Stories about Tetum
East Timor: Nation Loses a Treasured Political Elder
Online tributes pour in after the loss of one of East Timor's political elders, known affectionately as "Grandfather". Francisco "Avó" Xavier do Amaral was the declarer of independence in 1975, and returned to a free East Timor to serve in the Constituent Assembly and parliament. He was a three-time candidate for president.
East Timor: Cats, Monsters in Pre-Election Video Humor
Less than one month to go for the presidential elections in East Timor, and one of the most original uses of citizen media in the anticipation of the elections is not serious at all - user Slogheinn on Youtube, has uploaded a series of humorous videos that mock four of the best known presidential candidates.
Video Highlights: Identity, Refugees, Conflict and Open Technology
A selection of Global Voices' recent and interesting stories including video from East Asia, Sub Saharan Africa, Central Asia - Caucasus and Latin America, selected by Juliana Rincón Parra.
East Timor: Investing in Creativity and Culture
Barcelona artist David Palazón ended up in East Timor as a break from his career. Now he is coordinating a project to research Timorese culture in hopes of creating a school for the creative industries, to stimulate jobs in the non-oil economy, small businesses, and tourism.
East Timor: Mysterious Shooting Incidents
Does East Timorese politics “use arms for competition (…) more than the competition of ideas”? Columnist with weekly Tempo Semanal Filipe Rodriguês Pereira questions [Tet] who was behind mysterious shooting incidents across the capital Dili last month. They occurred just after the UN announced the end of its current mission...
East Timor: Arts and Creative Industries in Focus
With the main purpose of launching the future Academy of Arts and Creative Industries of East Timor, a series of cultural events and an international conference are taking place in Dili until the 17th of July. The organization's website Tatoli ba Kultura includes a media map featuring unique works by Timorese...
East Timor: Polemic Payment to “Miss World” for Work as Spokesperson
On the blog of East Timorese weekly Tempo Semanal, controversy erupted over a leaked memo indicating the government's payment of US$300,000 to Australian Caroline Pemburton, former Miss World, for her services promoting East Timor as a tourist destination.
East Timor: Konis Santana, a Humble Guerrilla Hero
Like any country born out of a protracted armed resistance, stories in East Timor of division from within the resistance are various, and quite potent. But one guerrilla figure who appears to have a powerful and unifying appeal is Konis Santana, who never lived to see his people gain independence.
East Timor: Why is Transparency Important?
Curt Hopkins, from the blog ReadWriteWeb, comments on the Timor Leste Transparency Portal [en, pt, tet], recently launched by the Timorese Government. Hopkins raises some questions on the relevance of financial transparency in Timor's context, and calls on readers to discuss it.
East Timor: Affordable telephony and collateral outcomes
Lemi Soares, from the blog IT Forum [tet], shares a video from Linux Conference Australia 2011, where he presented Dili Village Telco – a pioneer open technology deployment that aims to provide affordable telephony and to promote the creation of sustainable businesses for local people.
East Timor: Rains threaten food shortage and disease
Without a dry season and heavy rains all year in East Timor, crops have been destroyed and farmers have planted less, threatening a scenario of food shortage. In addition, rains can cause an increase of disease in the country.
East Timor: Ministry of Health reviews conditions
The Ministry of Health published extensive notes from field visits to its facilities in 8 of East Timor's 13 districts on the Ministry blog [Tet]. The notes reveal challenges like lack of running water, medicine supply, transport and basic equipment. Citizens comment on the findings, mostly anonymously.
Timorese on Facebook
In the last year and a half there has been something of a surge in the use of the social media by East Timor netizens. While blogs are proliferating, Facebook appears to be increasingly the platform of choice. GV author Keta Haluha provides a definitive overview of Facebook links about East Timor
East Timor: Raging debate on “culture”
Blog Timor News Network has republished a Facebook debate which was kicked off in late July by Augusto da Silva who posted a well-crafted essay by Fidelis Maglhães, challenging Timorese usage of “culture”. Magalhães was responding to a photo of the people of a mountain town carrying the PM.
East Timor: Capital flooding in dry season
Radio Nomad of Notes from Abroad commented on serious flash flooding in East Timor's capital city Dili saying “it's the dry season, but someone forgot to tell Mother Nature”. Local online media outlet CJITL reported that the national TV station was down today due to the floods.
East Timor: Expansion of the Energy Sector under Discussion
The past months have revealed serious tensions between Timorese leaders, Australia, and Woodside Petroleum, a multinational company hoping to profit from new petroleum resources in Timorese and Australian territory. At issue is where to pipe valuable Liquefied Natural Gas.
East Timor: Short Story Competition in Tetum
Istoria Timor Short Story Competition in Tetum language is running until the end of June. The concept notes from the previous edition offer an overview to literacy and language in East Timor and can be found in this post.
East Timor: Connecting Civil Society
Providing internet access to civil society has been a key priority of the few information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives that exist in East Timor so far.
East Timor: Portuguese Language Under Attack
In what is a dramatic reversal of official position Timor Hau Nia Doben reports that the President of the National Parliament agrees with recent statements by General Taur Matan Ruak that Portuguese language should be removed from Timor-Leste. [Addendum 16 March: a reader very correctly point out an error, Ruak...
Timor Police Ninja Operation
There has been much ado about "ninjas" in Timor-Leste recently. The police ordered a crackdown against these criminal "ninja" groups but some suggest that the matter is being overblown and is a political game.
East Timor: Oil wealth and national survival
The oil coming from East Timor's oil fields is already the country's greatest source of revenue. Debates over potential changes to the Petroleum Law and the National Oil Company will likely be the most important political debates this year.