Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Around 100 people participated in anti government demonstration... pfff.....
The demo was organised by one Augusto Trindade Junior, supposedly represents the National Youth Forum. Initially it was promissed to gather at least a few thousands of people. But between 100 to 200 people showed up. The organisers also promissed to stay put until the government is dismissed. But as the day wore on, most of the protesters abandoned the site. Australian media (eg. ABC), reported that the protesters were "massing outside the government palace." When I read it I imagined masses of people, possibly in their tens of thousands. But Aussie journos apparently have a different definition of what "mass of people" is. Maybe it Aussie English? TVNZ was more restraining placing the number of "masses" at 300. Aussie journos chose to report instead the demands made by the protesters, and as one would know it, it includes Alkatiri's resignation, etc. A pamphlet was also distributed denouncing Mari Alkatiri as a communist, a muslim -- apparently a crime according to the protest organisers.
Anyway, Timor-Leste has a national youth forum. If I recall correctly it the forum is called Presidium Juventude Loriku Aswain de Timor-Leste, or something like it. Its membership includes some of the biggest youth organisations in Timor-Leste (RENETIL, OJETIL, FITUN, IMPETTU, etc.), with history of active participation in the clandestine movement against Indonesian occupation.
Augusto Trindade's group sounds like an ad-hoc group set up to agitate the peace rather than for a clear focus on democracy, peace and the rule of law.
I certainly encourage the youth movements in Timor-Leste to take more active role to resolve the current crisis. For youth groups like RENETIL and OJETIL, this is the time when they can stand up and make a difference.
In the meantime, I look forward to the many tens of thousands of demonstrators promissed by the anti-government camp to descend on Dili in the next few days... Will this be the make or break demonstration? Will we see FRETILIN supporters raise up?
We'll see...
Anyway, Timor-Leste has a national youth forum. If I recall correctly it the forum is called Presidium Juventude Loriku Aswain de Timor-Leste, or something like it. Its membership includes some of the biggest youth organisations in Timor-Leste (RENETIL, OJETIL, FITUN, IMPETTU, etc.), with history of active participation in the clandestine movement against Indonesian occupation.
Augusto Trindade's group sounds like an ad-hoc group set up to agitate the peace rather than for a clear focus on democracy, peace and the rule of law.
I certainly encourage the youth movements in Timor-Leste to take more active role to resolve the current crisis. For youth groups like RENETIL and OJETIL, this is the time when they can stand up and make a difference.
In the meantime, I look forward to the many tens of thousands of demonstrators promissed by the anti-government camp to descend on Dili in the next few days... Will this be the make or break demonstration? Will we see FRETILIN supporters raise up?
We'll see...
