Visit to Timor-Leste JuneJuly 2014

Transcription

1 December 2014 Australia East Timor Association NSW December 2014 LIQUICA, TIMOR LESTE JULY 2014 Visit to Timor-Leste JuneJuly 2014 Greetings friends, by Jefferson Lee In June July this year I visited TL at the invitation of His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta. I was assisted by Sydney Uni post grad student and refugee activist Vanessa Powell as my honorary research assistant during the visit. On the forward journey a quick stopover in Darwin then the queue at the Air North terminal where a lot of the donated kids books I was ferrying up for the Maliana library had to be ditched. Air North only allows 20 kilos weight. None of the commuting Conoco Phillips Oil workers in the check in queue (carrying only their lunch boxes) were willing to assist so many of the books were left behind to be donated to the local Koori kids centre. Air North keeps their flight weight down purely to save money on fuel. Their inflight magazine featured a detailed tourism article for Atauro Island just out of Dili. On arrival at Dili Airport, my first visit since 2009, I noticed the Customs was more formalised than previous, with everything being X rayed on arrival. My Ned Kelly cap (a present for JRH) was missing from my baggage, apparently souvenired during the security check at Darwin end? The taxi drivers were keen to negotiate a price ($20? $10?) to get down to the Horta compound at the other end of town. We said no as Arsenio Horta (brother of JRH and ex chef at the numerous AETA benefit events back in the 1990s pre liberation days in Sydney) was supposed to pick us up. Arsenio was sleeping in back at his room in the Hotel California and was on Timor time.

2 AETA(NSW)December Weeventuallytookataxitothe annoyanceofanotherdriverwho haddriftedofftotheadjoiningcafé towatchtheworldcupwhilesickof waitingforustomakeupourminds. HavingreadLynMinion sbook HelloMisses aboutherthree monthsresidenceinthejrh compound,aswellasvisitedjrhin DarwinHospitalin2008afterthe attemptedassassinationandthe shootingofalfreidainsidehis residenceareaiwasverykeento checkin.thevisitor sbedrooms werefantastic.endlessmemorabilia fromallovertheworldanddonated paintings;self containedart galleriesandmuseumsall!the traditionalthatchedroofceilingsrosealmost50 metresintotheair.thewallswerenormalheightso conversationscarriedfromtheadjoiningkitchento thebedroomsandback.horta sstudywithhundred ofbooksontlwastheendroomoffour. Hismasterbedroomandwashroomwasonthe oppositesideofthecourtyardthathadasmalllake andgardenbetweenthetwobuildings.atoneendof thisgardenwasamagnificentopengazebothathad twodiningrooms,aformalandaninformalone, wherethelatterworkedasaloungeareaforthe receptionofvisitors. Atthefourthendofthecourtyardwasamoreprivate afternooncoffeeareaorchilloutspaceforcigarette smokers.itfacedtheopengarageoveracemented areathatenclosedaboatandmotorcycleandother gifts orcollectablesforthehortafamily,including famousphotosofjohnfkennedy,newspaper bannerheadlinesandmuchmore.anothermuseum! DilithecapitalofTLhadundergonemajorchanges sincemyearliervisitsin2007and2009showing progressonmanyfrontsandsomekeybuilding developments.thedisturbingscenesofinternally displacedoridpcampseverywhereduringthe periodafterthe2006politicalrupturewhere nowathingofthepast. Sociallifeappearednormalandtranquilonthe streetswithnoevidenceofeitherthestreetgangsor themilitarystylepolicepresence.ahugeincreasein thevolumeoflocaltraffic,majorroadworksaround Dili,theclosureofOneMoreBar(althoughthe buildingstillstood),newhoteldevelopmentsinarea Branco,therebuildingoftheHotelTurismo(with noneofitsformerexteriorcharm),therenovationsof thehoteltimor(forthependinginternationalcplp PortugueseLanguageCountriesConference),the modernshoppingcentretimorplaza(withanindoor squarebeamingworldcupgames,beautypageants withlocal trannies andtheendlessconsumption worldofanaustralianwestfield s..evenahungry Jacks!). MostTimoresestillwanderaroundherewithasense ofbewildermentandnotmuchspendingmoney.the pricesputmostthingsbeyondtheirmeagerbudgets. Thefreeentryandfreeairconditioningseemtobea majordrawcard.the Malais (Westerners)seemto strollaroundlookingfortheanzbank,thetelcom Officeforphonesimcardsandrecharges,the Thegazebo,JoseRamos Horta sresidence,june2014

3 AETA(NSW)December cappuccinocoffeeshopsandasiantake away. LongtermSydneyaid worker/businesstrainertricia Johnshasaweaving(Tais)andbookgiftshopnear thecarparkentrance.shesurmisesmostoftheretail shops,fromelectricalrepairsandwhitegoods,totoy shops,etc.areforeign owned(chineseex pats,etc.) asshedeploresalackofentrepreneurialspiritor passionorpassionforhardworkinthelocaltimorese Latino heritageasonepossiblecause? Nextonmyupdatesis theresistance(to Colonialism)Museum whichisnexttothe University(UNTL)at thebackofthefairly newparliamentary buildingthatwas constructedwith Australianassistance. TheResistance Museumhadnumerous schooldelegations therewhereayounger (post1999referendum generation)were eagerlylearningthe historyoftheir country shuge sacrificesfor IndependenceandNationalSovereignty. TheMuseumhasadvancedinleapsandboundswith thewalkthroughchronologyofhistoricalstruggle updatedwithmorepreciousrelics likeshoesand clothingwornbytheresistancefighterspreserved liketreasuresfromourownwarmemorialin Canberra.Thesewereaddedtotheoldtypewriter andweaponsondisplayduringearliertours.a cinemaroomhadbeenaddedwhichwasconstructed intheformofaguerilla scavehide away.asthe studentswatchclipsofthewaragainstindonesia s brutaltniandkopassusunitsmanywouldbe imaginingtheywerebunkereddownwithkonis SantanaorXananaGusmao,Ithought.Welldone TimorLeste!Alivingbreathingmuseum! AsidelineinterestofmytripwastheBalibostory. TheMEAA(JournalistUnion)sub committeewentto theexpensiveprocessofshippinghundredsofshirley Shackleton sbooktotlforsaleanddistribution. RequestedbyPeterCronaufromthiscommitteeto investigateidiscoveredtherewerefewoutletsfor anyenglishlanguagebooktobesoldintl.a PortugueseLanguagebookshopcarriesvirtuallyno titlesinenglish. Hotelsalesfrom NGOfavouritedig TheEsplanada wererestrictedto charity publications mainlyegolemos (Permatil),Ros Dunlop(Tekee Media)andArte Morispublications. WhenIeventually reachedbalibo House(enrouteto Maliana)eventhe AVIassistant(from Brisbane)Leanne Hayeshadnot sightedacopy. Iquicklyremediedthesituationandfacilitated furtherordersforthenewgiftandcaféshopatbalibo HousewhichshouldtakeoffoncetheHotelinthe fortiscompletedinthenearfutureandtheextensive roadrepairsmakeovernighttourismfromdilimore reachable.inpassing,it sgreatthe inhouse educationalvideofootagehasbeenupdatedinb.h. tocoverthe2007nswcoroner shearingandthe (nowaborted)afpinvestigation. IstoppedinBalibopartiallybyaccident.Ihadto doit tough onmyownhitch hikingagain.in2009iused thebone jarring,suspension freeminibusmicrolet LargegroupsofschoolkidsvisittheResistanceMuseum,DiliJune2014

4 AETA(NSW)December fromdiliandreturnandsufferedamini heartattack afewdayslaterbackinaustralia. ThistimeIhitchedaridetoBatugardewiththe CommunityRadiohead(LuisEvaristo).Fromthereit wastaxi motorbiketomaliana(withthedepleted bagofkidsbooksdonatedfrommarrickvillecouncil restingprecariouslyonmykneesaswenegotiated themanypot holeswithjusttwowheelsseparating fromtheground.myshortstayinmalianawas assistedbythelocalcommunityradiocoordinatorto whomiamforevergrateful. HetookmebymotorbikebackasfarasBalibowhere IscrappedaliftwiththeheaddoctorfromMalianaon hisdayoffasfarasbatugarde,thenwithanasian businessman(builder)andhiswife,backtodili.from there,myoldfriendfromsydneyetraoffice,ines Almeida,rescuedmefromexhaustionand dehydration. Therearemanymoreepisodestothis2014visittoTL whichihavecoveredinalongerarticletobe publishedelsewhere.itincludestheincredible Barry splace onatauroisland,theannualhash HouseHarriersRunfromDarwin,theGolfClub wateringhole(asanalternativetoonemorebar s departure?),maxstahlarchivecentre(whereileft copiesofaetatimorbenefitconcertsfrom Australia),theMediaLawsthreateningpress freedomintlandpresidenttaurmatanruak s positiveroleincurbinganover zealousparliament. Dittothesackingoftheinternationaljudiciary? Followthesedebatesandothersonthewonderful ETANlistandwebsite.That sitfrommefornow JeffersonLee. CongratulationsalsotoHisExcellency JoseRamos Hortaonhisreceiptofthe Orderof Australia recently.afurtherthankstojrhandhis familyforhostingmyselfandmywaywardstaff memberthroughjuneandjuly2014. ATimoreseboywashingontheroadintoDIli,DiliJune2014 ConstructionworksinDiliinpreparationfortheCPLPConference,DiliJune 2014.

5 AETA(NSW)December Looking Forward to What s On in 2015 IllawarraFolkFestival,15 18January2015.I llbecampingout,allwelcometojoin! Excitingnews!TetuncoursesarestartingupinSydney,andwillcontinueonanongoingbasisifwecanget sufficientnumbersofstudents,sopleasefeelfreetospreadthewordinterested.contactkatrinalangford attimorlink@hotmail.com PoliticsinthePubThursday sfromfebruaryattheharoldparkhotelinglebe.firstweeksenatorscott Ludlam,TheGreensonrefugeeissues.6pm 8pm WilloughbyFriendsofOssu2015Timor LesteTourisinMarch.ContactRosemaryBekker: rosiebekker@gmail.com 5 th Timor LesteStudiesAssociationConference9 10 th July2015tobeheldinDili.See: 10 th MemorialAnniversaryeventoflateDenisKevans,SundayAugust23 rd. Checkfordetails: Much needed art supplies arrive in Timor-Leste ThankyoutoKatrinaLedwidgeandArtonKingwho donatedhundredsofgoodqualitypaintbrushesand graphitepencils.alsotoalisonsloanandwayne BuckmanfromtheBlueMountainsRefugeeSupport Groupwhodonatedpaintsandbrushes. Suppliesweredroppedtothreeartcentres;ArteMorisin Dili(pictured),TheAfalycaCommunityArtsCentrein BaucauandtoMaliana,byMaireSheehanfrom Leichhardt sfriendsofmaliana. DroppingofartsuppliestoArteMorisinDili.Fromthe left:agus,osmeandmairesheehan,july2014

6 AETA(NSW)December WhileJeffersonwasenjoyingthespoilsofthe HortaresidenceIdecidedtopayavisittocouple ofcommunityradiostationsandmeetwith volunteerscompletingatrainingcourseinonline mediaindili. CommunityRadioisapowerfulmediuminTimor Leste.Highratesofilliteracymakesradioanideal sourceoflocalnewsandinformation.whilealarge percentageoftimoresestilldon thaveaccessto television,ratesofradiolistenershipareincreasingas barrierssuchasthehighpriceofradiosetsandthe costofbatteriesarebeingaddressedthroughaid projectsempoweringcommunities. MyfirststopwasRadioLoricoLianinDili.Four volunteersstaffthestationbroadcasting6daysper week(theseguysarededicated!).thefemale volunteer(pictured)presentstwoprogramsgood MorningDiliandawomen saffairsshow. Thevolunteersspokeaboutthechallengesofrunning thestation.whenequipmentbreaksdown,whichis inevitableinradio,volunteerslackthetechnicalskills tobeablefixitandthereisnotechnicianavailablein Dili.Theywerealsohavingissueswiththeirantenna andsignalstrengthmeaningbroadcastsareoften interruptedandtheirreachislimitedthroughoutdili. AustralianAVIElenaMcMastersfrom3CRin Melbournehasbeenworkinginpartnershipwith ARKTL(TLcommunityradioassociation)onaproject aimedatincreasingparticipation.she sbeenhelping toinstalltalkbackradioequipmentinregional stations.unfortunatelyhertimeintimorwascoming toanendjustasiwasarrivingbutwejustcross paths. Next,anovernighttriptoBacaumeantaquickstop atradiobaucau Matebean.BaucauisTimor s secondlargestcity.althoughnotfarfromdili distancewise,onlyabout123km thedriveislong, nearly4hours.theroadisnarrowandweaves throughamountainouslandscapeleavingdili.our driverisapro,honkingthecarhornashetakesthe tightcornersbutthemotionstartstogettomeandi starttofeelcarsick!terrainchangesfrom picturesqueruggedcoastlines,tocoastalplainswith crocodilewarningsintow,toagriculturalplainsand ricefields.wearrivetothegoldensandsofthe deceptivelybeautifulbaucaubeachbeweare warnednottowalkonthebeachbecauseofthe poisonoussnakesinthesand,andcrocodileslurking intheidyllicsea. A Voice for the People: Community Radio in Timor- Leste byvanessapowell MeetingwithcommunityradiovolunteersatRadioLoricoLian,DiliJune2014

7 AETA(NSW)December RadioBaucau Matebeanplaysanimportantrolein thelocalcommunitycoveringissueslike environmentaldegradationanddomesticviolence. Challengesincludepoweroutages,acommon occurrencethroughouttimor LesteeveninDili, whichinterruptbroadcasts.thestationisalsoin desperateneedofnewequipment.existing equipmentwaspurchasedwiththehelpofaworld Bankloaninthe2002butit snowout of dateand gettingold.volunteersarehopingtheymight eventuallybeallowedtosellcommercialadvertising spacetohelpfundthestation. Topleft:LoroHortawithvolunteersatRadioBaucau MatebeanandVanessa Powell,July2014.Topright:VolunteersattendatrainingcourseinDili learningskillsinonlinemedia,july2014 Themediamuzzlewasthetalkofthetown,thanksto anopinionpiecebytimoreseinvestigativejournalist JoseBelopublishedonlineonCrikey,sparking internationalcondemnation.thedraftmedialaws raisedanumberofconcernsformediaintimor Leste,includingthecommunityradiosector.Itwas fearedthattheproposedlawswouldundermine FreedomofthePress,aswellasimposerestrictionsof foreignjournalists,andrestrictfreelanceandstudent journalistsfrompublishingundercertification requirements.despitetheseconcernstheproposed lawswerepassedwithoutanysignificantchanges, butwerestoppedwhenthepresidentrefusedto ratifythem. Bigthanksto2ser107.3FMforthet shirtsandcds! TimorAdventuresTours 2015Tourbookingsnowopen Joinusforour6 th yearoftouringintimor Leste! Seewww.timoradventures.com.au for booking forms or carlos@timoradventures.com.au VisitusonFacebooktoseeandhearmoreaboutourtourshttps:// 6differentadventuretourstochoosefromincludingahistoricaltourledbyjournalistandauthorPaulCleary,mountain biketours,motorcycleadventures,women stourandcommunityandculturaltour.

8 8 AETA(NSW)December In Review Whatacrazyactivistyearithasbeen andlooking backwe veactuallydonequitealot! AETASydney sworkthisyearhasbeenfocusedon supportingthehigh profiletimorseajustice campaignaswellascontinuingtoactinsolidarity withthefreewestpapuamovementandsupport AWPA.Here swhatwe vebeenupto: InMarchweattendedWOMADelaide.Vanessa interviewedactivistandmusicianairilekeanddid afollow upinterviewwithronnykarenifor2ser s RadioAtticus Onthe16 th ofmay,kirstyswordgusmao addressedthelowyinstitute Thenextday,the17 th ofmay,kirstyspokeagain toapackedauditoriumatmarymackillopplace, NorthSydney.TheDrawtheLine:Justiceinthe TimorSeaforumfeaturedTomClarke,convenor ofthetimorseajusticecampaigninmelbourne, Timor Leste sambassadortoaustraliaabel GuterresandFatherFrankBrennan.Thanksto SisterSusanConnellyfororganizing! TheICJColloquiumMaritimeBoundariesinthe TimorSeawasheldatUNSWonthe11 th of August.Forthefirsttimerepresentativesfromall threenations;indonesia,timor Lesteand Australiacametogetherinanopen,publicforum. ThankstoRodneyLewisfororganizing! JoseRamos Hortameetswithpostgraduatesforthe20 th Anniversaryof thediplomacytrainingprogramatunsw,september2014 TheopeningnightofTimor Leste sfirstfeature filmbeatriz swarwasheldatthedendy, Newtownonthe20 th ofaugust 17solidarityactivistswerepresentedwiththe OrderofTimor LesteinaspecialceremonyinDili onthe31 st ofaugust JoseRamos HortawaspresentedwiththeOrder ofaustraliainaspecialceremonyinsydneyon the7 th ofseptember MemorialserviceforDr.JohnOttoOndawame washeldatcpacsonthe10 th ofseptember. JohnpassedawayinPortVila,Vanuatuonthe5 th ofseptember LaunchoftheVoicesofBougainvillereportby JubileeAustralianheldatUNSWonthe12 th of September. TheAFPannouncetheendoftheenquiryintothe BaliboFive.Seethelink: alibo five widow slams inquiry decision MartinWesley SmithspoketoRadioNational. Downloadtheaudio: usicshow/martin wesley smith2ccomposer/ VanessaPowellandformerJusticeJohnDowdatthereceptionforJose Ramos Horta,September2014

9 AETA (NSW ) December Great report from Four Corners Drawing the Line 7/ htm and from Foreign Correspondent, The Clinic htm Congratulations to Jill Jolliffe on the launch of her new book Run For Your Life: A Memoir Long time TL activist Ian Hodges passed recently. His funeral was held in the Blue Mountain. Attended by Consul General Mrs Armandina Gusmao Santos, Sr. Susan Connellly, Alix Mandelson, Vacy Vlazna and Joan Simpson Hamish McDonald launched his new book Demokrasi: Indonesia in the 2st Century at Sydney Idea s Indonesia Facing a New Future forum on the 1st of September. Andreas Harsono from Human Rights Watch also spoke in conversation with Vannessa Hearman at the event (pictured) Helen Hill checking out a local book stall on Atauro Island, June 2014 Dr. Andi Arsana at the ICJ Colloquium, August 2014 Indonesian students at UNSW also organized a commemorative event for the anniversary of Munir s death Jefferson speaking at Ian Hodges funeral, Leura 2014 Martin Wesley Smith and Jefferson Lee at the reception for Jose Ramos Horta, September 2014

10 10AETA (NSW ) December 2014 Singing for Freedom: West Papua Update This year AETA (NSW) has been supporting the Australia West Papua Association with its activities. We also hosted Perth based West Papua activist Alfie aka (Alpheus Meage) in Sydney as he embarked on his musical awareness raising tour around Australia. Performance s at Politics in the Pub, the Sutherland Folk (Acoustic) Club, the Aboriginal Tent embassy in Redfern were well attended and a visit to Eora Aboriginal College and an off air interview with Marlene Cummins from Koori Radio and another interview with a journalist from the Green Left Weekly made the Sydney leg of his tour a success. We Alfie performing at the Tent Embassy in Redfern, September 2014 held a special fundraising BBQ event in Leichhardt for Alfie to raise enough funds to continue his tour. West Papua Independence Day was held on 1st of December marked in Sydney by a flag raising ceremony outside Sydney Town Hall. The Morning Star flag was first raised on December 1st 1961 with the promise of full Independence 9 years later. Indonesia occupied the Province with the blessing of the USA and Australia. However West Papua still regards December 1st as their National Day of Independence and every year demonstrations, flag raisings and protests are held in West Papua and now globally in support of freedom for the West Papuan people. 2ser s The Wire recorded live from the event. Download the audio: Flag raising ceremony outside Sydney Town Hall, st December Photo credit Alison Bevege

11 AETA(NSW)December Jefferson s Christmas Gift Giving Guide AlolaFoundation FairCoffee&Co ConsidergivingyourfriendsandfamilyanAlolaGift CertificatethisChristmas.Giftcertificatescomeviae card orifyouhavethempostedcomewithaphotooftimorese womenonthefront.jefferson'spickisthematernitypack for$25youwillsupportbreastfeedinginformationand counselling,infantandyoungchildfeedingprogramsand researchonmaternalmortalityintimor Leste.Orifyou havealittlebitmoremoneytospend,whynotgothe LivelihoodGiftCertificate.For$50providessupportto Timoresewomensotheycanearnalivinginthetextile trade,sewingorweaving.seethelink: to help/#gift EthicaAccessories HavearangeofChristmasdecorationsandgiftsallhandmadeinPeru.CheckouttheRosabagandChristmas beadeddecorationstar: Whynotgivea200gbagofourChristmaseditionTimor! pureorganiccoffeeasagifttoyourfriendsorfamily? Wholebeansorground.Withourspecialxmaslabel.We arecurrentlyofferingapackof5x200gfor$35,free shippingincludedtoanywhereinaustralia.and$1ofit goesbacktoeasttimor. Ifyouareinterested,please havealookonourwebsitefaircoffeeco.com.auunder 'SPECIALS'. OurofferendsonSunday,14thDecember. Allcoffeewillthenberoastedon15thDecemberand dispatchedwithin2days,i.e.itwillbeultra freshwhenit arrivesbeforechristmas. FestiveSeasonCards Apologiesifwehavemissedanything.Pleasesendfutureinclusionstojefferson.lee@bigpond.com Don tforgettoorderyouraphedachristmascards!new designsfromaustraliancartoonistfirstdogonthemoon: HasnowopenedashopinSame,oppositetheoldmarket (whichhasbeencleared)nearthepostu.visitors/tourists tosamecannowbuygroundboaventuracoffeegrownin Manufahi,coconutoilfromcoconutsgrownandpressed inmanufahi,tais,wovenbaskets,hats,fansetc.atvery reasonableprices.someofthesearealsoavailableatthe The Manufahi Women s Development Group From Esther Anderson (ETAN) Samemarket(furtherdownontheroadtoBetano),in particularabiggerchoiceoftais,butboaventuracoffee, Manufahicoconutoilandwovenbaskets,fans,hatsetc arehardertofindthere.thegrupufetodistritumanufahi shopfrontdoorisusuallyclosedsopleasegototheside doorandcalloutandsomeonewillhelpyou.

12 12 AETA(NSW)December2014 Australia East Timor Association POBox703 Leichhardt,NSW,2040 (02) Australia East Timor Association (NSW) POBox703,Leichhardt,NSW,2040