“CHANGE”: American & East Timorese Style…

There is a world of difference when people want CHANGE in the ‘developed’ countries (such as the United States), and in the world’s poorest of poor countries, such as East Timor (earlier a part of Indonesia). The former watches the verbal duels of the presidential candidates, while the latter witnesses gory blood-letting. All for a change…

East Timor has witnessed the worst outbreak of violence since the country gained its independence six years ago. In the fighting between rival factions 37 East Timorese were killed and more than 100,000 fled their homes. Many still remain in refugee camps around the city.

The rebel leader, now a cult figure, Alfredo Reinado is dead…and East Timor’s President José Ramos-Horta is lying seriously injured in a hospital in Australia.

The BBC report says: “Despite oil reserves and international aid money, East Timor is still struggling economically. It is also a young country – with over half its population under the age of 25. This is a generation born during the final years of Indonesia’s brutal 25-year occupation, during which 200,000 East Timorese are estimated to have either been killed or died of starvation. Today’s young people lived through the violent struggle for independence in 1999 and are now looking to establish their future.” More here…