austraLasia
1551
Follow-up: Rumours
make people flock once more to Don Bosco Compound in Dili.
From our Dili
correspondent
DILI: 4th May 2006 -- How quickly the
international press passes on to other matters. But life in Dili has yet
to settle down, it seems. Tuesday and yesterday, most of the 7500 or so
people in our compound had already left. The government helped them with
transport to go to their nearby villages. Only about 1000 remained because they
were still afraid to return to their homes in the city, or because their houses
have been burnt and they have no house they can call a home.
But at about 9 o’clock this morning (Thursday), people
started coming in again. Now, there are about 6000 and more are coming in. The
city of Dili is almost empty as most of the inhabitants have already gone to
their native places in the districts.
All this because of
rumours: some say the army has split between the westerners and the easterners,
and there is an imminent shoot-out. Others say the police are against the army,
but the police officers we have been able to contact indicate no such
antagonism. Others still say the leaders of the land have already fled the
country. People do not know what to believe.
The
Salesians are receiving the refugees with open arms. Some Salesians have been
looking for food, others for shelter, toilets and medical aid. Several NGO’s
have approached them asking what they could do to help. A few days back, the
government sent a team of doctors to attend to the sick, brought in food
supplies, water facilities and portable toilets. Embassies also expressed their
willingness to help.
Outside the city of Dili, things are
peaceful. Well, even inside the city, but it has become a ghost
town!
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