A Trip to the Detached Part of Timor-Leste

12 hours on ferry Berlin Nakroma to Oecusse

On the 26^th of April, exactly at about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, the three of us, Matt, Sarah and I went to the port of Dili on a car provided by ICFJ. We were amazed with the crowded right at the front gate of the port, and we realized that we would have to squeeze together with these people in line and wait for the chance to get into the port area where a ferry, the Berlin Nakroma, was waiting for us.

Without much struggle, we managed to get on board. One of the ship’s crew greeted and gave us the key to the cabin where we stayed for the night as the trip takes about twelve hours to get to Oecusse. Sarah had a separate room, while Matt and I shared a cabin with two beds.

We put our stuffs in the room and got a walk around for fresh air, and after finished smoking a cigarette, I then walked back to cabin where I met Sarah had just got out of her room and she asked me, “Where’s the bathroom?,” and I answered, “well, I’ve got no idea, but lets find out!”

We took a walk around, downstairs, and finally we found them nearby a corridor where the other passengers were sitting and watching TV with an Indonesian television program on the screen. At the same time, we also found the small canteen where we could have hot water for coffee or to buy snacks, but it usually opens at 6 pm so we went back upstairs.

After finishing another stick of cigarette, I went back to our room where I saw Matt was working on his news writing. I had a look at it for a while then I turned on the TV.

I didn’t really know what to do on the ship, so I walked around again and again, then I saw Sarah on the other side of the ship, we had a chat for a while and stared at the dolphins jumping in and out of the sea in the distance. We hoped that the dolphins could get near the ship but they didn’t.

I kept hanging around, back and forth until sunset and I went back to the room. There, I saw Matt lying down on his bed while watching TV and he offered some snacks to me that he bought before.

As the time went by, I just realized that I couldn’t close my eyes; I went downstairs and buy a cup of coffee where I saw a bunch of people at the rear side of the ship smoking and drinking coffee as I was.

So I joined them, and we had a chat and we spent our time, laughing and smoking, until the clock said “it’s midnight.” I greeted the people good night then I went back to the room. I saw Matt was already asleep then I climbed up to my bed and fell asleep.

I never saw Sarah during the night, so she must had a very good sleep.

I woke up when I heard the ship’s horning, I opened the curtain and looked outside but I couldn’t see anything. My phone vibrated, it’s the alarm and it’s 5 am, that means we were about to get to Oecusse port. Matt had already awake as well. And we greeted each other good morning.

Wondering to see how the port looks like, I got out of the room, and rushed my way to left side of the ship, I saw nothing. It was dark. Then I rushed to the right side of the ship, I saw many people holding candles at the sea shore. I thought that it was probably a blackout that’s why people did it to show the ship that the port is still there.

I was amazed, looking at the candles. I accidentally heard two guys talked to each other, “they are waiting for one of their family who died in Dili’s national hospital yesterday,” said the taller guy.

“What?????” then I assured myself by asking these men, “is the body on board with us?” the other man replied, “yes.”

I became temporarily numb, and I couldn’t move for a moment. After gaining control over myself, I walked back to the room.

“We are almost there,” I told Matt. Then I walked to Sarah’s room and knocked on the door, she opened up the door, “good morning, I just woke up,” she said.

I never told Matt and Sarah about it.

Suai Commemorates Massacre, no Justice Achieved

By Sarmento Wargas from Lautem, Los Palos

Suai – The 10th Celebration of the ‘Black September’ Massacre in Suai is attended by approximately 1000 people including prime minister of Timor Leste, government members, parliament members, ambassadors and some other internationals, on Tuesday morning (8/9/09).

Francisco da Costa, a survivor of the massacre ten years ago who saw the killing of the three priests and other civilians, is also in attendance. He said that as a victim and family of the victims, he is happy because the ceremony is successfully done, but also unsatisfied because he couldn’t hear anything important about justice from the leaders during the ceremony.

Justice has been the main concern of the people in Suai. They have been pursuing the justice for all the victims’ families, but everything seems to have no hint.

“We will always fight for justice. Back in the days we said, Death or Alive, Independence. But now we say death or alive, we will struggle for justice,” Francisco said.

The decision to release Marternus Bere, former commander of Indonesian army-backed Laksaur militia, by the ministry of justice upon the order of the prime minister is believed to be due to pressure placed on the Timorese leaders by the Indonesian government, according to the press release of the National Union Party on Monday (7/9/09).

“You also know, for me, this is a tough decision to make but just because of my concern about the future of the nation, the future of its people, I think that the decision has to be made,” said Lucia Lobato, Minister of Justice.

The decision has become a hot topic for many people in the country. Arsenio Bano, a parliament member from the opposition party said, “It looks like there is no rule of law, there is no respect for the victims and respect for the constitution of this country.”

The Silent Voices Longing for Justice

Is there a justice for the people…?

After ten years of independence, a celebration is held in memory of all victims of the 'Black September' massacre in Suai church where hundreds of people died, nothing significant is achieved by any family members in the District.

Suai is located in the southern part of Timor Leste, and it takes about eight hours to get there from Dili, the capital of Timor Leste. Besides the mountains and rivers along the way, there are a lot of panoramic views that will make you feel better after that long trip from Dili.

Surrounded by hills and rivers, right in middle of the Suai town, an unfinished church was once the witness of a cold blooded massacre that killed more than 200 people on September 6th, 1999. The attack happened in about nine o’clock in the morning. The military backed militias started shooting at the church where many people hid from the brutality of the militias around the town. Along with the victims, three priests were also murdered in the church.

After ten years, families of the victims remain silent and they keep their feeling of hatred and upset in their mind. Government, international and national NGOs have been visiting the place, making a lot of promises but none of them is actually done.

Manuel Soares “Babalai”, father of a murdered son and a kidnapped daughter told us that he doesn’t trust the government or any other organizations who are trying to provide helps. His daughter ALOLA is now in West Timor and her name has been used as the name of a famous organization based in Dili, The ALOLA FOUNDATION which is led by Kristy Sword Gusmão, wife of the recent Prime Minister Mr. Xanana Gusmão.

“They use our names to get money, but no one cares about what happen to us. They said that they are going to build our houses but as you can see there is nothing here. They only promise and promise but they do nothing” Manuel said.

After this long time, they are still expecting that all the militias would be brought to justice but until now most of them are still free like animals at large and cannot be caught. They also insist the government to strengthen law and justice in the country. According to Manuel, the law in Timor Leste is only created for the poor people and not for the betrayers.

"A few weeks ago, police had made an arrest to a former militia leader his name is Marternus Berek, but why do they let him free again? If we make a mistake police will come an arrest us and we will imprisoned, but what happens to them? They are the killers," said Babalai.

Written by Zexoroth

Photo by; Mat Crook

Forum Tau Matan (FTM) organizes the 2nd Round of Critical Thinking Debate Program on Human Rights

Dili - A second round of debates among Timor-Leste university students began Monday and will last for ten days (11-22 August) in the Auditorium of Liceu, Universidade Nasional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL).

Daily sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

The goal of the debate is to establish a youth parliament in the future, made up of representatives from all institutions of higher learning in Timor-Leste.

The debate will focus on a variety of national and international issues important to Timor-Leste. The issues to be discussed include: rights for environmental health; international markets; oil resources policy and its management; employment in Timor-Leste and labor rights; the national perspective on land rights and housing policy; land problems and land disputes resolution; free markets; and national security, with a focus on illegal drugs and arms.

Each of the topics will be presented by government officials, representing the Ministry of Education; non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and university lecturers.

The debates are preparation for a study tour with the Association for Critical Thinking in Jakarta. Students who participate in the debates will compete for a spot in the International Debate Championship, to be held at a future date. No further details about the international debate were available.

The Universities that are participating in the debate are: UNTL; Universidade Dili (UNDIL); Universidade da Paz (UNPAZ); Universidade Comunidade Matebian (UCM) Baucau; ETIKA Gleno (Ermera); and also Dili Institute of Technology (DIT), Oecusse. Each University will have five representatives for a total participation of 30 students.
The debate is a continuation of the first round, which was held during February and March 2008. The activity is sponsored by with Forum Tau Matan (FTM), OXFAM Australia, and Universidade Nasional Timor-Lorosa’e.

UNTL Radio AKADEMIKA

The Radio AKADEMIKA for Universidade Nasional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) has been on air since its first MOU signing on June 30th 2008, but until now no programs are launched due to the necessity of the radio itself.

The radio programs have not been set up because the candidates for radio staffs are now still in the middle of radio journalism training. They are recently taught and guided about important journalism skills for radio by Timorese senior journalists from differing media outlets in Timor-Leste who are parts of TOT (Training of Trainers) at ICFJ (International Center for Journalists). Besides that, there are some visiting trainers from the neighboring countries like Indonesia, Australia and USA (ICFJ media trainers) helping the development of material for the training.

As a campus radio, Radio AKADEMIKA is a very important tool for university students to express their ideas, and also as a medium of communication among students, lecturers, and also government officials whenever required.

Observation of the week...!

During the week, there is shocking event that is happening in the country’s capital, Dili. The event is about the university students that are protesting the national parliament due to the car purchase for each parliament member.

When I had a walk to the main campus of National University, I saw a great number of students gathering inside the campus, and I tried to walk in to have a look at what’s happening.
Inside the campus, I could smell the leftover tear gas and I could feel the tears slowly running down my cheek, it’s not over yet because I even had a bit coughing at the time, and I ran out of the building because I couldn’t bear any longer. So I stepped back and sat under a tree. I took a deep breath again and again after I felt much better. I took a cigarette from my pocket, then I lit it up…haahh…I blow the smokes away…!

I calmed down for a while, and I offered my cigarette to one of the students there, he took the cigarette but I could see that he was not so happy at that time. After a few puffs, I tried to talk to him, and he turned to me, so we started talking…!

He told me something very interesting that I was looking for, he said that, they are still confused about some of their colleagues that have been arrested by the police and he also said that he doesn’t know what to do, but actually they have told their families. Furthermore, some of them still have to follow the exam. That’s why; they are consulting with the lecturers to give some extra time to the students so that they can follow the exam after they are released.

And other concern is that, because the police have given a deadline for them to stop the demonstration on Friday (11/7). But he added that, they are still thinking about the next step that should be taken if deadline comes. And I tried to ask him about it but he refused to talk about it…!

Hopefully, it ends soon and the students will get back to focus on their study again... !!!

Students Protesting again in Dili

Dili – There have been many students arrested because of protesting the national parliament in relation to the government decision to purchase cars by using country’s money for each parliament member.

Front of University Students from Universidade Nasional Timor Lorosa’e have been doing the demonstration for three days, started from July 7th and until now there are about 39 students have been arrested by the police.

The Commander of Community Police Unit, João Belo dos Reis, in a press conference on Monday (7/07) said that police arrested the students because they are protesting right in front of the parliament building.
“Based on the constitution, a demonstration must be done 100 meters from public buildings,” he said. According to him, the demonstration is very close to the parliament and also that police have warned them to do it in the Democracy Field that is based on the agreement.
“We told them to go to the Democracy Field, but they insist to do it at campus, that’s why we arrested them,” he said on Monday.

While on the same day (Monday), the Minister of Education João Cancio Freitas told the reporters and it was published on TV, that Autonomy of Campus is not used for demonstration.
“They need to understand that the Campus’ Autonomy is not used for that kind of activity,” said the Minister.

In relation to the statement of the minister, some confidential sources said that the minister should not say that, and he is the one who needs to understand the real meaning of Campus’ Autonomy.
”we understand the meaning, but in this case if the rector authorizes us to do it, that’s a mistake but as long it is done with an initiative of the students them selves, it doesn’t break any law,” said the confidential source.
As the president of national parliament, Fernando Lasama said on Monday that, even the students are protesting, the national parliament will still maintain its policy to purchase the cars for its members.