We have now run out of gin, we had to drink it with lemon as we couldn’t get any limes, not quite the same. Dili is heaving with press; we even have a cameraman sleeping in my classroom tonight as all the hotels are full. The hotels are also rapidly running out of beer, food and cigarettes as the container ships bringing supplies from Australia cannot get in. There is also a shortage of petrol for the same reason, so even if the supermarkets were open, which they are not, you can’t get there. And as for paying for supplies, the banks are closed with no money in the ATM’s so cash is being brought in by the next plane load of journalists.
Flights are still coming in from Darwin but the Merpati flight from Bali has stopped. Bang goes the evacuation to an exotic location. The UN have upgraded to level 3 security alert so all non essential personnel have been evacuated. Jurgen begrudgingly text me this morning as he didn’t want to leave, saying he was on a flight to Darwin did I need anything? Yes, gin and limes!
Thousands of Timorese are fleeing the city, taxis hare past full to the brim with people sitting in the open boot, however, the Australian troops have gone some way to quell the panic. Apparently the churches are full of refugees. Whereas before the Dili residents fled to the mountains, this time that’s where most of the trouble is, so the inner city churches are packed.
In times like this it is enlightening to see the fish and chicken vendors setting up their barbeques on the beach. Some entrepreneurs have put the price of phone cards up to $15 for a $10 card and occasionally you get an opportunist cigarette seller going door to door. The British Embassy advised us to stay indoors but we ran into both the Ambassador and the 2nd in command at the Esplanada last night. Well everyone has to eat!
The fighting is hooligans, they have no axe to grind with westerners, but as a precaution Wayne and the crew drive around with their arms out of the car so the colour of their skin can be seen. In the midst of the fighting these guys will shout ‘Hello mister’ whilst being pursued by Australian troops. One NZ reporter I was talking to last night almost got caught in crossfire, but I guess that goes with territory.
But as for me, i'm getting bored, our amusement of the day is watching the dogs play. Someone has upset the wind gods, probably Australian troops hot legging through sacred trees, so even if we could go diving, the water is too choppy. Ill never complain about not having enough days off again!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment