A REFLECTION ON EAST TIMOR - CAROLE MCDONALD RSM

A huge group of people gather together. It is the first anniversary of the massacre of priests, and people at Suai. There are many photos on a wall showing the place where the bodies were heaped together and then burnt. The Mass is over, but women , family and friends sit together weeping quietly at the very spot where their loved one was killed.

Another place. This time Maliana. Again a Mass in the police office grounds where eleven men and one boy were lined up and murdered. The boy was in place of his father who had gone away hoping not to be caught, never dreaming that his 10 year old son would be forced to line up in his place, to be shot.

A small stick held in place by a few rocks and a piece of white ribbon fluttering on top reminds us that there has been a death here. It is Afabubu near Luro and a woman of 23 yrs has died giving birth to her first child. The baby is perfect, but the young mother's body has been weakened by many bouts of untreated malaria, so that when there is bleeding at the birth of the baby, attended only by a mid-wife, her fragile body could not survive. She is buried in her wedding dress.

A ten year old boy in the next village dies within twenty - four hours of this (in my eyes ) tragic death. He was sick for an hour and a half - couldn't get his breath, probably asthma or a cold, but probably he too had had malaria many times without any treatment and his little body was also weakened so it didn't take much to snuff out his life. There was no time even to call the ambulance. It would have taken about 4 hours anyway from the time of the call till they got him to hospital.

A family sits down to supper, one son is with them in Dili working for an NGO, while the second is in West Timor, too afraid to come home because he was pro-autonomy and branded as a militia during the turmoil in 1999. They pray the Our Father and wonder what it means as they say the words "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

A road block on the road between Batugade and Dili. Aussie soldiers apologise for having to search our vehicle. There have been militia sightings in the area, which is very close to the border and they have been given orders to search all vehicles. For the people who live near here, it is an ever present threat and they are grateful for the protection of our peace-keepers.

Why am I writing these stories? In a way I suppose I want to tell you about some of the special burdens of the people since the ballot last year, but also of the things that people here have had to learn to live with, but which for me are a tragedy. As a woman who has spent most of her life in a religious congregation, death should not be so shocking. Indeed death is as much a part of life as birth. For all those who follow Jesus it is the ultimate goal of life here on earth. Still I feel such a sense of sadness and futility about these sad and unnecessary statistics - one mother dies in childbirth each week in many of the districts and there are also the deaths of so many small children here in East Timor. Basic medical treatment would save so many lives.

It is now eighteen months on from the awful events that we saw so dramatically on our televisions screens, but there are moments when I have this awful feeling of hopelessness. The city of Dili is teaming with life. The traffic is becoming chaotic with so many cars and people everywhere. Yet there is something wrong. I am struck by the inequality/injustice as foreigners try to assist the East Timorese in this time of rebuilding. In many ways it is the foreigners who have the better buildings, facilities and equipment. At any rate, the real work of rebuilding Timor Lorosae will be done by the Timorese themselves as they are the Timor of the future.

I do not wish to sound too critical of what is happening in East Timor. I think that people who are working there have the best intentions. The Peace Keepers have provided a safe environment for people to go about the process of rebuilding and resettlement. Helping a fledgling country set up a democratic system of government with all that that entails is something else altogether, and many difficulties are being encountered as the process goes forward.

I'm not sure what the answers are. I may be quite wrong in my ideas. I do know that the response of ordinary Australians in donating money and goods, to East Timorese people has been quite extraordinary. I also know that a lot of men and women from Australia and other countries are making great contributions of time and energy in East Timor itself in helping people with new methods of farming, caring for their sick at home and in hospitals, teaching English and Portuguese to adults and teachers who are desperate to learn.

To help a country get on its feet after such conflicts as Timor witnessed is a massive undertaking and it is my belief that it can't be about having what almost amounts to being another invading army come in and take over. As mentioned above, a Peace-keeping Force is necessary for the safety of the people. There is also a need for expert help in the initial emergency phase when everything is in chaos. Financial help and some consultants in various essential fields to advise the local people are also important. International Non-Government Agencies such as MRS/JRS can offer assistance also in a partnership with the local people.

But there must be some way of coming in to support, advise and mentor without taking away the initiative of the people who have by their courage and tenacity along with the deaths of their martyrs, earned the right to decide for themselves their future course of action.

Are there are any bright moments in this otherwise sad landscape? Yes many. The children are going to school even though their buildings have not been repaired. Lives are being saved with good nursing care and training being offered to local people. Good initiatives such as the one in Luro where the JRS Priest ministering to the people there organised the building of a Peace House in traditional style where those with a history of revengeful killings, land disputes and other such problems can come together to listen to each other and negotiate settlements. All of this takes place in an atmosphere of prayer, reverence and love. And so there is the possibility of a new beginning of understanding of each other and learning ways other than fighting to solve problems.

There are other signs too of new beginnings and joyful courage and anticipation. Once again refugee families and some militia are being received back warmly into their communities and taking up their normal lives again.

I ask you to pray that these initiatives, will become more common and the UN agencies can step aside to allow the Timorese people to get on with the business of rebuilding a lasting peace in their own land.

Carole McDonald rsm

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