My daily routine begins when the Concern driver comes to pick me up at the team house at 7:45am. My housemates and I climb into the Land Cruiser and we’re at the office by 8am. On Monday mornings we have an hour-long staff meeting. The security briefing is usually the most interesting part. It’s where you get to hear about street fighting or other civil disturbances, often involving “martial arts groups.” These ad-hoc groups are comprised of disaffected, often unemployed young men who perform various martial arts rituals. Rightly or wrongly, they’re frequently accused of promoting gang activity and exerting their influence through fear and intimidation.

This morning our security officer shared some bizarre information with the staff. He advised us that next weekend a resistance leader who fought against the Indonesian occupation and who was thought to have died three decades ago may be coming to Dili. According to the rumour, he wants to show that he’s still alive and that he’s now opposing Timor Leste’s newly elected government. No one seems to know if this is fact or fiction. But we’re advised to be alert to possible civil unrest just in case.