Passing through Timor Leste wouldn’t be complete for an Australian without a visit to the small and rather unremarkable village of Balibo. Most people will never have heard of the place but this is where the Indonesian government of 1975 first invaded Timor Leste, which began 25 years of military rule that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Timorese. Australians will know it as the place that 5 journalists reporting on the invasion for Australian news channels were murdered by the invading military and the proof of what happened destroyed when their bodies and footage were burnt. It was also the beginning of the Australian governments dubious history with Timor Leste as they turned a blind eye to the murder of the Australian journalists and the Timorese people.

a couple of locals by the roadside

with very little support from the government, this family were walking back home after clearing a large tree off the road using only their parangs (machetes)

pretty standard fuel stop in these parts

a very old and very cool looking truck that looked like it had been parked up for a while

this was a buffalo about 2 hrs before this. now its almost dinner
more here: http://oztoice.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/balibo/
Last edited by blackcap; 19 Feb 2015 at 06:00.
|