Saturday, December 04, 2010
DiliCulturalFestival
Last weekend Dili held a cultural festival where many tribes from outside of Dili came to show off their unique tribal dress, dances, and crafts.
SantaCruzCemetary
This is the gate where 200 peaceful protesters were systematically slaughtered by the Indonesian Army.
TimorsHeartbreakingHistory
If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend a DVD titled "Balibo." The central theme is the story of how 5 Australian reporters were slaughtered by the Indonesian army that was taking control of Timore-Leste at the beginning of their 20 year rule. At the same time it gives you an idea of what the Timorese lived through in this reign of terror. It is not easy viewing but it does help you understand the shyness or wariness that you find with the Timorese. Also, it is rare to see any older people here since so many were executed during this period.
One famous massacre here took place when a group of Timorese were peacefully protesting the Indonesian occupation, at the Santa Cruz cemetary. The Indonesian Army slaughtered the protesters as they exited the cemetary. The 200 people killed are buried in a cemetary next to Santa Cruz with stark white crosses marking their graves.
ChancesAre
Statistics show that the future for Timorese females is not bright.Timor-Leste is one of 2 Catholic countries in Asia (the other being the Phillipines). The Catholic Church weilds a powerful influence here - from the extremely conservative dress to the prohibition of birth control. The average Timorese female will have 8 children, 3of whom will die in infancy. This country has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the world. The traditional expectations of the role of women mean that they will marry young, immediately begin having children, and be completely under control of their husbands. Abuse is a huge problem here and, with no marketable skills, most will simply endure. The number of schools is increasing, however, and more girls have the opportunity for a high school education. Few can afford college.
TheTimorese
The Timorese people are beautiful - petite and thin - almost delicate - with a mocha complexion and dark hair that sometimes has sunstreaked highlights. The average salary for a Timorese is $150 a month, or $1,560 a year. No one tips here, so this is their entire income. With the 50% illiteracy rate and lack of schools, the future of most Timorese children isn't hopeful.
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