EAST TIMOR: New daily newspaper celebrates milestone at independence

DILI (Jornal Independente / Pacific Media Watch): Timor-Leste’s newest daily newspaper, Independente, has made local publishing history by using its Facebook page to circulate via the web a special edition to celebrate the 10th anniversary of  Restoration of Independence.

The edition was uploaded this weekend on its Facebook page Jornal Independente, with Tetum and English translations of its main page one editorial and a moving story of human tragedy.

The web version is brainchild of the newspaper’s director, Mouzhino Lopes, former editor-in-chief of the leading daily Timor Post.

Timor-Leste, the tiny nation which shares a common border with its former invading ruler Indonesia, supports a lively media scene with four daily newspapers, two weeklies, two TV networks and dozens of community radio stations serving a fast-growing population of 1.2 million.

Low internet penetration
Social media is growing in popularity in Timor-Leste but expensive internet is beyond the reach of 98 percent of ordinary citizens.

For example, students studying journalism at UNTL (National University of Timor-Leste) do not have internet access and pay $1 at an internet café across the road if they need Google.

When the first budding reporters graduate later this year they will find the average reporter’s salary is about US$120 a month.

The capital Dili will come to a virtual standstill this weekend as dozens of foreign VIPs like the Indonesian and Portuguese presidents and Australia’s Governor-General jet in to join colourful celebrations for the Restoration of Independence, marked on May 20.

Hundreds of workers have toiled 24 hours a day to spruce up the port city and repair various roads and huge potholes which usually slow Dili’s normal traffic flow to less than 10km/h.

Every vehicle and home flies the national flag and the streets are teeming with child vendors taunting seemingly unpatriotic passers-by with miniature flags ranging from US$1 to $3 (for rich tourists).

The skies above Dili have buzzed all week as four Australian military Blackhawk helicopters, currently based in Timor-Leste with the International Stabilisation Force, practise flyovers for Sunday’s major events outside the Government Palace on the waterfront.

Feuding leaders
All the feuding political leaders came together with smiles and handshakes yesterday for a hand-out of medals by out-going President Jose Ramos-Horta and put on a rare display of national unity for the cameras.

But once the VIPs fly out, the fireworks smoke clears and the roads go back to being pot-holed, the political climate will heat up again (without violence, most citizens pray) for the upcoming general elections.

Bob Howarth is a veteran Asia-Pacific journalist and an Honorary Teaching Fellow at Bond University. He is in Timor-Leste on his 20th trip there, supported by APHEDA Union Aid Abroad and Fairfax journalists. He helped launch the Timor Post daily in February 2000 with equipment donated by Australian publishers.

Jornal Independente on Facebook