When I receive the news, I felt so sad. My brazilian friend got it worse as he knew this missionary. I've met this missionary's sister before and she was the one who helped me arrange an appointment with Dr.Omar from Cuba to do a check on a suspected appendicitis. I felt so heavy and so burdened. I want to ask the question, "Why? Why him O Lord?" but I know that God knows better and all things are in His hands. Please pray for Elisama, Edgar's(the missionary) sister, and her family. That God will comfort them and give them His peace. May the Lord have mercy on the killers and may His love never stop flowing in Timor.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Nai Jesus, ami hadomi o, ami hadomi Timor. Ami foti ami nia moris ba o tanba uluk o foti o nia moris ba ami. Ajuda ami hadomi ema Timor. Amen
Showing posts with label Death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Death. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Friday, May 26, 2006
Are lives that cheap?
Sadly to say, after 4 years of near stability, East Timor is going back to the days of violence. I tried to gather as much information as possible from locals and other foreign workers and here's what I've got thus far.(remember, it is not 100% accurate. perhaps close to it)
Yesterday(25 may), soldiers surrounded the Police HQ in Caicoli and fought with them. According to various sources, some police officers resigned(or left the force) and took weapons with them with the intention of joining the renegade soldiers. The army got wind of the news and quickly surrounded them to prevent them from joining the opposing forces. One soldier started shooting and all hell broke loose. A ceasefire was negotiated(the police force must surrender their arms). However, when they did that, some soldiers shot at them and killed 9 and injured 27 others. Some police fled to the UN compound(Obrigado Barracks) and seek refuge there.
This morning, shots were fired at Obrigado Barracks by the army and their target is an obvious one; the police.(the military and the police force has not seen eye to eye in the past but this is too much!) The UN clinic now is a busy one with wounded police from yesterday's shootings. Read timorsunhine.blogspot.com for more details.
The shooting of the police is beyond logic. Some soldiers had become bloodthirsty for the police had did them no harm at all but they are bend on killing them. No one knows why. It seems that their aim now is to kill, kill and kill. I already don't understand why the rebels, led by Major Alfredo, shot at innocent soldiers collecting their paycheck. And now, even the soldiers themselves begin to behave like the rebels. Are lives that cheap???? This is really disturbing.
Yesterday(25 may), soldiers surrounded the Police HQ in Caicoli and fought with them. According to various sources, some police officers resigned(or left the force) and took weapons with them with the intention of joining the renegade soldiers. The army got wind of the news and quickly surrounded them to prevent them from joining the opposing forces. One soldier started shooting and all hell broke loose. A ceasefire was negotiated(the police force must surrender their arms). However, when they did that, some soldiers shot at them and killed 9 and injured 27 others. Some police fled to the UN compound(Obrigado Barracks) and seek refuge there.
This morning, shots were fired at Obrigado Barracks by the army and their target is an obvious one; the police.(the military and the police force has not seen eye to eye in the past but this is too much!) The UN clinic now is a busy one with wounded police from yesterday's shootings. Read timorsunhine.blogspot.com for more details.
The shooting of the police is beyond logic. Some soldiers had become bloodthirsty for the police had did them no harm at all but they are bend on killing them. No one knows why. It seems that their aim now is to kill, kill and kill. I already don't understand why the rebels, led by Major Alfredo, shot at innocent soldiers collecting their paycheck. And now, even the soldiers themselves begin to behave like the rebels. Are lives that cheap???? This is really disturbing.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Dying for Nothing
There are now recent shootings in Dili(just this morning, there is an exchange of gunfire near the airport between soldiers and renegade ones). Yesterday 2 soldiers were killed and 8 others were injured by renegade military police. The soldiers, who were receiving their pay, were caught off-guard at Fatu Ahi, a place near the Becora bus terminal. Previously, we thought the ex-soldiers may be the ones staging an attack but now, we have another problem - the ex-military police(also soldiers).
Background: Major Alfredo, the commander of the Military Police, voiced his unhappiness on two things: 1. He did not liked the leadership of the military(F-FDTL) and 2. He was unhappy that the military shot the protesters on 28 April, killing an unknown amount of people(news report 5 killed, many said more than 50 were killed). So he decided to use violence to convey his message. Some of them left their barracks from F-FDTL HQ and carried off a container of weapons with them to Aileu, citing that they are going there to calm the situation. However, Tuar Matan Ruak, the commander of F-FDTL said F-FDTL did not gave them that command. The renegade soldiers refused to return to their barracks after going to Aileu and are now causing unrest in Dili.
For what? All for the sake of conveying his message of unhappiness and disatisfaction of F-FDTL and the government. They NEVER pause to think:"Are the lives worth it?". 2 soldiers were killed and who knows how many family members they left behind and depend on them for food and money. I feel very sad that 2 persons died for nothing. A few days ago, Alfredo said he wanted a dialogue with the government to resolve the issues, but now he has chosen to kill. Why are we so foolish at times?
"O Lord, please save us all. The world needs you badly. Call us from darkness into your marvellous light" ~ "...that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light" 1 Peter 2:9b(NASB)
Background: Major Alfredo, the commander of the Military Police, voiced his unhappiness on two things: 1. He did not liked the leadership of the military(F-FDTL) and 2. He was unhappy that the military shot the protesters on 28 April, killing an unknown amount of people(news report 5 killed, many said more than 50 were killed). So he decided to use violence to convey his message. Some of them left their barracks from F-FDTL HQ and carried off a container of weapons with them to Aileu, citing that they are going there to calm the situation. However, Tuar Matan Ruak, the commander of F-FDTL said F-FDTL did not gave them that command. The renegade soldiers refused to return to their barracks after going to Aileu and are now causing unrest in Dili.
For what? All for the sake of conveying his message of unhappiness and disatisfaction of F-FDTL and the government. They NEVER pause to think:"Are the lives worth it?". 2 soldiers were killed and who knows how many family members they left behind and depend on them for food and money. I feel very sad that 2 persons died for nothing. A few days ago, Alfredo said he wanted a dialogue with the government to resolve the issues, but now he has chosen to kill. Why are we so foolish at times?
"O Lord, please save us all. The world needs you badly. Call us from darkness into your marvellous light" ~ "...that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light" 1 Peter 2:9b(NASB)
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