The Cuban Connection

I took this picture the first or second week I was here, back in
October. Sonju and I were looking for Bella, and I knew that she
had worked for an organization called La'o Hamutuk (Walking
Together). But the taxi driver dropped us off in front of this
organization - Luta Hamutuk (Fighting/Struggling Together). As
long as we're together.....
Anyhow, it was a good chance for a photo-op. Pictures of Che are
everywhere - along with a lot of other things. So, after taking this
picture and chatting a little (in our, at that time, very new Tetun),
we walked (together haha) to La'o Hamutuk. La'o Hamutuk is a civil
society watchdog organization - they produce a newsletter which has
a greater readership than the newspapers (I believe that's what they
say on their website) and a radio show. They write and do research
on what the government and various NGOs are doing. They wrote
about the World Bank in their last edition - a wise little piece, I thought.
They're a good organization, very necessary.

As for the Cubans....there are 300 of them apparently, throughout
the country. Doctors and nurses (of course). The last government
made an agreement with Cuba - the details of which I do not know
~ something tells me if I look in an old La'o Hamutuk bulletin I will
find it though - which involves Cuba sending doctors and Timor
sending students, to Cuba, to become doctors. We met a Cuban
doctor in Los Palos who said the Timorese are studying in Havana
but the Cuban government is also building a school just for them
near Pinar del Rio. So, next time you're in Cuba....say "Bon Dia"
to the Timorese!

P.S. The article on the World Bank is called "Neo-liberal
recommendations."