Frontline, East Timor
Lev Lafayette
about recruitment policies. One person was killed, a former resistance
fighter.
Over the past week there have been protesters outside the GPA building
where I work. They've been mostly peaceful, although the corridors
have had riot police with tasers and tear gas.
Yesterday however riot police clashed with students. Apparently two
people were shot. This morning, I've heard the murdered and mutilated
body of a woman was found on a beach near a popular 'western' hotel.
Today rioters stormed the GPA building and the UN compound next door.
Our security guards have where unable to stop them. From what I can
see windows and cars have been smashed.
I'm locked in the server room with a fellow staff member - she was a
student leader in the independence movement. Now it seems that all
that she strove for - a society without violence, is coming undone.
It seems reasonably safe here, but I'm not going outside for a while.
Will keep you all updated.
Regards,
Lev
allezbleu
Lafayette) seemed to blather :
Shit. Hope you get out okay.
a.
>
>
>Lev
Sandro
<snip awful situation>
>It seems reasonably safe here, but I'm not going outside for a while.
>Will keep you all updated.
>Regards,
>Lev
That's pretty fucked up. The troubles are being reported here,
in the papers and such. From what I here it has to do with a
large bunch of people who feel entitled to cushy police type
jobs, hundreds of them, when there's only a bunch of jobs
to go around. I'm sure the real circumstances are more
complicated than that.
forta e coragem, meu amigo, keep your head down.
Sandro
--
"Your parents will be called and instructed to love you less." - Ms Bitters,
Invader Zim
Cam
>I'm locked in the server room with a fellow staff member - she was a
>student leader in the independence movement. Now it seems that all
>that she strove for - a society without violence, is coming undone.
>
>It seems reasonably safe here, but I'm not going outside for a while.
Jesus Christ. Lev Lafayette, live and direct on Network 23.
You okay?
Cam
____________________________________________________________
Website: www.cameron-rogers.com
I am not a gun.
Lev Lafayette
The damage is significant. Dili's largest supermarket 'Hello Mister'
has been completely gutted as has the neighbouring Timor Lorosa'e
Hotel and a large number of nearby buildings have been trashed and
looted. Several stores in the Comorro District were burnt and looted.
Vehicles throughout the city have been smashed and burnt. The
parliament was trashed and looted and the Prime Ministers house as was
the Dili mosque.
The protest started outside UNPOL (next door to where I work) and
seems to have been a combination of student protestors wanting to know
about the arrest of a secondary student and those in a
ultranationalist group who want police jobs and the UN to leave.
At the same time student protestors entered the GPA (where I work) but
caused no damage and assaulted no persons. Outside however, others
tried to force entry from other points of the building with an obvious
intent of violence. However their priority seemed to be the
parliament, behind the GPA, which they trashed and looted. At that
point the protest seemed to turn into general rioting - obviously
however, as I've indicated above - there were particular targets.
There was small arms fire and there is unconfirmed reports that not
all of it has been from the police and security forces.
Two people are confirmed dead.
A couple of matters from yesterdays post. I was wrong about the
reported injuries from the police-student clash the day previous. The
murder of the woman outside Hotel Turismo however was correct.
In 'The Age' today it is claimed that "a Foreign Affairs spokeswoman
said a bulletin had been issued to all Australians in Dili to avoid
the central area and immediately leave the parliamentary precinct."
This is the first news I've heard of such a claim, so where they've
issued this bulletin is beyond me. Frankly, being inside the GPA seems
pretty secure, particularly with the large number of PKFs with assault
rifles guarding the place.
Thanks to all of you who have 'phoned or emailed me regarding my
safety. It is deeply appreciated.
I'll keep you up-to-date with any other news.
Best regards,
Lev Lafayette
stranger..
"Lev Lafayette" <lev_la...@yahoo.com.au> wrote
: I'm locked in the server room with a fellow staff member - she was a
: student leader in the independence movement. Now it seems that all
: that she strove for - a society without violence, is coming undone.
Effing hell.
: It seems reasonably safe here, but I'm not going outside for a while.
:
: Will keep you all updated.
Please do.
--
stranger..
(handbasket to hell)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.goth.net/~stranger
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"The moon stands in the shadow
of a world gone entirely mad ." (No)
Mark Addinall
Head down and powder dry Lev.
Mark Addinall.
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Lev
jay
I heard on the news last night that DFAT arranged for all Australians in Dili
to leave until the situation changed. Hopefully you got out.
jay
____________
'underscore' [this.space.for.rent]
Lev Lafayette
>
> I heard on the news last night that DFAT arranged for all Australians in Dili
> to leave until the situation changed. Hopefully you got out.
>
Nope, no contact at all from DFAT. A couple of days ago they
supposedly issued a bulletin urging all Australians to leave the
parliamentary precinct. I read about it on 'The Age' online - next
door to the parliament!
So still here, still alive, still reporting.
Kind regards,
Lev