7/1/2008
Unusually heavy rains for the last week. Several areas in the North-West of Timor have experienced landslides and floods.
Liquica market, five kilometres from our home, is a sobering scene of ruin. The overflowing river has wiped away several houses and damaged the market's permanent structures. A couple of electrical poles are down, those of us to the West of Liquica will likely be without power for a week or so.
The damage may not be dramatic in scale, but to those who don't have much, it is significant.
I'm worried.
-raj
Showing posts with label Timor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Timor. Show all posts
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Bernardo
6/1/2008
We buried Bernardo, age 19, today. Died of internal injuries sustained from a traditional martial arts class a week before. Not a common event.
But evidence of a troubling underlying phenomenon: the recent proliferation of violent youth gangs often associated with 'martial arts' groups. The weekend fights are drug-and-alcohol-fuelled mass brawls, featuring knives and machetes. 'Martial,' yes; but not much 'art'.
The gangs are concentrated in the capital Dili, 50 kilometres from where we live, but we do see episodic disturbances in neighbouring Liquica, and occasionally even in Vatunau. Gang insignia has recently shown up spray-painted on the village bridge.
The police have been asserting themselves, particularly the 'Task Force', outfitted with riot gear and building a fearsome reputation for breaking bones first and asking questions later.
Timor is awash with NGOs and churches seeking to cope with the concrete problems of a nation emerging from a long and brutal occupation. But we may not have enough labourers addressing the social needs of a traumatized generation, now coming of age.
We're losing the youth.
-raj
We buried Bernardo, age 19, today. Died of internal injuries sustained from a traditional martial arts class a week before. Not a common event.
But evidence of a troubling underlying phenomenon: the recent proliferation of violent youth gangs often associated with 'martial arts' groups. The weekend fights are drug-and-alcohol-fuelled mass brawls, featuring knives and machetes. 'Martial,' yes; but not much 'art'.
The gangs are concentrated in the capital Dili, 50 kilometres from where we live, but we do see episodic disturbances in neighbouring Liquica, and occasionally even in Vatunau. Gang insignia has recently shown up spray-painted on the village bridge.
The police have been asserting themselves, particularly the 'Task Force', outfitted with riot gear and building a fearsome reputation for breaking bones first and asking questions later.
Timor is awash with NGOs and churches seeking to cope with the concrete problems of a nation emerging from a long and brutal occupation. But we may not have enough labourers addressing the social needs of a traumatized generation, now coming of age.
We're losing the youth.
-raj
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