Diary, Day Nine: Politics From The Nozzle Of A Spray Can
For the time being, at least, politics doesn’t come out to the barrel of a gun in East Timor. But it sure as hell comes out of the nozzle of spray cans. Forbidden during the Indonesian years, democracy now blossoms in the form of slogans. Guerrilla warfare is now graffiti warfare. Much of it is common garden political self aggrandisement or the slander of your enemies. The most hurtful slogan to Xanana is the endlessly repeated accusations of treason. “XANANA TRAITOR” is almost universal, and despite his airy dismissals, it’s clear it hurts him deeply. It was, after all, the very first issue he raised in our conversation few days back.
Australia also cops it. We are not universally popular up here. One enormous graffiti read “Xanana – screw your mother and screw Australia” (And I‘m modifying the wording for the purposes of propriety on this occasion). It is the obscenity rather than the vehement language that offended one woman I interviewed in Bacau today – and she’s determined to do something about it. She wants the political leaders to go directly to her town from Dili with mops and buckets – to wipe away the offending epithets and set an example to the nation. One telling slogan that caught my eye was aimed at Australia and knew how to press a hot button. “WE AE NOT AUSTRALIANS, WE ARE TIMORESE AND NOT YET ABORGINS” (sic).
The writing on the walls may be hostile to Australia, yet we’re met with nothing but warmth, hospitality and friendship, even by some of those who have been writing the slogans. The size of the lettering does not necessarily indicate the depth of feeling.
Remote from Australian media I have no idea what has happened in recent days. Has Howard called the election? Or is it going to coincide with Christmas Day? I’m a little bit frustrated as I almost wish I was in Sydney with a tin of paint writing up my own political slogans on important buildings.
Phillip Adams
October 9th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Post For Local News
No Election in Australia Phillip. Uncertaity, and more of the Howard Tease.
Food in Australia will be short next year because of drought, and farmer haven’t planeted this year, meaning prices may go up.
Australia’s Federation of Disablities is to launch a marginal populations drive. More needs to be done to get people on Disablities into work. Adversities include Access and Team Work required to achieve this by Australian public. (Worker + Networks) I think this is a inspiring strategy. I do hupe Australia gets behind it.
As your report below reflects the outcome of factuations a sign of reproductive inter-generational scars of poverty - drought, famine, poltics and war… is to note this article on Timor;
West Timor’s forgotten crisis
Nearly a quarter of children under
five are malnourished
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F4A98833-EA31-4794-B4A1-1B595689CD80.htm
Bye the way October the 17th is ENd Poverty Day
Good News : In Australia, Indigenous leaders are to work on environmental sustainability plan.
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2007/s2053615.htm
And from Tom Flannery, ‘ earth’s surface temperature is rising, and that if nothing is done, it is predicted to cause major problems not only for humans, but for the very existence of thousands of animal and plant species across the globe’.
http://www.landcareonline.com/page.asp?pID=121
In the NT news, researchers from the Northern Territory says the Federal Government’s intervention into Aboriginal affairs could be exacerbating health problems in Indigenous communities and has compared it to the assimilation era. Intervention ‘could be seen as racist’.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/09/2054240.htm
Twist & TURN - possibe good news - Junta appears to be demanding talks with NLD (Daw Anng San Suu Kyi) over Burma TV.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/EFD1F70B-F51C-4845-A33B-DE7C0777D205.htm
And just to give you some feed back “WE AE NOT AUSTRALIANS, WE ARE TIMORESE AND NOT YET ABORGINS” (sic).
Noting with much appreciation that in reality your crew is met with nothing but warmth, hospitality and friendship in Timor.
I like to add I’ll help with the paint writing illustrating if the slogans are to flag the frustration and tease of “Why All the Politics”.
http://www.miacat.com/
.
October 9th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Shame on you Adams….. Get back here into the trench!
October 9th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Hi Phillip. Still no sign of an election in Australia. No declaration of one anyway. Your blog is fantastic. This is one of the best things you have ever done in your entire life, you really bring some credibility to the medium. Looking forward to hearing your shows when you get back.
Jane G.