these were already living in camps having fled from their homes after the 28th April disturbances. The Inter-agency humanitarian assistance group set up last month and led by the Ministry of Labour and Community Reinsertion, comprising UNICEF among others, is prepared to move in with essential supplies to these camps. But this help is just a little bit out of reach for those who need it most.

Timorese residents of Dili - fearing attacks on their properties and themselves - have moved out of their homes into several overcrowded locations in and around Dili. Many people have left the capital for district areas, while others remain in Dili seeking safety and shelter in churches, schools, the airport, and many other locations. Children are exposed to physical and mental trauma and unsanitary living conditions in these camps, some of which house nearly 2000 persons against an original capacity of just 300 or so. At least on-third of this number are children below 14 years old.

UNICEF, as a critical member of the UN Inter-agency humanitarian assistance task force, is conducting assessments within camps, procuring essential supplies, briefing the national and international media and coordinating with the interagency group.

Bishnu Pokhrel, UNICEF WES officer conducted assessments on 28th May in two locations in Fatumeta and Bairo Pite, both of which are overburdened with people fleeing from their homes. These locations, like many others in Dili are fast running out of food and water supply. He confirmed that the conditions were unsanitary in these camps and it was only a matter of time before diseases began affecting these people.

UNICEF is specifically responsible for water and sanitation facilities to be beefed up within these camps, and also attend to the immediate protection of children from neglect and abuse and that children are given opportunities for being involved in activities to stimulate and engage them.

UNICEF has placed orders for basic family water kits, tarpaulin, water tanks, field water testing kits, squatting plates for latrines and school-in-a-box kits.

However, the unstable security situation has prevented access to some areas where there are people in need. If the security situation does not improve, it is possible that the humanitarian crisis could worsen significantly. As long as the situation is so fluid, it is difficult to move freely to distribute relief supplies.

“This causes greater stress on women and their children, who are now faced with no food, are exposed to unsafe water and unclean surroundings. This means that infants and children will be at risk of infections and over a long term, malnutrition”, said Ms.Shui-Meng Ng, UNICEF Representative.

UNICEF along with the Inter-Agency Humanitarian Assistance Group has been delivering assistance until 25th May, after people in Dili were displaced from their homes during the days following the 28th April disturbances. The Inter-Agency Humanitarian Assistance Group is comprised of the following agencies, led by the Ministry of Labour and Reinsertion, Government of Timor-Leste; WHO, UNICEF, IOM, UNDP, UNFPA, WFP, International Red Cross, Cruz Vermelha De Timor-Leste (National Red Cross), Oxfam Australia, Plan international, Health net, Red Cross and Care International, Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Australia.

For more information, contact:

Madhavi Ashok, Communication Officer
HP: +670 7231103
Email – mashok@unicef.org