Late Night Live In Timor-Leste

We’re heading back to Dili now, seeking our final round of interviews in the nation’s capital. Throughout the trip we’ve been talking to people from all walks of East Timorese life. You’ll see and hear these interviews on the program and online soon, and in the meantime we’ll post some snippets right here.

Our first interview appointment was with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and his Australian wife Kirsty Sword Gusmao. In this clip they recall how they fell in love despite never having met, when the future PM - jailed by the Indonesians - knew Kirsty only by a photo of the back of her head…

 

 Xanana and Kirsty [2:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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The town of Maliana supplied a bed for the night, a place to eat and a song or two.

We were serenaded with a song for the future of Timor-Leste, sung by young men in the main street-market at dusk – it’s called ‘Foin sa’e’ which can translate to “the young nation” or “the young people”. Have a listen here:

 

 Maliana Singers [1:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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In Mertuti there is a house with a secret. For two years the former Commander of Falantial, Nino Konis Santana, hid from the Indonesian military in a tiny bunker under the house.

During that time he relied on one five year old boy, Kecoli, to bring him food, water and human companionship via the bunker’s secret trapdoor entrance.

Phillip and our translator Maria do Ceu met Kecoli, now fifteen years old, and heard his story. You’ll hear it in full on Late Night Live soon - here’s a preview…

 

 Kecoli and the secret bunker [3:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Phillip, Kecoli and Ceu [Kecoli] Click to enlarge	Timor-Leste hero, Kecoli [Kecoli] Click to enlarge	Kecoli’s house [Kecoli] Click to enlarge
Shrine and trapdoor [Kecoli] Click to enlarge	The secret entrance [Kecoli] Click to enlarge

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Late Night Live’s Phillip Adams is spending two weeks in Timor-Leste meeting the people and investigating the politics and culture of the world’s newest nation, gathering material for a special series of radio programs to be broadcast on Late Night Live in October.

Phillip will be talking to the country’s political and religious leaders about the immense social and economic challenges ahead, and we’ll be travelling to towns and traditional villages in the mountains and along the coastal plains, to talk to ordinary East Timorese. This is an immensely proud, culturally rich and deeply religious country in which everybody has a remarkable story of survival.

The team touches down in Dili on Sunday - we’ll start posting on the blog then.

 

 Late Night Live in Timor-Leste promo [0:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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