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My name is Rosa Barros, and I live in the village of
Maitai in the Maucatar sub-district, Covalima. My team's
name is Mina-Rai, which is composed of 100 members working
together. Our village activities are sewing, doll making
and traditional handicrafts but unfortunately our crafts
are not selling so well these days. We also cook coconut
oil but, like our crafts, we do not have many customers.
My husband has been missing since 19 April 1999. Until
now I have not heard any news about him - if they have
killed him, I do not know where he is buried or where
to find his bones. We have asked for help to find out
where his is buried, as they can use a special machine,
but until now we have not had any news and continue
to suffer. These are our sad experiences that we continue
to live with, and I send these words to our leaders
so they remember our widows and orphans.
As women we have fought since 1975, fighting for the
liberation of the East Timorese people, and the liberation
of women. I think we are slowly gaining recognition
for this.
I hope the efforts of all the women who have fought
will contribute something good to our homeland as at
the moment we don't feel that anything good is happening
for our women.
In the future we would like justice for our family
members who have died and for the violence committed
towards women and for the widows and orphans who are
no longer cared for.
October, 2001
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