Over a decade since East Timor gained its independence, many of its rural towns are still little more than shanty towns, simmering with gang violence, crime — and ninjas. It’s just a matter of time before it all boils over, says James Scambary.
Timor
A tale of two Timors
Is East Timor a great example of a young independent nation, with one of the world’s fastest growing economies? Or is it a nation struggling to maintain peace, let alone jobs or roads? It’s both, writes Sara Everingham.
Indonesia: Balibo probe a “waste of time”
The AFP’s recent decision to launch an investigation into the Balibo Five has angered Indonesia, with officials labeling it a “waste of time” and warning that it will harm diplomatic relations. With such resistance on the Indonesian side, will justice ever be served?
East Timor’s media blackout is a pox on the nation
East Timor this week celebrates 10 years of independence, but it seems the nation’s government is struggling to grasp basic democratic principles, writes Steve Holland.
Woolcott: “Blame the media for Balibo Five”
Retired diplomat Richard Woolcott says the Australian media deserves more of the blame for the 1975 deaths of five journalists in Balibo, Timor, than the Australian government, stating the news outlets they were working for “bear a heavy responsibility that they’ve never had to shoulder.”
