Precedence: bulk Mary MacKillop Institute of East Timorese Studies The following is a recent message we have received from one of our reliable sources in East Timor. We have had to be very careful and have omitted names and certain details in order to protect our friends. Dili 30/4/99 Dear Sr Josephine, Sr Teresa and brother Manuel, First of all I would like to extend to all of you my wishes of good health and happiness! * As I have already told brother Manuel, today we had a meeting with Bishop Belo, he has asked that we intensify our prayers and sacrifice, because our situation is difficult and very heavy; From heavens above, only God is able to assist ... Though the authorities are liars, when anything happens we must let them know, ask them to resolve the situation thereby reminding them of what the minister of defence came and told us. Above and beyond all is prudence and patience. We just wait for God's day. * When I returned from there, I caught up with a friend at our house, who came and told us about your prayer campaign and continual Masses for us. This is what we have been saying: Plenty of sacrifices, crowds of people praying, God still is not listening, it almost makes us go crazy! This person also extended all of your love and regards to us, which with all of our hearts we are grateful. We thank you also for your kindness which they received during their stay there. Only God is able to reward this! Concerning your offer, when we need to retreat, we shall communicate! Up to this point we are still convinced that we must remain with our people, if that is God's will. Thank you for your concern! * Yesterday midday (they came from there early in the darkness of the morning very slowly bringing with them sick and wounded people), our friends from Bobonaro, with a Timorese female nurse and two Javanese male nurses bringing with them a youth (20 yrs old) who on the 26th (Monday) night (after 10) they cut off his ear, forcing him to eat and swallow it whilst having a machete to his throat (the machete marks were still visible yesterday); then more than twenty of them trampled on his back like trampling on rice after harvesting; having been satisfied with the one side they turned him over and started on his front side; after finishing they delivered him to the military ... at their place he could only vomit and excrete blood. The morning of 27th our friends faces were checked over thoroughly at the military place, until they were given permission to go in and patch up people (this world is truly crazy: some go out of their way to destroy, others to repair!) ... there was no time to count all of the sick and wounded, because they hurried our friends to be quick; when our friends reached the youth, the military had to be patient until our friends were able to finish patching up everyone only then could our friends begin the bureaucratic process of gaining release for the three of the heavily wounded; one I have just told you about, it seems that all his intestines and insides of his stomach had ruptured, yesterday they immediately operated in the public hospital (because they took him there) the second one also when they cut off his ear, close to the vein, although he has bled already a bucket load, the military wont allow us to take him to the polyclinic, but because our friends would not leave there (always following them), in the end they conceded; he was not brought down to Dili because they managed to stitch the vein and stop the haemorrhaging ... the other one is probably just waiting to die; he is not able to sit; those animals gave him a beating of his life, beyond this over twenty people against one person, how is this possible? For now we just pray that God can banish such savagery! They are worse than animals!). Therefore we can only pray for one another! Those animals do not want to release the sick and wounded because they say, "the people [the sick and wounded] there are only in transit, the military in this area are powerless; then those from Maliana will come and take them (only God knows, Maliana of this world or Maliana of another world, ie will they actually reach Maliana). Everything to this moment that I have told you are our actual experiences; those that we have heard from others, I have not told you of, because it is difficult to prove. But from this you are able to imagine, how many barbarities they have committed and we have not sighted! The cases that I have recounted, are those that have happened inside the towns, those that have occurred in the tiny little villages far from the towns, only God knows! * On Thursday 22, all of the big animals came with their explanations saying that the people can continue their normal lives, no need to be afraid because they are all 100% red and white. Some were innocent enough to believe this! That at least to the people could rest a while from suffering! The truth be known, the big animals were busily talking in the towns, while the small animals were busily cleaning up in the small villages far from the towns (to this very minute is still continuing). As of the 26th operations will increase within the towns, don't know til when. * Now concerning Maubisse: Over there are also animals who have long tails [Timorese expression for brave and cocky]: have not only stolen from those who are anti Indonesian, but also the Doctor's ambulance vehicle and local government clinic's five motorcycles. Then everyday they drive and ride these vehicles in their faces. The Doctor can only hit his own forehead at this anarchy and savagery, he would never have imagined it. * All of us whether in the mountains or in the city, already have one commitment: those that they have sent first to meet God, are obligated to make the biggest demonstration in Heaven, and to wake up the Lord who has been contentedly sleeping, has not felt the big tide and that the boat is currently sinking. * The Capital at the moment is still. Please pressure your leaders, that when they come, not just to stay here; must go around like Sr Teresa to see also other places that are difficult to get to. Please, God is already asleep, your leaders cannot also fall asleep; come often and see us. We envisage that August is very far away, when we get there, the children, ants and mice will be the only ones left to go and vote ... Until tomorrow! Love and prayers ... ---------- SiaR WEBSITE: http://apchr.murdoch.edu.au/minihub/siarlist/maillist.html
